Our story ...
We entered a new millennium and the future was looking bright for London’s Routemaster. London’s new Mayor, Ken Livingstone, was expanding the capacity of the Bus Network, and more Routemasters were needed to increase the frequency of some of Central London’s busiest routes. Instead of filling the gap with regular OPO buses, Routemasters were sourced from all over the UK, almost 50 in total, and refurbishment started in 2001 by Marshalls of Cambridge. This refurbishment consisted of new Cummins engines (Euro 2), Allison automatic gearboxes, body refurbishment including replacement of the wind down windows to the hopper type and closing the front opening window of the drivers cab. Other changes to the interior included; new floor, new interior lights, new yellow handrails, reupholstered seating and new bell rope - it was announced that these Routemasters were now fit for a further 10 years of service.
Almost 50 years on the Routemaster continued to be London's work horse. In the summer of 2003 there were still 20 crew operated routes running over 500 Routemasters on the streets of London. Suddenly in August 2003, Route 15 mysteriously lost its Routemasters soon followed by Route 11 in October and Route 23 in November; only months after the last Routemasters had been refurbished by Marshall. Things were not looking good. 2004 came and ten routes were converted, making it clear that Routemasters were not here to stay. By 2005 that number had been slashed to fewer than 100 Routemasters running just three routes. Time was quickly running out for London’s Routemaster. An announcement was then made by TfL that all Routemasters would be withdrawn by the end of 2005. The last front-line Routemasters were withdrawn from Route 159 on 9th December 2005.
People protested at the loss of the Routemaster. In the summer of 2005 the possibility of up to six Heritage Routes were talked about, taking in all of the capitals tourist sights. In September it was confirmed that two heritage routes were to be operated as parts of the existing Routes 9 and 15, and was stipulated that they must accept standard fares and Oyster Cards.
We entered a new millennium and the future was looking bright for London’s Routemaster. London’s new Mayor, Ken Livingstone, was expanding the capacity of the Bus Network, and more Routemasters were needed to increase the frequency of some of Central London’s busiest routes. Instead of filling the gap with regular OPO buses, Routemasters were sourced from all over the UK, almost 50 in total, and refurbishment started in 2001 by Marshalls of Cambridge. This refurbishment consisted of new Cummins engines (Euro 2), Allison automatic gearboxes, body refurbishment including replacement of the wind down windows to the hopper type and closing the front opening window of the drivers cab. Other changes to the interior included; new floor, new interior lights, new yellow handrails, reupholstered seating and new bell rope - it was announced that these Routemasters were now fit for a further 10 years of service.
Almost 50 years on the Routemaster continued to be London's work horse. In the summer of 2003 there were still 20 crew operated routes running over 500 Routemasters on the streets of London. Suddenly in August 2003, Route 15 mysteriously lost its Routemasters soon followed by Route 11 in October and Route 23 in November; only months after the last Routemasters had been refurbished by Marshall. Things were not looking good. 2004 came and ten routes were converted, making it clear that Routemasters were not here to stay. By 2005 that number had been slashed to fewer than 100 Routemasters running just three routes. Time was quickly running out for London’s Routemaster. An announcement was then made by TfL that all Routemasters would be withdrawn by the end of 2005. The last front-line Routemasters were withdrawn from Route 159 on 9th December 2005.
People protested at the loss of the Routemaster. In the summer of 2005 the possibility of up to six Heritage Routes were talked about, taking in all of the capitals tourist sights. In September it was confirmed that two heritage routes were to be operated as parts of the existing Routes 9 and 15, and was stipulated that they must accept standard fares and Oyster Cards.
The first Heritage Routemasters entered service on a crisp, sunny Monday morning, 14th November 2005, after a small press launch in Trafalgar Square, held by Ken Livingstone and Peter Hendy, joined by RM1933 and RM1913 gleaming in the sunlight.
Initially tendered at Route A (Piccadilly Circus to Tower Hill) and Route B (Royal Albert Hall to Aldwych) contracts were awarded to First London (to operate Route 9 between Royal Albert Hall and Aldwych, later altered to run between Kensington High Street and Trafalgar Square) to and Stagecoach East London (to operate Route 15 between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill). A shock announcement was made early in 2014 - Heritage Route 9 was to be withdrawn by the end of the year. So, in July, the last Routemaster, RM1627, reached Kensington, bringing 51 years of Routemaster operation on Route 9 to a close. Route 15 continues to operate with Heritage Routemasters, every 20 minutes, every day. Please support them to keep our Heritage alive. |
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