London Buses route 29

Last updated

29
2012 Wright Eclipse Gemini 2.jpg
Arriva London Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LH at Wood Green station
Overview
Operator Arriva London
Garage Wood Green
Vehicle Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 2/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3
Peak vehicle requirement31
Night-timeNight Bus N29
Route
Start Trafalgar Square
Via Camden Town
Holloway
Finsbury Park
End Wood Green station
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London Buses route 29 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Trafalgar Square and Wood Green station, it is operated by Arriva London.

History

London Transport AEC Routemaster on Wood Green High Road in April 1981 Wood Green, North London 1981 - 12056707936 (cropped).jpg
London Transport AEC Routemaster on Wood Green High Road in April 1981

Today's route 29 traces its history back to a daily route between Victoria and Wood Green via Whitehall, Charing Cross Road, Camden Town, Seven Sisters Road and Green Lanes, Harringay, which began operation on 20 November 1911.[ citation needed ]

By 1949, the route had been extended northwards to serve South Mimms, travelling on from Wood Green via Palmers Green, Southgate, Cockfosters, Hadley Wood and Potters Bar. [1] At peak hours on weekdays the route extended further to Borehamwood. [1] This was changed in 1951 so the route terminated at the Elstree Way Hotel instead of Borehamwood. [1] Additional journeys on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends were introduced in 1953, serving Clare Hall Hospital. Three years later, the service was withdrawn from Potters Bar and South Mimms, only to be reinstated after just three months. [1]

Route 29A terminated at Oakwood station.

The route was changed again in 1968, with the Monday to Saturday service from Southgate northwards being replaced by new route 298, and route 298A to Oakwood (except on Saturdays, when new route 125A provided service). Route 29 did, however, continue north from Southgate to Cockfosters station at peak hours on weekdays. The Sunday service between Southgate and South Mimms was replaced two years later by new route 299. Late journeys on Monday to Saturday were also changed to terminate at The Triangle in Palmers Green at this time. [1] In 1977, the Southgate portion of the route was withdrawn completely, with the route instead continuing northwards from Palmers Green through Winchmore Hill to Enfield Town. [1]

The route continued to operate between Victoria and Enfield Town for the next 14 years, being served by a fleet of AEC Routemasters operating out of Palmers Green garage. [2]

In 1988, the route was converted to single person double deck operation. A proposal by Capital Citybus to operate the route with tri-axle double deck buses in 1991 was rejected by London Regional Transport, then in charge of tendering the route, and it was retained by incumbent operator Leaside Buses. [3]

Arriva London Mercedes-Benz O530G in September 2011 Arriva bus MA95 (BX55 FUP), 24 September 2011.jpg
Arriva London Mercedes-Benz O530G in September 2011

On 14 January 2006, Mercedes-Benz O530G articulated buses were introduced. [4] It was reported that operation of the route by articulated vehicles cost around £1.6 million more per year than double-deck operation. [5]

In April 2006, the route's stop in Tottenham Court Road was relocated and a bus lane extended to provide more space for passengers and vehicles. [6]

In November 2011, operation of the route was switched from articulated buses to double-decker buses. [7]

On 5 and 6 February 2014, nine AEC Routemasters were used on the route during a London Underground strike. [8]

The route today

The route is noted for its high crime rate, and in January 2008 was London's third most dangerous bus route, according to figures released by Transport for London. [9] In February 2010 police presence on the route was increased. This followed a similar increase in early 2005 which had focussed on antisocial behaviour and illegal parking along the route. [10] [11]

In 2015/16 it was the third busiest route in London with 15.5 million passengers. [12]

In 2021, the service frequency during peak times Monday to Friday was reduced from 12 buses per hour to 10. [13]

Current route

Route 29 operates via these primary locations: [14]

Related Research Articles

Winchmore Hill is a suburb and electoral ward in the Borough of Enfield, north London, within the N21 postal district. The Winchmore Hill conservation area serves as the focal point of the district. Geographically, the district is bounded on the east by Green Lanes, Barrowell Green, Firs Lane and Fords Grove. To the north-west, it is bordered by Grovelands Park. The southern boundary extends to part of Aldermans Hill, while the northern boundary reaches Vicars Moor Lane and Houndsden Road. Winchmore Hill is situated 8.9 miles (14.3 km) north-northeast of Charing Cross.

Seven Sisters is a district of Tottenham, north London, England, at the eastern end of Seven Sisters Road, which runs from Tottenham High Road to join the A1 in Holloway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnos Grove tube station</span> London Underground station

Arnos Grove is a London Underground station located in Arnos Grove in the London Borough of Enfield, London. It is on the Piccadilly line between Bounds Green and Southgate stations and is in Travelcard Zone 4. The station opened on 19 September 1932 as the most northerly station on the first section of the Piccadilly line extension from Finsbury Park to Cockfosters. It was the terminus of the line until services were further extended to Oakwood on 13 March 1933. When travelling from east of Barons Court and through Central London, Arnos Grove is the first surface station after the long tunnel section of the Piccadilly line. The station has four platforms which face three tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turnpike Lane tube station</span> London Underground station

Turnpike Lane is a London Underground station at Turnpike Lane in the London Borough of Haringey in north London, England. The station is on the northeastern part of the Piccadilly line between Manor House and Wood Green. The station was opened on 19 September 1932 as part of the Cockfosters extension. It is in Travelcard Zone 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manor House tube station</span> London Underground station

Manor House is a London Underground station. It is on the Piccadilly line between Finsbury Park and Turnpike Lane stations, and is on the boundary between Travelcard Zone 2 and Zone 3. It straddles the border between the London Boroughs of Hackney and Haringey, the postal address and three of the entrances being in the former, and one entrance in the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buses in London</span>

Buses have been used as a mode of public transport in London since 1829, when George Shillibeer started operating a horse-drawn omnibus service from Paddington to the City of London. In the decades since their introduction, the red London bus has become a symbol of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arriva London</span> Bus company operating services in Greater London

Arriva London is a major bus company operating services in Greater London. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus and operates services under contract to Transport for London. It was formed in 1998 from a fusion of previously separate Arriva subsidiaries Grey-Green, Leaside Buses, Kentish Bus, London & Country and South London Transport. Operations are split between two registered companies, Arriva London North Limited and Arriva London South Limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 3</span> London bus route

London Buses route 3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Crystal Palace and Victoria bus stations, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 13</span> London bus route

London Buses route 13 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between North Finchley bus station and Victoria station, it is operated by RATP Dev Transit London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 38</span> London bus route

London Buses route 38 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Clapton Pond and Victoria bus station, it is operated by Arriva London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 73</span> London bus route

London Buses route 73 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Stoke Newington Common and Oxford Circus, it is operated by Arriva London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 207</span> London bus route

London Buses route 207 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hayes Bypass and White City bus station, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Green, London</span> Sub-district of Tottenham, north London

West Green is a district in north London, England, in the United Kingdom; within the London Borough of Haringey. It is located 5.7 miles (9.22 km) north of Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 436</span> London bus route

London Buses route 436 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Lewisham Shopping Centre and Battersea Park station, it is operated by Go-Ahead London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 253</span> London bus route

London Buses route 253 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hackney Central station and Euston bus station, it is operated by Arriva London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 141</span> London bus route

London Buses route 141 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Palmers Green and London Bridge bus station, it is operated by Arriva London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 68</span> London bus route

London Buses route 68 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between West Norwood and Euston bus station, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Articulated buses in London</span> Long bus used in London

Articulated buses, popularly called "bendy buses," were introduced to London in October 2001 when two Wright Eclipse Fusion bodied Volvo B7LAs were hired from First Hampshire & Dorset, one of which was repainted into First London's red livery, and six Wright Fusion bodied Volvo B10LAs from First Glasgow for a trial on route 207 between Shepherd's Bush and Hayes-By-Pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 149</span> London bus route

London Buses route 149 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Edmonton Green and London Bridge bus stations, it is operated by Arriva London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night buses in London</span> Series of night bus routes that serve Greater London

The London Night Bus network is a series of night bus routes that serve Greater London. Services broadly operate between the hours of 23:00 and 06:00.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Motorbus in Central London (Ian Allan, 1986; ISBN   0 7110 1568 6)
  2. ↑ "RM 5". The Arriva Heritage Fleet. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  3. ↑ Millar, Alan (August 2011). "20 Years Ago: Leon launches his London tri-axle bid". Buses (677). Ian Allan Publishing: 30.
  4. ↑ Mercedes-Benz Citaro G Artic (Arriva London Route 29) Diecast Model by Creative Master Northcord minimodelcommercial.co.uk
  5. ↑ Ignore the bleatings of the bendy bus brigade Archived 14 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine London Evening Standard
  6. ↑ Bus Route 29 Bus Stop and Bus Lane Proposals: Tottenham Court Road Camden Council
  7. ↑ Kirk, Tristan (30 November 2011). "Bendy buses removed from 29 and N29 bus routes". Enfield Independent. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Hutton, Alice (6 February 2014). "TfL brings in vintage Routemasters in face of tube strike disruption". Camden New Journal. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  9. ↑ CCTV, more police but crime on the buses gets worse | News - London Evening Standard Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Bus Police to stop crime on route 29 | Transport for London
  11. ↑ Getting tough on Wood Green buses (From This Is Local London) Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ https://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/bus-service-usage.xlsx [ dead link ]
  13. ↑ Mortimer, Josiah (21 December 2021). "The 41 London bus routes that have quietly been cut in 2021". MyLondon. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  14. ↑ Route 29 Map Transport for London
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