Trivia: Furthest TFL Bus route from London?

[Oracle]

The 15 on Sundays ran to Kew Green from the East End. Didn't the 81 run from Shepherds Bush Green to Slough at one time, when it was a RM route [yes it did: 1966-69]?

 

[Deerfold]

The 15 on Sundays ran to Kew Green from the East End. Didn't the 81 run from Shepherds Bush Green to Slough at one time, when it was a RM route [yes it did: 1966-69]?

And for a time continued pass Slough to Windsor.

 

[A60K]

There was an NX1 night bus route at one time around ten years ago, followed route 1 from Central London and then continued onto, I think, Chatham?

 

[Deerfold]

There was an NX1 night bus route at one time around ten years ago, followed route 1 from Central London and then continued onto, I think, Chatham?

This was a commercial route to Gillingham, not a TfL or London Transport Route (the within London sections now being served by TfL route N89)

http://www.londonbusroutes.net/photos/N089.htm

Looks like the N89 may be longer than the N9 (it doesn't have as many stops though).

 

[ashworth]

the 465 to Dorking looks like the furtherst south you can go using an Oyster card.

That's great news for me. I didn't know about that service. I thought the 405 to Redhill was the furthest south I could get using an Oyster Card.
Routes 465 and 405 plus an Explorer Ticket could be combined to make some good days out in the south for a cheap price.

 

[GodAtum]

I think the 465 is the only TFL bus that goes otuside the M25?

 

[317 forever]

The other thing is: despite its long history as one (and indeed as a red bus route that ran from St Albans to a lot further into London than just Barnet), the 84 wasn't actually a LT route when the whole tendering and deregulation thing got underway, or for a few years prior to that.

The 84 was transferred from LT to London Country in 1982. I'm not quite sure on what basis (the current tendering regime didn't exist then: the first transfer of LT routes to private operators on contracts was in 1985, and deregulation of buses outside of Greater London occured in Oct. 1986. I don't know is some funding from Hertfordshire County Council would have been involved). I seem to recall reading at the same time it was "swapped" with the 313 (Chingford-Potters Bar), formerly a London Country route, which then became a red-bus LT route for the first time. (although London Country won the tender to operate it when it was one of the first LT routes to be tendered out a bit later)

I'm also not sure when, why or how the 84 got red buses again. Although I would guess it was at deregulation. (Potters Bar garage also ran other "commercial" routes mostly or entirely outside Greater London, like the old LT route 242 from Potters Bar to Waltham Abbey via Cuffley and Northaw)

Route 84 returned to LBL (PB) on 21 June 1986 when route 298 was lost to London Country on tendering. I understand route 84 was then becoming a Herts CC contract but later became a commercial operation.

You can now use London Travelcards on route 84 between New Barnet and Potters Bar. I used a one-day Travelcard on it in July. Indeed, I rode 3 lengths of Metroline Enviro 200s in Barnet (and an Arriva one on route 184, a successor route on the Arnos Grove section) that day!

 

[W-on-Sea]

I think the 465 is the only TFL bus that goes otuside the M25?

Afraid not. At opposite ends of town, the 498 to Brentwood and the 81 to Slough spring immediately to mind. And all the routes that go to Waltham Cross just cross that boundary too.

And the 347, 370 and 372 (the latter only for a short distance) all go outside the M25 in the Thurrock/Ockendon area too (the 347 is notable for serving the only settlement in Greater London of any size beyond the M25, North Ockendon)

And just over the water, all the routes to Bluewater too.

Possibly others elsewhere too. I suppose the 81 is notable for being the only "traditional" long-established LT route to go so far out, and still be a full TfL service today. The others I've mentioned are all either ex-London Country, or replacements for Eastern National routes, or relatively new services or relatively new projections of services. (The 347 is a bit odd, I suppose it is kind of a replacement for old Ensignbus routes)

Route 84 returned to LBL (PB) on 21 June 1986 when route 298 was lost to London Country on tendering. I understand route 84 was then becoming a Herts CC contract but later became a commercial operation.

Ah, right, so a few months before deregulation. Yes, that makes sense. That was when my then local route, the 145 went to Ensignbus; IIRC it was the second major transfer of routes to private operators (the first one having been the previous year, with the 81 to London Buslines, the 193 and W9 or "W-Niner" to Eastern National, and so on). I think it was the same date that the 217B went to Sampsons (and what a terrible operator they were, and what an unfitting colour scheme their buses had, when you could see it beneath the dirt, although it could look quite smart on coaches), the 283 to Scancoaches, and possibly the 200 to Cityrama.

Strange to look back and see which of those early tendered operators are still engaged with providing bus services. It really does seem to be the case that it really was the better operators that have survived in one form or another; while many that really weren't up to the job have gone to the wall (or refocused their energies in other areas).
But I digress somewhat

 

[MikeWh]

And just over the water, all the routes to Bluewater too.

Indeed. They are all completely oysterised too, which is great value for money. The 96 runs non-stop from Dartford to Bluewater and the 428 is almost the same, pausing only at Darent Valley Hospital. The 492 is the real star as it serves all the stops via Horns Cross to Greenhithe before diving down to Bluewater. The shopping centre is about 4 miles as the crow flies from the GL boundary between Crayford and Dartford. The 492 route is about 6 miles.

 

[tripleseis]

If only Dartford was in zone 6 (or Oysterized at least) then getting to Bluewater via train would be cheaper and more convenient with PAYG.

 

[Surreytraveller]

I think the 465 is the only TFL bus that goes otuside the M25?

405 to Redhill.

 

[MikeWh]

If only Dartford was in zone 6 (or Oysterized at least) then getting to Bluewater via train would be cheaper and more convenient with PAYG.

Assuming you mean changing onto a bus for the last bit then it's not that bad. The 428 stops right next to the up platform exit at Slade Green while Crayford station is only 2-3 minutes walk from all three routes to Bluewater.

 

[Deerfold]

Assuming you mean changing onto a bus for the last bit then it's not that bad. The 428 stops right next to the up platform exit at Slade Green while Crayford station is only 2-3 minutes walk from all three routes to Bluewater.

But presumably he'd like Dartford to not be just outside the zones as far as the train is concerned...

 

[Neilandrewhall]

the 724 Bus, From Heathrow to Harlow Town? its a TFL Bus aswell as it has oyster reader on it :P

 

[manaichain]

Red London Buses go to /high Wycombe...don't know if that counts

 

[Neilandrewhall]

Red London Buses go to /high Wycombe...don't know if that counts

Carousal buses

 

[Oracle]

A new one on me!

TfL Bus Passes, Travelcards, Saver Tickets and Oyster Cards are NOT
accepted on this service.

So does that mean they don't count?

 

[Neilandrewhall]

A new one on me!



So does that mean they don't count?

what do you mean Orcale?

 

[Deerfold]

the 724 Bus, From Heathrow to Harlow Town? its a TFL Bus aswell as it has oyster reader on it :P

The 724 is a commercial service run by Arriva The Shires. It is not contracted to TfL.
From the timetable displayed at Heathrow: "TfL Bus Passes, Travelcards, Saver Tickets and Oyster Cards are NOT accepted on
this service. Cash fares may differ from those charged on other local services"




--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Carousal buses

Carousel buses A30, A40 and 740 are commercial services not contracted TfL - they have the same text as the 724 on the timetables displayed within London.

 

[Neilandrewhall]

The 724 is a commercial service run by Arriva The Shires. It is not contracted to TfL.
From the timetable displayed at Heathrow: "TfL Bus Passes, Travelcards, Saver Tickets and Oyster Cards are NOT accepted on
this service. Cash fares may differ from those charged on other local services"
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Carousel buses A30, A40 and 740 are commercial services not contracted TfL - they have the same text as the 724 on the timetables displayed within London.

Deerfold when i was on this bus Yesterday? they had the oyster readers :P

 

[W-on-Sea]

The 724 isn't a TfL Route! And neither does it accept Oyster...
See, for example, here

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/heathrowairportcentralterminals123-13970.pdf

 

[Deerfold]

Deerfold when i was on this bus Yesterday? they had the oyster readers :P

Arriva the Shires do operate TfL routes so it's possible they were using a bus fitted with Oyster readers on the route (though they're not supposed to). However the 724 will not accept Oyster tickets.

 

[Neilandrewhall]

I was on it, and trust me it had a yellow reader with the oyster picture - and i touched my freedom pass onto it, and my gf she touched her oyster and it beeped this was going from Hatfield to St Albans?

Next time Im on the bus, I will take a picture and prove it :P

 

[Deerfold]

I was on it, and trust me it had a yellow reader with the oyster picture - and i touched my freedom pass onto it, and my gf she touched her oyster and it beeped this was going from Hatfield to St Albans?

Next time Im on the bus, I will take a picture and prove it :P

If you've a freedom pass this will be valid. I'm surprised they allowed your gf to travel as Arriva will receive no payment for her journey. Do you know if it deducted any money from her card?

 

[Neilandrewhall]

If you've a freedom pass this will be valid. I'm surprised they allowed your gf to travel as Arriva will receive no payment for her journey. Do you know if it deducted any money from her card?

When she checked online it was £1.20?

 

[Deerfold]

When she checked online it was £1.20?

That is very odd. Does it give details of the service the bus thought it was on?

 

[Neilandrewhall]

That is very odd. Does it gove details of the service the bus thought it was on?

Explain Deerfold?

 

[Deerfold]

Explain Deerfold?

As the 724 isn't a TfL bus service for the ticket machine to deduct money it must have thought it was on a TfL route. I don't know if the online Oyster information tells you which route you caught (I have a TfL staff pass which doesn't work in quite the same way - I can't get a list of my journeys) - I was wondering if it did.

 

[Neilandrewhall]

Just accessed her Oyster Account this is what it says:

Date: 02/Nov/2010
Time: 14:02
Activity: Bus
Journey: Hatfield to St Albans
Fare: 1.20
Total: 120
Capped: N
Credit: 0.00
Balance: 2.50

 

[Deerfold]

Just accessed her Oyster Account this is what it says:

Date: 02/Nov/2010
Time: 14:02
Activity: Bus
Journey: Hatfield to St Albans
Fare: 1.20
Total: 120
Capped: N
Credit: 0.00
Balance: 2.50

Now my head hurts - the last connection TfL or its predecessors had with this route was to the 18th May 2001 - there's nothing in our internal systems after that date so I'm quite at a loss as to how the route has ended up in the Oyster system at all.

How does it know when she got off?