6
Metroline Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH at Victoria station in August 2023
Overview
OperatorMetroline
GarageWillesden
VehicleVolvo B5LH Wright Gemini 3
Peak vehicle requirementDay: 18
Night: 4
Began service1934
Night-time24-hour service
Route
StartWillesden bus garage
ViaKensal Rise
Queen's Park
Warwick Avenue
Edgware Road
Marble Arch
Hyde Park Corner
EndVictoria station
Service
Journey time42-66 minutes
Operates24-hour service
TimetableTransport for London

London Buses route 6 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Willesden bus garage and Victoria station, it is operated by Metroline.

History

An AEC Routemaster double-decker operated by Metroline approaching Piccadilly Circus, 1998

In 1934, route 6 operated from Willesden to Leyton via Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Aldwych. On 14 January 1942 it was withdrawn between Willesden and Kensal Rise.[1] In May 1949, AEC Regent III RT buses were introduced.[2]

On 25 October 1969, it was withdrawn between Hackney Wick and Leyton.[1] On 18 July 1992, it was further cut, with the section between Aldwych and Hackney Wick replaced by new route 26.[3]

On 27 March 2004, route 6, along with route 98, was converted to one man operation, with the AEC Routemasters replaced by Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs.[3] It was decided to run all journeys to Willesden garage, to provide a more consistent service along this corridor. However, the residents of Staverton Road, along which route 6's garage journeys passed (along with buses on route 52 and 302) objected to the increase in bus traffic. So the number of through journeys had to be limited to the previous level. The service has since been re-routed via Donnington Road and Pound Lane.[4]

Throughout June 2015, new Volvo B5LH bodied Wright Eclipse Gemini 3s were allocated to the route.[5] On 17 June 2017, route 6 was altered to operate via Park Lane and Piccadilly in lieu of Oxford and Regent Streets.[6] Since the introduction of tendering, it has always been operated by Metroline from Willesden bus garage.[7]

On 23 November 2022, it was announced that route 6 would be rerouted to run to Victoria station instead of Aldwych following a consultation. This change was implemented on 29 April 2023.[8][9]

Current route

Route 6 operates via these primary locations:[10]

References

  1. 1 2 Warren, Kenneth (1986). The Motorbus in Central London. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 87/88. ISBN 0-7110-1568-6.
  2. ↑ Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 93. ISBN 0853290830.
  3. 1 2 Blacker, Ken (2007). Routemaster: 1970–2005. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). Harrow Weald: Capital Transport. pp. 118, 168. ISBN 978-1-85414-303-7.
  4. ↑ Residents protest over new buses BBC News 27 March 2004
  5. ↑ Maxey, David (2016). Red All Over, The London Bus Review of 2015. Visions International.
  6. ↑ Bus service changes 19 May to 30 June 2017 Transport for London 2 June 2017
  7. ↑ Stagecoach loses out to Go-Ahead Buses issue 746 May 2017 page 22
  8. ↑ "Central London Bus Review 2022: Decision summary and next steps" (PDF). TfL Have Your Say. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "Central London bus changes". TfL. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Route 6 Map Transport for London

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