London Buses route 8

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8
Stagecoach East London bus LT239 (LTZ 1239), Regent Street Bus Cavalcade (1) (cropped).jpg
Overview
Operator Stagecoach London
Garage Bow (BW)
Vehicle New Routemaster
Night-time Night Bus N8
Route
Start Bow Church
Via Old Ford
Bethnal Green
Shoreditch
Bank
Holborn
End Tottenham Court Road station
Length 7 miles (11 km)
Service
Level Daily

London Buses route 8 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Bow Church and Tottenham Court Road station, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

History

On 2 November 1908, the bus route number 8 was allocated to a previously un-numbered route operating between the Bush Hotel in Shepherds Bush and Seven Kings High Road in Ilford.[1] On 20 June 1912, routes 8 and 25 exchanged eastern ends at Bank, so that from then on route 8 operated between Willesden and Old Ford. This situation continued, apart from various westward extensions of the route to Wembley and Alperton, until 18 July 1992. At that time route 8 again was re-routed over route 25, and now operated from Victoria bus station to Bow Church via Old Ford, the same routing as the 1912 version of route 25. The western end of the route beyond Bond Street became 98.[2]

On 3 January 1933, AEC Regent STL buses were used from Clay Hall garage.[3] In May 1949, Leyland Titan RTWs were introduced on route 8.[4] In January 1958, the third prototype AEC Routemaster began operation on route 8 between Willesdan and Old Ford.[5] On 6 June 1959, the first three production Routemasters to enter service in London (RM5, RM7 and RM24) debuted on route 8 from Willesden garage.[6]

On 5 June 2004, route 8 was converted to one man operation with the AEC Routemasters replaced by Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2s.[2][7]

On 27 June 2009, route 8 was curtailed west of Oxford Circus. Route C2 was extended to Victoria station as a replacement.[8] The changes were part of Transport for London's commitment to the Mayor of London to reduce the bus flow in Oxford Street by 10% in each of 2009 and 2010.[9][10]

On 24 August 2013, the route was curtailed from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road, and from Bow Church to Old Ford, to accommodate various Crossrail works. On 21 December 2013, the route resumed operating to Bow Church. It will be re-extended to Oxford Circus once these works are complete.

Stagecoach London has successfully retained route 8 with new contracts starting on 26 June 2004, 27 June 2009 and 28 June 2014.[11][12][13]

New Routemasters were introduced on 28 June 2014. The rear platform remains closed at all times except for when the bus is at bus stops.[14]

Current route

Route 8 operates via these primary locations:[15]

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. 8’s Epic End London Bus Routes 4 June 2004
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. See Appendix 1.
  10. Update on Bus Service Changes in Oxford Street Transport for London 9 November 2010
  11. 2004 Bus Tender Result Transport For London
  12. 2009 Bus Tender Result Transport For London
  13. 2014 Bus Tender Result Transport For London
  14. Press Release Transport For London
  15. Route Map Transport for London

External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons