Metrobus (South East England)

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Metrobus
Alexander Dennis Enviro200 in Brighton in June 2018, with a Route 270 service from East Grinstead
ParentBrighton & Hove (part of the Go-Ahead Group)
FoundedJuly 1983
HeadquartersCrawley
Service areaEast Surrey
West Sussex
North-west Kent
London
Service typeBus services
Routes70[1]
HubsCrawley
Copthorne
Fleet180 (August 2023),[2] 157 currently operating[3]
Websitewww.metrobus.co.uk

Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company Limited,[4] trading as Metrobus, is a bus operator with routes in parts of Surrey, Kent, Sussex, and Greater London. Formed through a management buyout in 1983, Metrobus was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in September 1999 and is now under the control of Brighton & Hove, part of the Go-Ahead Group.

Metrobus previously operated many routes under contract to Transport for London in south and south-east London, but following a restructure, on 1 April 2014 these were transferred to Go-Ahead London under London General. The remaining commercial operations were brought under the control of Brighton & Hove on 1 July 2014. On 2 September 2023, the operations of Southdown Buses were transferred to Metrobus.[5]

History[edit]

Old Metrobus logo on display in empty timetable poster frame

In February 1981 the Orpington & District bus company collapsed due to financial difficulties, and the Tillingbourne Bus Company based in West Surrey took over their operations, setting up Tillingbourne (Metropolitan) Limited.[6] In July 1983, Metrobus Limited was formed when two directors, Gary Wood and Peter Larking, purchased the subsidiary.[7]

The newly formed company acquired the former Orpington & District garage at Green Street Green, Orpington, along with six employees and six vehicles. Three routes were operated by Metrobus at the time it was set up: 353 (Croydon to Orpington via Coombe Road, weekday peak hours only), 355 (Croydon to Forestdale, weekday peak hours only) and 357 (Croydon to Orpington via Forestdale, Monday-Saturday, all day).

In May 1982 a 'shopper bus' service was introduced, running from Sanderstead to Bromley town centre via New Addington. In keeping with the route numbers of the former Tillingbourne services, this route was numbered 354.[7] Due to requests from residents, the route also began to serve Bourne Vale and the Hayesford Park Estate, which were some distance from other bus services.[8] In October 1983 the 354 was rerouted to cut out New Addington, and diverted at Addington to run to Croydon instead of Sanderstead.

In 1986 route 355 was discontinued for short journeys between Croydon and Forestdale, and the 354 frequency increased and rerouted via Selsdon Vale (although the residents of the area refused to allow LT to put fixed bus stops in place). The route was also curtailed at Selsdon, although it was extended back to East Croydon the next year. By the summer of 1988, route 354 was offering an hourly service on Mondays to Saturdays between Croydon, Selsdon, Addington, Hayes and Bromley. [9] In 1995 route 357 was withdrawn after routes 353 and 354 were re-timetabled.[citation needed]

Two coach operators, Southland Travel and RB Coaches, were taken over by Metrobus in October 1991 along with the ten vehicles originally owned by the companies. These coaches were used on the already existing private hire business, and to operate scheduled day trips to European destinations.[10] In 2005, Southland Travel was purchased by Sullivan Buses, along with Polhill Garage. The business was later resold to its management.[11]

In the summers of 1994 and 1995, Metrobus operated their 'Wealdsman' service (numbered 746) to complement the Surrey Hills weekend leisure bus network. Metrobus used a specially painted blue and yellow AEC Regal IV (RF-class) vehicle, on loan from the Wealdsman Preservation Group, for the long service between Bromley and Tunbridge Wells, connecting with other leisure services (London & Country Routemaster service 410 to Box Hill) at Westerham.[12]

Throughout the late 1990s, Metrobus introduced other commercial routes operated under Section 3(2) of the London Regional Transport Act 1984 (later to become London Local Service Agreements), including the 351, 356 and 358. All such routes were later transferred to Transport for London in mid-2002, although the 358 still remains tendered to Metrobus as of 2012.[13]

In September 1999, Metrobus was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group.[14][15][16]

Routes 353 and 354 were altered due to the opening of Croydon Tramlink on 20 May 2000. Both routes were transferred to standard TfL contract; the 353 was withdrawn between Addington Village and Croydon, and the 354 (renumbered T33 to reflect its new status as a Tramlink 'feeder' route) was withdrawn between Addington and Bromley.

Scania N94UD OmniDekka double-decker, in Orpington, operating London Buses route 353 en route to Addington

Metrobus is the operator of the Fastway guided bus network in Gatwick and Crawley which opened in September 2003 in order to reduce congestion on the roads around Crawley by encouraging people to take the bus instead of using their cars.[17]

On 8 December 2007, Metrobus took over the operations of First London's Orpington garage. All the staff and 35 vehicles were included, although the garage itself was closed, with the 'R' prefix routes transferring to the Orpington garage, and the T32 going to Croydon.[18]

Routes 526/527 were lost in a Surrey County Council contract to Southdown PSV in January 2008 although regained in September 2012, and Route 100 (Maidenbower - Redhill) became part of the Fastway Network in Spring 2008.

In September 2009 it was announced that from 3 October 2009, Metrobus would take over Arriva Guildford & West Surrey's Horsham operations, including Horsham town routes, route 93 (Dorking - Horsham) and London Buses route 465 (Dorking - Kingston). Metrobus purchased 19 buses as part of the sale and moved operations away from Arriva's site at Warnham to their existing depot in Crawley.

On 1 April 2014, Go-Ahead restructured the business with the management of the Transport for London contracted services passing to the control of Go-Ahead London under its London General subsidiary, with the remaining services administered by Brighton & Hove from 1 July 2014. The commercial services retain the Metrobus brand as of April 2024.[19][20][21]

Incidents[edit]

In March 2003, two Metrobus vehicles were involved in a fatal accident at Crawley bus station. A bus crashed into the back of another bus and mounted the kerb where passengers were waiting. As a result of the impact, one woman was killed and five others injured. Metrobus described themselves as "devastated" by the accident, and said it was their "first major incident".[22]

On 8 January 2011, one of Metrobus' vehicles was hijacked while in service in Merstham. The bus was empty having just dropped off the last passengers, and the bus driver managed to escape unharmed, along with the cash box the hijackers had tried to steal. The hijacked bus was then driven through the area, striking a number of parked cars and signs, before being reversed into another Metrobus vehicle which was in service with passengers. There were no injuries, but the road was closed for a number of hours while the police investigated. Two men, aged 23 and 25, were arrested. One was released on bail and the other was charged with seven separate offences.[23]

On 13 August 2022, vehicle number 6559 burst to flames after a collision on the A24 in Ashington just north of Worthing while on route 23. Two people were taken to hospital and the vehicle was scrapped shortly after.[24]

Fleet[edit]

As of February 2023, the Metrobus fleet consists of 173 buses.[25]

Fleet livery[edit]

Clockwise from top left: past and present Metrobus fleet liveries

Metrobus initially had a blue and yellow livery. This was superseded by a two-tone blue livery in the early 2000s.

The majority of Crawley buses featured a light blue base with a dark blue roof which swoops down at the front. It also has a white stripe separating the roof from the base, and a light blue lower dash panel. The Fastway livery is a silver base with navy blue cantrail panels and a navy blue lower front panel. Some older buses feature light blue with a dark blue roof and skirt panels along with a dark blue lower dash panel.

Most buses had a blue, red and orange oblong shapes on the seats, or "sails", however buses are now getting refurbished with Crawley's "Blue Moon" moquette now becoming standard on all Metrobus buses.[needs update] Fastway buses have a slightly different moquette, with the letters "fw" sewn into the fabric, along with dark grey vinyl inserts.

In 2015, Metrobus unveiled a new livery featuring a bright blue front with a dark blue rear separated by a yellow swoop with a dark blue panel on the front. This livery has since become the corporate livery of Metrobus. The new livery also featured a new moquette with predominantly blue with light blue circles and yellow dots.

Garages[edit]

Metrobus operates from garages in Crawley and Copthorne.

Crawley (CY)[edit]

History[edit]

A Fastway Wright GB Kite Hydroliner fuel cell bus in Crawley in May 2023

Following the decision by Arriva to discontinue its operations in Crawley and most of East Surrey and West Sussex in March 2001, Metrobus purchased Arriva's premises in Crawley, moved the company headquarters (along with all non-London routes) there and began to develop a commercial bus network in the town.[26]

In October 2009, Arriva sold their Horsham bus operations to Metrobus. Metrobus took over operation of various Horsham town routes, route 93 to Dorking and London Buses route 465 which is run under contract to Transport for London. Operations moved to Metrobus' existing depot in Crawley, away from the previous garage in Warnham which closed. All of Arriva's single deckers based at Warnham transferred to Metrobus. Six Alexander Dennis Enviro200s used on the 465 continued on that route. Six Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointers were kept and were refurbished internally and repainted (390, 393, 394, 395, 396 and 398), these are currently being used on route 93 between Dorking and Horsham; and a further six (388, 399, 397, 389, 391 and 392) being sold on to other operators. A solitary Volvo Olympian/Northern Counties double-decker remained in operation with Arriva.

On 30 June 2012, route 465 passed to Quality Line.[citation needed] During August 2013, new Wright Eclipses with Volvo chassis have been ordered as a replacement for the ageing Scania OmniCitys currently employed on the Crawley Fastway. This will displace the Scanias to other "country" workings and facilitate the retirement of the remaining unrefurbished Caetano Nimbuses, whose refurbishments were cancelled. 10 Alexander Dennis Enviro200s were ordered to replace the non-DDA compliant Darts, in order to both modernise the fleet and to comply to new legislation by 2016. These entered service in March 2015.[27]

In August 2016, Metrobus transferred 5 (out of a total of 31) Scania OmniCity double deckers from Brighton & Hove to allow route 400 to be converted to double-deck operation. The other 26 arrived between November 2017 and June 2018 and this allowed retirement of all but two of the ageing dual door Scania OmniDekkas.

In January 2017, 17 new Wright StreetLites entered service. These are used on routes 2, 4, 5 and Fastway Route 100. Ten more StreetLites were delivered in May 2019, with 1 second hand Enviro200 acquired in January 2020 to replace an accident damaged StreetLite. 2 more Enviro200s arrived in March 2020 for the newly acquired E9 and E10 local routes in Epsom.

Metrobus received a fleet of 6 Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs in December 2020, once again from Brighton & Hove. Numbered 6901 to 6906, they are currently mainly used on route 420.[28]

Metrobus took delivery of Wright GB Kite Hydroliner FCEVs for use on the Fastway network in early 2023, with the official launch of the buses taking place on 29 June. To facilitate their delivery, Crawley depot was equipped with a hydrogen refuelling station that is capable of refuelling up to 100 buses. The stations store up to five tonnes of liquid hydrogen each in individual storage tanks and are capable of dispensing up to 250 kilograms (550 lb) of vapourised fuel per hour, meaning a hydrogen bus at Crawley depot can be refuelled in around eight minutes. A further 34 hydrogen buses have been ordered for delivery to Crawley depot.[29]

Bus types in use[edit]

Copthorne (CP)[edit]

History[edit]

This garage was originally operated by Southdown Buses until 2 September 2023, when it was taken over by Metrobus. The buses had their Southdown logos removed and replaced with Metrobus logos. The buses' fleetcodes were also renumbered into the Metrobus fleetcode sequence on 12 March 2023,[31] after Southdown Buses was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group on 1 February 2023.[32]

Bus types in use[edit]

Routes[edit]

Route From To Via Weekday Frequency (Off-Peak) Saturday Frequency (Off-Peak) Sunday & Holiday Frequency (Off-Peak Garage
1 Crawley (Town Centre) Broadfield Southgate 20 minutes 20 minutes 40 minutes Crawley
2 K2 Leisure Centre or Tilgate Ifield West Furnace Green, Crawley Town Centre, Crawley Hospital & West Green 13-15 minutes 13-15 minutes 30 minutes Crawley
3 Gatwick Airport Bewbush Forge Wood, Tinsley Green, Pound Hill, Three Bridges, Crawley Town Centre, Crawley Hospital, West Green & Gossops Green 20 minutes 20 minutes 45 minutes Crawley
4 / 5 Gatwick Airport Wakehams Green & Crabbet Park County Oak, Langley Green, Crawley Town Centre, Three Bridges & Pound Hill 15 minutes 15 minutes 30 minutes Crawley
Fastway 10 Gatwick Airport Bewbush City Place, Manor Royal, Crawley Town Centre & Broadfield 8-10 minutes 9-10 minutes 12 minutes Crawley
Fastway 20 Pease Pottage & Woodgate Horley Langshott Tollgate Hill, Broadfield, Three Bridges, Gatwick Road, City Place, Gatwick Airport & Horley 20-25 minutes 20-25 minutes 30 minutes Crawley
21 Crawley Epsom & Kiln Lane Sainsbury's Ifield, Charlwood, Newdigate, Beare Green, Dorking, Box Hill & Leatherhead 2 hours 2 hours No service Crawley
22 Crawley Holmbury St Mary Gatwick Airport, Horley, Hookwood Tesco, Charlwood, Leigh, Chart Downs & Dorking 2 hours No service No service Crawley
23 Crawley Worthing Bewbush, Kilnwood Vale, Faygate, Roffey, Horsham, Southwater Ashington & Washington 30 minutes (Crawley to Horsham)

1 hour (Crawley to Worthing)

30 minutes (Crawley to Horsham)

1 hour (Crawley to Worthing)

2 hours Crawley
32 Redhill Guildford Reigate, Betchworth, Strood Green, Brockham, Dorking, Westcott, Wotton, Abinger Hammer, Gomshall, Shere, Albury, Chilworth & Shalford No service No service 2 hours Crawley
51 The Common North Heath Horsham Town Centre, Horsham Station & Horsham Hospital 1 journey between The Common and North Heath via Horsham

3 journeys between North Heath and Horsham 2 journeys between Horsham and the Common

1 journey between The Common and North Heath via Horsham

3 journeys between North Heath and Horsham 2 journeys between Horsham and the Common

No service Crawley
61 Horsham North Heath Horsham Station & Horsham Hospital 1 hour 1 hour No service Crawley
65 Horsham Oakhill Horsham Station 1 hour 1 hour No service Crawley
84 Crawley East Grinstead Three Bridges, Tulleys Farm, Turners Hill, West Hoathly, Sharpthorne & Standen 2 hours 2 hours No service Crawley
93 Horsham Dorking Broadbridge Heath, Warnham, Capel, Beare Green, Holmwood Park & Goodwyns 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours Crawley
98 Southwater Roffey Horsham 20 minutes 20 minutes 35 minutes Crawley
Fastway 100 Maidenbower Redhill Park 25 Three Bridges, Crawley Town Centre, Manor Royal, Gatwick Airport, Horley, Meath Green, Salfords, East Surrey Hospital & Redhill 20 minutes 20 minutes 30 minutes Crawley
200 Gatwick Airport Horsham City Place, Manor Royal, Langley Green, Ifield, Gossops Green, Bewbush, Kilnwood Vale, Roffey & North Heath 30 minutes 30 minutes 30 minutes (Gatwick Airport to Bewbush)

1 hour (Gatwick Airport to Horsham)

Crawley
231 Lingfield or Edenbridge Tunbridge Wells Four Elms, Chiddingstone Causeway, Penshurst, Langton Green & Tunbridge Wells Station 3 hours (90 minutes combined with Route 233) 3 hours (90 minutes combined with Route 233) No service Crawley
233 Lingfield or Edenbridge Tunbridge Wells Four Elms, Chiddingstone Causeway, Penshurst, Bidborough & Southborough 3 hours (90 minutes combined with Route 231) 3 hours (90 minutes combined with Route 231) No service Crawley
236 Oxted East Grinstead Limpsfield, Westerham, Crockham Hill, Edenbridge, Dormansland, Lingfield & Felcourt 2 hours No service No service Copthorne
270 East Grinstead Brighton Ashurst Wood, Forest Row, Wych Cross, Horsted Keynes, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Pyecombe & Patcham 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours Crawley
271 Crawley Brighton Handcross, Staplefield, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill & Hassocks 2 hours 2 hours 2-2.5 hours Crawley
272 Crawley Royal Sussex County Hospital Copthorne, Crawley Down, Turners Hill, Ardingly, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, World's End, Brugess Hill, Hassocks, Pyecombe, Patcham & Brighton 2 hours 2 hours No service Crawley
273 Crawley Brighton Handcross, Bolney, Hickstead, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Pycombe & Patcham 2 hours 2 hours No service Crawley
280 Moyneux Park Tunbridge Wells 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
281 Crawley Lingfield Three Bridges, Heathy Wood, Copthorne, Crawley Down, East Grinstead, Stone Quarry & Dormansland 1 hour 1 hour No service Crawley
291 Crawley Tunbridge Wells Three Bridges, Copthorne, Crawley Down, East Grinstead, Forest Row, Hartfield, Groombridge & Langton Green 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours Crawley
318 Banstead Epsom Burgh Heath, Nork & Tattenham Corner 4 journeys in each direction (one journey between Banstead and Epsom operates on School Days only) No service No service Crawley
324 Copthorne St Bede's School & Reigate College Burstow, Smallfield, Horley, Hookwood, Meath Green, Salfords, Redhill (starts from St Bede's School, not serving Reigate College, on afternoon journeys) 1 journey in each direction No service No service Copthorne
398 Southwater Holy Trinity School & St Wilfird's School Horsham, Millais School, Faygate & Bewbush 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
400 Stone Quarry & East Grinstead Caterham-on-the-Hill Copthorne, Three Bridges, Crawley, Gatwick Airport, East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Godstone & Caterham 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours Crawley
409 East Grinstead Selsdon Felcourt, Lingfield, Blindley Heath, South Godstone, Godstone, Caterham, Caterham-on-the-Hill, Whyteleafe, Warlingham, Chelsham & Farleigfh 1 hour between Lingfield and Selsdon

2 hours between East Grinstead and Selsdon

1 hour between Godstone and Selsdon

2 hours between East Grinstead and Selsdon

1 hour between Caterham and Warlingham

2 journeys in both directions between Lingfield and Warlingham

Copthorne
410 Snow Hill or Holland Redhill Newchapel, Blindley Heath, South Godstone, Broadham Green, Hurst Green, Oxted, Godstone, Bletchingley & Nutfield 30 minutes 1 hour 1 hour (continues as Route 424) Copthorne
410A Lingfield Redhill Crowhurst, Staffhurst Wood, Holland, Hurst Green, Oxted, Godstone, Bletchingley & Nutfield 1 journey in each direction No service No service Copthorne
411 Selsdon or Warlingham Caterham or Reigate Upper Warlingham, Whyteleafe, Caterham-on-the-Hill, Caterham, Chaldon, Merstham, East Surrey College & Redhill 1 hour between Warlingham and Caterham

2 hours between Warlingham and Reigate One or two journeys start from or continue to Selsdon

No service No service Copthorne
420 Crawley (Sundays & Holidays only) or Whitebushes Sutton Gatwick Airport (Sundays & Holidays only), Whitebushes, East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Reigate, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Preston, Banstead & Belmont 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours Crawley
422 Redhill Redhill (circular) Reigate, Woodhatch, Westvale Park, Horley, Gatwick Airport, Gatwick Road North, Shipley Bridge, Copthorne, Burstow, Smallfield, Horley, Westvale Park, Woodhatch & East Surrey Hospital Irregular (at least 10 journeys) Irregular (at least 10 journeys) 1 hour (continues as Route 410) Copthorne
424 Redhill Redhill (circular) East Surrey Hospital, Woodhatch, Westvale Park, Horley, Smallfield, Burstow, Copthorne, Shipley Bridge, Gatwick Road North, Gatwick Airport, Horley, Westvale Park, Woodhatch & Reigate Irregular (at least 10 journeys) Irregular (at least 10 journeys) 1 hour (continues from Route 410) Copthorne
430 Mersham Merstham (circular) Redhill, East Surrey Hospital, Woodhatch, Reigate, Redhil & Watercolour 30 minutes 30 minutes 1 hour Crawley
435 Mersham Merstham (circular) Watercolour, Redhill, Reigate, Woodhatch, East Surrey Hospital & Redhill 30 minutes 30 minutes 1 hour Crawley
460 Crawley Epsom Gatwick Airport, Whitebushes, East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Reigate, Lower Kingswood, Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Preston & Tattenham Corner 1 hour 1 hour 2 hours Crawley
480 Preston Epsom Tattenham Corner 20-40 minutes 20-40 minutes 2 hours Crawley
485 Snow Hill East Grinstead Newchapel, Felbridge & The Kings Centre 3 journeys between Snow Hill and East Grinstead

4 journeys between East Grinstead and Snow Hill All journeys at East Grinstead continue or start from Route 236 or Route 409

No service No service Copthorne
594 Chalkpit Wood Westerham Oxted, Limpsfield & Limpsfield Chart 2 hours 2 hours No service Copthorne
595 Chalkpit Wood Westerham Oxted, Limpsfield, Titsey & Tatsfield 4 journeys in each direction 2 hours No service Copthorne
603 Forge Wood Bewbush Tinsley Green, Gatwick Road North, Hazelwick Avenue, Three Bridges, Crawley Town Centre, Crawley Hospital, West Green & Gossops Green 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
609 East Grinstead Oxted School Dormansland, Lingfield, Blindley Heath & South Godstone 1 journey in each direction No service No service Copthorne
610 Bewbush Holy Trinity School Broadfield, Furnace Green & Thomas Bennett School 1 journey only No service No service Crawley
Holy Trinity School Crawley Town Centre Thomas Bennett School & Furnace Green 1 journey only No service No service
Thomas Bennett School Bewbush Broadfield 1 journey only No service No service
611 Reigate Oxted School East Surrey College, Merstham, Chaldon, Caterham-on-the-Hill, Caterham & Godstone 1 journey in each direction No service No service Copthorne
612 Smallfield Oxted School Outwood, South Nutfield, Nutfield, Bletchingley & Godstone 1 journey in each direction No service No service Copthorne
617 Banstead St Andrew's School Tattenham Way, Tattenham Corner, Epsom, Ashtead & Leatherhead 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
619 Lower Kingswood St Andrew's School Tadworth, Marbles Way, Tattenham Corner, Epsom, Ashtead & Leatherhead 1 journey only No service No service Crawley
St Andrew's School Lower Kingswood Leatherhead, Ashtead, Epsom, Tattenham Corner & Marbles Way & Tadworth 1 journey only No service No service
St Andrew's School Banstead Leatherhead, Ashtead, Epsom, Tattenham Corner, Marbles Way & Merland Rise 1 journey only No service No service
624 Horley Imberhorne Schools Smallfield, Burstow, Copthorne, Crawley Down & Felbridge 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
638 Copthorne Imberhorne Lower School Snow Hill & Felbridge 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
643 Crabbet Park Imberhorne Schools Turners Hill, Crawley Down & Felbridge 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
646 Edenbridge East Grinstead Dormansland, Lingfield, Felcourt & Sackville School 1 journey only No service No service Copthorne
Sackville School Oxted East Grinstead, Felcourt, Lingfield, Dormansland, Edenbridge, Crockham Hill & Limpsfield Chart (Route changes to 410 from Oxted to Redhill) 1 journey only No service No service
648 The Duke's Head Copthorne Imberhorne Lower School Crawley Down & Felbridge 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
657 Whyteleafe St Bede's School Buxton Lane, Caterham-on-the-Hill, Chaldon, Merstham & East Surrey College 1 journey in each direction No service No service Copthorne
658 Warlingham St Bede's School & Reigate College Upper Warlingham, Whyteleafe, Marden Lodge, Caterham, Caterham-on-the-Hill, Chaldon, Merstham & East Surrey College

(starts from St Bede's School, not serving Reigate College, on afternoon journeys)

1 journey in each direction No service No service Copthorne
690 Southwater Millais School & Forest School Horsham 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
692 Crawley Town Centre Holy Trinity School & St Wilfrid's School Langley Green, Ifield & Gossops Green 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
693 Forge Wood Thomas Bennett School, Holy Trinity School & St Wilfrid's School Tinsley Green, Maidenbower, Three Bridges, Furnace Green & Tilgate 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
695 Westerham Oxted School Westerham Hill, Biggin Hill, Tatsfield, Titsey & Limpsfield 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
820 Sutton Walton Oaks Belmont & Banstead 1 journey only No service No service Crawley
Sutton Redhill Belmont, Banstead, Lower Kingswood, Reigate & St Bede's School 1 journey only No service No service
Walton Oaks Sutton Banstead & Belmont 1 journey only No service No service
St Bede's School Banstead Redhill, Reigate, Lower Kingswood & Walton-on-the-Hill 1 journey only No service No service
Redhill Sutton Reigate, Lower Kingswood, Watlon Oaks, Walton-on-the-Hill, Banstead & Belmont 1 journey only No service No service
866 Coulsdon The Beacon School Chipstead Valley, Woodmansterne & Banstead 1 journey in each direction No service No service Crawley
E9 Epsom Epsom (circular) Longmead, Parkview, Horton, Clarendon Park, Livingstone Park, Manor Park & Stamford Green 30 minutes 30 minutes 1 hour Crawley
E10 Epsom Manor Park & Noble Park Stamford Green 30 minutes 30 minutes 1 hour Crawley

Former garages[edit]

Scania OmniCity on route 405 in November 2011
Scania OmniDekka in September 2003
Scania OmniDekka in Transport for London red livery on route 405 at Redhill in June 2009

Metrobus operated two depots that operated Transport for London contracted services. On 1 April 2014 in a reorganisation of the business, these were brought under the control of Go-Ahead London's London General subsidiary.[19]

Croydon (C)[edit]

Croydon garage operated London bus routes 119, 127, 202, 293, 359, 405, 434 and 455.

History[edit]

The Beddington Lane depot was opened by Metrobus in December 2005 to house route 127 which had been surrendered early by Centra. Work was completed on the garage buildings in February 2006. This garage took over the London routes that ran from Godstone with the exception of the 146 and 246 which moved to Orpington.

On 19 May 2012, route T33 passed to Abellio London and route 54 was transferred to this garage.[33][34]

Orpington (MB)[edit]

Orpington garage operated London bus routes 119 (night service only on this 24-hour route), 126, 138, 146, 161, 162, 181, 233, 284, 320, 336, 352, 353, 358, 464, B14, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R8, R9, R11, and school route 654.

History[edit]

A former farm, Orpington depot was for many years the only garage for all of Metrobus' London tendered routes since the award of route 61 in 1986. More recently routes have been operated from Godstone and in December 2005 a new depot was constructed in Croydon to cope with new tender awards. During mid-2005 major reconstruction started on the Green Street Green site to make improvements and provide an expansion. During these works, a temporary base was being used on Polhill, near Halstead, next to the base of what was Southlands Travel.

On 23 February 2013, Metrobus commenced operating route 233,[35] later commencing their operations of route 126 in March of the same year.[36]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Timetables & maps Metrobus
  2. ^ Brighton & Hove, Metrobus and Southdown PSV - Current fleet as at 28 August 2023
  3. ^ Fleet list for Metrobus
  4. ^ Companies House extract company no 0307468 Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company Limited
  5. ^ "Southdown is joining the Metrobus family". Southdown Buses. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  6. ^ Companies House extract company no 1567824 Tillingbourne (Metropolitan) Limited
  7. ^ a b Boag, Andrew (1994). Metrobus: The Company's First Ten Years. Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport Publishing. pp. 8–9. ISBN 978-1-85414-159-0.
  8. ^ Boag, Andrew; Ltd, Metrobus (1994). Metrobus: The Company's First Ten Years. Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-85414-159-0.
  9. ^ Boag, Andrew; Ltd, Metrobus (1994). Metrobus: The Company's First Ten Years. Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport Publishing. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-1-85414-159-0.
  10. ^ Boag, Andrew; Ltd, Metrobus (1994). Metrobus: The Company's First Ten Years. Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport Publishing. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-85414-159-0.
  11. ^ "Sullivan Buses - Enthusiasts". Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  12. ^ Dawes, Mike. "Wealdsman - RF255". Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  13. ^ Bus tender results Route 358 Transport for London 20 December 2007
  14. ^ "Business Case Study - Go-Ahead - Deregulation". The Times 100 Business Case Studies. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  15. ^ "Go-Ahead - Metrobus". Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  16. ^ Go-Ahead Annual Report 1 July 2000 Archived 23 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group plc
  17. ^ "About Fastway - Frequently Asked Questions". 4 February 2001. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  18. ^ "TUPE Transfer and future of Orpington Bus Garage". 26 October 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  19. ^ a b Go-Ahead London welcomes Metrobus garages into fold Bus Talk (Go-Ahead London) issue 27 April 2014
  20. ^ "Metrobus within Go-Ahead London" The London Bus (London Omnibus Traction Society) issue 598 June 2014 page 7
  21. ^ "Go-Ahead London" Buses issue 713 August 2014 page 71
  22. ^ "Bus crash kills woman". BBC News. 10 March 2003. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  23. ^ "'Hijacked' bus collides with cars and second bus". Surrey Advertiser. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  24. ^ "Bus bursts into flames after a collision on A24". The Argus. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  25. ^ Fleet list for Metrobus Metrobus
  26. ^ Acquisition of Crawley Depot Go-Ahead Group 2 April 2001
  27. ^ "New buses for Metrobus and Brighton & Hove". CBW. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Metrobus Fleet". history.buses.co.uk. Brighton & Hove Buses.
  29. ^ a b Day, James (8 July 2023). "High demand hydrogen". Buses. No. 821. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 28–32. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ https://history.buses.co.uk/history/fleethist/2023buses.htm
  32. ^ "Southdown is joining the Metrobus family". Metrobus. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  33. ^ Bus tender results Route T33 Transport for London 23 September 2004
  34. ^ Bus tender results Route T33 Transport for London 3 August 2011
  35. ^ Bus tender results Route 233 Transport for London 24 May 2012
  36. ^ Bus tender results Route 126 Transport for London 24 May 2012

External links[edit]

Media related to Metrobus at Wikimedia Commons

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