WLTM Transport Blog: Central London route changes Part Four

15/12/2018

Central London route changes Part Four

On Saturday 24th November, RATP-dev London United's Route 10 became the first Central London bus route to be cut in its entirety in conjunction with the Oxford Street and Central London bus consultations by TfL. With the aim of removing "excess" bus routes [capacity] off London's flagship shopping street, it was decided that Routes 10 and 23 would be merged at Marble Arch to form a new route running between Westbourne Park and Hammersmith. The former sections of each route, the 23 from Marble Arch to Aldwych and the 10 from Marble Arch to King's Cross, would be withdrawn and no longer served. Marble Arch to Aldwych is still be achievable on one bus by using Route 6, or with a short walk to use Route 139. Marble Arch to King's Cross would still be achievable on Route 390.

These route changes leaves the British Museum unserved by London's famous red buses, and plenty of ordinary punters out in the cold at Marble Arch when their bus from Westbourne Park or Hammersmith fails to find Oxford Street. This was in fact the second recent iteration of Route 23, having only been withdrawn between Liverpool Street and Aldwych in late 2017.

The final London United Route 10 was LT166 in the early hours of November 24th, followed by DN33784 on the first new Tower Transit 23.

TT DN33777 on the 23 to Liverpool Street at Ludgate Circus in June 2017, prior to being cut back to Aldwych.
© Tommy Cooling

TT VNW32416 on the 23 to Aldwych on Oxford Street in October 2017, after being cut back from Liverpool Street.
© Tommy Cooling

TT DNH39126 on the 23 passes RATP London United LT83 on the 10 along Oxford Street, a scene no longer possible.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/30821636057/in/album-72157664460961351/
© Tommy Cooling

RATP London United LT85 under the Oxford Street lights, in the last few days on Route 10.

© Tommy Cooling

RATP London United LT80 passes the British Museum, now no longer served by a red London bus.
© Tommy Cooling

RATP London United LT163 with Russell Square in the background, on Bedford Place no longer served by a TfL bus route.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45755943451/in/album-72157665247070991/
© Tommy Cooling

The new route, which now runs from Westbourne Park to Hammersmith kept the 23 route number, and stayed with the 23s operator, Tower Transit, at Westbourne Park (X), as well as keeping its previous E40H DNH allocation. London United's Route 10 was withdrawn in its entirety, and its allocation swapped to Route 27 causing further fleet reshuffles inside London United.