London Buses route 135

London Buses route 135 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Cubitt Town and Moorfields Eye Hospital, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

135
Overview
OperatorStagecoach London
GarageLea Interchange
VehicleVolvo B5LH Wright Gemini 3
Peak vehicle requirement15
Began service24 May 2008
Former operator(s)Tower Transit
Docklands Buses
Arriva London
Night-timeNo night service
Route
StartCubitt Town
ViaCanary Wharf
Limehouse
Aldgate
EndMoorfields Eye Hospital
Length8 miles (13 km)
Service
LevelDaily
FrequencyAbout every 10-15 minutes
Journey time37-80 minutes
Operates04:20 until 01:30

History edit

 
Arriva London Alexander Dennis Enviro400 in Bishopsgate in June 2009
 
Docklands Buses Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC at Aldgate East station in June 2015

Route 135 commenced operating on 24 May 2008 between Cubitt Town and Moorfields Eye Hospital. It was initially operated at a frequency of every 15 minutes off-peak and every 10 minutes during peak hours, with a maximum requirement of 13 double-deck buses.[1] The initial contract to operate the route was awarded to Arriva London's Barking garage.[2] The route was featured in Time Out magazine in 2009.[3]

Upon being re-tendered, the route was awarded to Docklands Buses with the transfer occurring on 23 May 2015 and Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC bodied Volvo B5LHs introduced.[4][5]

On 17 September 2016, it was rerouted through the Isle of Dogs to partly replace route D3.[6]

Upon being retendered, operation the route was taken over by Tower Transit's Lea Interchange bus garage on 21 May 2022 using Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs formerly used on route 328.[7] The route was included in the sale of Lea Interchange bus garage to Stagecoach London on 25 June 2022.[8][9]

Current route edit

Route 135 operates via these primary locations:[10]

Previous route 135 edit

The route number 135 has previously been used twice; for a service between Forty Hill and Brimsdown, until September 1982, and from November 1987 for a service between Marble Arch and Archway via Camden Town. The second service was operated by Metroline after privatisation, and was withdrawn in December 2000, being replaced by extending route 88 to cover part of its route and increasing the frequency of route 134, which already ran over much of the 135 route.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ From the Island to the City BBC News 21 May 2008
  2. ^ Bus tender results Route 135 Transport for London 1 November 2007
  3. ^ Bus Route 135: City to Docklands Time Out
  4. ^ Another tendered route loss for Arriva London Buses issue 716 November 2014 page 10
  5. ^ Tender News Bus Talk issue 31 December 2014
  6. ^ Bus Services Changes 19 August to 8 October inclusive Transport for London
  7. ^ Tower Transit gains route from Go-Ahead Buses issue 799 October 2021 page 22
  8. ^ Stagecoach strikes £20m London deal as DWS takeover agreed Buses issue 808 July 2022 page 6
  9. ^ Short Hops Buses issue 809 August 2022 page 24
  10. ^ Route 135 Map Transport for London
  11. ^ Aldridge, John (August 2000). "Changes out West". Buses (545). Ian Allan Publishing: 13.

External links edit

  Media related to London Buses route 135 at Wikimedia Commons