London area operators and their garages

Contacts

Most bus routes in London are operated by various companies under management contracts to London Buses, part of Transport for London. Complaints, commendations, comments and suggestion relating to these should therefore be directed to TfL.
London Buses Customer Service Centre, 84 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PX
phone: 0845 300 7000
email: customerservices@tfl-buses.co.uk

For commercial or county council tendered routes, or for issues such as bus driver recruitment, contact the relevant company. For lost property, contact the company within 4 days of loss, or TfL's lost property office thereafter. London Buses is not responsible for the following routes: 8 (Arriva The Shires), 22 (Ensignbus), 58 (First Berkshire), 60 (First Berkshire), 61 (First Berkshire), 71 (First Berkshire), 75 (First Berkshire), 76 (First Berkshire), 77 (First Berkshire), 78 (First Berkshire), 218 (Travel Surrey), 242 (Metroline/Trustline), 250 (Arriva The Shires (M-S)
Regal Busways (Sun)), 305 (Arriva The Shires), 318 (Metroline), 346 (Metroline), 398 (Sullivan Buses), 409 (Metrobus), 410 (Southdown PSV), 411 (Metrobus), 420 (Metrobus), 423 (Arriva Kent Thameside), 441 (Travel Surrey), 451 (Travel Surrey), 459 (Redline Buses), 461 (Travel Surrey), 471 (Travel Surrey), 505 (Arriva EH&E), 513 (Travel Surrey), 514 (Travel Surrey), 515 (Travel Surrey), 515A (Travel Surrey), 555 (Travel Surrey), 557 (Travel Surrey), 581 (Carousel Buses), 610 (Uno), 615 (Uno), 620 (Ride Pegasus), 724 (Arriva EH&E), 895 (Sihota Coaches), A40 (Carousel Buses), E15 (Quality Line), E16 (Quality Line), ELC (Travel London), ELS (Travel London), ELW (First Capital), KU1 (Travel London), KU2 (Travel London), KU3 (Travel London), R21 (Red Rose Travel), W7 (Arriva The Shires), W9 (Arriva The Shires), X80 (Ensignbus), 84X (Metroline), 668 (London General), 801 (Atbus), 813 (Tellings-Golden Miller), 820 (London General), 866 (London General), in these cases you should contact the operator. Please check on the routes page if you don’t know the name of the operator of your route — the operators are named on the right.

If you do not receive a satisfactory response or resolution to your comments, you should contact:
London TravelWatch, 6 Middle Street, London EC1A 7JA
phone: 020 7505 9000
web: www.londontravelwatch.org.uk

Garage code index

These are the codes used in this site to identify bus garages, or official codes.
A AC AD AE AF AH AL AR AV BA BC BE BF BK BL BN BR BT BV BW BX C CN CT CY DC DM DN DT DX E EB EC EW EY FM FW G GR GY HA HC HD HF HH HI HK HM HO HR HS HT HY HZ IM IT KX LV MA MB ME MW MY N NC NF NP NS NW NX ON PA PB PD PK PL PM PT PV Q QB RA RM RN S SF SH SI SM SN SO SP SS SW T TB TC TF TG TH TK TL TP TS TV TW U UB UX V W WB WD WE WH WJ WK WL WN WR WS X

Operator & Garage list

The table below is arranged by operator, listed alphabetically according to fleet/trading name in bold. The addresses for the company headquarters are written in red underneath, alongside the legal company names.

The left hand column gives the reference code for the garage. These are usually offical codes used by the operators, but those written in parentheses are unofficial codes. The second column gives the name of the garage/operating centre, the third the address. Some of these operators have other garages that do not operate any London routes. You must remember that bus garages are private property, and if you wish to visit a depot you must obtain permission before entering the site.

The fourth column is the list of London area routes (excluding mobility buses), but in some cases the garages operate other bus routes, or other kinds of work such as coaching, which are not listed. Beware that just because a garage is shown as operating on a particular route does not mean it is the only, or the main, garage to do so. The fifth column is the garage PVR, or the maximum number of buses on the road on these routes at any one time. Of course, all garages have spare vehicles allocated in addition. Please note that these figures represent the routes listed on the site – so they may include some non-TfL services, but do not include other routes outside London. These figures are also subtotalled by company and by group.

The last column gives the official LBSL garage code (see foot of page for more information on garage codes).

More information on London bus garages in general can be found at Dennis Beckett’s dedicated site: London Bus Garages.

Airlinks				0 (0.00%)
Airlinks the Airport Coach Company Ltd		682 Armadale Road, Feltham, Middlesex, TW14 0LW		0 (0.00%)
(HC)	Heathrow Coach Centre	Sipson Road, West Drayton, UB7 0HN	London routes: none at present.	0
(FM)	Feltham	683 Armadale Road, North Feltham, Middlesex, TW14 0LW	London routes: none at present.	0
(WR)	West Ramp	West Ramp, Heathrow	London routes: none at present.	0	HR
Arriva				1460 (19.76%)
Arriva East Herts & Essex Ltd.		Fourth Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM20 1DU		15 (0.20%)
WE	Ware	Marsh Lane, Ware, Hertfordshire	London network routes: 327 Other routes: 724	9	WE
HA	Harlow	Fourth Avenue, Harlow, Essex	London network routes: 500 Other routes: 505 724	6	HA
Arriva London North Ltd.		16 Watsons Road, Wood Green, London, N22 7TZ		781 (10.57%)
AD	Palmers Green	Regents Avenue, London, N13	102 125 329 Night routes: 102 School routes: 617 629 634	56	AD
AE	Ash Grove	Mare Street, South Hackney, London, E8	38 393	59	AE
AR	Tottenham	Philip Lane, High Cross, London, N15	41 76 123 168 243 318 W4 Night routes: N41 N73 N76 242	123	AR
CT	Clapton	15 Bohemia Place, Mare Street, London, E8	London routes: none at present.	0	CT
DX	Barking	Ripple Road, Barking	78 128 173 275 462 Night routes: 128 School routes: 212 651 667 673 675	59	DX
E	Enfield	Southbury Road, Ponders End, EN1	121 279 307 313 317 349 377 491 Night routes: N279 School routes: 313	98	E
EC	Edmonton	Unit 1E, Towpath Road, Stonehill Business Park, London E4	20 29 34 379 382 397 444 W14 W15 W16 Night routes: N29 School routes: 657	120	EC
LV	Leeside Road	Leeside Road, Tottenham, N17	73 149 192 Night routes: 149	82	LV
SF	Stamford Hill	Rookwood Road, London N16	242 253 254 Night routes: N38 N253	76	SF
WN	Wood Green	Jolly Butchers Hill, High Road, London, N22	141 144 184 221 298 W3 Night routes: 243 School routes: 184 628 683 688	108	WN
Arriva London South Ltd.		Bus Garage, Brighton Road, Croydon, CR2 6EL		454 (6.15%)
BA	Battersea	Hester Road, Battersea, London, SW11	19	28	BA
CN	Beddington	Beddington Farm Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR0	264 403 410 450 455 Night routes: 264 School routes: 627	63	CN
BN	Brixton	39 Streatham Hill, London, SW2 Outstation (rtes 59/319): Brixton Hill, SW2	19 59 137 159 319 Night routes: N19 250	96	BN
TC	Croydon	Brighton Road, Croydon, CR2 6EL	50 60 159 166 194 197 312 407 412 T31 Night routes: N159 School routes: 407 612	100	TC
N	Norwood	Knights Hill, London, SE27	2 176 249 415 417 432 Night routes: N2 N137 176 School routes: 689 690	88	N
TH	Thornton Heath	719 London Road, Thornton Heath	109 159 198 250 255 289 Night routes: N159	79	TH
Arriva Southern Counties (Kent Thameside, Kent & Sussex, Medway Towns, Southend)		Invicta House, Armstrong Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6TY		120 (1.62%)
DT	Dartford	Central Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1	126 160 162 233 286 428 492 B13 B15	74	DT
GY	Grays	Unit 7, Europa Park, London Road, Grays, Essex, RM20 4DB	256 346 370 498	27	GY
HM	Horsham	1 Station Road, Warnham, Horsham, West Sussex,	465	5	HM
NF	Northfleet	London Road, Northfleet, Kent, DA11	London network routes: 477 Other routes: 423	9	NF
(TW)	Tunbridge Wells	St. John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent	402	5	TS
(ME)	Maidstone		London routes: none at present.	0
(SS)	Southend	20 Short Street, Southend on Sea, SS2 5BY	London routes: none at present.	0
Arriva The Shires Ltd.		487 Dunstable Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 8DS		78 (1.06%)
GR	Watford (Garston)	Marshwood House, 934 St. Albans Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD2 6NN	London network routes: 142 258 268 288 303 305 340 H2 H3 H18 H19 School routes: 642 H1 Other routes: 8 W7 W9	75	GR
WB	High Wycombe	Newlands Bus Station, HP11 2HU	U9	3	HI
Arriva Wandsworth		25 Jews Road, Wandsworth, SW18		12 (0.16%)
WD	Wandsworth	25 Jews Road, Wandsworth, SW18	337	12	WD
CT Plus				36 (0.49%)
CT Plus Ltd		2 Hertford Road, Dalston, London, N1 5SH		36 (0.49%)
(DN)	Dalston	1 Hertford Road, Dalston, London, N1 5SH	London routes: none at present.	0	HY
(HK)	Ash Grove	Mare Street, South Hackney, London, E8	153 388 394 W13	36	HK
Ealing Community Transport				14 (0.19%)
ECT Bus Community Interest Company		Council Depot, Greenford Road, Greenford, UB6 9AN		14 (0.19%)
(EY)	Greenford	Council Depot, Greenford Road, Greenford, UB6 9AP	195	14	EY
East London Bus Group				1072 (14.51%)
East London Bus & Coach Co. Ltd		2 Clements Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1BA		732 (9.91%)
BK	Barking	205 Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8UE	5 15 62 145 169 287 300 325 366 369 387 396 Night routes: N15 369 School routes: 687	127	BK
BW	Bow	Fairfield Road, Bow, London, E3 2QP	5 8 15 158 277 Night routes: N8 N15 277	101	BW
NS	Romford	North Street, Romford, Essex, RM1 1DS	5 103 174 175 247 294 296 496 Night routes: N86 School routes: 608 647 674	95	NS
RM	Rainham	Unit 2, Albright Industrial Estate, Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex, RM13 9BU	25	42	RM
T	Leyton	High Road, Leyton, London, E10 6AD	48 55 56 69 97 230 Night routes: N55 69	106	T
U	Upton Park	Redclyffe Road, Upton Park, London, E6 1DS	101 104 115 147 238 262 330 376 473 Night routes: N50	112	U
WH	West Ham	Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA	26 30 86 106 241 257 276 D3 Night routes: N26 School routes: 678	149	WH
South East London & Kent Bus Co. Ltd		2 Clements Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1BA		340 (4.60%)
PD	Plumstead	Pettman Crescent, Plumstead, London, SE28 0BJ	53 96 99 122 177 291 386 472 Night routes: 53 472 School routes: 625 672	128	PD
TB	Bromley	111 Hastings Road, Bromley, Kent, BR2 8NH	61 208 227 269 314 School routes: 636 637 638 664	76	TB
TL	Catford	180 Bromley Road, Catford, London, SE6 2XA	47 54 75 124 136 178 199 202 273 380 P4 Night routes: N47 N136 School routes: 624 658 660	136	TL
East Thames Buses				94 (1.27%)
London Buses Limited		172 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TN		94 (1.27%)
MA	Mandela Way	5 Mandela Way, SE1 5SS	1 42 185 201	49	MA
BV	Belvedere	Burts Wharf, Crabtree Manorway North, Belvedere, DA17 6BT	108 132 180 185 Night routes: N1 108 School routes: 661 669	45	BV
Ensignbus				1 (0.01%)
Ensign Bus Co Ltd		Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Park, Aveley, South Ockendon, RM15 4YF		1 (0.01%)
(PT)	Purfleet	Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Park, Aveley, South Ockendon, RM15 4YF	Other routes: 22 X80	1
Epsom Buses/Quality Line				50 (0.68%)
H. R. Richmond Ltd		Blenheim Road, Longmead Estate, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9AF		50 (0.68%)
(EB)	Epsom	Blenheim Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9AF	London network routes: 293 404 406 418 463 470 S1 S3 S4 Other routes: E15 E16	50	EB
First				964 (13.05%)
First Beeline Bracknell		Coldborough House, Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1JA		0 (0.00%)
BL	Bracknell	Coldborough House, Market Street, Bracknell	London routes: none at present.	0	BR
First Beeline Slough		Brunel Bus Station, Wellington Street, Slough, SL1 1XN		32 (0.43%)
SH	Slough	Stanley Cottages, Stoke Road, Slough	Other routes: 58 60 61 71 75 76 77 78	32	SH
First Capital East Ltd.		3rd Floor B block, MacMillan House, Paddington, London, W2 1TY		127 (1.72%)
DM	Dagenham	73 Chequers Lane, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6QJ	London network routes: 150 165 179 193 252 309 323 365 499 D6 D8 School routes: 370 646 649 650 652 656 679 686 Other routes: ELW	127	RN
First Capital North Ltd.		3rd Floor B block, MacMillan House, Paddington, London, W2 1TY		235 (3.18%)
HO	Lea Interchange	151 Ruckholt Road, Leyton, London, E10 5PB	58 212 236 308 339 D7 RV1 S2 W11 W12 Night routes: 236	97	HO
NP	Northumberland Park	Marsh Lane, Tottenham, London, N17	67 91 191 215 259 299 341 357 385 389 399 476 W6 W10 Night routes: N91 341 School routes: 616 692 699	138	NP
First Centrewest London Buses Ltd		3rd Floor B block, MacMillan House, Paddington, London, W2 1TY		570 (7.72%)
G	Greenford	Council Depot, Greenford Road, Greenford	95 105 282 E1 E3 E5 E7 E9 E10 Night routes: 105	113	G
HS	Hayes	Swallowfield Way, Hayes	207 427 Night routes: N207	47	HZ
ON	Alperton	Ealing Road, Alperton, Middlesex, HA0	79 83 92 223 224 487 Night routes: N18 83	79	ON
UX	Uxbridge	Bakers Road, Uxbridge	331 607 A10 U1 U2 U3 U4 U5 U10 Night routes: N207	82	UX
WJ	Willesden Junction	Station Road, Harlesden, NW10	18 187 226 PR2	65	WJ
X	Westbourne Park	Great Western Road, London, W9	9 10 23 28 31 295 328 414 Night routes: N10 23 N28 N31 295	184	X
Go-Ahead				1490 (20.17%)
Blue Triangle Buses Ltd.		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		56 (0.76%)
BE	Rainham	Unit 3C, Denver Trading Estate, Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex, RM13 9BU	66 248 347 362 364 368 372 School routes: 648	56	BE
Docklands Buses Limited		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		30 (0.41%)
(DC)	Poplar	Factory Road, Silvertown, London, E16	167 474 549 W19 Night routes: 474	30	SI
London Central Bus Co Ltd		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		528 (7.15%)
BX	Bexleyheath	Erith Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 6BX	51 89 229 244 401 422 469 486 B11 B12 B16 Night routes: N21 N89 School routes: 601 602	129	BX
NX	New Cross	208 New Cross Road, London, SE14	21 36 171 172 225 321 436 C10 Night routes: N21 N171 School routes: 621	157	NX
PM	Peckham	Blackpool Road, Peckham, London, SE15 3SE	36 37 63 363 P12 Night routes: 36 37 N63	69	PM
Q	Camberwell	1 Warner Road, Camberwell, London, SE5 9LU	12 35 40 45 68 360 468 484 P5 X68 Night routes: 12 N35 N68	173	Q
London General Transport Services Ltd		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		626 (8.47%)
A	Sutton	Bushey Road, Sutton, SM1 1QJ	London network routes: 80 93 151 154 163 164 213 413 Night routes: 93 N155 N213 Other routes: 820 866	84	A
AF	Putney	Chelverton Road, London, SW4 6ST	14 22 74 85 424 430 Night routes: 14 N22 N74 85	111	AF
AL	Merton	High Street, London, SW19 1DN	London network routes: 22 44 77 118 155 163 164 200 219 270 280 355 School routes: 163 655 Other routes: 668	150	AL
MW	Mandela Way	Mandela Way, SE1 5SS	133 453 Night routes: N133 453 School routes: 670	52	MW
PL	Waterside Way	Waterside Way, London, SW17 0HB	39 485	18	PL
RA	Waterloo	Cornwall Road, London, SE1 8TE	507 521	28	RA
SW	Stockwell	Binfield Road, London, SW4 6ST	11 24 87 88 170 196 315 322 333 345 Night routes: N11 24 N44 N87 88 345 School routes: 639 670	183	SW
Metrobus Ltd		Wheatstone Close, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9UA		250 (3.38%)
C	Croydon	134 Beddington Lane, Beddington, CR9 4ND	64 119 127 130 356 359 367 405 434 466 T32 T33 X26	98	C
CY	Crawley	Wheatstone Close, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9UA	London network routes: 405 Other routes: 409 411 420	11	MY
MB	Orpington	Oak Farm, Farnborough Hill, Green Street Green, Orpington, Kent, BR6 6DA	138 146 161 181 246 261 284 320 336 352 353 354 358 464 B14 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R11 Night routes: 119 School routes: 654	141	MB
Imperial				0 (0.00%)
Imperial Bus Company		Unit 1 Marsh View, Ferry Lane, Rainham		0 (0.00%)
(IM)	Rainham	Unit 1 Marsh View, Ferry Lane, Rainham	London routes: none at present.	0	IT
Transdev				698 (9.45%)
London Sovereign Limited		Busways House, Wellington Road, Fulwell, Middlesex, TW2 5NX		102 (1.38%)
SO	Harrow	331 Pinner Road, Harrow	398 H9 H10 H11 H13 H14 H17	40	SO
BT	Edgware	Approach Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7AN	13 114 183 292 Night routes: N13	62	BT
London United Busways Ltd		Busways House, Wellington Road, Fulwell, Middlesex, TW2 5NX		596 (8.07%)
AV	Hounslow	Kingsley Road, Hounslow	9 27 81 110 111 120 203 222 H32 H37 H98 Night routes: N9 27 111 School routes: 696 697 698	128	AV
FW	Fulwell	Wellington Road, Fulwell, Middlesex, TW2 5NX	65 71 131 216 267 281 290 371 Night routes: 65 281 School routes: 371 671 681 691	122	FW
HH	Hounslow Heath	Unit 6 Pullborough Way, Green Lane, Hounslow	116 285 411 423 482 H22 H91 Night routes: 285 School routes: 641	70	WK
S	Shepherd's Bush	Wells Road, London, W12	49 72 94 148 220 Night routes: 72 94 N97 148 220	115	S
TV	Tolworth	Kingston Road, Tolworth	57 265 467 K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 Night routes: 57 School routes: 613 665	76	TV
V	Stamford Brook	72-74 Chiswick High Road, London, W4	9 27 148 283 391	85	V
Metroline				1007 (13.63%)
Metroline Travel Ltd.		Hygeia House, 66 College Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 1BE		1007 (13.63%)
AC	Willesden	287 High Road, Willesden, London, NW10 2JY	6 52 98 260 302 Night routes: 6 N52 N98	114	AC
EW	Edgware	Approach Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7AN	107 113 186 204 240 Night routes: N5 N16 N98 School routes: 605 606	67	EW
HD	Harrow Weald	467 High Road, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, HA3 6EJ	140 182 H12 Night routes: N16 140 School routes: 640	58	HD
HT	Holloway	37A Pemberton Gardens, London, N19 5RR	4 17 43 134 214 271 603 C2 W5 W7 Night routes: N5 N20 43 134 214 271 274 390 C2 School routes: 143 628 683 688	164	HT
KX	King's Cross	North London Freight Depot, York Way, London N1 0LW	46 274 390	54	KX
NW	North Wembley	GEC Estate, East Lane, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 7RQ	206 232 245 251	47	NW
PB	Potters Bar	High Street, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 5BE	London network routes: 82 84 217 231 234 263 384 W8 W9 Night routes: N20 School routes: 626 Other routes: 242 84X	107	PB
PV	Perivale (East)	Alperton Lane, Western Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 8DW	7 90 205 297 460 Night routes: N7 205 School routes: 611	89	PV
W	Cricklewood	329 Edgware Road, Dollis Hill, London, NW2 6JP	16 32 139 189 266 316 332 Night routes: 139 189 266 School routes: 632 643	135	W
PA	Perivale (West)	Unit 12, Perivale Industrial Park, Horsenden Lane South, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 7RL	70 143 210 326 C11 E6	88	PA
AH	Brentford	Commerce Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8LZ	117 190 209 237 E2 E8 School routes: 609 635	84	AH
NCP-Challenger				62 (0.84%)
NCP Services		21 Bryanston Street, London, W1H 7AB		62 (0.84%)
NC	Twickenham	The Skills Centre, Twickenham Trading Estate, Rugby Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 1DU	33 419 493	41	NC
PK	Park Royal	Atlas Road, Harlesden, London, NW10 6DN	272 440 E11	21	PK
Southdown PSV				0 (0.00%)
Southdown PSV Ltd		Unit 3 Silverwood, Snow Hill, Copthorne, West Sussex, RH10 3EN		0 (0.00%)
(SP)	Copthorne	Unit 3 Silverwood, Snow Hill, Copthorne, West Sussex, RH10 3EN	Other routes: 410	0
Sullivan Buses				6 (0.08%)
Sullivan Buses Ltd.		First Floor, Deards House, South Mimms Service Area, St. Albans Road, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 3NE		6 (0.08%)
SM	South Mimms	South Mimms Services, Potters Bar, Herts	London network routes: 383 School routes: 606 Other routes: 398	6	SN
(TP)	Thorpe Park	Thorpe Park, Staines Road, Chertsey, KT16 8PH	London routes: none at present.	0
Tramtrack Croydon				22 (0.30%)
(TK)	Therapia Lane	22 Coomber Way, Beddington, Croydon, CR0	1 2 3	22	TK
Travel London				403 (5.46%)
Travel London Ltd.		301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF		267 (3.61%)
BC	Beddington	Unit 10, Beddington Cross, Beddington Farm Road, Croydon, CR0 4XH	3 152 157 G1 P13 Night routes: N3	67	BC
QB	Battersea	Silverthorne Road, Battersea, London, SW8 3HE	156 211 344 452 C3 Night routes: N3 344	90	QB
WL	Walworth	301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF	London network routes: 100 129 188 343 381 C1 Night routes: 188 N343 N381 Other routes: ELC ELS	110	WL
Travel London (West) Ltd.		301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF		136 (1.84%)
BF	Byfleet	Unit 20A Wintersells Road, Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 7LF	Other routes: 218 441 451 461 471 513 514 515 515A 555 557	33	TG
TF	Fulwell	The Old Tram Depot, Stanley Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5NP	London network routes: 235 481 490 H20 H25 H26 R68 R70 Other routes: KU1 KU2 KU3	76	TF
WS	Hayes	West London Coach Centre, North Hyde Gardens, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 4QT	112 350 H28 U7	27	WS
Uno				8 (0.11%)
University Bus Ltd		College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB		8 (0.11%)
(HF)	Hatfield	Gypsy Moth Avenue, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9BS	London network routes: 614 Other routes: 610 615	8	UB

The grand total PVR is 7387.

LBSL Codes

Every garage operating services that form part of the LBSL network is given an official LBSL garage code (right hand column). Such codes are given not only to garages running LBSL contracts, but also to those running commercial bus services under London Bus agreements. There is also a code for the Croydon Tramlink! The codes are used internally by LBSL, for administrative purposes.

Many operators also give their garages codes, sometimes for similar administrative reasons, or sometimes — particularly where they only have one garage — for "enthusiast reasons". These are not always the same as the LBSL codes, although they often are.

Many of the codes are long-established, going back to LBL (and in many cases LGOC) days, and are well-known among staff and enthusiasts. There is usually some sort of logic to the code allocated. In the early part of the 20th Century, the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) allocated its garages codes by going through the alphabet — initially A, B, C, etc; and then AA, AB, AC, etc. Codes allocated since often reflect the geographical name of the garage (e.g. Fulwell, Alperton, New Cross (NX)), although some have since been renamed (HT, Holloway, was called Highgate).

Since the start of tendering in 1985, some codes have also reflected the name of the owning company, examples being AH (Armchair, Brentford), EL (Eastern National, Chelmsford), BE (Blue Triangle, Rainham). Such company names may not still be in use today: DX (Arriva London North East, Barking) originates from Dix Travel, which was absorbed into Grey-Green, becoming their Dagenham operation, and subsequently relocated to Barking, and now absorbed by Arriva. Similarly BT (Sovereign, Edgware, and originally Borehamwood) comes from BTS, which was subsequently bought out by Sovereign, and Hounslow Heath code WK originates from Westlink. FE comes from F. E. Thorpe & sons, sold out to Metroline; in this case TfL have changed the official code to a geographical one. WS comes from Wngs of Uxbridge, who subsequently sold their bus operations to Tellings-Golden Miller (who used a code of TM internally), who in turn sold the operations to Travel London. The official code FR for Metrobus's Crayford base is especially obscure, referring to the original owner, one Chris Freeman of Freeman’s Coaches, which was absorbed into Crystals, which subsequently sold out to T-GM in 2003, who then sold it on to Metrobus in 2005! (Thanks to David Stewart of LOTS for that one.)

In several cases (TB/TC/TL and QB) the code reflects both the location (Bromley/Croydon/Lewisham (Catford), Battersea) and the original owning company (Tilling, Q-Drive).

Some garage codes have been used for more than one garage over the years, sometimes when an entire garage has moved such as at Peckham (PM), and sometimes when a code has been "dormant" for some years and then been reused. Some premises have had different codes at different times in their life, and indeed four (Edgware, Greenford, Fulwell and Ash Grove) currently have two codes simultaneously, one for each operator.

Thanks to David Connor for most of the above information.

Page generated 14/05/2008 17:51:07