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 suggestions relating to these should therefore be directed to TfL.
London Buses Customer Services, 4th Floor, Zone G7, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ
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. The following routes are outside the London Buses network, and in these cases you should contact the operator directly: 8 (Arriva The Shires), 51 (First Berkshire), 58 (First Berkshire), 60 (First Berkshire), 61 (First Berkshire), 71 (First Berkshire), 75 (First Berkshire), 76 (First Berkshire), 77 (First Berkshire), 78 (First Berkshire), 242 (Metroline / Sullivan Buses / Uno), 250 (Arriva The Shires / Regal Busways), 265 (First Capital), 269 (Imperial), 305 (Carousel Buses), 398 (Sullivan Buses), 409 (Metrobus), 410 (Southdown PSV), 411 (Metrobus), 420 (Metrobus), 423 (Arriva Kent Thameside), 441 (Abellio Surrey), 458 (Abellio Surrey), 459 (Abellio Surrey), 461 (Abellio Surrey), 505 (Arriva EH&E), 513 (Abellio Surrey), 514 (Abellio Surrey), 515 (Abellio Surrey), 515A (Abellio Surrey), 555 (Travel with Hunny), 555 (Abellio Surrey), 557 (Abellio Surrey), 575 (Blue Triangle), 581 (Carousel Buses), 583 (Redline Buses), 610 (Uno), 614N (), 615 (Uno), 724 (Arriva EH&E), 740 (Carousel Buses), 812 (CT Plus), 895 (Sihota Coaches), A30 (Carousel Buses), A40 (Carousel Buses), E16 (Quality Line), KU1 (Tellings-Golden Miller), KU2 (Tellings-Golden Miller), KU3 (Tellings-Golden Miller), R21 (Red Rose Travel), W7 (Arriva The Shires), W9 (Arriva The Shires), X80 (Ensignbus), 668 (London General), 801 (Edward Thomas), 820 (Metrobus), 866 (London General), 868 (Edward Thomas), 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 DM DT DX E EB EC EW FW G GR GY HA HD HF HH HI HK HO HS HT HZ IM IT KC LI 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 RH 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 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, 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, and in some cases driver trainers etc. Please note that these figures include only the "main network" of TfL contracted or LLSA routes – some garages also operate non-TfL or non-London services, coaches, rail replacements etc. 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).

The data in this table is available as a CSV file, suitable for importing into spreadsheet programs such as MS Excel.

Abellio				407 (5.45%)
Abellio London Ltd.		301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF		308 (4.12%)
QB	Battersea	Silverthorne Road, Battersea, London, SW8 3HE	35 156 211 344 414 452 C3 Night routes: N3 N35 344	126	QB
BC	Beddington	Unit 10, Beddington Cross, Beddington Farm Road, Croydon, CR0 4XH	3 152 157 322 407 434 P13 Night routes: N3 School/mobility routes: 407 917 931	83	BC
WL	Walworth	301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF	40 100 129 188 343 381 Night routes: 188 N343 N381	99	WL
Abellio West London Ltd.		301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF		99 (1.32%)
BF	Byfleet	Unit 20A Wintersells Road, Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 7LF	Other routes: 441 458 459 461 513 514 515 515A 555 557	0	TG
TF	Fulwell	The Old Tram Depot, Stanley Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5NP	235 481 490 H20 H25 H26 R68 R70 School/mobility routes: 941 969	71	TF
WS	Hayes	West London Coach Centre, North Hyde Gardens, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 4QT	112 350 H28 U7	28	WS
Arriva				1566 (20.96%)
Arriva East Herts & Essex Ltd.		Fourth Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM20 1DU		0 (0.00%)
HA	Harlow	Fourth Avenue, Harlow, Essex	Other routes: 505 724	0	HA
WE	Ware	Marsh Lane, Ware, Hertfordshire	Other routes: 250 724	0	WE
Arriva London North Ltd.		16 Watsons Road, Wood Green, London, N22 7TZ		865 (11.58%)
AE	Ash Grove	Mare Street, South Hackney, London, E8	393	13	AE
DX	Barking	Ripple Road, Barking	78 128 135 173 275 325 462 Night routes: 128 School/mobility routes: 651 667 673 675	87	DX
CT	Clapton	15 Bohemia Place, Mare Street, London, E8	38 242 Night routes: N38 242	98	CT
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/mobility routes: 657	122	EC
E	Enfield	Southbury Road, Ponders End, EN1	121 279 307 313 317 327 349 377 491 Night routes: N279 School/mobility routes: 313	109	E
LV	Leeside Road	Leeside Road, Tottenham, N17	73 149 192 Night routes: 149	83	LV
AD	Palmers Green	Regents Avenue, London, N13	102 125 329 Night routes: 102 School/mobility routes: 629 634 683	56	AD
SF	Stamford Hill	Rookwood Road, London N16	253 254 Night routes: N253	55	SF
AR	Tottenham	Philip Lane, High Cross, London, N15	41 76 123 168 243 318 W4 Night routes: N41 N73 N76	128	AR
WN	Wood Green	Jolly Butchers Hill, High Road, London, N22	141 144 184 221 298 W3 Night routes: 243 School/mobility routes: 184 617 628 653 688	114	WN
Arriva London South Ltd.		Bus Garage, Brighton Road, Croydon, CR2 6EL		503 (6.73%)
BA	Battersea	Hester Road, Battersea, London, SW11	London routes: none at present.	0	BA
CN	Beddington	Beddington Farm Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR0	264 403 410 450 455 Night routes: 264 School/mobility routes: 405 627	62	CN
BN	Brixton	39 Streatham Hill, London, SW2 Outstation (rtes 59/319): Brixton Hill, SW2	19 59 137 159 319 Night routes: N19 159 250	135	BN
TC	Croydon	Brighton Road, Croydon, CR2 6EL	50 60 166 194 197 312 412 466 T31 Night routes: N133 School/mobility routes: 685	108	TC
N	Norwood	Knights Hill, London, SE27	2 133 176 249 415 417 432 Night routes: N2 N137 176 School/mobility routes: 689 690	121	N
TH	Thornton Heath	719 London Road, Thornton Heath	109 198 250 255 289 Night routes: N109	77	TH
Arriva Southern Counties (Kent Thameside, Kent & Sussex, Medway Towns, Southend)		Invicta House, Armstrong Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6TY		114 (1.53%)
DT	Dartford	Central Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1	126 160 162 233 286 428 492 B12 B13 B15	77	DT
GY	Grays	Unit 7, Europa Park, London Road, Grays, Essex, RM20 4DB	256 346 370 375 499	27	GY
(ME)	Maidstone		London routes: none at present.	0
NF	Northfleet	London Road, Northfleet, Kent, DA11	London network routes: 477 Other routes: 423	5	NF
(SS)	Southend	20 Short Street, Southend on Sea, SS2 5BY	London routes: none at present.	0
(TW)	Tunbridge Wells	St. John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent	402	5	TS
Arriva The Shires Ltd.		487 Dunstable Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 8DS		72 (0.96%)
WB	High Wycombe	Lincoln Road, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, HP12 3RH	U9	3	HI
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/mobility routes: 640 642 H1 Other routes: 8 W7 W9	69	GR
The Original Tour		25 Jews Row, Wandsworth, SW18		12 (0.16%)
WD	Wandsworth	25 Jews Row, Wandsworth, SW18	337	12	WD
RH	Rainham	Denver Industrial Estate, Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex RM13 9DD	London routes: none at present.	0
CT Plus				54 (0.72%)
CT Plus Ltd		2 Hertford Road, Dalston, London, N1 5SH		54 (0.72%)
(HK)	Ash Grove	Mare Street, South Hackney, London, E8	London network routes: 153 212 388 394 W12 W13 Other routes: 812	54	HK
East London Bus Group				1107 (14.82%)
East London Bus & Coach Co. Ltd		Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA		722 (9.66%)
BK	Barking	205 Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8UE	5 15 62 145 169 287 366 387 396 Night routes: N15 School/mobility routes: 687	109	BK
BW	Bow	Fairfield Road, Bow, London, E3 2QP	8 26 30 205 Night routes: N8 205	99	BW
T	Leyton	High Road, Leyton, London, E10 6AD	26 48 55 56 97 158 215 230 Night routes: N26 N55 69	112	T
NS	Romford	North Street, Romford, Essex, RM1 1DS	86 103 175 247 294 296 496 Night routes: N86 School/mobility routes: 608 647 674	93	NS
U	Upton Park	Redclyffe Road, Upton Park, London, E6 1DS	101 104 115 238 262 330 376 473 Night routes: N550	93	U
WH	West Ham	Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA	5 15 25 69 106 147 241 257 276 277 323 488 D3 Night routes: N15 25 277 School/mobility routes: 678	216	WH
East London Bus Ltd. (Thameside)		Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA		40 (0.54%)
RM	Rainham	Unit 2, Albright Industrial Estate, Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex, RM13 9BU	174 248 372	40	RM
South East London & Kent Bus Co. Ltd (Selkent)		Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA		345 (4.62%)
TB	Bromley	111 Hastings Road, Bromley, Kent, BR2 8NH	61 208 227 246 269 314 354 School/mobility routes: 636 637 638 664	81	TB
TL	Catford	180 Bromley Road, Catford, London, SE6 2XA	47 124 136 178 199 273 356 380 P4 Night routes: N47 N136 School/mobility routes: 624 658 660	101	TL
PD	Plumstead	Pettman Crescent, Plumstead, London, SE28 0BJ	51 53 96 99 122 177 291 386 469 472 Night routes: 53 472 School/mobility routes: 601 602 625 672	163	PD
Ensignbus				0 (0.00%)
Ensign Bus Co Ltd		Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Park, Aveley, South Ockendon, RM15 4YF		0 (0.00%)
(PT)	Purfleet	Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Park, Aveley, South Ockendon, RM15 4YF	Other routes: X80	0
Epsom Buses/Quality Line				45 (0.60%)
H. R. Richmond Ltd		Blenheim Road, Longmead Estate, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9AF		45 (0.60%)
(EB)	Epsom	Blenheim Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9AF	London network routes: 404 406 418 463 470 S1 S3 S4 School/mobility routes: 463 Other routes: E16	45	EB
First				895 (11.98%)
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		0 (0.00%)
SH	Slough	Stanley Cottages, Stoke Road, Slough	Other routes: 51 58 60 61 71 75 76 77 78	0	SH
First Capital East Ltd. First Capital North Ltd.		3rd Floor B block, MacMillan House, Paddington, London, W2 1TY		316 (4.23%)
DM	Dagenham	73 Chequers Lane, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6QJ	London network routes: 150 165 179 193 252 365 498 Night routes: 365 School/mobility routes: 370 498 646 649 650 652 656 679 686 953 958 Other routes: 265	89	RN
LI	Lea Interchange	151 Ruckholt Road, Leyton, London, E10 5PB	58 236 308 309 339 D6 D7 D8 RV1 W11 Night routes: 236	103	HO
NP	Northumberland Park	Marsh Lane, Tottenham, London, N17	67 191 231 259 299 341 357 385 389 399 476 W6 W10 Night routes: 341 School/mobility routes: 616 692 699	124	NP
First Centrewest London Buses Ltd		3rd Floor B block, MacMillan House, Paddington, London, W2 1TY		579 (7.75%)
ON	Alperton	Ealing Road, Alperton, Middlesex, HA0	79 83 92 223 224 245 Night routes: N18 83 School/mobility routes: 972	93	ON
G	Greenford	Council Depot, Greenford Road, Greenford	95 105 195 282 E1 E3 E5 E7 E9 E10 Night routes: 105	130	G
HS	Hayes	Swallowfield Way, Hayes	207 427 Night routes: N207	48	HZ
UX	Uxbridge	Bakers Road, Uxbridge	331 607 A10 U1 U2 U3 U4 U5 U10 Night routes: N207	86	UX
X	Westbourne Park	Great Western Road, London, W9	9 23 28 31 295 328 Night routes: 23 N28 N31 295	135	X
WJ	Willesden Junction	Station Road, Harlesden, NW10	18 187 226 228 487 PR2	87	WJ
Tram Operations Limited		22 Coomber Way, Beddington, Croydon, CR0 4TQ		22 (0.29%)
(TK)	Therapia Lane	22 Coomber Way, Beddington, Croydon, CR0 4TQ	1 2 3	22	TK
Go-Ahead				1568 (20.99%)
Blue Triangle Buses Ltd.		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		51 (0.68%)
BE	Rainham	Unit 3C, Denver Trading Estate, Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex, RM13 9BU	London network routes: 66 347 362 364 368 EL1 EL2 Night routes: EL1 School/mobility routes: 648 Other routes: 575	51	BE
Docklands Buses Limited		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		48 (0.64%)
SI	Poplar	Factory Road, Silvertown, London, E16	167 300 425 474 549 W19 Night routes: 474 N551	48	SI
London Central Bus Co Ltd		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		529 (7.08%)
BX	Bexleyheath	Erith Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 6BX	89 132 229 244 321 401 422 486 B11 B16 Night routes: N21 N89 School/mobility routes: 661 669	121	BX
Q	Camberwell	1 Warner Road, Camberwell, London, SE5 9LU	12 42 45 68 185 360 468 484 P5 X68 Night routes: 12 N68	171	Q
NX	New Cross	208 New Cross Road, London, SE14	21 36 108 171 172 225 321 436 C10 Night routes: N21 36 108 N171 321 School/mobility routes: 621	167	NX
PM	Peckham	Blackpool Road, Peckham, London, SE15 3SE	36 37 63 363 P12 Night routes: 36 37 N63	70	PM
London General Transport Services Ltd		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		659 (8.82%)
BV	Belvedere	Burts Wharf, Crabtree Manorway North, Belvedere, DA17 6BT	180 Night routes: N1 School/mobility routes: 669	15	BV
MW	Mandela Way (East)	Mandela Way, SE1 5SS	1 453 507 521 Night routes: N1 453	45	MW
MA	Mandela Way (West)	5 Mandela Way, SE1 5SS	London routes: none at present.	0	MA
AL	Merton	High Street, London, SW19 1DN	London network routes: 22 44 77 118 155 163 164 200 201 219 270 280 355 School/mobility routes: 163 655 Other routes: 668	162	AL
AF	Putney	Chelverton Road, London, SW4 6ST	14 22 74 85 424 430 Night routes: 14 N22 N74 85 School/mobility routes: 670	112	AF
SW	Stockwell	Binfield Road, London, SW4 6ST	11 24 87 88 170 196 315 333 345 C10 Night routes: N11 24 N44 N87 88 345 School/mobility routes: 639 670	176	SW
A	Sutton	Bushey Road, Sutton, SM1 1QJ	London network routes: 80 93 151 154 164 213 413 Night routes: 93 N155 213 Other routes: 866	82	A
PL	Waterside Way	Waterside Way, London, SW17 0HB	39 485 G1	27	PL
RA	Waterloo	Cornwall Road, London, SE1 8TE	507 521	40	RA
Metrobus Ltd		Wheatstone Close, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9UA		281 (3.76%)
CY	Crawley	Wheatstone Close, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9UA	London network routes: 465 Other routes: 409 411 420 820	5	MY
C	Croydon	134 Beddington Lane, Beddington, CR9 4ND	64 75 119 127 130 202 293 359 405 T32 T33 X26 Night routes: N64 School/mobility routes: 293 612	115	C
MB	Orpington	Oak Farm, Farnborough Hill, Green Street Green, Orpington, Kent, BR6 6DA	54 138 146 161 181 261 284 320 336 352 353 358 367 464 B14 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 Night routes: 119 School/mobility routes: 654	161	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	Other routes: 269	0	IT
Metroline				998 (13.36%)
Metroline Travel Ltd.		Hygeia House, 66 College Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 1BE		998 (13.36%)
AH	Brentford	Commerce Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8LZ	117 190 209 237 E2 E8 School/mobility routes: 609 635	79	AH
W	Cricklewood	329 Edgware Road, Dollis Hill, London, NW2 6JP	16 32 139 186 189 210 251 266 316 332 Night routes: 139 189 266 School/mobility routes: 632 643	179	W
EW	Edgware	Approach Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7AN	107 113 204 240 Night routes: N5 N16 N98 School/mobility routes: 605 606	55	EW
HD	Harrow Weald	467 High Road, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, HA3 6EJ	140 182 H12 Night routes: N16 140	56	HD
HT	Holloway	37A Pemberton Gardens, London, N19 5RR	4 17 43 91 134 271 390 603 C2 W5 W7 Night routes: N5 N20 43 N91 134 271 390 C2 School/mobility routes: 143	190	HT
KC	King's Cross	Freight Lane, London N1	46 214 274 Night routes: 214 274	51	KC
NW	North Wembley	GEC Estate, East Lane, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 7RQ	London routes: none at present.	0	NW
PB	Potters Bar	High Street, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 5BE	London network routes: 82 84 217 234 263 383 384 W8 W9 Night routes: N20 N91 School/mobility routes: 626 Other routes: 242	108	PB
PV	Perivale (East)	Alperton Lane, Western Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 8DW	7 90 206 232 460 Night routes: N7 297 School/mobility routes: 611	71	PV
PA	Perivale (West)	Unit 12, Perivale Industrial Park, Horsenden Lane South, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 7RL	70 143 297 326 395 C11 E6 School/mobility routes: 143	94	PA
AC	Willesden	287 High Road, Willesden, London, NW10 2JY	6 52 98 260 302 Night routes: 6 N52 N98	115	AC
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				0 (0.00%)
Sullivan Buses Ltd.		First Floor, Deards House, South Mimms Service Area, St. Albans Road, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 3NE		0 (0.00%)
SM	South Mimms	South Mimms Services, Potters Bar, Herts	Other routes: 242 398	0	SN
(TP)	Thorpe Park	Thorpe Park, Staines Road, Chertsey, KT16 8PH	London routes: none at present.	0
Transdev				805 (10.77%)
London Sovereign Limited		Busways House, Wellington Road, Fulwell, Middlesex, TW2 5NX		106 (1.42%)
BT	Edgware	Approach Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7AN	13 114 183 292 Night routes: N13	64	BT
SO	Harrow	331 Pinner Road, Harrow	398 H9 H10 H11 H13 H14 H17	42	SO
London United Busways Ltd		Busways House, Wellington Road, Fulwell, Middlesex, TW2 5NX		699 (9.35%)
FW	Fulwell	Wellington Road, Fulwell, Middlesex, TW2 5NX	65 71 131 216 267 281 290 371 Night routes: 65 281 School/mobility routes: 671 681 691	123	FW
AV	Hounslow	Kingsley Road, Hounslow	9 27 81 110 111 120 203 222 H32 H37 H98 Night routes: N9 27 111 School/mobility routes: 696 697	126	AV
HH	Hounslow Heath	Tamian Way, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW4 6BL	116 285 411 423 482 H22 H91 Night routes: 285 School/mobility routes: 641 698	75	WK
PK	Park Royal	Atlas Road, Harlesden, London, NW10 6DN	272 283 440 C1 E11	52	PK
S	Shepherd's Bush	Wells Road, London, W12	49 72 94 148 220 Night routes: 72 94 N97 148 220	113	S
V	Stamford Brook	72-74 Chiswick High Road, London, W4	9 10 27 391 Night routes: 10	91	V
TV	Tolworth	Kingston Road, Tolworth	57 265 467 K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 Night routes: 57 School/mobility routes: 613 665 965	77	TV
NC	Twickenham	The Skills Centre, Twickenham Trading Estate, Rugby Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 1DU	33 419 493 Night routes: 33	42	NC
Uno				5 (0.07%)
University Bus Ltd		College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB		5 (0.07%)
(HF)	Hatfield	Gypsy Moth Avenue, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9BS	London network routes: 614 Other routes: 242 610 614N 615	5	UB

The grand total PVR is 7472.

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, Hounslow Heath code WK originates from Westlink, although parts of the company now use HH to distance themselves from some of Westlink's more dubious practices! FE comes from F. E. Thorpe & sons, sold out to Metroline; in this case TfL have changed the official code to a geographical one, PA. WS comes from Wings 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 former 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).

BT (London Sovereign, Edgware) originally came from Borehamwood Town, depot of the erstwhile BTS, which was subsequently bought out by Sovereign and re-located to Edgware. The code also rather conveniently former the first two letters of the company name, and was therefore adopted by LT.

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 28/08/2010 13:39:47