Route 23

Route 23
12 August 2009

The route number 23 was for some years vacant and was used by London Transport for marketing purposes. However, a use became available in the grand 1992 central London route scheme, which saw many long cross-London routes worked by garages from both ends split in order to aid privatisation. One of the routes to be split was the 15, which was curtailed from the east at Paddington, the section beyond to Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park becoming the 23. The 23 also took over the eastern end of route 9, the logic of which escapes me as the 9 is a shorter route!

Initially Routemaster worked from Westbourne Park garage, the 23 succumbed to One-person-operation in August 2003, and new long wheelbase Tridents took over when a new contract began. Unusually they were ordered with Alexander ALX400 bodywork – most First London double deck orders around that time were for Plaxton Presidents. Those buses still form the mainstay of the allocation, and TNA33376 (LK53 EYV) passes Aldwych on 23 October 2005, which was the last day of Routemaster operation on route 13.

Photo © Jordan Young.

During 2008 First unexpectedly obtained a batch of 10 new Enviro400 bodied Tridents for route 23, stated to be to "upgrade" the route – it is not clear what the reason for this was. Whether it is really an upgrade is debateable, as the new vehicles are shorter; although they have more seat downstairs, the layout is much more cramped, and there is reduced (though still adequate) legroom upstairs. DN33511 (LK08 FMP) runs along the Strand bus lane on Friday 7 November 2008, passing Charing Cross mainline railway station with Trafalgar Square visible in the background. This contraflow bus lane was opened as part of Ken Livingstone's part-pedestrianisation of the square, but presents problems for drivers pulling out onto the main road owing to the acute angle and poor visibility.

Photo © David Bosher.

At another mainline station, sister DN33509 (LK08 FNA) was seen on 4 June 2008 collecting passengers in Liverpool Street bus station. The bus station is alongside the railway station, and the impressive wall holds the train shed roof. The plain red livery now adopted by First London (and most other London operators) will be noted.

The latest new vehicles to appear on the 23 are four Wright Gemini 2 integrals, a new design which could be regarded as a successor to the Wright Pulsar Gemini as both have VDL chassis components. Again, these have appeared replacing older Tridents for unknown reasons, although in this case they are closer to the Tridents' longer length, at 10.4m versus 10.5m. WN35004 (LK09 CZS) rounds Marble Arch on Monday 11 May 2009. Marble Arch/Speakers Corner was being re-paved/re-landscaped, and some temporary railings and a pile of earth can be seen to the left of the bus. Interesting these have standard red advert frames, rather than the gold ones that had been used to denote "premium" spots on buses used on high profile central London routes.

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Chronologically 97 227

Numerically 18 24
See also routes 15, 9, 13

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