Route 253

Route 253
1 October 2005

Route 253 has finally been formally split into its two constituent sections, route 254 taking over the Aldgate-Holloway section from 31 May 2003, leaving the 253 to run between Hackney and Euston. It had been the intention to do the same in 1998, and routes 253 and 254 were tendered separately, but in the event Arriva retained both parts so the route number was not changed at that time. However the confusing arrangement of effectively having two separate routes with the same number has now been abandoned; indeed, as the 254 is now based at Stamford Hill, whilst the 253 remains at Clapton garage (which is its terminus, in Hackney town centre), operationally they are now completely separate routes.

The route was one of the last to retain existing step entrance buses on contract renewal in 1998, but modern Leyland Olympians were already in place. However, the 2003 contract specified low floor buses; the 253 gained DLA class DAFs, Arriva's most numerous type. Although some new buses were ordered, these are mainly used on the 242, while the 253 uses earlier vehicles drafted in from a variety of locations.

Photo © Lawrence Living.

Here we have views of DLA 17/18 (S217/218 JUA), both at Euston Bus Station. These are both examples from the batch originally purchased for the 242, and so have been at Clapton all their working lives. DLA 17 is still in its original Arriva "cow horns" livery, but DLA 18 has just been repainted in a plainer version without the "cow horns" and the "serving London" strapline. TfL is getting ever more prescriptive in respect of vehicle presentation, with non-red allowed only at skirt level and on the roof (which is white to deflect sunlight); one does just wonder if this is due to the influence of "Red" Ken Livingstone!

The 253 is one of the trolleybus replacement routes, in this case replacing the 653, which until 1960 ran much the same route, but diverting at Camden Town to Warren Street rather than Euston, as indeed did the 253 to begin with. The 653 in turn had replaced tram number 53 on 5 March 1939, both operated by Holloway tram/trolleybus depot (now HT).

Returning to the 253, one-person operation did not arrive until 21 November 1987, the Ash Grove and Stamford Hill allocations being converted to Titan and Metrobus respectively. When Ash Grove closed in 1991, the whole route was concentrated at Stamford Hill, taking a few Titans with it. However, Titans did not last long at Stamford Hill, as they were replaced in 1992 by the new Olympians, which converted about half of the 253, as well as the 67. Stamford Hill closed in turn, and the allocation transferred to the re-opened Clapton garage, where it is still based today, although as mentioned above Stamford Hill has subsequently re-opened, and the 254 is back there. It is also suggested that Clapton may close to allow refurbishment for eventual use as a base for the Olympic shuttle buses, with the 253 re-allocated to Stamford Hill also.

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Chronologically 265 32

Numerically 251 257
See also routes 67, 254, 242

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