London bus - overview, history, routes and reviews

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

The London bus is the second most popular public transport in the British capital. It concedes the first place to the subway, because the subway does not know the word "traffic jams". Over the hundred years of its existence, the double decker, in addition to the means of transportation, has become one of the indispensable calling cards for London.

London Buses

This division of the public corporation Transport for London is responsible for providing public transport services to Londoners and the surrounding counties. London Buses manages existing routes and the creation of new ones, bus stations, stops, and also monitors the quality of service. About two billion people use buses, tubes and other modes of transport in London every year.

Production history

Surely many people know the name of the London bus. The modern English term "double decker" in translation means "two-story". In 1911, the first LGOC B-type bus was designed. Its body and chassis were wooden,and the second floor is open. 10 years later, it was replaced by the NS-Type. The second floor of the new bus was also open, like the previous model.

In 1925, a ban on public transport without roofs was introduced, in connection with which almost two thousand previously issued copies were subject to modification. Before the Second World War, single-decker LT class buses ran around London, carrying the same number of passengers as double-decker buses.

Routmaster, symbol of London, worked on the lines from 1956 to 2005 inclusive. The external and internal appearance of the bus changed over time, it was constantly improved to meet the needs of passengers. The low-floor routemaster was created for the elderly and the disabled. Later, London double-decker buses were converted to be operated by one person - the driver.

In 2005, the work of routemasters on routes was discontinued. This event was perceived by society as an act of vandalism, since this type of transport has become an integral part of the culture of England.

Rootmaster today

At the time of the termination of the operation of this model of buses, there were more than 500 of these machines. Decommissioned routemasters are still sold to everyone. The price of the bus is about 10 thousand English pounds. Five cars are in the London Public Transport Museum. Many routemasters take guests of the capital during excursions.

In London there is a club Routemaster Association, which includes the owners of this brandbuses. The purpose of the organization is to educate about this technique, as well as maintain links with suppliers of spare parts.

The symbol of the British capital is a double decker

Today, 8,000 red buses run around London. The double decker has a hybrid circuit and a 4.5 liter diesel engine. The two rear wheels are powered by an electric motor with lithium-ion batteries. An interesting fact is that outwardly the double decker is practically no different from its predecessor. However, the modern bus has an additional door and stairs to the second floor.

To travel on a double decker, you must purchase a ticket in advance or use an Oyster card, as there is no conductor service in the cabin. Between the floors of the bus there is a board on which the direction of movement and the number of the bus are written in yellow. In the capital, there are specially equipped stops (marking on the road with the inscription "Bus stop"). In addition, the driver, at the request of passengers, can drop them off at a place convenient for them.

Trip Reviews

Both residents of London and visitors to the city speak well of this type of transport. Most people note the prevailing comfort of travel on the second floor of the bus. According to passengers, there is a lot of daylight and fresh air. On the first floor of the double decker, the ceiling is lower than on the second. This creates a feeling of tightness. The chairs are very comfortable. They are upholstered in fabric and resemble office chairs. Each passenger seat has a handrail with a button forexit at the stop on demand. The distance between the seats is quite wide. Double decker drivers are polite, neatly dressed people. Many salons are equipped with CCTV cameras.

The speed of double-decker buses is slow. This is due to the impressive size of the car and the abundance of other vehicles on the roads. So if you are in a hurry, use the underground, otherwise the London red bus is ideal, as it will still be faster than walking.

Double decker excursions from Big Bus Company

Travel organized by this company is the perfect solution to explore the British capital in 48 hours. Buying a ticket online, you save 10 pounds. The cost of the trip itself is about 30 British pounds. The day and night tour includes a boat ride on the Thames and walking tours at the same time. A friendly character will meet you on the bus. The double-deck double decker on the blue route has an audio guide for Russian-speaking guests. During the journey, you will learn many exciting stories with historical details. From the windows of the bus offers a beautiful view of majestic London.

Cognitive London bus routes

Flight 15 from Trafalgar Square, via the Strand and Aldwych to Tower Bridge, and route 9 from the Royal Albert Hall are operated by Londoners' favorite routemaster. The fare is the same amount as a trip on a modern double decker, so the citizensoften use it as a daily commute.

74 departs from Putney Bridge MRT station at Fulham Palace. The bus passes the museums and mansions of Kensington, the Dorchester Hotel and Harrods department store. Continue through Hyde Park to the final stop next to Madame Tussauds and Sherlock Holmes' Baker Street apartment.

Route 24 begins in an unusually vibrant area of London called Camden Town, which is home to restaurants, bars and an ethnic market. The London bus ride takes you through Trafalgar Square, the West End, the Royal Guard Building, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Route 24 ends at Scotland Yard.

Interesting facts

During the history of the existence of the London bus, during the Second World War, he managed to be an indispensable vehicle for transporting carrier pigeons. To become a driver of the symbol of the capital, those who wish to take a 55-hour special training course. Passengers have the opportunity to track the location of the bus of interest using Internet maps, since double deckers are equipped with a GPS navigator.

Some wonder what color London buses were in the past? Here the answer directly depends on the time frame. At the beginning of the last century, public transport was multi-colored, but blue still prevailed among all colors. Later, this shade was considered inappropriate, since it was very difficult to see it in the fog. By the way, byFor the same reason, the black color of the telephone booths was changed to red. The tragic incident occurred on July 7, 2005 with the Dennis Trident 2 bus. It was blown up during a series of terrorist attacks. Route number 30 became fatal for 13 people.

It's no secret that England has always been a mystical country. Therefore, it is not surprising that such a fate did not bypass the London buses. According to one of the legends, at the intersection of Cambridge Gardens and St. Marks Road, many people see a red double-decker bus with number 7. “Eyewitnesses” claim that it suddenly appears and seems to dissolve into thin air. Probably, this mystical story would not have taken root among other legends of London, if not for the fact that it was at this intersection that many car accidents occurred under inexplicable circumstances.