Green Line bus route 724: Difference between revisions

Green Line 724
Green Line 724
Overview
Operator	Arriva Herts & Essex
Garage	Harlow; Ware;
Vehicle	Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC; VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2;
Route
Locale	Buckinghamshire; Essex; Greater London; Hertfordshire;
Termini	Harlow; Heathrow Central;
Length	57 miles (92 km)
Service
Frequency	Hourly
Operates	Daily

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Green Line route 724 is a bus service currently operated by Arriva Herts & Essex as part of the Green Line Coaches network. It runs on an orbital route round the north and western outskirts of London between Harlow and Heathrow Central bus station, and is partly funded by airport operator Heathrow Airport Holdings.

History

Route 724 was started by Green Line Coaches (then part of London Transport) on 10 July 1966, on a route from High Wycombe to Romford via North London using AEC Regal coaches.^[1]^[2] By June 1972 it had been rerouted to start from Staines and serve Heathrow Airport.^[3] The sections of route between Staines and Heathrow, and between Harlow and Romford were later dropped.

Route 724 was included in the sale of London Country North West to a management buyout when privatised in January 1988, in turn passing to Luton & District Transport in 1990, British Bus in 1994 and finally the Cowie Group in August 1996.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] Today it is operated by Arriva Herts & Essex.

In December 1997, a fleet of nine Plaxton Prestige bodied DAF SB220s were purchased, with extra luggage space built in.^{[citation needed]} These were some of the first low-floor buses to operate in the United Kingdom.

These were replaced in August 2006 by nine Mercedes-Benz Citaros. These were the result of a Quality Bus Partnership between Arriva Shires & Essex, BAA and Hertfordshire County Council. These buses seat 39 and also have extra luggage racking.^[8] Journey times were also improved.^[9]

In March 2008, the route was diverted to serve the new Heathrow Terminal 5.^[10] From 19 May, the service was withdrawn from Heathrow Terminal 4, with another new timetable introduced. Short workings on other parts of the route became routes 725 and 726.^[11]

In February 2021, the Citaros were replaced by a fleet of 8 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs, which were transferred from Arriva Kent Thameside.^[12]

In July 2022, part of the batch of ADL Enviro200 MMCs were replaced by Wright Pulsar 2 bodied VDL SB200s transferred from Leicester in return for the Enviro200s.

From 24 July 2022, additional early morning, late evening and weekend journeys were introduced in conjunction with the Heathrow Airport Partnership.^[13]

Current route

Harlow bus station
Ware College
Hertford bus station
Hertford North station
Panshanger Herns Way
Welwyn Garden City bus station for Welwyn Garden City station
QEII Hospital
Hatfield station
Hatfield Town Centre
St Albans City station
St Albans St Peter's Street
St Albans Abbey station
Garston Garage
Watford Regent Street
Watford Junction station
Watford Town Hall
Croxley station
Rickmansworth station
Mill End, Rickmansworth Moneyhill Parade
Maple Cross Chalfont Road
Denham station
Uxbridge Belmont Road for Uxbridge station
Heathrow Central bus station

References

^ One-Man Operation for First Time on London Transport Coaches Archived 23 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 1 July 1966 page 45
^ Wagstaff, J. S. (1976). The London single-deck bus of the fifties. Oakwood Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0853611981. All the Country Area and Green Line routes were meanwhile being converted to one-man operation, passengers paying the driver as they boarded, the first Green Line one-man service being the 724. This was a new route introduced in July 1966, using one-man RF coaches from the outset. Running between Romford and High Wycombe as a limited-stop cross-country facility, it proved very successful in contrast to the earlier 727 experiment.
^ 724 & 727 timetable Archived 23 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine London Country Bus Services 3 June 1972
^ London Country - three to go Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 12 November 1987 page 32
^ Hansard Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine House of Commons 18 April 1988
^ Morris, Stephen (September 1996). "NBC since NBC: a history of the former NBC subsidiaries". Buses Focus: 46.
^ Overview Archived 28 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Arriva
^ Heathrow service relaunched Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Transport Xtra 18 August 2006
^ Revamped buses set for take-off Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Watford Observer 4 September 2006
^ Arriva - "Green Line 724 to serve Heathrow Terminal 5." Archived 26 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine
^ Route 724 timetable Arriva 2 June 2008
^ "HarlowRide Enthusiast Pages". harlowride.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
^ "Arriva Bus".

McCall, Albert (1980). Green Line: the history of London's country bus services. New Cavendish Books. ISBN 0-904568-26-1.

External links

[1] One-Man Operation for First Time on London Transport Coaches Archived 23 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 1 July 1966 page 45

[2] Wagstaff, J. S. (1976). The London single-deck bus of the fifties. Oakwood Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0853611981. All the Country Area and Green Line routes were meanwhile being converted to one-man operation, passengers paying the driver as they boarded, the first Green Line one-man service being the 724. This was a new route introduced in July 1966, using one-man RF coaches from the outset. Running between Romford and High Wycombe as a limited-stop cross-country facility, it proved very successful in contrast to the earlier 727 experiment.

[3] 724 & 727 timetable Archived 23 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine London Country Bus Services 3 June 1972

[4] London Country - three to go Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 12 November 1987 page 32

[5] Hansard Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine House of Commons 18 April 1988

[6] Morris, Stephen (September 1996). "NBC since NBC: a history of the former NBC subsidiaries". Buses Focus: 46.

[7] Overview Archived 28 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Arriva

[8] Heathrow service relaunched Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Transport Xtra 18 August 2006

[9] Revamped buses set for take-off Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Watford Observer 4 September 2006

[10] Arriva - "Green Line 724 to serve Heathrow Terminal 5." Archived 26 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine

[11] Route 724 timetable Arriva 2 June 2008

[12] "HarlowRide Enthusiast Pages". harlowride.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2021.

[13] "Arriva Bus".

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Home Counties bus route}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
 {{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
 {{Infobox bus line
-|number        = 724
+|number=Green Line 724
+|image=Arriva 3797 (FL63DXF) Heathrow Airport 09 06 2023 (52962123037).jpg
-|image         = 20191028-Arriva-East-Herts-&-Essex-3897 (cropped).jpg
+|bgcolor=#b3f700
-|image_width   = 280
+|titlecolor=black
-|image_alt     =
+|operator=[[Arriva Herts & Essex]]
-|caption       = [[Arriva Southern Counties]] [[Mercedes-Benz Citaro]]<br/>in October 2019
+|garage={{ubl|[[Arriva Herts & Essex#Harlow|Harlow]]|[[Arriva Herts & Essex#Ware|Ware]]}}
-|bgcolor       = green
+|vehicle={{ubl|[[Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC|Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC]]|[[VDL SB200]]/[[Wright Pulsar 2]]}}
-|titlecolor    = lime
+|length={{convert|57|mi|km}}
-|system        = [[Green Line Coaches|Green Line]]
+|frequency=Hourly
-|operator      = [[Arriva Southern Counties]]
+|day=Daily
-|garage        = [[Arriva Southern Counties#Harlow|Harlow]] and [[Arriva Southern Counties#Ware|Ware]]
+|locale={{plainlist|
-|vehicle       = [[Mercedes-Benz Citaro]]
+* [[Buckinghamshire]]
-|pvr           = 7
+* [[Essex]]
-|night         =
+* [[Greater London]]
-|start         = [[Harlow]]
+* [[Hertfordshire]]}}
-|via           = [[Hertford]]<br/>[[St Albans]]<br/>[[Watford]]<br/>[[Uxbridge]]
+|termini={{ubl|[[Harlow]]|[[Heathrow Central bus station|Heathrow Central]]}}}}
-|end           = [[Heathrow Terminal 5]]
-|length        = {{convert|57|mi|km}}
-|level         = Daily
-|frequency     = 60 - 120 minutes
-|time          = 2 hours 12 minutes - 3 hours 36 minutes
-|day           = 03:35 until 00:39
-|notes         = See also [[Green Line Coaches]] and [http://www.intalink.org.uk/Timetables/tt/724_B_ATG.pdf timetable]}}
-'''Green Line route 724''' is a bus service currently operated by [[Arriva Southern Counties]] as part of the [[Green Line Coaches]] network. It runs on an orbital route round the north and western outskirts of London between [[Harlow]] and [[Heathrow Terminal 5]], and is partly funded by airport operator [[Heathrow Airport Holdings]].
+'''Green Line route 724''' is a bus service currently operated by [[Arriva Herts & Essex]] as part of the [[Green Line Coaches]] network. It runs on an orbital route round the north and western outskirts of London between [[Harlow]] and [[Heathrow Central bus station]], and is partly funded by airport operator [[Heathrow Airport Holdings]].
 ==History==
-Route 724 was started by [[Green Line Coaches]] (then part of [[London Transport Board|London Transport]]) on 10 July 1966, on a route from [[High Wycombe]] to [[Romford]] via [[North London]] using [[Associated Equipment Company|AEC]] Regal coaches.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-july-1966/47/ie-man-operation-for-first-time-i-london-transport One-Man Operation for First Time on London Transport Coaches] ''Commercial Motor'' 1 July 1966 page 45</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LugMAQAAIAAJ | title=The London single-deck bus of the fifties | publisher=Oakwood Press | author=Wagstaff, J. S. | year=1976 | pages=10 | isbn=978-0853611981 | quote=All the Country Area and Green Line routes were meanwhile being converted to one-man operation, passengers paying the driver as they boarded, the first Green Line one-man service being the 724. This was a new route introduced in July 1966, using one-man RF coaches from the outset. Running between Romford and High Wycombe as a limited-stop cross-country facility, it proved very successful in contrast to the earlier 727 experiment.}}</ref> By June 1972 it had been rerouted to start from [[Staines]] and serve [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>[http://www.eplates.info/P_724-727.jpg 724 & 727 timetable] London Country Bus Services 3 June 1972</ref> The sections of route between Staines and Heathrow, and between [[Harlow]] and Romford were later dropped.
+Route 724 was started by [[Green Line Coaches]] (then part of [[London Transport Board|London Transport]]) on 10 July 1966, on a route from [[High Wycombe]] to [[Romford]] via [[North London]] using [[Associated Equipment Company|AEC]] Regal coaches.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-july-1966/47/ie-man-operation-for-first-time-i-london-transport One-Man Operation for First Time on London Transport Coaches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123111938/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-july-1966/47/ie-man-operation-for-first-time-i-london-transport |date=23 January 2016 }} ''Commercial Motor'' 1 July 1966 page 45</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LugMAQAAIAAJ | title=The London single-deck bus of the fifties | publisher=Oakwood Press | author=Wagstaff, J. S. | year=1976 | pages=10 | isbn=978-0853611981 | quote=All the Country Area and Green Line routes were meanwhile being converted to one-man operation, passengers paying the driver as they boarded, the first Green Line one-man service being the 724. This was a new route introduced in July 1966, using one-man RF coaches from the outset. Running between Romford and High Wycombe as a limited-stop cross-country facility, it proved very successful in contrast to the earlier 727 experiment.}}</ref> By June 1972 it had been rerouted to start from [[Staines]] and serve [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref>[http://www.eplates.info/P_724-727.jpg 724 & 727 timetable] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223134513/http://eplates.info/P_724-727.jpg |date=23 December 2013 }} London Country Bus Services 3 June 1972</ref> The sections of route between Staines and Heathrow, and between [[Harlow]] and Romford were later dropped.
-Route 724 was included in the sale of [[London Country North West]] to a [[management buyout]] when [[Bus deregulation in the United Kingdom|privatised]] in January 1988, in turn passing to Luton & District Transport in 1990, [[British Bus]] in 1994 and finally the [[Arriva|Cowie Group]] in August 1996.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-november-1987/32/london-country-three-to-go London Country - three to go] ''Commercial Motor'' 12 November 1987 page 32</ref><ref>[http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1988/apr/18/national-bus-company Hansard] House of Commons 18 April 1988</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Morris|first=Stephen|journal=Buses Focus|title=NBC since NBC: a history of the former NBC subsidiaries|date=September 1996|page=46}}</ref><ref>[http://www.arriva.co.uk/about_arriva/history_growth/overview/ Overview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928054413/http://www.arriva.co.uk/about_arriva/history_growth/overview/ |date=28 September 2013 }} Arriva</ref> Today it is operated by  [[Arriva Southern Counties]].
+Route 724 was included in the sale of [[London Country North West]] to a [[management buyout]] when [[Bus deregulation in the United Kingdom|privatised]] in January 1988, in turn passing to Luton & District Transport in 1990, [[British Bus]] in 1994 and finally the [[Arriva|Cowie Group]] in August 1996.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-november-1987/32/london-country-three-to-go London Country - three to go] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714185138/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-november-1987/32/london-country-three-to-go |date=14 July 2014 }} ''Commercial Motor'' 12 November 1987 page 32</ref><ref>[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1988/apr/18/national-bus-company Hansard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129023658/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1988/apr/18/national-bus-company |date=29 November 2014 }} House of Commons 18 April 1988</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Morris|first=Stephen|journal=Buses Focus|title=NBC since NBC: a history of the former NBC subsidiaries|date=September 1996|page=46}}</ref><ref>[http://www.arriva.co.uk/about_arriva/history_growth/overview/ Overview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928054413/http://www.arriva.co.uk/about_arriva/history_growth/overview/ |date=28 September 2013 }} Arriva</ref> Today it is operated by [[Arriva Herts & Essex]].
 In December 1997, a fleet of nine [[Plaxton Prestige]] bodied [[DAF SB220]]s were purchased, with extra luggage space built in.{{cn|date=February 2016}} These were some of the first [[low-floor bus]]es to operate in the United Kingdom.
-These were replaced in August 2006 by nine [[Mercedes-Benz Citaro]]s. These were the result of a Quality Bus Partnership between Arriva Shires & Essex, [[Heathrow Airport Holdings|BAA]] and [[Hertfordshire County Council]]. These buses seat 39 and also have extra luggage racking.<ref>[https://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/transit/news/?ID=2074 Heathrow service relaunched] ''Transport Xtra'' 18 August 2006</ref> Journey times were also improved.<ref>[http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/903176.revamped_buses_set_for_takeoff/ Revamped buses set for take-off] ''Watford Observer'' 4 September 2006</ref>
+These were replaced in August 2006 by nine [[Mercedes-Benz Citaro]]s. These were the result of a Quality Bus Partnership between Arriva Shires & Essex, [[Heathrow Airport Holdings|BAA]] and [[Hertfordshire County Council]]. These buses seat 39 and also have extra luggage racking.<ref>[https://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/transit/news/?ID=2074 Heathrow service relaunched] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184453/https://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/transit/news/?ID=2074 |date=14 July 2014 }} ''Transport Xtra'' 18 August 2006</ref> Journey times were also improved.<ref>[http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/903176.revamped_buses_set_for_takeoff/ Revamped buses set for take-off] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323075553/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/903176.revamped_buses_set_for_takeoff/ |date=23 March 2012 }} ''Watford Observer'' 4 September 2006</ref>
-In March 2008, the route was diverted to serve the new [[Heathrow Terminal 5]].<ref>[http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E4D002F7E0E.nsf/vWeb/wpDOMR7CQKNQ?Open&show=current&region=Shires%20and%20Essex&town=Heathrow%20Airport Arriva - "Green Line 724 to serve Heathrow Terminal 5."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926235633/https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E4D002F7E0E.nsf/vWeb/wpDOMR7CQKNQ?Open&show=current&region=Shires%20and%20Essex&town=Heathrow%20Airport |date=26 September 2017 }}</ref>
+In March 2008, the route was diverted to serve the new [[Heathrow Terminal 5]].<ref>[http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E4D002F7E0E.nsf/vWeb/wpDOMR7CQKNQ?Open&show=current&region=Shires%20and%20Essex&town=Heathrow%20Airport Arriva - "Green Line 724 to serve Heathrow Terminal 5."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926235633/https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E4D002F7E0E.nsf/vWeb/wpDOMR7CQKNQ?Open&show=current&region=Shires%20and%20Essex&town=Heathrow%20Airport |date=26 September 2017 }}</ref> From 19 May, the service was withdrawn from [[Heathrow Terminal 4]], with another new timetable introduced. Short workings on other parts of the route became routes 725 and 726.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090824184113/http://www.greenline.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Services/Shires_and_Essex/ha724se0608.pdf Route 724 timetable] Arriva 2 June 2008</ref>
+In February 2021, the Citaros were replaced by a fleet of 8 [[Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC]]s, which were transferred from [[Arriva Kent Thameside]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=HarlowRide Enthusiast Pages|url=http://www.harlowride.co.uk/enthindex.htm#TOP|access-date=2021-04-01|website=harlowride.co.uk}}</ref>
-From 19 May, the service was withdrawn from [[Heathrow Terminal 4]], with another new timetable introduced. Short workings on other parts of the route became routes 725 and 726.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090824184113/http://www.greenline.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Services/Shires_and_Essex/ha724se0608.pdf Route 724 timetable] Arriva 2 June 2008</ref>
+In July 2022, part of the batch of ADL Enviro200 MMCs were replaced by [[Wright Pulsar 2]] bodied [[VDL SB200]]s transferred from Leicester in return for the Enviro200s.
-==Current route==
-This was the route map when [[Heathrow Terminal 5]] opened. The service was also diverted in [[St Albans]] avoiding the busy St Peters Street, the main road through St Albans' city centre around which most of the shops are located.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080412005615/http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E280053B5B6.nsf/vWeb/wpDOMR7CTCZ9?Open&show=current&region=Shires%20and%20Essex&town=Heathrow%20Airport Harlow - Heathrow Airport T4 & T5 Green Line 724 & 725] Arriva</ref>
+From 24 July 2022, additional early morning, late evening and weekend journeys were introduced in conjunction with the Heathrow Airport Partnership.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/were-making-some-changes-to-our-services-in-harlow | title=Arriva Bus }}</ref>
-[[File:Green Line 724 route diagram.PNG|left|700px]]
-{{-}}
-===Current route===
+==Current route==
-{{columns-list|
 *[[Harlow]] ''bus station'' {{rail-interchange|bus}}
 *[[Ware, Hertfordshire|Ware]] ''College''
@@ Line 57: / Line 50: @@
 *[[Hatfield railway station|Hatfield station]] {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}
 *[[Hatfield, Hertfordshire|Hatfield]] ''Town Centre''
-*[[St Albans City railway station|St Albans station]] {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}
+*[[St Albans City railway station|St Albans City station]] {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}
-*[[St Albans]] ''St Peters Street''
+*[[St Albans]] ''St Peter's Street''
+*[[St Albans Abbey railway station|St Albans Abbey station]] {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
 *[[Garston, Hertfordshire|Garston]] ''Garage''
 *[[Watford]] ''Regent Street''
@@ Line 69: / Line 63: @@
 *[[Denham railway station|Denham station]] {{rail-interchange|London|rail}}
 *[[Uxbridge]] ''Belmont Road'' ''for [[Uxbridge tube station|Uxbridge station]]'' {{rail-interchange|London|underground}}
-*[[Heathrow Central bus station]] {{rail-interchange|London|underground}} {{rail-interchange|London|crossrail}} {{rail-interchange|London|rail}} {{rail-interchange|london|bus}} {{rail-interchange|air}}}}
+*[[Heathrow Central bus station]] {{rail-interchange|London|underground}} {{rail-interchange|London|crossrail}} {{rail-interchange|London|rail}} {{rail-interchange|london|bus}} {{rail-interchange|air}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 79: / Line 73: @@
 *[http://www.greenline.co.uk/ Green Line Coaches website]
-{{Green Line coach routes|state=collapsed}}
 {{London Heathrow Airport}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:724, Green Line Coaches Route}}
 [[Category:Bus routes in England]]
-[[Category:Bus routes in London]]
 [[Category:Green Line Coaches routes]]
 [[Category:Transport in Essex]]