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{{Infobox London bus route
{{Short description|London bus route}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
| number=81
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
| ibus=yes
{{Infobox bus line
| image=[[File:Hounslow Bus Garage 02-02-09.jpg|330px]]
|number = 81
| operator=[[Transdev London]]
|logo =
| garage=[[Transdev London#Hounslow (AV)|Hounslow (AV)]]
|image = LK62DVR Metroline VW1403 Volvo B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodywork (52445287352).jpg
| vehicle=[[Volvo B7TL|B7TL]] / [[Alexander ALX400|ALX400]]<br />[[Volvo B7TL|B7TL]]/[[Plaxton President|President]]<br />[[Dennis Trident 2|Trident 2]]/[[Alexander ALX400|ALX400]]
| pvr=14
|image_width = 300
|caption = [[Metroline]] [[Wright Eclipse Gemini 2]] bodied [[Volvo B9TL]] at the [[Treaty Centre]]
| start=[[Hounslow]]
|bgcolor = red
| via=Hounslow West<br />Cranford<br />Harlington Corner<br />Heathrow North
| end=[[Slough]]
|titlecolor = white
|operator = [[Metroline]]
| length=12 miles (19 km)
|garage = [[Lampton bus garage|Lampton]]
| level=Daily
|vehicle = [[Volvo B9TL]] [[Wright Eclipse Gemini 2]]
| frequency=About every 12-20 minutes
| time=39-73 minutes
|pvr = 16
|former_operator = [[London United Busways|London United]]<br>[[Westlink (bus company)|Westlink]]<br>[[London Buslines]]<br>[[London Regional Transport]]
| day=4:48am until 0:35am
|night = Night Bus [[London Buses route N9|N9]]
| night=No night service
|start = [[Slough]]
|via = [[Langley, Berkshire|Langley]]<br>[[Colnbrook]]<br>[[Harlington, London|Harlington]]<br>[[Cranford, London|Cranford]]<br>[[Hounslow West]]
|end = [[Hounslow bus station]]
}}
}}


'''London Buses route 81''' is a [[Transport for London]] contracted bus route in [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]. The service is currently contracted to [[Transdev London]].
'''London Buses route 81''' is a [[Transport for London]] contracted bus route in [[London]] and [[Berkshire]], England. Running between [[Slough]] and [[Hounslow bus station]], it is operated by [[Metroline]].


==History==
==History==
The route goes back to the 1900s. Its original course was from [[Hounslow]] to [[Windsor Castle]]. By the 1940s, the route only operated on a daily basis from Hounslow to [[Slough]], serving [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]] and [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] only at weekends. The section from Slough to Windsor Castle was withdrawn in 1963.<ref>{{cite book|last=Marshall|first=Prince|title=Wheels of London|publisher=The Westerham Press|date=1973|page=38|ISBN=0-7230-0068-9}}</ref>
Route 81 is a long standing route, reaching the furthest west out of London to Slough. The 81 once stretched even further west, terminating at [[Windsor Castle]] on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, until 8 May 1963 when it was withdrawn between Windsor and Slough at all times. In 1963 it was extended on Sundays further into London, to Shepherds Bush Green, via Isleworth, although this only lasted until August 1969.
On 18 April 1970, the route was converted from [[Routemaster]] crew operation, to single decker one person operation (using SM class [[AEC Swift]]s). From 1976 [[Leyland National]]s took over.<ref name="londonbusroutes">[http://www.londonbusroutes.net/photos/081.htm Route 81] ''londonbusroutes.net''</ref>


The 1980s saw the introduction by [[London Regional Transport]] of route tenders, with route 81 the first route to be put out to tender. The contract for the route was awarded to Len Wright Travel, which later became [[London Buslines]] effective from 13 July 1985.<ref>Putting the face to a franchise ''[[LT News|LRT News]]'' issue 300 4 October 1985 page 5</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=McLachlan|first=Tom|title=London Buses 1985–1995: Managing The Change|year=1995|publisher=Venture Publications|page=27|isbn=1-898432-74-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/hold-tight-on-the-clapham-omnibus-next-stop-privatisation-christian-wolmar-surveys-the-route-to-change-on-red-buses-1551323.html|last=Wolmar|first=Christian|author-link=Christian Wolmar|title=Hold tight on the Clapham omnibus: Next stop, privatisation|work=[[The Independent]]|date=14 September 1992}}</ref>
There were three variations of route 81. These were the 81A which operated Mon-Fri peak hours from Hounslow to Langley; the 81B, a daily service from Hounslow to Heathrow Central; and the 81C, a short lived service between Slough and Heathrow Central.<ref name="londonbusroutes" />


Tendering saw the route move from [[Hounslow bus garage|Hounslow garage]] to Lampton (later Isleworth, then Southall) and revert to double deck, using yellow [[Daimler Fleetline]]s. These were replaced in 1987 by [[Leyland Lynx]]es.<ref>McLachlan p.84</ref><ref>Capital debut for Lynx ''LRT News'' issue 342 3 July 1987 page 3</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/9th-july-1987/19/lynx-boost-for-leyland Lynx boost for Leyland]''[[Commercial Motor]]'' 9 July 1987</ref> When retendered, the route was awarded to [[Westlink (bus company)|Westlink]] with it being operated out of [[Hounslow Heath bus garage|Hounslow Heath garage]] from 29 July 1995 with [[Optare Delta]]s.<ref>McLachlan p.109</ref> Westlink became part of [[London United Busways|London United]] in September 1995.<ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/enwiki/static/cms/documents/research-guide-no-10-development-of-organised-transportation-in-london.pdf Development of Organised Transportation in London] [[Transport for London]] January 2013</ref> It remained with London United until [[Metroline]] took over on 27 July 2019 operating it out of its Lampton garage.<ref>Six routes transfer in latest TfL tender results ''[[Coach & Bus Week]]'' issue 1375 8 January 2019 page 7</ref><ref>Tender News ''[[Bus Talk]]'' issue 56 February 2019 page 20</ref><ref>Two more new garages open but will others close? ''[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]]'' issue 773 August 2019 page 24</ref>
The 1980s saw the introduction by [[London Regional Transport]] of route tenders, the 81 being the first out of 12 routes to be put out to tender. The contract for the route was awarded to London Buslines, and passed to them from London Buses on 13 July 1985.<ref>{{cite book|last=McLachlan|first=Tom|title=London Buses 1985-1995: Managing The Change|year=1995|publisher = Venture Publications|page=27|isbn=1898432740}}</ref>

Tendering saw the route move from Hounslow Garage to Lampton (later Isleworth, then Southall) and revert back to double deck, using yellow [[Daimler Fleetline|DMS]] class buses. These were replaced in 1987 by new [[Leyland Lynx]] single-deckers.<ref>McLachlan p.84</ref> On 29 July 1995 the route was lost to Westlink and moved to [[Transdev_London#Hounslow_Heath|Hounslow Heath Garage]] using [[Optare Delta|DA]] class single deckers.<ref>McLachlan p.109</ref>

Westlink was bought out by [[Transdev London#London United|London United]] in 1999, and by 2000 the full allocation had moved back to Hounslow Garage, subsequently being converted to low floor operation. Contract renewal in July 2005 saw the route being retained by Transdev with [[Dennis Dart SLF|Dennis Darts]] single deckers.

In April 2008 a Muslim bus driver on route 81 was reported to have stopped a bus at [[Langley, Berkshire|Langley]] to pray. London United stated that he was in fact on a 10-minute break having been told to terminate the bus in Langley owing to late running.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bosses defend Muslim driver who stopped bus to pray|newspaper=Slough & Windsor Observer|date=April 6, 2008}} Also available online at [http://www.islamist-watch.org/411/bosses-defend-muslim-who-stopped-the-81-bus-to islamist-watch.org]</ref>

From October 2009 the route was converted to double deck operation.<ref>[http://www.lots.org.uk/tlbol/glaroutes.html TLB On-line (Greater London Route Developments)] ''lots.org.uk''</ref>

The route has no dedicated night service, although [[London Buses route N9|night bus route N9]] covers the section between Heathrow and Hounslow.
{{Clear}}


==Current route==
==Current route==
Route 81 operates via these primary locations:<ref>[https://www.tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/81 Route 81 Map] Transport for London</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
*<s>[[Slough bus station]]</s><ref>{{Cite web|title=Temporary withdrawal of route 81 between Slough Bus Station and Slough Tesco|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/bus-changes#on-this-page-9|website=[[Transport for London|TfL]]|access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref>
{{Col-2}}
*[[Slough]] ''[[Tesco]]''

*[[Langley, Slough|Langley]]
===Route departing Hounslow===
*[[Colnbrook]]
* [[Hounslow]] '' High Street, School Road''
*[[Longford, London|Longford]]
* Hanworth Road
*[[Harlington, London|Harlington]]
* Grove Road
*[[Cranford, London|Cranford]]
* Hounslow ''Bell''
*[[Hounslow West tube station|Hounslow West station]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
* Bath Road
*[[Treaty Centre]]
* [[Hounslow West tube station|Hounslow West Station]]
*[[Hounslow bus station]] {{rail-interchange|london|bus}}
* [[Cranford]] ''Jarvis Ramada Hotel''
* [[Harlington, London|Harlington Corner]]
* Heathrow Airport North
* Bath Road ''Hatch Lane''
* Longford
* Old Bath Road
* Park Street
* Bridge Street
* [[Colnbrook]] ''Old George''
* Colnbrook High Street
* [[Langley, Slough|Langley]] ''London Road''
* Sussex Place
* Wellington Street
* Brunel Way
* [[Slough]] ''Brunel Bus Station'' for ''[[Slough railway station|Slough Station]]''
{{Col-break}}

===Route departing Slough===
* [[Slough]] ''Bus Station'' for ''[[Slough railway station|Slough Station]]''
* William Street
:''Except evening and Sundays''
:*High Street ''Queensmere Observatory Shopping Centre''
:*Church Street
:*Herschel Street
:*Alpha Street North
:*High Street
:*Uxbridge Road
* Wellington Street
* Sussex Place
* London Road
* [[Langley, Slough|Langley]] ''London Road''
* Bath Road
* Colnbrook High Street
* [[Colnbrook]] ''Old George''
* Bridge Street
* Park Street
* Old Bath Road
* [[Longford]]
* Bath Road
* Colnbrook By-Pass Peggy Bedford (double run)
* [[Bath Road]] ''Hatch Lane''
* Heathrow Airport North
* [[Harlington, London|Harlington Corner]]
* [[Cranford]] ''Jarvis Ramada Hotel''
* [[Hounslow West tube station|Hounslow West Station]]
* Steve Biko Way
* Staines Road
* [[Hounslow]] ''Bell''
* Grove Road
* Hanworth Road
* High Street
* London Road
* [[Hounslow]] ''Bus Station''
{{Col-end}}

==See also==
* [[List of bus routes in London]]
* [[Transdev London]]


==References==
==References==
Line 113: Line 47:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk Transport for London]
* [http://www.busesatwork.co.uk London Bus Routes]
*[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/81 Timetable]
* [http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/081.pdf Timetable (PDF)]


{{London Bus Routes}}
{{London Bus Routes}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:London Buses Route 81}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:081, London buses route}}
[[Category:Bus routes in London|081, London buses route]]
[[Category:Bus routes in London]]
[[Category:Transport in Berkshire|081, London buses Route]]
[[Category:Buses serving Heathrow Airport|81]]
[[Category:Transport in Hounslow|081, London buses route]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Hillingdon]]
[[Category:Transport in Hillingdon|081, London buses route]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Hounslow]]
[[Category:Transport in Slough]]

Latest revision as of 08:41, 17 October 2024

81
Metroline Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL at the Treaty Centre
Overview
OperatorMetroline
GarageLampton
VehicleVolvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2
Peak vehicle requirement16
Former operator(s)London United
Westlink
London Buslines
London Regional Transport
Night-timeNight Bus N9
Route
StartSlough
ViaLangley
Colnbrook
Harlington
Cranford
Hounslow West
EndHounslow bus station

London Buses route 81 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Berkshire, England. Running between Slough and Hounslow bus station, it is operated by Metroline.

History

[edit]

The route goes back to the 1900s. Its original course was from Hounslow to Windsor Castle. By the 1940s, the route only operated on a daily basis from Hounslow to Slough, serving Eton and Windsor only at weekends. The section from Slough to Windsor Castle was withdrawn in 1963.[1]

The 1980s saw the introduction by London Regional Transport of route tenders, with route 81 the first route to be put out to tender. The contract for the route was awarded to Len Wright Travel, which later became London Buslines effective from 13 July 1985.[2][3][4]

Tendering saw the route move from Hounslow garage to Lampton (later Isleworth, then Southall) and revert to double deck, using yellow Daimler Fleetlines. These were replaced in 1987 by Leyland Lynxes.[5][6][7] When retendered, the route was awarded to Westlink with it being operated out of Hounslow Heath garage from 29 July 1995 with Optare Deltas.[8] Westlink became part of London United in September 1995.[9] It remained with London United until Metroline took over on 27 July 2019 operating it out of its Lampton garage.[10][11][12]

Current route

[edit]

Route 81 operates via these primary locations:[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Marshall, Prince (1973). Wheels of London. The Westerham Press. p. 38. ISBN 0-7230-0068-9.
  2. ^ Putting the face to a franchise LRT News issue 300 4 October 1985 page 5
  3. ^ McLachlan, Tom (1995). London Buses 1985–1995: Managing The Change. Venture Publications. p. 27. ISBN 1-898432-74-0.
  4. ^ Wolmar, Christian (14 September 1992). "Hold tight on the Clapham omnibus: Next stop, privatisation". The Independent.
  5. ^ McLachlan p.84
  6. ^ Capital debut for Lynx LRT News issue 342 3 July 1987 page 3
  7. ^ Lynx boost for LeylandCommercial Motor 9 July 1987
  8. ^ McLachlan p.109
  9. ^ Development of Organised Transportation in London Transport for London January 2013
  10. ^ Six routes transfer in latest TfL tender results Coach & Bus Week issue 1375 8 January 2019 page 7
  11. ^ Tender News Bus Talk issue 56 February 2019 page 20
  12. ^ Two more new garages open but will others close? Buses issue 773 August 2019 page 24
  13. ^ Route 81 Map Transport for London
  14. ^ "Temporary withdrawal of route 81 between Slough Bus Station and Slough Tesco". TfL. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
[edit]

Media related to London Buses route 81 at Wikimedia Commons

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