London Buses route 57

57
London United East Lancs Vyking bodied Volvo B7TL in November 2013
Overview
Operator	London United
Garage	Tolworth (TV)
Vehicle	Dennis Trident 2 9.9m / Alexander ALX400 Volvo B7TL 10.6m / East Lancs Vyking
Peak vehicle requirement	26
Night-time	24-hour service
Route
Start	Kingston
Via	Raynes Park Wimbledon Merton Abbey Tooting
End	Clapham Park
Length	11 miles (18 km)
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	8-12 minutes
Journey time	46-89 minutes
Operates	24-hour service

London Buses route 57 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Kingston and Clapham Park, it is operated by London United.

History

Transdev London Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2 in Kingston in December 2008

Route 57 commenced operating on 7 January 1951 between Tooting Broadway and Victoria. The route was operated from Brixton garage by AEC Regent III RTs. On 29 January 1964 it was transferred to Merton garage. The route was extended from Tooting to Kingston and withdrawn from between Stockwell and Victoria. The route now ran from Kingston to Streatham (Monday-Saturday) and Stockwell (peak hous & Saturday shopping hours). On 31 December 1966, route 57 was withdrawn between Streatham and Stockwell.

On 17 June 1967, the route was extended from Streatham to Brixton station. On 18 September 1971 the route was converted to One Person Operation with AEC Swifts. On 13 November 1977, the route was converted back to double deck operation with Daimler Fleetlines. On 9 September 1982, a Saturday Leyland National allocation was introduced. On 2 September 1989, the service was transferred from Metron to Norbiton garage. The route was converted to MCW Metrobus type buses. On 7 September 1991, upon being tendered passed to London United's Fulwell garage.

On 5 September 1992, the London United contract was withdrawn and London & Country took over the route from Leatherhead and Croydon garages. A Sunday operation was introduced by London & Country. The route was revised Monday to Saturday ran from Kingston to Streatham Hill and Sundays ran from Kingston to Tooting Broadway. Later on the Sunday service was extended from Tooting Broadway to Streatham Hill, in line with the weekday service.

Upon being re-tendered, on 28 June 1997 the route returned to London United won operated it from their Kingston garage with new Volvo Olympians. On 3 November 2001, Kingston garage was closed and the route transferred to Tolworth garage.

On 16 November 2002, there was an increase in the PVR and low floor Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2s were introduced. On 30 June 2007, route 57 became a 24-hour service.

Current route

• Kingston Fairfield Bus Station
• Cromwell Road for Kingston station
• Norbiton
• Kingston Hospital
• Raynes Park station
• Wimbledon station
• South Wimbledon station
• Colliers Wood station
• Tooting Broadway station
• Streatham Hill station
• Clapham Park

External links

• Media related to London Buses route 57 at Wikimedia Commons
• London Bus Routes gallery
• Timetable