Route 360 commenced operating on 25 January 2003 as was one of a number of new routes introduced in preparation for the commencement of the London congestion charge. It was operated by London Central's Camberwell garage using cascaded early model Dennis Dart SLFs, unusually treated to route branding.
The route was the first in London to use hybrid electric buses, with six vehicles built by Wrightbus, branded Electrocity, entering service in February 2006.[1] The trial was announced in March 2005; route 360 was chosen as it is one of few single-deck routes to operate in central London.[2] Six diesel buses were operated alongside the hybrids for comparison.[3] The hybrids were temporarily withdrawn shortly after their introduction following problems with engine overheating.[4]
In November 2009, it was announced that London Central had successfully tendered to retain the route, which would be converted to full hybrid operation using a mixture of new and existing vehicles from 23 January 2010, the first route to use only hybrid vehicles.[5][6]
Media related to London Buses route 360 at Wikimedia Commons
