London Buses route 23
| 23 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Operator | Tower Transit |
| Garage | Westbourne Park (X) |
| Vehicle | Alexander Dennis Enviro400H 10.2m Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.2m |
| Peak vehicle requirement | 31 |
| Night-time | 24-hour service |
| Route | |
| Start | Westbourne Park station |
| Via | Ladbroke Grove Paddington Oxford Circus Aldwych |
| End | Liverpool Street bus station |
| Length | 8 miles (13 km) |
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
| Frequency | 7-10 minutes |
| Journey time | 46-95 minutes |
| Operates | 24-hour service |
London Buses route 23 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Westbourne Park station and Liverpool Street bus station, it is operated by Tower Transit.
History
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Route 23 commenced on 18 July 1992 with AEC Routemasters operated by CentreWest's Westbourne Park garage.[1]
On 14 November 2003, Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2s replaced the Routemasters.[2] In May 2008, Alexander Dennis Enviro400s were introduced to the route and more recently Wright Gemini 2s were introduced in 2009.
In January 2009, Transport for London reduced the peak frequency of route 23 from twelve buses per hour to ten, as part of its implementation of the request from the Mayor of London to reduce the bus flow on Oxford Street by 10% in each of 2009 and 2010.[3] The off-peak service already operated at this frequency.[4]
On 5 January 2009, a bus operating route 23 crashed into a shop in Westbourne Grove after swerving to avoid a van, injuring ten people.[5]
Later in 2009 Transport for London decided not to proceed with a possible change of the eastbound route in the Elgin Crescent area, following a consultation with residents and local interest groups. The proposal would have routed the eastbound 23 along Ladbroke Gardens instead of Elgin Crescent, while routes 52 and 452 would continue to run along Elgin Crescent in both directions. The most common benefit stated amongst supporters was fewer buses along the overcrowded Elgin Crescent; those opposing the change were concerned about safety at the junction of Ladbroke Grove and Ladbroke Gardens, and the suitability of Ladbroke Gardens to accommodate a bus service.[6]
On 13 November 2010, route 23 was retained by First London with existing double deckers.[7]
In January 2012, brand new Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs were temporarily introduced, these were replaced in May 2012 by Alexander Dennis Enviro400Hs.[8]
On 22 June 2013, route 23 was included in the sale of First London's Westbourne Park garage to Tower Transit.[9][10][11]
In popular culture
Radio presenter Geoff Lloyd featured the route in the show Boring? The number 23 bus? Never! at the Boring Conference in December 2010.[12]
Radio presenters Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo discussed if the number 23 bus route was in fact more interesting than the movie The Number 23 starring Jim Carrey.
Current route
- Westbourne Park station
- Ladbroke Grove Sainsbury's
- Ladbroke Grove station
- Paddington station
- Marble Arch station
- Oxford Circus station
- Piccadilly Circus station
- Charing Cross station
- City Thameslink station
- Mansion House station
- Bank station
- Liverpool Street bus station
References
- ^ Routemasters The R.J. Waterhouse website
- ^ The Future of the Routemaster Icons of England
- ^ "Streets ahead: Relieving congestion on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street" (PDF). London Assembly Transport Committee. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010. See Appendix 1.
- ^ Aldridge, John (April 2009). "Yet more buses on Sundays and peaks". Buses (649). Ian Allan Publishing: 22.
- ^ Knapton, Sarah (5 January 2009). "Ten injured as bus hits antique shop in London suburb". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Route 23". Transport for London. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ Aldridge, John (May 2010). "First and Transdev retain four routes with new buses". Buses (662). Ian Allan Publishing: 22–23.
- ^ "Fleet News". Buses (684). March 2012.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ FirstGroup Announces Sale of Eight London Bus Depots FirstGroup 9 April 2013
- ^ Aberdeen firm FirstGroup sells off depots for £80m BBC News 9 April 2013
- ^ Date set for Aussie takeover of London bus routes Australasian Bus & Coach 14 June 2013
- ^ Mesure, Susie (12 December 2010). "Boring? The number 23 bus? Never!". The Independent.
External links
Media related to London Buses route 23 at Wikimedia Commons- London Bus Routes gallery
- Timetable
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