London Buses route 53

53
Overview
Operator Stagecoach London
Route
Start Plumstead
Via Woolwich
Charlton
Blackheath
Greenwich
Deptford
New Cross
Elephant & Castle
End Lambeth North
Whitehall Horse Guards (nights only)

London Buses route 53 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Plumstead and Lambeth North, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

History

Stagecoach London Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2 on Whitehall in August 2007

In 1995 52 new Volvo Olympian double-deckers were bought for the route.[1] Route 185 parallels part of route 53; following the collapse of London Easylink in August 2002, it was left with a limited service provided by a number of operators, and extra journeys on route 53 were operated between Westminster and New Cross Gate to relieve overcrowding.[2]

The service is the only Transport for London contracted route to serve the section of the A2 road through Blackheath Hill. In April 2003 subsidence in a chalk mine beneath the road led to the road being closed and the route being diverted via Lewisham.[3]

In November 2008, a bus travelling on the route was involved in a collision with a car in Woolwich. There were no serious injuries. Passengers stated that the bus driver had braked sharply to avoid a more serious collision, and he was praised by a spokesman for bus operator Selkent.[4] In 2015, the route was curtailed to Lambeth North tube station and only completes the journey to Whitehall at night.[5][6]

When next tendered, it was retained by Stagecoach London with a new contract to commence on 23 July 2016.[7][8]

Current route

Route 53 operates via these primary locations:[9]

References

  1. ↑ Millar, Alan (September 1995). "Seeing red". Buses Focus (Ian Allan Publishing): 61.
  2. ↑ Aldridge, John (December 2002). "Guess who's on the 185 now?". Buses (Ian Allan Publishing) (573): 15.
  3. ↑ Aldridge, John (July 2002). "53 falls foul of Blackheath's big hole". Buses Magazine (Ian Allan Publishing) (568): 15.
  4. ↑ Bus and car crash in Hillreach, Woolwich (From News Shopper)
  5. ↑ "53 bus route to be cut short for ‘foreseeable future' says Boris". London SE1. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Gould, Kate (12 June 2015). "Petition after claims that journey is being cut by stealth". South London Press. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Bus tender results Route 53/N53 Transport for London 22 September 2015
  8. ↑ Tender News Bus Talk (Go-Ahead London) issue 37 December 2015 page 11
  9. ↑ Route 53 Map Transport for London

External links

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