London Buses route 45

45
Abellio London Alexander Dennis Enviro400H in Elephant and Castle
Overview
OperatorTransport UK London Bus
GarageWalworth
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro400H
Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC
Peak vehicle requirement13
Began service1 October 1950
Former operator(s)London Central
Night-timeNo night service
Route
StartClapham Park
ViaBrixton
Camberwell Green
EndElephant and Castle
Service
Journey time36-86 minutes
Operates04:15 until 01:27

London Buses route 45 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Clapham Park and Elephant and Castle, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus.

History

An Alexander ALX400 double-decker operated by London Central on route 45, December 2007

Route 45 was introduced on 1 October 1950 as a replacement for trolleybus route 34 between Battersea and Farringdon Street via Clapham Junction, Clapham Common, Stockwell, Brixton, Camberwell Green, Elephant & Castle and Blackfriars Bridge.[1] It was operated by AEC Routemasters.[2] On 17 January 1951 it was extended from Battersea to South Kensington station. On 1 February 1961, the route was extended from Farringdon Street to Hampstead Heath via Grays Inn Road and King's Cross replacing trolleybus route 513. On 8 January 1972, it was withdrawn between King's Cross and Hampstead and replaced by route 46. On 28 October 1978, the route was extended from King's Cross to Archway station.[3]

On 3 August 1985, route 45 was converted to one man operation with the AEC Routemasters replaced by Leyland Titans.[4]

Having been operated by London Central out of Camberwell garage since first tendered in 1987,[5] on 11 November 2017 it was taken over by Abellio London's Walworth garage with Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMCs introduced.[6][7][8] On 15 June 2019, the route was withdrawn between King's Cross and Elephant & Castle.[9]

In June 2022 Transport for London launched a consultation with a view to withdrawing route 45, with route 35 and a re-routed 59 continuing to serve its length.[10] However, it decided not to go ahead with the proposals and so no changes to route 45 were made.[11]

Current route

Route 45 operates via these primary locations:[12]

References

  1. ^ Taylor, Hugh (1994). London Trolleybus Routes. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport. ISBN 9781854141552.
  2. ^ Blacker, Ken (1995). Routemaster Volume One 1954–1969. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport. ISBN 978-185414-178-1.
  3. ^ Warren, Kenneth (1986). The Motorbus in Central London. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-1568-6.
  4. ^ Blacker, Ken (2007). Routemaster Volume Two 1970–2005. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport. ISBN 978-185414-303-7.
  5. ^ Stagecoach loses out to Go-Ahead Buses issue 746 May 2017 page 22
  6. ^ London tender round reveals new wage of hybrids Coach & Bus Week issue 1282 14 March 2017 page 8
  7. ^ Tender News Bus Talk issue 45 April 2017 page 10
  8. ^ New TfL contract for route 45 Abellio London 14 November 2017
  9. ^ Permanent Bus Changes 12 April 2019 to 30 June 2019 Transport for London
  10. ^ Central London Bus Review 2022 Transport for London 1 June 2022
  11. ^ Urban, Mike (2 December 2022). "Saved! The 45 bus route from Clapham Park to Elephant and Castle escapes the axe". Brixton Buzz. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  12. ^ Route 45 Map Transport for London