London Buses route 117

London Buses route 117 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Surrey, England, running between West Middlesex University Hospital and Staines.

117
Abellio London Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart at Staines bus station in August 2013
Route
StartWest Middlesex University Hospital
ViaIsleworth
Hounslow
Feltham
Ashford
EndStaines

History
Metroline Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart SLF at Staines bus station in September 2009

3 October 1934, Hounslow Garage (AV) ST operated service from Hounslow Bus Station to Egham (Eclipse) Monday-Saturday with a Sunday extension to Windsor Castle. August 1935 revised service operating between Hounslow Bus Station & Staines (Bridge Street); Monday-Friday & Saturday a.m. with a Windsor Castle extension on Saturday p.m. & Sundays. 2 months later, daily operation terminating at Staines (Bridge Street). April 1936 daily extended to Virginia Water via Egham. Winters 1936 - 1938 Sunday a.m. curtailment at Egham with the following three summers Sunday a.m. to Virginia Water was reinstated. November 1939 the service returned to Hounslow Bus Station & Egham (Eclipse) still operated by ST vehicles; 10 Monday-Friday, Saturday 15 & Sunday 7. Curtailed to Staines on Sundays a.m. between May 1943 to July 1945.[1]

Partially converted to RT in October 1948, with a full conversion to RT in May 1957. Monday-Friday 18, Saturday 29 & Sunday 14.[1]

Service 117 became part of the Routemaster conversion of the Trolleybus Service 657 Shepherds Bush Green – Hounslow. The service from 9 May 1962 became Shepherds Bush Green to Egham, Monday-Saturday with a shorter Sunday route from Hounslow Bus Station to Egham and an allocation of 36 Monday-Friday, 35 Saturday, 11 Sunday. Turnham Green Garage (V) gained Saturday work of 7 RTs from July 1964. In August 1969 the Sunday service was revised to run between Shepherds Bush Green and Staines allowing Service 81 to be withdrawn. Turnham Green Garage (V) adds a Monday-Friday allocation (7 RMs) to its existing Saturday work from January 1970. 13 June 1970 full conversion to Routemaster. Monday-Friday AV – 25, V – 7; Saturday AV - 17, V – 14; Sunday AV – 10. Revised Service 90 replaces Service 117 between Staines & Egham daily. 19 July 1975.[1]

January 1978 and again the service was part of a bigger scheme. On this occasion a new Service 237 took over Shepherds Bush to Hounslow Bus Station leaving the 117 to run between Brentford (County Court) and Hounslow Bus Station Monday-Fridays (except evenings) to Staines daily. Also from this date the allocation became 100% Hounslow Garage (AV) using one man operated Leyland Nationals (LN); 10 Monday-Friday, 9 Saturday & 3 Sunday. June 1983, Sunday pm service extended to Brentford (County Court) with no change to number of vehicles used. This arrangement lasted until February of the following year when the whole of the Sunday service started from Hounslow Bus Station and journeys (daily) bifurcated during visiting hours to Ashford Hospital.[1]

A new low cost operation was set up ‘Westlink’ operating from a base at Hounslow Heath to run the service from 9 August 1986. Westlink continued using LNs 13 Monday-Friday, 9 Saturday, 4 Sunday.[1]

Contract Tendering

In 1991 Service 117 was put up for Contract Tendering and the service to start from 10 August 1991 was awarded to Tellings-Golden Miller. The Ashford Hospital bifurcation was withdrawn in favour of new Service 417 and on Saturdays was extended from Hounslow to Brentford (County Court). No change to number of vehicles used. 26 January 1992 and the 117 became operated by London & Country from Addlestone Garage (WY), still using LNs. November 1993 and a Saturday extension to Brentford (County Court).

5 years later, on 31 August 1996 the contract passed to Armchair of Brentford for 5 years. All Brentford journeys terminating at Isleworth (Fire Station). 1 September 2001 and the contract is renewed with Armchair using Dennis Darts for another 5 years. The Isleworth terminus is withdrawn with all journeys now terminating at West Middlesex Hospital. 2 October 2006 and a third award to Armchair, again for 5 years.

Route 117 was included in the November 2004 sale of Armchair to ComfortDelGro.[2][3][4] Armchair were awarded a further contract from 2 September 2006.[5]

ComfortDelGro in the guise of Metroline bought out Armchair and absorbed them into the bus operation in January 2007 and the remainder of the contract was transferred to them to start from 6 January 2007. They did not however retain the contract when next awarded in September 2011 for 5 years, Abellio was the successful operator using a depot at Twickenham (TF)[6]. October 2016 and the contract awarded to Metroline from Brentford Garage (AH); Dart allocation Monday-Saturday 9, Sunday 7.[7]

Current route

Route 117 operates via these primary locations:[8]

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References
  1. Ian Armstrong. London Transport Allocation Book. London Transport.
  2. History Metroline
  3. ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited Announcement ComfortDelGro
  4. Armchair bought by Metroline Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Professional 26 November 2004
  5. Bus tender results Route 117 Transport for London 9 February 2006
  6. Bus tender results Route 117 Transport for London 20 December 2010
  7. Bus tender results Route 117 Transport for London 4 December 2015
  8. Route 117 Map Transport for London
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