London Buses route 171
London Buses route 171 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Bellingham and Elephant & Castle, it is operated by London Central.
171 | |
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London Central Alexander Dennis Enviro400 at Elephant & Castle in May 2014 | |
Overview | |
Operator | London Central |
Route | |
Start | Bellingham |
Via | Catford Brockley New Cross Peckham |
End | Elephant & Castle |
History
1952-1972
Route 171 Commenced operating on 6 April 1952 at Stage 7 of London Transport's post-war "Tram to Buses" conversion scheme to replace Kingsway Subway Tram route 33. It ran as a daily service between Tottenham and West Norwood via Harringay, Manor House, Newington Green, Angel, Rosebery Avenue, Kingsway, Aldwych, Victoria Embankment, Westminster Bridge, Kennington, Brixton, West Norwood (Thurlow Arms) extended Sunday to West Norwood garage). The section between Harringay and Tottenham was new territory, not previously served by London buses.[1]
1973-present
On 18 February 1996, IRA member Edward O'Brien was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated prematurely on the route 171 bus he brought it onto as it was travelling along Aldwych towards King's Cross.[2] It also injured eight other passengers.[3]
Upon being re-tendered, it was retained by London Central with a new contract commencing on 29 April 2006.[4] London Central again successfully tendered to retain the route with a new contract commencing on 30 April 2011.[5]
Current route
Route 171 operates via these primary locations:[6]
- Bellingham, Catford Bus Garage
- Catford Bridge railway station
- Catford railway station
- Crofton Park railway station
- Brockley Cross for Brockley railway station
- New Cross station
- New Cross Gate station
- Queens Road Peckham station
- Camberwell Green
- Walworth
- Elephant & Castle station
References
- Glazier, Ken, (1989). London buses in the 1950s. p. 26. Capital Transport, Harrow Weald (Middlesex). ISBN 1-85414-116-3
- Armed guard on ira bus bomb suspect The Independent 20 February 1996
- 1 dies, 8 hurt as blast rips bus in center of London New York Times
- Bus tender results Route 171/N171 Transport for London 12 August 2005
- Win, Win, Win BusTalk (Go-Ahead London) issue 6 October 2010
- Route 171 Map Transport for London
External links
Media related to London Buses route 171 at Wikimedia Commons