London area operators and their garages

Contacts

Most bus routes in London are operated by various companies under management contracts to London Buses, part of Transport for London. Complaints, commendations, comments and suggestions relating to these should therefore be directed to TfL.
London Buses Customer Services, 4th Floor, Zone G7, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ
phone: 0343 222 1234
email: customerservices@tfl-buses.co.uk

For commercial or county council tendered routes, or for issues such as bus driver recruitment, contact the relevant company. For lost property, contact the company within 4 days of loss, or TfL's lost property office thereafter. The following routes are outside the London Buses network, and in these cases you should contact the operator directly: 3 (First Berkshire), 7 (First Berkshire), 8 (Arriva The Shires), 8 (First Berkshire), 9 (First Berkshire), 10 (Courtney Buses), 21 (Metrobus), 32 (Compass Bus
Stagecoach (Sun)), 66 (EoS), 66A (EoS), 84 (Metroline), 101 (Carousel Buses), 102 (Carousel Buses), 105 (Carousel Buses), 242 (Metroline / Trustybus), 269 (NIBS), 305 (Bear Buses), 306 (Sullivan Buses), 318 (Metrobus), 357 (Southdown PSV), 398 (Sullivan Buses), 400 (Metrobus), 408 (Quality Line), 409 (Southdown PSV), 420 (Metrobus), 429 (Go-CoachHire), 431 (Go-CoachHire), 442 (Carlone Buses), 458 (Hallmark Connections), 460 (Metrobus), 461 (Falcon Coaches
Hallmark Connections), 477 (Arriva Kent Thameside), 479 (Arriva Kent & Surrey
Stagecoach Sun
), 505 (Galleon Travel), 513 (Reptons Coaches), 514 (Falcon Coaches), 515 (Falcon Coaches), 555 (Hallmark Connections), 575 (London General), 580 (Carousel Buses), 581 (Carousel Buses), 583 (Redline Buses), 610 (Uno), 611 (Uno), 614 (Uno), 644 (Uno), 715 (Stagecoach South), 724 (Network Harlow), 812 (CT Plus), 820 (Metrobus), E16 (Epsom Buses Silver Service), R1 (Red Eagle), R2 (Red Eagle), X80 (Ensignbus), 8 (First Berkshire), 476 (Go Coach), 668 (London General), 820 (Metrobus), 866 (Metrobus), 868 (Edward Thomas), R17 (Uno), Please check on the routes page if you don’t know the name of the operator of your route – the operators are named on the right.

If you do not receive a satisfactory response or resolution to your comments, you should contact London Travewatch. Please note LTW do NOT deal with lost property enquiries.

Garage code index

These are the codes used in this site to identify bus garages, or official codes.
A AB AC AD AE AF AH AL AR AV AW BC BK BN BN BT BT BW BX C CP CT CY DT DT DX E EB EC EH EW FC FW G GF GW GY HA HC HD HF HH HK HO HT HZ KB KC LI MB MG MY N NC NF NP NS NW NX ON PA PB PD PL PM PT PV Q QB RA RH RM RP RR S SF SG SH SI SM SN SO SO SP SW T TB TC TF TH TK TL TP TV UB UE UX UX V W WD WH WJ WK WL WN WS X

Operator & Garage list

The table below is arranged by operator, listed alphabetically according to fleet/trading name in bold. The addresses for the company headquarters are written in red underneath, alongside the legal company names.

The left hand column gives the reference code for the garage. These are usually offical codes used by the operators, but those written in parentheses are unofficial codes. The second column gives the name of the garage/operating centre, the third the address. Some of these operators have other garages that do not operate any London routes. You must remember that bus garages are private property, and if you wish to visit a depot you must obtain permission before entering the site.

The fourth column is the list of London area routes, but in some cases the garages operate other bus routes, or other kinds of work such as coaching, which are not listed. Beware that just because a garage is shown as operating on a particular route does not mean it is the only, or the main, garage to do so. The fifth column is the garage PVR, or the maximum number of buses on the road on these routes at any one time. Of course, all garages have spare vehicles allocated in addition, and in some cases driver trainers etc. Please note that these figures include only the "main network" of TfL contracted or LLSA routes – some garages also operate non-TfL or non-London services, coaches, rail replacements etc. These figures are also subtotalled by company and by group.

The last column gives the official LBSL garage code (see foot of page for more information on garage codes).

The data in this table is available as a CSV file, suitable for importing into spreadsheet programs such as MS Excel.

Abellio				614 (7.92%)
Abellio London Ltd.		301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF		381 (4.91%)
QB	Battersea	Silverthorne Road, Battersea, London, SW8 3HE	49 156 159 344 345 414 C3 Night routes: 159 344 345	149	QB
BC	Beddington	Unit 10, Beddington Cross, Beddington Farm Road, Croydon, CR0 4XH	109 130 201 367 407 433 464 S4 Night routes: N109	91	BC
WL	Walworth	301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF	3 45 68 196 381 415 484 C10 P13 Night routes: N3 N68 N381	141	WL
Abellio West London Ltd.		301 Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0TF		233 (3.01%)
TF	Fulwell (Twickenham)	The Old Tram Depot, Stanley Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5NP	290 481 490 E7 H20 H25 H26 H28 K1 R68 R70 School/mobility routes: 969	89	TF
WS	Hayes	West London Coach Centre, North Hyde Gardens, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 4QT	350 427 H28 U5 U7 U9	49	WS
GW	Southall	Great Western Industrial Park, Armstrong Way, Southall, London	195 207 E1 E5 E7 E9 E10 E11 Night routes: N207 E1	95	GW
AB	Southall	5 Bridge Road, Southall, London, UB2 4AB	London routes: none at present.	0	AB
Arriva				1432 (18.47%)
Arriva Kent & Surrey		Invicta House, Armstrong Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6TX		0 (0.00%)
GF	Guildford		Other routes: 479	0	GF
Arriva Kent Thameside		Invicta House, Armstrong Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6TY		0 (0.00%)
HA	Harlow	Fourth Avenue, Harlow, Essex	Other routes: 724	0	HA
NF	Northfleet	London Road, Northfleet, Kent, DA11	Other routes: 477	0	NF
Arriva London North Ltd.		16 Watsons Road, Wood Green, London, N22 7TZ		978 (12.61%)
AE	Ash Grove	Mare Street, South Hackney, London, E8 4RH	48 78 106 254	83	AE
DX	Barking	638 Ripple Road, Barking, IG11 0ST	128 150 173 175 325 368 Night routes: 128 School/mobility routes: 673	82	DX
CT	Clapton	15 Bohemia Place, Mare Street, London, E8 1DU	38 242 Night routes: N38 242	70	CT
DT	Dartford	Central Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1	160 229 269 301 401 428 469 492 B12 B13 B15 School/mobility routes: 660	106	DT
EC	Edmonton	Unit 1E, Towpath Road, Stonehill Business Park, London E4	41 158 259 Night routes: 158 N279	47	EC
E	Enfield	Southbury Road, Ponders End, Middlesex, EN3 4HX	121 279 313 318 349 377 W6 School/mobility routes: 313	92	E
(EH)	Erith	185 Manor Road, London, DA8 2AD	99	14	DT
GY	Grays	Unit 7, Europa Park, London Road, Grays, Essex, RM20 4DB	66 103 347 370 375	42	GY
AD	Palmers Green	Regents Avenue, Palmers Green, London, N13 5UR	102 141 329 340 Night routes: 102	76	AD
SF	Stamford Hill	Rookwood Road, London N16 6SS	67 73 253 Night routes: N73 N253	73	SF
AR	Tottenham	Philip Lane, Tottenham, London, N15 4JB	19 41 123 149 230 243 341 Night routes: N19 N41 123 149 243 341	161	AR
WN	Wood Green	Jolly Butchers Hill, High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 7TZ	29 144 184 221 W3 W4 Night routes: N29 W3 School/mobility routes: 184	132	WN
Arriva London South Ltd.		Bus Garage, Brighton Road, Croydon, CR2 6EL		454 (5.86%)
	Beddington	Sidney House, Beddington Farm Road, Croydon, CR0 4XB	London routes: none at present.
BN	Brixton	39 Streatham Hill, London, SW2 4TB	50 59 133 137 319 333 Night routes: N133 319	114	BN
	Brixton Hill	239 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1NR	London routes: none at present.		BN
TC	Croydon	Brighton Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR2 6EL	60 166 194 197 264 289 312 412 466 Night routes: 264 School/mobility routes: 405 612 627 685	110	TC
N	Norwood	Ernest Avenue, West Norwood, London, SE27 0HN	2 137 157 249 417 450 468 Night routes: N2 N137 School/mobility routes: 690	134	N
TH	Thornton Heath	719 London Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 6AU	64 157 198 250 255 289 410 Night routes: 64 250 School/mobility routes: 663 689	96	TH
CT Plus				126 (1.63%)
CT Plus Ltd		2 Hertford Road, Dalston, London, N1 5SH		126 (1.63%)
HK	Ash Grove	Mare Street, South Hackney, London, E8	London network routes: 26 309 388 394 D6 W5 W13 Night routes: N26 N550 N551 School/mobility routes: W13 Other routes: 812	74	HK
AW	Walthamstow Avenue	Walthamstow Avenue, London, E4 8SP	20 385 397 W11 W12 W16 W19	52	AW
Ensignbus				0 (0.00%)
Ensign Bus Co Ltd		Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Park, Aveley, South Ockendon, RM15 4YF		0 (0.00%)
(PT)	Purfleet	Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Park, Aveley, South Ockendon, RM15 4YF	Other routes: X80	0
Falcon Coaches				0 (0.00%)
Falcon Coaches		Littleton Lane, Shepperton, TW17 0NF		0 (0.00%)
FC	Byfleet	20a Wintersells Road, Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 7LF	Other routes: 461 514 515	0
First				0 (0.00%)
First Beeline Slough		Brunel Bus Station, Wellington Street, Slough, SL1 1XN		0 (0.00%)
SH	Slough	Stanley Cottages, Stoke Road, Slough	London network routes: Night routes: 8 Other routes: 3 7 8 9	0	SH
Tram Operations Limited		22 Coomber Way, Beddington, Croydon, CR0 4TQ		10 (0.13%)
(TK)	Therapia Lane	22 Coomber Way, Beddington, Croydon, CR0 4TQ	4	10	TK
Go-Ahead				1944 (25.07%)
London General Transport Services Ltd t/a Blue Triangle		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		219 (2.82%)
RR	River Road	51 River Road, London, IG11 0SW	5 15 101 104 115 147 346 364 396 EL1 EL2 EL3 Night routes: N15 EL1 School/mobility routes: 608 646 648 649 650 651 652 656 667 674 679 686 687	219	RR
London General Transport Services Ltd t/a Docklands Buses		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		66 (0.85%)
SI	Silvertown	Factory Road, Silvertown, London, E16	135 276 300 376 D7	66	SI
London General Transport Services Ltd t/a London Central		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		679 (8.76%)
BX	Bexleyheath	Erith Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 6BX	51 89 132 244 486 B11 B16 Night routes: 132 321 486 School/mobility routes: 625 658 661 669	99	BX
Q	Camberwell	1 Warner Road, Camberwell, London, SE5 9LU	12 35 40 42 100 176 185 188 360 432 507 521 P5 X68 Night routes: 12 35 176 188 School/mobility routes: 624 658	205	Q
MG	Morden Wharf (Greenwich)	Morden Wharf Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 0NU	1 108 129 178 180 225 286 291 386 Night routes: N1 108	101	MG
NX	New Cross	208 New Cross Road, London, SE14	21 36 108 171 172 321 343 436 453 Night routes: N21 36 N89 N136 N171 N343 453	201	NX
PM	Peckham	Blackpool Road, Peckham, London, SE15 3SE	37 63 363 P12 Night routes: N1 37 N63	73	PM
London General Transport Services Ltd		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		737 (9.51%)
AL	Merton	High Street, London, SW19 1DN	44 57 131 152 163 164 200 219 270 280 Night routes: 57 School/mobility routes: 163 655	161	AL
NP	Northumberland Park	Marsh Lane, Tottenham, London, N17 0XB	London network routes: 76 153 191 192 214 232 357 379 476 W10 Night routes: 76 214 School/mobility routes: 616 657 675 Other routes: 575	132	NP
AF	Putney	10 Chelverton Road, London, SW15 1RN	14 22 74 209 337 378 424 430 Night routes: 14 N22 N74 School/mobility routes: 639 670	106	AF
SW	Stockwell	Binfield Road, London, SW4 6ST	11 77 87 88 93 118 155 170 315 322 432 G1 Night routes: N11 N44 N87 88 N155	178	SW
A	Sutton	Bushey Road, Sutton, SM1 1QJ	London network routes: 80 93 151 154 164 213 Night routes: 93 154 213 Other routes: 668	83	A
PL	Waterside Way	Waterside Way, London, SW17 0HB	39 485 493	35	PL
RA	Waterloo	Cornwall Road, London, SE1 8TE	507 521	42	RA
London General Transport Services Ltd t/a Metrobus		18 Merton High Street, London, SW19 1DN		243 (3.13%)
C	Croydon	134 Beddington Lane, Beddington, CR9 4ND	119 127 202 355 359 403 405 434 455 X26 Night routes: 119	99	C
MB	Orpington	Oak Farm, Farnborough Hill, Green Street Green, Orpington, Kent, BR6 6DA	126 138 162 208 227 233 246 320 352 353 358 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R8 R9 R10 R11 School/mobility routes: 654 684	144	MB
Metrobus Ltd		Wheatstone Close, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9UA		0 (0.00%)
CY	Crawley	Wheatstone Close, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9UA	Other routes: 318 400 420 460 820	0	MY
Hallmark Connections (Rotala)				0 (0.00%)
Hallmark Connections		Coach Travel Centre, Bedfont Road, Stanwell, Middx, TW19 7LZ		0 (0.00%)
HC	Hounslow	Green Lane	Other routes: 458 461 555	0
Metroline				1364 (17.59%)
Metroline Travel Ltd.		329 Edgware Road, Dollis Hill, London, NW2 6JP		1064 (13.72%)
AH	Brentford	Commerce Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8LZ	117 190 235 237 533 E2 E8	94	AH
W	Cricklewood	329 Edgware Road, Dollis Hill, London, NW2 6JP	16 112 143 168 189 210 266 268 316 324 332 C11 H2 H3 Night routes: N16 189 266 School/mobility routes: 143 631 632 643	190	W
EW	Edgware	Approach Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7AN	32 107 113 240 292 Night routes: N113 School/mobility routes: 606	77	EW
HD	Harrow Weald	467 High Road, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, HA3 6EJ	140 182 186 Night routes: N5 N98 140 School/mobility routes: 640	71	HD
HT	Holloway	37A Pemberton Gardens, London, N19 5RR	4 17 24 43 46 91 271 390 393 W7 Night routes: N5 N20 24 43 N91 271 390 W7 School/mobility routes: 143	199	HT
KC	King's Cross	Freight Lane, London N1	30 274	35	KC
SG	Lampton	27A Spring Grove Rd, Hounslow TW3 4BE	81	16	SG
PV	Perivale [East]	Alperton Lane, Western Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 8DW	7 245	40	PV
PA	Perivale (West)	Unit 12, Perivale Industrial Park, Horsenden Lane South, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 7RL	7 31 90 120 297 395 Night routes: N7 N31 297 School/mobility routes: 611	70	PA
PB	Potters Bar	High Street, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 5BE	London network routes: 34 125 134 231 234 263 307 317 382 384 491 W8 Night routes: N20 34 N91 134 307 School/mobility routes: 634 Other routes: 84 242	158	PB
AC	Willesden	287 High Road, Willesden, London, NW10 2JY	6 52 98 260 302 460 Night routes: 6 52 N98	114	AC
Metroline West Ltd.		329 Edgware Road, Dollis Hill, London, NW2 6JP		300 (3.87%)
ON	Alperton	Ealing Road, Alperton, Middlesex, HA0	83 204 483 487 Night routes: N83	66	ON
G	Greenford	Council Depot, Greenford Road, Greenford	92 95 282 482 607 E6	87	G
HZ	Hayes	Swallowfield Way, Hayes	London routes: none at present.	0	HZ
UX	Uxbridge	Bakers Road, Uxbridge	114 331 A10 U1 U2 U3 U4 U10 Night routes: 114	73	UX
(UE)	Uxbridge Industrial Estate	51 Wallingford Road, Cowley, UB8 2RW	222	15	UX
WJ	Willesden Junction	Station Road, Harlesden, NW10	187 206 226 295	59	WJ
RATP Dev				943 (12.16%)
London Sovereign Limited		Approach Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7AN		189 (2.44%)
BT	Edgware	Approach Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7AN	79 139 142 258 288 326 H12 Night routes: 139 School/mobility routes: 642	91	BT
CP	Canons Park	Parr Road, HA7	251 288 303 H12	29	BT
NW	North Wembley	East Lane Business Park, Lumen Road, HA9	H9 H10	17	SO
SO	Harrow	331 Pinner Road, Harrow	183 H11 H13 H14 H18 H19 Night routes: 183	52	SO
London United Busways Ltd		Busways House, Wellington Road, Fulwell, Middlesex, TW2 5NX		674 (8.69%)
FW	Fulwell	Wellington Road, Fulwell, Middlesex, TW2 5NX	33 65 71 216 267 281 371 411 419 K3 Night routes: N33 N65 281 School/mobility routes: 681	132	FW
AV	Hounslow	Kingsley Road, Hounslow, TW3 1PA	110 111 203 H22 H32 H37 H98 Night routes: 111 H32 H37 School/mobility routes: 696 697	96	AV
HH	Hounslow Heath	Tamian Way, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW4 6BL	105 116 216 285 423 H91 Night routes: 105 285 School/mobility routes: 635 698	66	WK
RP	Park Royal	Atlas Road, Harlesden, London, NW10 6DN	18 220 223 224 283 398 440 H17 Night routes: N18 220	117	RP
S	Shepherd's Bush	Wells Road, London, W12 8DA	70 72 94 148 265 C1 Night routes: N72 94 148	104	S
V	Stamford Brook	72-74 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 1SY	9 27 211 272 391 E3 Night routes: N9 N27	102	V
TV	Tolworth	Kingston Road, Tolworth, KT5 9NU	71 85 265 K2 K4 Night routes: 85 School/mobility routes: 613 662 665 671	57	TV
NC	Twickenham	The Skills Centre, Twickenham Trading Estate, Rugby Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 1DU	London routes: none at present.	0	NC
Quality Line Transport Ltd		3 Roy Richmond Way, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9AF		80 (1.03%)
EB	Epsom	3 Roy Richmond Way, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9AF	London network routes: 293 404 406 413 418 463 465 467 470 K5 S1 S3 School/mobility routes: 293 633 Other routes: 408 E16	80	EB
The Original Tour		25 Jews Row, Wandsworth, SW18		0 (0.00%)
WD	Wandsworth	25 Jews Row, Wandsworth, SW18	London routes: none at present.	0	WD
RH	Rainham	Denver Industrial Estate, Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex RM13 9DD	London routes: none at present.	0
Southdown PSV				0 (0.00%)
Southdown PSV Ltd		Unit 3 Silverwood, Snow Hill, Copthorne, West Sussex, RH10 3EN		0 (0.00%)
(SP)	Copthorne	Unit 3 Silverwood, Snow Hill, Copthorne, West Sussex, RH10 3EN	London routes: none at present.	0
Stagecoach London				926 (11.94%)
East London Bus & Coach Co. Ltd.		Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA		439 (5.66%)
BK	Barking	205 Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8UE	62 145 167 169 179 362 366 462 Night routes: 145 238 School/mobility routes: 677	96	BK
BW	Bow	Fairfield Road, Bow, London, E3 2QP	8 205 277 Night routes: N8 N205 N277	74	BW
T	Leyton	High Road, Leyton, London, E10 6AD	55 56 97 215 257 275 Night routes: N55	91	T
NS	Romford	North Street, Romford, Essex, RM1 1DS	86 193 247 256 294 296 496 498 Night routes: N86 296 365	85	NS
WH	West Ham	Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA	15 86 97 238 241 323 330 474 549 D3 Night routes: 474 School/mobility routes: 678	93	WH
East London Bus Ltd.		Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA		105 (1.35%)
RM	Rainham	Unit 2, Albright Industrial Estate, Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex, RM13 9BU	165 174 248 252 256 287 365 372 499	105	RM
South East London & Kent Bus Co. Ltd.		Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London, E16 4SA		382 (4.93%)
TB	Bromley	111 Hastings Road, Bromley, Kent, BR2 8NH	61 146 261 314 336 354 B14 R7 School/mobility routes: 638 664	67	TB
TL	Catford	180 Bromley Road, Catford, London, SE6 2XA	47 54 75 124 136 199 273 380 P4 Night routes: 47 N199 School/mobility routes: 621	131	TL
KB	Kangley Bridge Road	Kangley Bridge Road, Lower Sydenham, London, SE26 5BA	181 284 356	32	KB
PD	Plumstead	Pettman Crescent, Plumstead, London, SE28 0BJ	53 96 122 161 177 422 472 Night routes: N53 472 School/mobility routes: 601 602 672	152	PD
Sullivan Buses				57 (0.74%)
Sullivan Buses Ltd.		First Floor, Deards House, South Mimms Service Area, St Albans Road, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 3NE		57 (0.74%)
SM	South Mimms	South Mimms Services, Potters Bar, Herts	London network routes: 217 298 299 327 389 399 W9 School/mobility routes: 603 605 617 626 628 629 653 683 688 692 699 Other routes: 306 398	57	SN
(TP)	Thorpe Park	Thorpe Park, Staines Road, Chertsey, KT16 8PH	London routes: none at present.	0
Transit Systems				334 (4.31%)
Tower Transit		Great Western Road, London, W9 3NW		334 (4.31%)
LI	Lea Interchange	151 Ruckholt Road, Leyton, London, E10 5PB	25 58 69 212 236 262 308 339 425 444 473 488 508 D8 W14 W15 Night routes: N25 69	215	HO
X	Westbourne Park	Great Western Road, London, W9 3NW	13 23 28 228 328 452 Night routes: 13 23 N28 N97	119	X
Uno				3 (0.04%)
University Bus Ltd		College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB		3 (0.04%)
(HF)	Hatfield	Gypsy Moth Avenue, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9BS	London network routes: 383 Other routes: 610 611 614 644	3	UB

The grand total PVR is 7753.

LBSL Codes

Every garage operating services that form part of the LBSL network is given an official LBSL garage code (right hand column). Such codes are given not only to garages running LBSL contracts, but also to those running commercial bus services under London Bus agreements. There is also a code for the Croydon Tramlink! The codes are used internally by LBSL, for administrative purposes.

Many operators also give their garages codes, sometimes for similar administrative reasons, or sometimes – particularly where they only have one garage – for "enthusiast reasons". These are not always the same as the LBSL codes, although they often are.

Many of the codes are long-established, going back to LBL (and in many cases LGOC) days, and are well-known among staff and enthusiasts. There is usually some sort of logic to the code allocated. In the early part of the 20th Century, the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) allocated its garages codes by going through the alphabet – initially A, B, C, etc; and then AA, AB, AC, etc. Codes allocated since often reflect the geographical name of the garage (e.g. Fulwell, Alperton, New Cross (NX)), although some have since been renamed (HT, Holloway, was called Highgate).

Since the start of tendering in 1985, some codes have also reflected the name of the owning company, examples being AH (Armchair, Brentford), EL (Eastern National, Chelmsford), BE (Blue Triangle, Rainham). Such company names may not still be in use today: DX (Arriva London North East, Barking) originates from Dix Travel, which was absorbed into Grey-Green, becoming their Dagenham operation, and subsequently relocated to Barking, and now absorbed by Arriva. Similarly, Hounslow Heath code WK originates from Westlink, although parts of the company now use HH to distance themselves from some of Westlink's more dubious practices! FE comes from F. E. Thorpe & sons, sold out to Metroline; in this case TfL have changed the official code to a geographical one, PA. WS comes from Wings of Uxbridge, which subsequently sold its bus operations to Tellings-Golden Miller (which used a code of TM internally), which in turn sold the operations to Travel London. The official code FR for Metrobus's former Crayford base is especially obscure, referring to the original owner, one Chris Freeman of Freeman’s Coaches, which was absorbed into Crystals, which subsequently sold out to T-GM in 2003, which then sold it on to Metrobus in 2005! (Thanks to David Stewart of LOTS for that one.)

In several cases (TB/TC/TL and QB) the code reflects both the location (Bromley/Croydon/Lewisham (Catford), Battersea) and the original owning company (Tilling, Q-Drive).

BT (London Sovereign, Edgware) originally came from Borehamwood Town, depot of the erstwhile BTS, which was subsequently bought out by Sovereign and re-located to Edgware. The code also rather conveniently formed the first two letters of the company name, and was therefore adopted by LT.

Some garage codes have been used for more than one garage over the years, sometimes when an entire garage has moved such as at Peckham (PM), and sometimes when a code has been "dormant" for some years and then been reused. Some premises have had different codes at different times in their life, and indeed three (Edgware, Fulwell and Ash Grove) currently have two codes simultaneously, one for each operator.

Thanks to David Connor for most of the above information.

Page generated 23/08/2019 22:06:34