Route 315

I would like to tell a tale about my favourite 'old people' route, route 315.

Today is the day I took a photo of SE245 (YY15EYS) working on the route, the first photo of a Euro 6 bus on the route.

From 322's SE235-45 batch. Go-Ahead London General SE245 (YY15EYS) at Streatham St Leonard's Church.

Route 315 is a busy 'old people' route with a low frequency (every 20/30), but actually picks up a similar amount of younger passengers (regular adults I'm talking about), this is one of three Valley Roads, with a more-on-the-poor side transport (with the very busy 417 and helpless 249).

The route starts at St Julian's Farm Road, a few meters from Norwood (N) garage, strolls down to West Norwood Shops where it takes up a huge load of people (70%+ of space is used in that instant), then up York Hill as it passes through estates as well as going over a railway bridge. This hill is quite steep.

Then we navigate through Royal Circus, one way (towards Balham) via Pyrmont Grove then right into Canterbury Grove, a narrow road with myriads of parked cars both sides where people mainly get off (those who shopped in West Norwood). We meet route 417 at St Peters Church just to say good bye.

DP200 EU53PYH, of 170's allocation
on stand on Cheviot Road, Norwood

And now comes Valley Road, somewhere with no direct link to Streatham Station unless you walk to the 249, which would be inconvenient if you were at the top of Valley Road (nearer to Leigham Court Road). Anyways, we pass a school and new residential housing as well as a grocery shop. Thus we discover Gleneldon Road, a wider version of Canterbury Grove with older houses. 

We cross our second railway bridge, before splitting in to two one-ways. Stanthorpe Road for the Balham direction which has an easy flow (if you don't understand, barely anyone needs to board/alight excluding the ends of the road). Meanwhile the other one way is Gleneldon Road which just like Stanthorpe Road has an easy flow. A lot of people board from the top (those who have shopped from Streatham).

The route starts to become more dry by St Leonard's Church, where it practically picks up thin air while passing the nice scenery along Gerard's Road, the nice houses along Balham Road and Bedford Hill. Also passing Balham Health Centre. We come to the end where we go under a railway bridge and end by the Sainsbury's and Balham Station.

Let's move on to history shall we?

Go-Ahead London General LDP287 LX06FBB by West Norwood Shops

Route 315 first started off on the 29th April 1995 to replace former route 115 (Forest Hill/Dulwich Village to Balham) with routes 201 and P13 aiding the replacement and the lengthy G1 from Streatham to Norwood Garage (315 running as far as Station). 

A PVR of 3 was implemented, using Optare Metroriders from Walworth (WL), operated by London Links. 

Then on July 1997 was relocated to Arriva's Croydon (CN) base. Exactly 3 years after birth date, Norwood (N) temporarily ran the route plus an extension to the garage.

Then was sub-contracted to Connex from Beddington Cross (BC) on the 18/12/00 before being contracted on the 28/04/01. ALX200s were in use with a PVR of 4. 

5 months later a Sunday service was added with a PVR of 2. 

Frequent visitor; LDP195 SN51UAH by
West Norwood shops with banditry

The continuous rhythm of changes occurring by the end of April is still going on, where in 2005 the 315 was based at Battersea (QB) instead. 

And a year later in 2006, LDP287-91 were ordered for the route. Of course operated by London General from Stockwell (SW) and ever since been there. 

The route has recently been retained with Euro5 spec vehicles, of which the existing LDPs are brought up to that standard (originally Euro4).

Getting back to the general discussion, the route would suit ZF-gearbox'd Enviro200's perfectly, they got power for going up the steep York Hill, and the route is slow in general thanks to continuous boarding and manoeuvring. Whereas it's existing LDP287-91, which are Euro 4 originated fitted with an Allison gearbox, are more suited to straight and vast roads. Because they are nippy at heart, however cannot show that aspect on a route like 315, but perfectly on route 322.

If you did route 315, what's your general opinion on it? Fire away in the comments below! ;)

Thank you for reading this post and as always, enjoy your day!

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