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| DW488 (LJ61CAU) displaying possible future extensions |
The 301.
It's title as newest has been dethroned several times since I last typed this up in July.
New route 301, Woolwich via Thamesmead to Bexleyheath started ahead of Crossrail and related changes without changing B11's structure either which it parallels. Obviously, being the newest permanent route in years, this sparked a lot of attention from enthusiasts. Still. The wider benefits of the route is it's more direct path between Bexleyheath and Thamesmead, which 401 was the fastest and that route is rather indirect, which takes half an hour end to end. The 301 on the other hand shaves off up to 10 minutes from 401's journey.
The 301 was initially promised heavy-duty single deckers but was specified with double deckers when announced as a win to Arriva from their Dartford (DT) depot, which was at capacity. Thus an outstation in Erith (EH) was sourced to park buses for 99. All in all a welcomed change for the future, one that hasn't been disrupted by Crossrail which isn't seeing an end to delays.
It'll also relieve the low-frequency 401 which has high school traffic (with one of the biggest school route, 601).
* One nitpick from us, is that the intended route up Knee Hill was vehemently, to say the least, rejected by Bexley Council. As a result, buses divert via Brampton Road like the B11 to reach Abbey Wood.
As per contract; the 301's scheduled to be timed with routes 244 between Woolwich and Thamesmead; 401 along Long Lane to Bexleyheath; despite the discrepancies between the frequencies.
It'll also relieve the low-frequency 401 which has high school traffic (with one of the biggest school route, 601).
* One nitpick from us, is that the intended route up Knee Hill was vehemently, to say the least, rejected by Bexley Council. As a result, buses divert via Brampton Road like the B11 to reach Abbey Wood.
As per contract; the 301's scheduled to be timed with routes 244 between Woolwich and Thamesmead; 401 along Long Lane to Bexleyheath; despite the discrepancies between the frequencies.
The first bus to grace the streets of a new service was DW487, brought in from Wood Green (WN) to make 301's allocation of DW478-87 as the 144 converts to B5LH Gemini 2's released from 67's conversion to New Routemaster.
Fun facts; 301's end-to-end is shy of 40 minutes, similar to 96/422's timings.
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December...
The 301 is slowly converting to B5LH Gemini 2's released from North London as the 19 converts to New Routemasters, which in turn gave it's B5LH Gemini 3's to 141. The allocation is complete for new route 335.
I never mentioned how busy 301 got, from day dot it did receive healthy patronage, and within the first Monday buses got unusual loads for a new route, no doubt thanks to it paralleling the 401 and following similar routes out of Bexleyheath. Likewise with route B11 the 301 was born to partially replace.
Another factor was enthusiast-designed pamphlets in the town centre, which would've helped unsuspecting passerby's to learn of the brand new 301 bus and where it goes.
Even weeks on, people are asking drivers of the route and it is nice to have a new service alongside a rusty single decker that takes it's time wiggling through residential side roads, ahem, B11. In addition, the 301 is the only route that serves the full length of Long Lane, even through Hail & Ride means, something the only other double decker that has them being 230 in Upper Walthamstow after C3's section on Lots Road was converted to fixed stops a few years back.
All in all, thanks for reading this short post and stay safe!
December...
The 301 is slowly converting to B5LH Gemini 2's released from North London as the 19 converts to New Routemasters, which in turn gave it's B5LH Gemini 3's to 141. The allocation is complete for new route 335.
I never mentioned how busy 301 got, from day dot it did receive healthy patronage, and within the first Monday buses got unusual loads for a new route, no doubt thanks to it paralleling the 401 and following similar routes out of Bexleyheath. Likewise with route B11 the 301 was born to partially replace.
Another factor was enthusiast-designed pamphlets in the town centre, which would've helped unsuspecting passerby's to learn of the brand new 301 bus and where it goes.
Even weeks on, people are asking drivers of the route and it is nice to have a new service alongside a rusty single decker that takes it's time wiggling through residential side roads, ahem, B11. In addition, the 301 is the only route that serves the full length of Long Lane, even through Hail & Ride means, something the only other double decker that has them being 230 in Upper Walthamstow after C3's section on Lots Road was converted to fixed stops a few years back.
All in all, thanks for reading this short post and stay safe!
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