London Buses Route 2 - History

History

Route 2 was the last West End bus route that was operated by step-entrance buses other than Routemasters. Like most low numbered routes, it was originally a cross-London service, which ran from Crystal Palace to North Finchley, later cut back to Golders Green. During peak hours it extended to Arnos Grove via Whetstone.

At the time, route 2 ran via Herne Hill and Railton Road, whereas the current service bypasses the area, running instead along the Tulse Hill road over Brixton Hill. In the 1950s the a Mondays to Saturdays service numbered 2A was introduced, which diverted from the north at West Norwood to the Rosendale (as route 2 had in the 1930s) and running via Brixton Road, Effra Road and Dulwich Road rather than Railton Road. On Sundays, service 2B from Golders Green to Crystal Palace ran, but via Tulse Hill to cover route 186, which did not run on that day. Later, route 186 was withdrawn completely route 2B operated daily. The 2 was also restored to North Finchley, however the 2A lost its Saturday service.

The 2/2A/2B used London's first bus lane, southbound on Vauxhall Bridge, coming into operation on 26 February 1968.

By the 1980s the 2A had been withdrawn completely, and route 2 was increasingly sidelined, being withdrawn north of Baker Street from the changes in September 1982, albeit with a summer Sundays extension from there to London Zoo. The 2B, which was more direct, took on the prominent role, although in 1986 was split with new route 82 replacing it between Baker Street and North Finchley. So the 2B had room at Baker Street, the 2 was further cut from the south to Victoria, losing its Sunday service shortly afterwards. From 1988 part of the 2B service was renumbered 2A.

In 1990, service 2 was rerouted in Stockwell via Lansdowne Way. By 1992 the 2A/2B has become more logical, the 2A running from Crystal Palace to Brixton, the 2B West Norwood to Baker Street. The evening and Sunday service ran through under the 2A number. In October that year, route 2 was re-numbered 322 and converted to minibus operation, and the 2B and evening/Sunday 2A became route 2. The northern terminus was altered to Marylebone Station at the same time. The use of the number 2A was dropped completely around a year later.

In 2003, route 2 was withdrawn between Norwood garage and Crystal Palace, in connection with the introduction of the central London congestion charge, and the main part of route 2 was increased in frequency. At the same time the northern terminus was cut back to Baker Street to make room for route 453. On 24 March 2007, after much delay, the terminus was once again altered to Marylebone, with Hayes Place a new terminal point.

Arriva London bought Volvo B7TL 10.6m / Alexander ALX400s for the route, now present in large numbers at Norwood (N), where route 2 is operated from. Conversion to the type took place a few months before the contract was renewed.