History
The route was created in September 1968 as a replacement for part of route 29 and all of route 29B. The route ran from Turnpike Lane Station to Cranbourne Road Industrial Estate on weekdays at peak hours, and on to South Mimms on Saturdays. Some journeys were extended to Clare Hall Hospital or Borehamwood. The route ran from Turnpike Lane via Wood Green, Palmers Green, Southgate, Cockfosters and Potters Bar.
The route was altered in 1970, with the northern section shortened to terminate at Cockfosters Station, but the route was extended southwards via Manor House to terminate at Finsbury Park station. Three years later, the southern terminus reverted back to Turnpike Lane, in 1975 back to Finsbury Park again, and in 1977 the route once again terminated at Turnpike Lane. A Sunday service was also introduced in 1977 from Turnpike Lane, but terminating at Southgate Station, replacing another withdrawn section of route 29.
Further changes in 1980 saw the route converted to one-person-operation (i.e. no conductor) and the 298 route was once again extended northwards to the Cranbourne Road Industrial Estate in Potters Bar, and some services continuing to South Mimms, replacing the original route 299. This coincided with the extension of route 121 to share the Southgate to Turnpike Lane section of route 298.
The operation of route 298 passed to London Country in 1986, and to London Country North East in September 1986 following London Country's division into four subsidiaries. Two years later, the route was won by Grey-Green as part of the privatisation of London bus services. In 1990 the Turnpike Lane to Southgate section was removed from the route (with route 121 increasing in frequency to compensate) and operation passed to Capital Citybus, running midibuses on the amended route.
The 298 route was diverted in 1997 to run through Potters Bar Station and the operator once again changed, this time to Arriva. In 2002, the Potters Bar to South Mimms section was withdrawn (being replaced by the new route 398) and the other end of the route was extended to Arnos Grove Station via Waterfall Road.
In 2010, the section between Potters Bar Railway Station and Cranborne Industrial Estate was changed to Mondays to Fridays only and only until around 8.00pm on these days.
On 4 February 2012, Sullivan Buses gained the contract for route 298 and are now operating it using Alexander Dennis Enviro200Darts.
Read more about this topic: London Buses Route 298
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