London Buses route 196 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Elephant & Castle and Norwood Junction, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus
History[]
Route 196 commenced operation on 11 October 1950 between Tufnell Park Hotel and Waterloo via Brecknock Road - York Way - Kings Cross - Euston - Russell Square - Holborn - Kingsway - Aldwych as a Monday to Saturday service. The route was introduced to replace withdrawn route 239. The route was initially operated by London Transport from their Chalk Farm (CF) and Holloway (J) garages using Park Royal bodied AEC Regents and AEC Regent III RTs.
On 10 July 1951, the route was extended to Norwood Junction and a Sunday service was introduced between Waterloo to Norwood Junction. At the same time, part of the allocation was transferred to Camberwell (Q) garage and the Park Royal bodied AEC Regents were replaced by Leyland Titan RTLs.
On 10 January 1954, the Holloway (J) allocation was transferred to Chalk Farm (CF) and Camberwell (Q) garages.
On 1 May 1957, the Norwood (N) allocation was transferred to Camberwell (Q) garage and was converted to full Leyland Titan RTL operation.
On 16 October 1957, part of the allocation was transferred to Norwood (N) and AEC Regent III RTs were reintroduced.
On 26 November 1958, the Sunday service was withdrawn and the Norwood (N) allocation was withdrawn. The route was converted to full Leyland Titan RTL operation at the same time.
On 14 August 1963, part of the allocation was transferred to Holloway (HT) garage.
On 29 January 1964, the Chalk Farm (CF) allocation was transferred to Holloway (HT) and Camberwell (Q) garages.
On 16 May 1966, AEC Regent III RTs were reintroduced.
On 27 March 1971, the route was withdrawn between Tufnell Park to Euston, this section was replaced by route 239. At the same time, the AEC Regent III RTs and the Leyland Titan RTLs were replaced by AEC Routemasters and the Holloway allocation was transferred to Camberwell (Q) garage.
On 5 January 1974, the route ceased operating between Euston and Herne Hill. At the same time, the allocation was transferred to Norwood (N) garage, the route was diverted to Brixton and a Sunday service was reintroduced.
On 25 April 1981, the allocation was transferred to Stockwell (SW) garage.
On 7 September 1982, the route was converted to one man operation using Leyland Titans and the allocation was transferred to Camberwell (Q) garage.
On 27 April 1985, the allocation was transferred to Norwood (N) garage and the Leyland Titans were replaced by MCW Metrobuses.
On 3 August 1985, the route was extended from Brixton to Kennington during Monday to Friday peaks and further extended early morning journeys to Islington Green.
On 7 February 1987, the route passed to Cityrama with Daimler Fleetlines introduced.
On 28 October 1989, the route passed to London & Country.
On 28 April 1990, the route passed to London General operating from their Stockwell (SW) garage using Volvo Citybuses and Daimler Fleetlines.
On 24 October 1992, the route was withdrawn between Brixton to Islington and was converted to full Volvo Citybus operation.
On 30 August 1997, the route was transferred to London Central operating from their Camberwell (Q) garage using Leyland Titans.
On 10 April 1999, the route was transferred back to London General operating from their Stockwell (SW) garage using Volvo Citybuses.
On 5 May 2001, the route passed to Connex operating from their Beddington Cross (BC) garage and was converted to low floor operation using Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Tridents.
On 26 February 2004, the route was included in the sale of Connex to Travel London.
On 30 April 2005, the route was extended from Brixton to Elephant & Castle via Stockwell, Wandsworth Road and Vauxhall.
On 6 May 2006, the route passed back to London General operating from their Stockwell (SW) garage with brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s introduced.
On 7 May 2011, the route was retained by London General.
On 5 May 2018, the route passed to Abellio London operating from their Walworth (WL) garage using brand new Enviro400 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E40Hs.
On 28 October 2023, the allocation was transferred to Battersea (QB) garage.
On 20 January 2024, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400Hs were temporarily introduced alongside the existing Enviro400 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E40H.
On 2 March 2024, Abellio London was rebranded to Transport UK London Bus.
The route will converted back to a full Enviro400 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E40H from TBC.
Current Route[]
Route 196 operates via these primary locations:
- Elephant & Castle Gaunt Street
- Newington Butts
- Kennington Lane
- Vauxhall Bus Station
- Covent Garden Market East Side
- Nine Elms Station
- Lansdowne Green
- Stockwell Bus Garage
- Stockwell Station
- Stockwell Green
- Brixton
- Effra Road
- Herne Hill
- Tulse Hill
- West Norwood
- Norwood Crown Point
- Beulah Hill
- South Norwood Hill
- Norwood Junction Station Grosvenor Road