London Buses route 343 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Aldgate and New Cross Gate, it is operated by London Central.
History []
Route 343 commenced operation on 3 February 2001 between New Cross garage and London Bridge station via Brockley, Peckham Rye, and Elephant & Castle. It was initially operated by London Central from their New Cross (NX) garage with Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs. The route is a renumbering of route P3.
On 21 September 2002, the route was redirected withdrawn from London Bridge station and rerouted from Borough High Street via Tooley Street, Druid Street, Crucifix Lane and to stand at St Thomas Street for Guy's Hospital.
On 4 February 2006, the route passed to Travel London operating from their Walworth (WL) garage using Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.
On 21 May 2009, the route was included in the sale of Travel London to Abellio London.
In June 2010, the route was revealed to be amongst the ten worst performing in London.
On 12 June 2010, two additional morning peak journeys were introduced with the intention of solving the problems; performance improved as a result, although the route continued to receive complaints.
In November 2010, a proposal to increase the frequency of the route was announced by Transport for London.
On 5 February 2011, the route was retained by Abellio London.
Route 343 also has a night service in the form of route N343, which runs parallel to the daytime route and then continues to Trafalgar Square via route N381, Waterloo, and Aldwych.
At 08:22 on 17 March 2012, a route 343 caught fire on Pepys Road, New Cross. The fire was put out by 09:20 and there were no injuries.
On 3 February 2018, the route passed back to London Central operating from their New Cross (NX) garage using brand new Enviro 400 MMC bodied Alexander E40Hs.
On 15 June 2019, the route was extended from City Hall to Aldgate.
The route will be retained by London Central from 1 February 2025.
Current Route []
Route 343 operates via these primary locations:
- Aldgate Bus Station
- Tower Bridge Road Tooley Street
- London Bridge Bus Station (For Guy's Hospital and Southwark Cathedral)
- Borough
- Elephant & Castle
- Burgess Park
- Southampton Way Estate
- North Peckham
- Peckham Hanover Park
- Peckham Rye
- Cheltenham Road
- Nunhead Inverton Road
- Brockley Frendsbury Road
- Avignon Road
- Telegraph Hill
- New Cross Gate Jerningham Road