London Buses route 381 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Peckham and Waterloo, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus.
History[]
Route 381 commenced operating on 9 October 1999 between Peckham Bus Station and Waterloo County Hall via Peckham Park Road - Old Kent Road - Rotherhithe New Road - Catlin Street - St James's Road - Southwark Park Road - Raymouth Road - Rotherhithe New Road - Surrey Quays Station - (double run to Canada Water via Surrey Quays Road) - Redriff Road - Salter Road - Rotherhithe - Jamaica Road - Tooley Street - London Bridge Station - Southwark Street - Stamford Street - York Road. The route was initially operated by London Central from their Peckham (PM) garage using Alexander Royale and Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympians and Leyland Titans. The route is a renumbering of route P11.
On 19 August 2000, the Waterloo terminal was changed from York Road to Addington Street and the Leyland Titans were withdrawn.
In April 2003, the Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympians were withdrawn and the route was converted to full Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian operation.
On 9 October 2004, the route passed to Travel London operating from their Walworth (WL) garage and was converted to low floor operation using Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.
In February 2008, the service gained an extra three buses to run between Canada Water and London Bridge, increasing the frequency of the route by an additional bus every 20 minutes over the section. This replaced the withdrawn route ELP while the East London Line was closed.
On 21 May 2009, the route was included in the sale of Travel London to Abellio London.
On 10 October 2009, the route was retained by Abellio London.
In 2015, Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Tridents were introduced.
In January 2015, the route saw a preserved Routemaster RM54 in regular use.
In 2016, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400Hs were introduced.
On 8 October 2016, the route was retained by Abellio London and was converted to full Alexander Dennis Enviro 400H operation.
On 2 December 2023, the route was retained by Abellio London. At the same time, the PVR decreased from 18 to 15
On 2 March 2024, Abellio London was rebranded to Transport UK London Bus.
The associated Canada Water Bus Station is currently closed and is planned to re-open in April 2024.
Brand new Wright Electroliner EVs will be introduced from 2024.
Current Route[]
Route 381 operates via these primary locations:
- Peckham Bus Station
- Peckham Park Road
- Southwark Park Road
- South Bermondsey
- Surrey Quays
- Canada Water Bus Station
- Salter Road
- Rotherhithe
- Bermondsey
- Jamaica Road
- City Hall
- Tooley Street
- London Bridge Bus Station (For Guy's Hospital and Southwark Cathedral)
- Southwark Street
- Waterloo
- County Hall (For St Thomas' Hospital)