London Buses Route 54 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Woolwich and Elmers End, it is operated by Stagecoach London.
History
Route 54 had been the main bus route linking Woolwich, Lewisham, Beckenham and Croydon since the 1920s. In 1934 it ran between Plumstead Common and Selsdon but in 1963 was withdrawn between Woolwich and Plumstead Common. Peak hour journeys were extended from Woolwich to the then embryonic Woolwich Industrial Estate between 1965 and the 1970s. The other end the route was further extended from Selsdon to Riddlesdown to accommodate school journeys. The latter adjustments disappeared in 1972, along with the service between Croydon and Selsdon/Riddlesdown. Despite these changes, the middle section of the route had stayed almost the same from the 1920s to 2000, aside from minor adjustments due to the introduction of one-way systems at a few places.
Until 2009, Selkent ran the route under tender from Transport for London. Route 54 was based at Catford (TL) garage, although other depots, notably Plumstead (PD)|Plumstead, have assisted on occasion for logistical reasons (Plumstead was less than 2 miles away from the terminus at Woolwich). The route operated from Plumstead between November 1988 and August 1989, and again between April and November 1991. It became permanent from 24 July 1993 to allow room for the large double decker bus 208 at Catford. The service remained there until January 1999, when it was moved back to Catford so that Plumstead could accommodate routes 96, 99 and 178s. Route P3 (now 343) was swapped for the 181 and 284 routes in Catford. This change was reversed in March 2001 and them implemenented once again in March 2003, along with route 202 route to make room at Plumstead for new route 453.
On 2 May 2009, the route passed to Metrobus operating from their Orpington (MB) garage using new Optare Olympus bodied Scania N230UDs.
On 19 May 2012, the allocation was transferred to Croydon garage (C).
On 3 May 2014, the route returned to Stagecoach London operating from their Catford garage (TL) with brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400Hs introduced.
From 9 October 2018 until 2 November 2018, Phase 2 of Woolwich New Road commences meaning Woolwich Arsenal Station cannot be served.The route will be diverted to Wellington Street via The Woolwich Ferry, John Wilson Street and Calderwood Street
The route will be retained by Stagecoach London with brand new Enviro 400 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E40Ds introduced from 4 May 2019.
Current route
- Woolwich Public Market
- Woolwich Arsenal Station
- Charlton
- Blackheath Royal Standard
- Blackheath Station
- Lewisham High Street
- Catford
- Beckenham Hill Station
- Beckenham Junction Station
- Beckenham High Street
- Elmers End Bus Station