London Buses route 153 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Finsbury Park and Liverpool Street, it is operated by CT Plus.
History
Route 153 commenced operating on 2 June 1984 between Archway Station and Angel via Holloway Road - Liverpool Road - Mackenzie Road - Westbourne Road - Offord Road - Hemingford Road - Copenahgen Street - Liverpool Road. The route initially operated by London Transport from their Holloway (HT) garage using MCW Metrobuses.
On 24 November 1984, it was extended from Angel to Tottenham Court Road station via route 19.
On 4 April 1987. the route was Withdrawn between Angel and Tottenham Court Road and it was also converted to midibus operation. At the same time, the route passed to London Country North West from their Coppetts Wood (LC) garage using Ivecos.
On 26 June 1988, the route passed to London Transport operating from their Gillingham Street Basement (VB) garage using Optare Citypacers.
On 1 June 1992, it was diverted at Holloway from Archawy station to Finsbury Park station and extended at Islington to Smithfield. At the same time, the route passed to Capital Citybus from Northumberland Park (NP) garage using Alexander bodied Mercedes-Benz 811Ds.
On 9 November 1996, a Sunday service was introduced.
On 31 January 1998, the allocation was transferred to Hackney (H) garage.
On 8 July 1998, the route was included in the sale of Capital Citybus to First London.
On 4 March 2000, the allocation was moved back to Northumberland Park (NP) garage.
On 3 February 2001, the route passed to CT Plus operating from their Ash Grove (HK) garage and was converted to low floor operation using brand new Caetano Nimbus bodied Dennis Dart SLFs. At the same time, it was extended from Clerkenwell to Liverpool Street and the route withdrawn between St John Street and Smithfield.
On 4 June 2006, the route was retained by CT Plus.
On 2 February 2013, the route was again retained by CT Plus with brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Darts introduced.
On 18 June 2011, the route was temporarily withdrawn between Liverpool Street Station and Finsbury Square.
On 30 April 2016, the route was restored to Liverpool Street.
On 17 September 2016, the route was temporarily withdrawn between Moorgate Finsbury Square and Liverpool Street Station.
The route will be passed to London General and will be operated from their Northumberland Park (NP) garage using Enviro 200 Electric bodeied BYD K9Es from 3 February 2018.
Current route
Route 153 operates via these primary locations:
- Finsbury Park Station Station Place
- Holloway
- Holloway Road Station
- Barnsbury
- Islington High Street
- Angel Station
- Barbican Station
- Moorgate Finsbury Square