London Buses route 281 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hounslow and Tolworth, it is operated by London United.
History[]
Route 281 was introduced between Tolworth and Twickenham on 9 May 1962 to replace trolleybus route 601, operating from Fulwell garage.
On 3 October 1965, part of the Monday – Saturday service was extended from Twickenham to Hounslow bus station via Whitton. From 24 January 1970, a weekday peak hour extension from Tolworth to Chessington Industrial Estate was introduced.
By 27 March 1971, the Sunday service was operated by one man single deck AEC Swifts.
On 20 April 1975, the Sunday service was converted to double deck operation using Daimler Fleetlines.
On 28 October 1978, the Sunday service was extended from Twickenham to Hounslow in line with the weekday service, replacing route 73 over this section.
On 29 April 1979, the Daimler Fleetlines were replaced by MCW Metrobuses. Throughout this time, the weekday service remained crew operated with AEC Routemasters.
As part of a three way switch involving routes 18, 109 and the 281, the Routemasters were replaced by crew operated MCW Metrobuses from 15 August 1981. The same type of bus now operated the route everyday for the first time since 1971, but with conductors on Monday to Saturday, and driver only on Sunday. However as most of the Metrobuses bought in for the conversion were not fitted with ticket machines, it was not the same buses. Over the following months ticket machines were fitted
On 4 September 1982, the route was converted to daily one person operation. At the same time, the whole Monday – Saturday service was extended beyond Twickenham to Hounslow.
On 27 June 1987, the Chessington peak hour service was withdrawn, and replaced by new route K2.
For the summer of 1990, the day time Sunday service was extended from Tolworth to Chessington World of Adventures via the Kingston By-Pass.
From 7 September 1991 to 31 August 1996, Hounslow (AV) garage provided part of the service alongside Fulwell.
On 28 June 1997, the route was retained by London United.
On 22 May 1998, the MCW Metrobuses were replaced by brand new Alexander RH bodied Volvo Olympians.
On 29 June 2002, the route was retained by London United.
On 3 May 2003, the route was converted to low floor operation using Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Tridents.
On 3 June 2006, the route became the 100th night bus service in London and was converted into a 24-hour service.
On 4 July 2009, the route was retained by London United.
On 5 July 2014, the route was retained by London United using existing Scania OmniCitys.
On 3 July 2021, the route was retained by London United using existing Scania OmniCitys. At the same time, the afternoon school service between Fulwell and Hounslow was withdrawn.
On 4 September 2021, existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs were introduced alongside existing Scania OmniCitys.
On 1 Febuary 2022, brand new Enviro 400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DDs were introduced alongside the existing Scania OmniCitys and Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs.
In March 2022, the route was converted to full Enviro 400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DD and Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH operation.
The route will be retained by London United from 6 July 2024.
The route will be extended in Tolworth to serve Signal Park from Autumn 2024.
Current Route[]
- Hounslow Bus Station
- Hounslow Station
- Whitton Admiral Nelson
- Twickenham Rugby Stadium
- Twickenham Station
- Fulwell Bus Garage
- Teddington High Street
- Hampton Wick Station
- Kingston Bridge
- Kingston Station
- Kingston Cromwell Road Bus Station
- Kingston University Penrhyn Road Campus
- Surbiton Station
- Tolworth Ewell Road
On Twickenham Match days, the route terminates at Twickenham. There is no service between Hounslow Bus Station and Twickenham.
External Links[]
Gallery[]
