London Buses Route 288 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Queensbury Morrisons and Broadfields Estate, it is operated by London Sovereign.
History[]
Route 288 commenced operation on 17 June 1972, running between Edgware Station and Broadfields Estate via Edgwarebury Lane - Edgware Way - Broadfields Avenue as a Monday to Saturday service. The route was operated by London Transport at their Edgware (EW) garage using AEC Swifts.
On 1 March 1975, a Sunday service was introduced.
On 7 November 1980, the route was converted to double deck operation with MCW Metrobuses.
On 10 November 1990, it was converted to back to single deck operation with Carlyle Dartline bodied Dennis Darts.
On 6 March 1993, the Cricklewood (W) allocation was introduced.
On 3 July 1993, the route was extended from Edgware to Queensbury Station via the withdrawn section of route 107 and the Carlyle Dartline bodied Dennis Darts were replaced by Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts. At the same time, the Cricklewood (W) allocation was transferred to Edgware (EW) garage.
On 31 August 1996, the route was retained by Metroline and was extended in Queensbury to Safeway.
On 1 September 2001, the route was retained by Metroline.
In February 2002, the route was converted to low floor using Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart SLFs.
On 31 August 2002, the allocation was transferred to North Wembley (NW) garage.
On 2 September 2006, the route passed to Arriva The Shires operating from their Watford (GR) garage using brand new Wright Cadet bodied VDL SB120s.
On 31 August 2013, the route was retained by Arriva The Shires with existing Wright Cadet bodied VDL SB120s.
On 1 January 2016, the Arriva group restructured its bus operations, which included the transfer of route 288 from Arriva The Shires to Arriva London.
In July 2016, existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Darts were introduced alongside existing Wright Cadet bodied VDL SB120s.
On 1 September 2018, the route passed to London Sovereign operating from their Edgware (BT) and Parr Road (CP) garages using brand new Enviro 200 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E20Ds.
On 2 September 2023, the route was retained by London Sovereign using existing Enviro200 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E20Ds.
Current Route[]
Route 288 operates via these primary locations:
- Queensbury Morrison's
- Queensbury Station
- Edgware Bus Station
- Broadfields Estate Bushfield Crescent