London Buses route N68 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Old Coulsdon and Tottenham Court Road, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus.
History[]
The original route N68 was introduced on 26 April 1975 and ran between Wandsworth (Armoury Way) and Farringdon Street via Clapham Junction, Lavender Hill, Vauxhall, Millbank, Parliament Square, Trafalgar Square, and Aldwych. It replaced the night service on route 168 and was the last night route to be introduced before the major enhancement of the night bus network during the 1980s when a great many more routes were introduced. The N68 had the meal relief journeys to Liverpool Street “livened up” in 1975 and was diverted to run via Strand and Aldwych instead of Victoria Embankment during the 1970s. It is mainly covered now by route N87.
Today's N68 commenced operation on 27 March 1999, running between Trafalgar Square and Purley Cross via Strand, Aldwych, Waterloo, Elephant, Camberwell, Denmark Hill, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill Station, West Norwood, Thornton Heath High Street, Whitehorse Road, West Croydon, Croydon, and South Croydon. The route was initially operated by Arriva London from Croydon (TC) garage using Leyland Olympians.
On 28 April 2000, the route was diverted at Aldwych to run via Kingsway, and High Holborn to Tottenham Court Road Station and was extended from Purley to Old Coulsdon via a withdrawn section of Route N159.
On 1 April 2006, the route passed to London Central operating from their Camberwell (Q) garage using brand new Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.
On 2 April 2011, the route was retained by London Central.
In November 2014, Alexander Dennis Enviro400s were introduced alongside the existing Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.
On 31 March 2018, the route passed to Abellio London operating from their Walworth (WL) garage using Enviro400 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E40Hs. At the same time, a crosslink with route 45 was formed.
On 16 Jun 2019, the crosslink with route 45 was replaced with a new crosslink with route 196.
On 21 July 2019, the crosslink with route 45 was reintroduced alongside the crosslink with route 196.
On 28 October 2023, the crosslink with route 196 was replaced with a new crosslink with route 68.
On 2 March 2024, Abellio London was rebranded to Transport UK London Bus.
Current Route[]
Route N68 operates via these primary locations:
- Old Coulsdon Tudor Rose
- Coulsdon South Station
- Coulsdon Town Station
- Reedham Station
- Purley Cross (for Purley Station)
- South Croydon
- Croydon High Street
- Double Run via George Street to East Croydon Station
- Wellesley Road Tramlink
- Wellesley Road (for West Croydon Bus Station and Tramlink)
- Thornton Heath
- Upper Norwood
- West Norwood Station
- Tulse Hill Station
- Herne Hill Station
- Camberwell Green
- Elephant & Castle Station
- Waterloo Station Interchange
- Aldwych
- Holborn Station
- Tottenham Court Road Station St Giles High Street