London Buses route R5 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Orpington and Orpington, it is operated by Stagecoach London.
History
Route R5 commenced operation on 16 August 1986 between Orpington Station and Orpington Station via Station Road - Sevenoaks Road - Green Street Green - Cudham Lane North - Cudham Lane South - Knockholt Main Road - Knockholt Road - Rushmore Hill Road - Rushmore Hill. Sevenoaks Road - Green Street Green. It was initially operated by Roundabout from their St Mary Cray (OB) and Bromley (TB) garages using Optare Citypacers, Leyand Nationals and Robin Hood bodied Ivecos.
On 21 November 1987, the Optare Citypacers were withdrawn.
On 16 July 1988, the Bromley (TB) allocation was withdrawn.
On 21 November 1992, the peak journeys via Knockholt and Halstead were withdrawn and also Chelsfield Village journeys - these journeys were renumbered R6.
On 24 April 1993, the Robin Hood bodied Ivecos were replaced by Marshall bodied Ivecos.
On 4 December 1993, the route passed to Kentish Bus operating from their Dunton Green (DG) garage using Optare MetroRiders.
On 28 February 1998, the allocation was transferred to Norfleet (NF) garage.
On 15 February 1999, the allocation was transferred to Dartford (DT) garage.
On 1 December 2001, the route was extended from Orpington to Petts Wood Station.
On 13 July 2002, the terminal changed at Petts Wood Station from Station Square to Queensway.
On 6 December 2002, the route passed to Metrobus operating from their Orpington (MB) garage using Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart SLFs and was withdrawn between Orpington and Petts Wood but diverted to serve Walnuts Centre after 0900.
On 21 August 2004, the route was reverted to operating the Cudham loop in both directions.
On 13 September 2008, the anti clockwise journeys was renumbered R10.
On 7 December 2013, the route passed to Stagecoach London operating from their Bromley (TB) garage using brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Darts.
The route will pass to London General and will be operated from Orpington (MB) garage from 8 December 2018.
Current Route
Route R5 operates via these primary locations:
- Orpington Station
- Green Street Green
- Pratt's Bottom
- Halstead
- Knockholt Pound
- Knockholt
- Horns Green
- Cudham
- Hazelwood
- Green Street Green
- Orpington Station