London Transport
Central Area Routes 200–209


Last updated 01-06-08.

Route 200 was running between Wimbledon Station and Copse Hill via The Ridgeway and Raynes Park in 1950, and in 1953 was converted to RF operation. In 1962 it was withdrawn between Raynes Park and Copse Hill, and RT buses were introduced in 1965. Later that year it was extended on Sunday afternoons from Raynes Park to Kingston via Coombe Lane and Norbiton. In 1966 it was extended on Mondays to Saturdays from Wimbledon to Mitcham via Phipps Bridge. In 1971 it was withdrawn between Raynes Park and Kingston and converted to one-man operation. In 1981 it was extended on Sundays from Mitcham to Wallington via Hackbridge and the following year it was withdrawn on Sundays between Merton Garage and Wallington. In 1984 it was extended on Mondays to Saturdays from Mitcham to Streatham Garage and the Sunday morning service was withdrawn. In 1984 it was diverted to run to Brixton Garage via Streatham Hill instead of Streatham Garage. In 1986 it became a tendered service operated by Cityrama using blue DMSs and the Brixton terminus was changed to New Park Road. In 1990 the Sunday service was extended from Wimbledon to Streatham. In 1993 the Brixton terminus changed to Brixton Garage, and the following year it was extended on Sundays from Streatham to Brixton Garage. In 1995 the 200 was extended from Streatham Hill to Tulse Hill station via Christchurch Road, Roupell Road and Upper Tulse Hill as a temporary arrangement until new Darts were delivered for new route 201, when the 200 was cut back from Tulse Hill to Mitcham. Since tendering, the route has been operated by Cityrama, London United, London General, Mitcham Belle and Central London.
Q 154
Q 154 [CLE 177] stands in South Park Road, Wimbledon, some time in the late 1940s.
P.F. Winding photo; LSB
T 598
South Park Road again: T 598 [EYK 233] in 1952 after the former Green Line 10T10 coach was demoted to bus work and painted red.
D.A. Jones photo; LT3362
RF 321
Evidently South Park Road was a popular spot with the photographers, as RF 321 [MLL 958] was found there in 1965, two weeks before the 200 was double-decked with RT buses.
Ken Glazier photo; RF
200
 200 MON.-SAT. ALIGHTING POINT ONLY
This is an especially interesting “E” plate with ALIGHTING POINT ONLY, and will have come from just a single stop at a terminus.		 200 SUNDAY P.M.
This “E” plate came from the Sunday afternoon extension to Kingston that ran from 1965 to 1971.
201

Route 201 ran daily from Kingston (Bus Station) to Feltham Station via Surbiton, Winters Bridge, Thames Ditton, Hampton Court, Bushy Park, Teddington and Hanworth. In 1951 it was withdrawn between Hampton Court Station and Feltham and replaced by route 152. In 1959 RF vehicles replaced the T and TD buses. In 1978 it was diverted direct along Portsmouth Road instead of serving Surbiton Station, and the Sunday service was withdrawn. The route was completely withdrawn in 1980 when Surrey County Council searched for cheaper ways of providing replacement services.

This “E” plate is in poor condition because the top left corner has been bent back with the loss of enamel in the corner. It was definitely produced for the Hampton Court to Kingston route, as the back shows it is much older. It’s a great shame because 201 is not an easy route number to get, as the original route was rather short with relatively few plates.

A new route 201 was introduced between Epping Station and Ongar via North Weald which provided a part-replacement for the Central Line when it was reduced to peak hours only, and later withdrawn completely over this section. Eventually this 201 was withdrawn and the number is currently used for a route between Morden Station and Herne Hill Station via Mitcham, Streatham, Streatham Hill, Tulse Hill and West Dulwich.

This “E” plate was probably produced for the Epping–Ongar route, but it could have equally applied to the earlier route.

 201
202 MON-FRI
202 MON-SAT
1971 timetable booklet
1971 timetable booklet for the introduction of one-person-operated RF single-deck buses.

Route 202 was introduced on Mondays through Fridays on 26 September 1970 between Richmond (Dee Road) and Hounslow (Bus Station) via Richmond, Twickenham, Staines Road, Hospital Bridge Road, Whitton, Hall Road and Bridge Road as a replacement for a withdrawn section of route 203. In 1971 it was converted to single-deck operation using RFs, and in 1972 Saturday service was introduced. In 1977 Bristol type buses replaces the RFs, and in 1980 the 202 was extended to Hounslow (Civic Centre) via High Street and Lampton Road. In 1982 the route was converted back to double deck operation using Metorbuses. Later the same year it was diverted at Hounslow (The Bell) to Heathrow Central (Bus Station) via West Road, Great South West Road, Hatton Cross Station, Stanwell Road, Beacon Road, Heathrow Cargo Terminal and Heathrow Cargo Tunnel, replacing withdrawn route 82, and Sunday service was introduced between Hounslow (Bus Station) and Heathrow. In 1984 Leyland Nationals were added to the allocation, and it was diverted via the new Terminal 4. In 1987 Sunday service was withdrawn, replaced by a revised 223. In 1989 the 202 was withdrawn between Terminal 4 and Heathrow Central, and Sunday service was re-introduced between Terminal 4 and Hounslow. In 1990 it was withdrawn completely, replaced by new routes H22 and H23.

Route 203 was introduced in 1951, running between Hanworth (Duke of York) and Hounslow Central Station via Powder Mill Lane, Hall Road and Bridge Road. Later that year it was revised to run from Twickenham Station to Hounslow Central Station, diverting on Mondays to Saturdays via Hounslow West and Great South West Road to Hatton Cross. In 1952 the Sunday service was cut back from Hounslow Central to Hounslow Garage. Later in 1952 some Monday to Friday peak hours and Saturday p.m. journeys were extended from Hatton Cross to Bedfont Green. The Sunday service was withdrawn in 1954. The Monday to Friday peak service was extended from Bedfont Green to Staines (Bridge Street) in 1955. In 1956 the route was diverted to run via Stanwell Road, Stanwell and Town Lane replacing route 162. A Sunday service was introduced between Stanwell (War Memorial) and Staines. In 1969 the Sunday service was withdrawn, with the route running between Twickenham and Staines at all times on Mondays to Saturdays and the following year it was withdrawn between Hounslow and Twickenham on Mondays to Fridays, and between Richmond and Twickenham on Saturdays, being replaced to Twickenham by new route 202. In 1972 it was converted to one-man operation and revised to run between Hounslow and Staines during Monday to Friday peak hours and Saturday shopping hours. In 1976 it absorbed the 203A route with the peak hour service being diverted to Ashford Station instead of Staines. These journeys were withdrawn in 1978, and at the same time it was extended from Hounslow to Brentford (County Court) via Isleworth. In 1991 it was again cut back from Brentford to Hounslow (Bus Station). A Sunday service was reintroduced in 1996.
Route 203-203A leaflet
Timetable leaflet for the one-person-operation conversion of routes 203 and 203A starting 11 March 1972 with print code 172/13763S/28,000. This fold-out leaflet has brief details of the changes and a fare table on the front. Inside are bus stop timetables for the service and on the back are diagrams showing how to use split entrance buses.		 203 MON-FRI PEAK HOURS FARE STAGE
 203 MON-FRI PEAK HOURS & SATURDAY
203 MON-SAT
This “E” plate likely came from the 1951 Monday to Saturday diversion to Hatton Cross, as the other Monday to Saturday sections of the route were relatively short-lived.		 203 SATURDAY
The two Saturday “E” plates will no doubt have come from the short-lived Saturday extension between Hounslow and Richmond from 1970 until 1972.		 203 SATURDAY
203A MON.-SAT. SEE BELOW 203A MON.-SAT. SEE BELOW 203A MON.-SAT. SEE BELOW FARE STAGE
These “E” plates will probably have come from the time after one-man conversion when the service ran on Mondays to Saturdays, except during peak hours and Saturday shopping hours, and thus would have been too cumbersome to describe on an “E” plate, hence the use of SEE BELOW, referring people to the publicity.
Route 203-203A bus stop timetable

Route 203A was introduced in November 1959, running on Mondays to Fridays between Twickenham Station and Ashford Station via Whitton, Hounslow, Hounslow West, Great South West Road, Hatton Cross, Bedfont, Stanwell and Clare Road. In 1972 it was converted to one-man-operation and revised to run between Hounslow and Ashford on Mondays to Fridays, except during peak hours and early morning and evening on Saturdays. In 1976 it was withdrawn and replaced by a diversion of part of route 203 to Ashford Station.

Bus stop timetable panel for routes 203 and 203A from Hounslow to Staines (203 Monday to Friday peak hours and Saturdays) and Ashford (203A Mondays to Fridays and Saturday early morning and evening), dated 17.6.72 when operated by SMS type buses. The timetable for the opposite direction is on the other side.

Route 204 was introduced in 1951 and ran daily between Uxbridge Station and Hayes Station via Hillingdon Road, Kingston Lane, Colham Green Lane and Botwell Lane. In 1955 it was extended during Monday to Friday rush hours and on Sundays from Uxbridge to Ruislip Station via Ickenham. In 1961 the journeys to Ruislip were reduced to just a few morning journeys. In 1963 it was withdrawn between Uxbridge and Ruislip but extended instead on Mondays to Fridays from Uxbridge to West Drayton Station via Cowley and Yiewsley, and further extended during rush hours to London Airport Central via Sipson Road. The Saturday service was renumbered 204A. In 1966 the 204A was withdrawn and the 204 re-introduced on this day. In 1970 it was extended on Sundays from Hayes Station to Hayes (Bourne Avenue). In 1971 it was converted to one-man operation and withdrawn between Uxbridge and Heathrow Airport. In 1979 it was extended from Hayes Station to Bourne Avenue on Mondays to Saturdays. In 1989 the 204 was renumbered U4.

Today’s route 204 runs between Edgware and Sudbury Town via Burnt Oak, Grahame Park, Colindale, Kingsbury and Wembley.
204 MON.-FRI. RUSH HOURS
This “E” plate would have come from the section of route between West Drayton Station and London Airport during the years 1963 to 1970.		 204 MON-FRI W DRAYTON HEATHROW AIRPORT
This plate would probably have come from the bus stop in Uxbridge bus station where buses would have run through in both directions, but served different stops. It is an astonishingly rare plate and of particular interest having two destinations.		 204 SUNDAY
The 204 is not an easy route to find on “E” plates, and being a red Sunday plate is of particular interest. This one likely came from the 1970 Hayes extension.
205 SUNDAY

Route 205 ran daily between Chingford, Royal Forest Hotel and Hammond Street via Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Cheshunt and Flamstead End. It was numbered in the 2×× series because this rural route was single-deck. It received RT double-deckers in 1953. It was withdrawn between Flamstead End and Hammond Street on Sundays in 1961, and the Monday to Saturday service was withdrawn completely in 1963, being replaced on these days by the 279. In September 1968 it was withdrawn in Chingford between the station and Royal Forest Hotel, and in November of the same year was diverted at Waltham Abbey to run to Upshire, being replaced to Chingford by the 242. The route was finally withdrawn in 1976, having run on Sundays-only for the last 13 years of its life, always using RTs.

Bus stop timetable panel for route 205 & 205A, dated 31/8/1938. The route ran from Potter’s Bar LT Garage to Waltham Cross and Chingford (Royal Forest Hotel). The reverse shows times etc. in the opposite direction.

 Timetable for routes 205 & 205A

Route 205A began running in October 1961 as a Sunday-only route between Epping Forest (Wake Arms) and Hammond Street (Rising Sun) via Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Cheshunt and Flamstead End, replacing the 205 between Hammond Street and Flamstead End and route 242 between Waltham Cross and Epping Forest. In 1974 the Hammond Street terminal was altered to Smiths Lane. In May 1975 service was extended from Epping Forest to Loughton Garage at run all times, instead of just garage journeys, and six weeks later the route was diverted between Epping Forest and Waltham Abbey to run via Ninefields Estate. In April 1976 the route was withdrawn, replaced by the 217A and 279. Operated by RTs for all 15 year of its life, the 205A ran firstly from Enfield Garage [E], and from 1971 Loughton Garage [L].
205A SUNDAY
 ← This “E” plate is in fair condition for its age, although the number is a bit faded—almost to brown!
This “E” plate dates from the early 1970s when the route ran between Epping Forest (Wake Arms) and Hammond Street via Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross and Cheshunt. →		 205A SUNDAY
206 WHIPPS CROSS GRANGE FARM

Route 206 was introduced in January 1981, running daily between Walthamstow Central Station and Chigwell (Grange Farm) via Leyton (Bakers Arms), Whipps Cross, Leytonstone Station, Green Man, Wanstead, Snaresbrook, Hermon Hill, South Woodford Station, Woodford Bridge, Claybury Hospital and Chigwell Station. In 1982 it was rerouted between Whipps Cross and Leytonstone Station via James Lane and Fairlop Road. Later that year the route was reallocated from Leyton [LB] to Loughton Garage [T], and garage journeys were introduced beyond Chigwell to Loughton. In November 1982 one journey in each peak on Mondays to Fridays was diverted via Debden Estate and extended from Loughton Garage to Loughton Station. In 1984 and 1985 it was extended on Summer Sundays from Chigwell to St. Margarets Hospital via Abridge and Theydon Bois. In 1985 the 206 was rerouted between Wanstead and South Woodford via Woodford High Road instead of Hermon Hill. In 1986 it was withdrawn between Chigwell Station and Loughton, and the route was transferred to Eastern National. The route was withdrawn in 1989.

This is an astonishingly rare plate, and was probably one of the last “E” plates to be produced. My guess is that it came from Walthamstow Central Station.

Route 208 was introduced in 1971 and ran on Mondays to Saturdays between Hanwell Broadway and Hayes Station via Southall, Uxbridge Road, Coldharbour Lane and Hayes Town. In 1972 it was extended from Hayes Station to Hayes (Bourne Avenue). The route was withdrawn in 1979 and replaced by an extension of route 204.

A previousl route 208 ran between Clapton Pond and Bow, but this route was daily. The current route 208 was introduced in 1982, and initally ran between Surrey Docks and Orpington via Lewisham, Catford, Downham, Bromley, Bromley Common, Southborough and Petts Wood, but this route was introduced after the use of “E” plates had ceased.

 208 MON.-SAT.
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