Route 229 Observations

On Saturday the 23rd of January, Route 229 transferred from London Central to Arriva London North. The route runs between Thamesmead and Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup via Bexleyheath and has a PVR of 20. The route began in 1951 running between Wren Road in Sidcup and Sidcup bus Garage before being extended to Orpington later that year. In 1952 it was extended to Bexleyheath. In 1959 it was extended to Woolwich. In 1977 it was curtailed to Erith but extended to Farnborough at the other end. In 1982 it was cut back to Green Street Green. In 1986 the route was cut back to Sidcup Garage and in 1988 was again cut back to Foots Cray upon the closure of Sidcup Garage. In 1991 it was rerouted to Queen Marys Hospital. In 1994 it was extended to Thamesmead. In 2000 it was converted to low floor operation using Volvo B7TL's with Plaxton President bodywork coded as PVLs. In 2016 it was awarded to Arriva Kent Thameside with new vehicles, which are Euro 6 Enviro 400's which were originally meant to be coded in the Arriva Kent Thameside double decker series of 64** but due to a group restructuring which saw Dartford depot, which runs the route, transfer to Arriva London North, these vehicles were instead coded T301-331. These vehicles are Euro6 Enviro400's and are likely to be the last old style E400's for London. I wish Arriva London North every success with the route over the next 5 years. I hope you enjoyed reading this post.