Route 289 Observations

This weekend, it was the turn of Route 289 to get new buses. Route 289 runs between Elmers End and Purley, via Croydon. Route 289 began in 1968, and ran between Thornton Heath bus garage and Addiscombe, Black Horse. The Route ran Monday to Friday and was operated by RT's. In 1970 the Route began a Saturday service which partly replaced the withdrawn section of Route 50. As the Route cost a lot to run with double deckers they decided to put SMS's on the Route. In 1973 the Route was extended from Addiscombe, Black Horse to Elmers End Green. There was an upgrade form 4 buses to 5. In 1978 the Route was extended to Beckenham Junction and operated from Elmers End garage ( ED ). In 1981 the Route was extended to Purley Monday to Friday only. In the evenings and also on Saturday and Sunday's the Route only ran to Croydon Airport. In 1985 the Route was cut back from Beckenham Junction to Elmers End Green, and in 1986 the Route was transferred to South Croydon ( TC ). In early 1987 LT decided they didn't want the Route anymore so London & Country took it over and run it from Chelsham ( CM ). London & Country pushed for the 289 to go to Purley full time, and finally got permisson for it in 1991. In 1993 there was a timetable change which had a Sunday journey on it from Purley Way to West Croydon but this only ran in the afternoon. In 1994 they decided to give the 289 a full time service from Beddington Farm ( CN ). In 1999 Arriva London South took over the Route from London Links and they also took over CN. In 2000 Route 289 was allocated 10.7 metre long PDL's so wheelchair user could get on. In 2003 and 2004, Routes 264, 403 and 627 were updated to DW's, Route 455 was updated to DWL's and Route 410 was updated to DWS's. DW's were very common on the 289 and DWL's and DWS's were on the Route sometimes. In 2006 Route 319 converted to DLA operation, and Arriva had DWL's and DDL's spare. The DWL's went to TC for about 2 years and were mainly used on Route 166 and the DDL's were used at TH on the 255. In 2007 Route 450 was transferred to CN in a swap with the 289. This now saw PDL's and DDL's allocated but DLA's were very common. In 2008 the elderly DDL's were withdrawn and replaced with DWL's from TC. The allocation was now PDL's, DDL's and DLA's allocated. In 2010, Route's 109, 198 and 250 were retained and Route 289 started to see T's from the retained Route's appear very often. In 2011, it was announced that CN would be closing and that Route 289 had been retained with ENX's. TH would now see Routes 410 and 450 transferring, and DWS's at TH. Route 289 is a Route that runs near to where I live and I will miss the PDL's that I have grown up with. On Friday 13th July 2012, I spotted ENX13 on the 289. I did not get a picture but I then knew that ENX's had entered service early. I think the reason they have entered service early is because of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. In my opinion I think these ENX's are the best Enviro 200's in London. I hope you enjoy reading this post.