Yesterday, Route 75 retruned back home to Stagecoach Selkent from Catford garage, after 5 years at Metrobus with Scania bodied Optare Olympus'. Route 75 started in 1934 running between Woolwich and Caterham, but by 1950 was shortened run between west Croydon and Woolwich. In 1960, the weekday service was extended to South Croydon bus garage, and the PVR was increased to 29 RT's Monday to Friday. In 1962, the Sunday service ceased to serve Charlton and Woolwich, serving Blackheath to West Croydon only. In 1969, the sunday service ceased to serve Selhurst and Croydon, with the exception of some morning journeys, but by February 1977, the Sunday service once again served Croydon. The route was also converted to one person operation that month. In 1985, the Sunday service had a allocation at Elmers End garage reintroduced, but just a year later, the Sunday service went back to South Croydon garage as Elmers End garage was closed. In 1988 South Croydon garage introduced new Olympians onto the 75, however, by 1989, the Sunday service was transferred to Catford garage. In 1991, the 75 ceased to serve Charlton and Woolwich all days of the week, and the route simply ran Blackheath to Croydon. Later that year, some Saturday journeys were extended to serve Surrey Quays shopping complex, however this extension ceased to run beyond 1994. In 1993, the Sunday service was converted to single deck operation, in 1994, the Monday to Saturday service also was single deck operated. In 1995, Selkent converted the route back to double deck operation once again. In 1997, Stagecoach Selkent introduced brand new Volvo Olympian's on the 75. In 2002, the route was extended from West Croydon bus station, to Fairfield Halls, new ALX400 Trident's were also introduced around the same time. In 2004, the night service was withdrawn. In 2006 Australian investment bank Macquarie purchased Stagecoach' London operation, rebranding the operations as Selkent and East London respectively. In April 2009, Selkent lost the route to Metrobus, however late delivery of the state of the art Scania bodied Optare Olympus' saw the Tridents linger on until July 2009, when the buses had been delivered and accepted into service. In August 2013, Route 75 was lost to Stagecoach Selkent once again, on the basis of brand new hybrid double deckers from Catford garage. A order for 32 Volvo B5LH/ Wight Gemini 3's was placed, a first for Stagecoach, however these were reallocated to Plumstead garage, and the 75 gained Enviro 400 hybrids. Today the change happened and there were many curtailments, West Croydon being the most common. I will miss Metrobus operating the route, hwoever I hope Stagecoach run the route well. Many thanks to the kind driver for letting me take pictures of the cab and interior. Thanks for reading!
