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Blue Triangle

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This article is about the London bus operating company. For the Nazi concentration camp badge, see Blue triangle. For the butterfly, see Graphium sarpedon.

Blue Triangle
Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL in Romford in February 2023
ParentGo-Ahead London
Founded1999
HeadquartersBarking
Service areaEast London
Service typeBus operator
Routes31 (April 2024)
HubsBarking, Barking Riverside, Canning Town, Beckton
Depots2
Fuel typeDiesel, Hybrid and Electric
Chief executiveDavid Cutts
Websitewww.goaheadlondon.com

London General Transport Services Limited,[1] trading as Go-Ahead London, is a bus company operating services in East London. The Blue Triangle brand is a subsidiary of Go-Ahead London and operates most of its services under contract to Transport for London. It is the operator of the East London Transit service.

History

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Original Blue Triangle logo
Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL with East London Transit branding
East Lancs Myllennium Lolyne bodied Dennis Trident 2
Two Blue Triangle Dennis Dart SLFs on route 372 at Lakeside Shopping Centre

In August 2002, Blue Triangle took over route 185 at short notice after London Easylink ceased trading.[2]

On 29 June 2007, Blue Triangle was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group.[3] The sale included eight Transport for London and nine Essex County Council routes and approximately 60 buses, but not the charter fleet which were retained by Roger Wright trading as The London Bus Company.[4]

Garages

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River Road (RR)

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As of April 2024, River Road garage operates routes 5, 101, 104, 147, 304, 325, 364, 366, 368, 396, 608, 646, 652, 656, 677, 679, 686, 687, EL1, EL2, EL3 and N15. Some buses are regularly shared with Henley Road garage.[5]

History

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In May 2016 a new garage opened on River Road in Barking. It initially opened with an allocation of 22 buses to operate route 147 but has a capacity for 155 buses. It was built on the site of a former Ford commercial vehicle sales and repair site.[6][7] In July 2016, all of the routes and buses from Rainham garage were transferred.[8]

Henley Road (DS)

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As of April 2024, Henley Road garage operates routes 5 (Early/late trips from route N15s allocation), 15, 69, 115, 262, 376, 649, 650, 651, D3 and N15. Some buses are regularly shared with River Road garage and Docklands Buses' Silvertown garage.[9] This garage also acts as a storage for the Here East bus fleet.

Former garage

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Rainham (BE)

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As of May 2015, Rainham garage operated routes 167, 193, 300, 347, 362, 364, 368, 376, 462, 498, 608, 646, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 656, 667, 674, 679, 686, EL1, EL2 and W19.[10] On 27 June 2015, route 498 passed to Stagecoach London.[11] In July 2016 the garage was announced closed with all operations transferred to River Road garage.[8]

Previous routes operated

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  • Route 372 was won on a temporary contract as part replacement for route 324 which ran between Romford Market and Bluewater Shopping Centre. Blue Triangle was awarded the temporary contract using four second hand Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts. In March 2004, Blue Triangle retained the contract for another five years. This route has since passed to Stagecoach London.[12]
  • In 2001 Blue Triangle commenced operating route 248. In September 2008, the passed to Stagecoach London.[13]
  • Route 375 was won on a temporary contract as a part replacement to Essex County Council route 500, which was withdrawn between Ongar and Romford, Transport for London stepped in with this replacement service using just one bus. On 4 July 2009 this passed to Arriva Kent Thameside.[14]
  • In September 2003 Blue Triangle commenced operating route 66. In September 2010 this passed to Arriva Southern Counties.[15]
  • On 3 November 2007 Blue Triangle commenced operating route 368. On 26 March 2011 this passed to First London but was re-acquired on 22 June 2013.[16]
  • In September 2001 Blue Triangle commenced operating route 648. On 3 September 2011 this route passed to First London but was re-acquired on 22 June 2013.[17]
  • In March 2012 Blue Triangle commenced operating route 20.[18]

Special vehicles

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Blue Triangle owned a number of special vehicles including an ex Green Line AEC Routemaster, ex London Routemasters and AEC Regent III RTs for use on charter duties. These vehicles were not included in the sale to Go-Ahead Group and remain in the ownership of Roger Wright's London Bus Company.[19]

Fleet

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As at May 2015, Blue Triangle's London services had a peak vehicle requirement of 131 buses.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Companies House extract company no 2328489 London General Transport Services Limited
  2. ^ No blinds needed, it's a 185 Buses issue 572 November 2002
  3. ^ Acquisition of Blue Triangle Buses Limited Archived 11 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 29 June 2007
  4. ^ The London Bus Company Limited Companies House
  5. ^ "Who runs your bus". Transport for London. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  6. ^ Our new garage based at River Road, Barking opened on Saturday 7 May 2016 Go-Ahead London
  7. ^ Go Ahead's 7m new Barking garage Buses issue 736 July 2016 page 25
  8. ^ a b "Short Hops" Buses issue 737 August 2016 page 27
  9. ^ Carr, Ken (May 2015). The London Bus Guide (5 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-9931735-3-0.
  10. ^ a b Carr, Ken (May 2015). The London Bus Guide (5 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-9931735-3-0.
  11. ^ Carr, Ken (May 2015). The London Bus Guide (5 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-9931735-3-0.
  12. ^ Bus tender results Route 372 Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transport for London 17 July 2008
  13. ^ Bus tender results Route 248 Transport for London 28 March 2008
  14. ^ Bus tender results Route 375 Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transport for London 6 April 2009
  15. ^ Bus tender results Route 66 Transport for London 10 December 2009
  16. ^ Bus tender results Route 368 Transport for London 27 July 2010
  17. ^ Bus tender results Route 648 Transport for London 23 December 2010
  18. ^ Bus tender results Route 20 Transport for London 21 July 2011
  19. ^ Welcome to The London Bus Company London Bus Company
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Media related to Blue Triangle at Wikimedia Commons

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