81 to Slough
London United's VA295, an Alexander ALX-bodied Volvo, calls at Hounslow West on Friday 9th September 2011 on its way to Slough, the most westerly point served by a transport for London bus route.
The 81 is a long-standing route between Hounslow and Slough, and is the most westerly route operated by Transport for London and its 'red bus' predecessors; it is also the only TfL route to operate into the ceremonial County of Berkshire. In the 1970s the 81 was one of two routes which went off the edge of the Red Bus Map (the other being the 84 to St. Albans, which ceased to be a London Transport responsibilty in the 1980s).
The 81 scored a notable first at 5am on 13th July 1985, when it saw the first journey by a private operator on a London Bus route. Twelve routes, mostly marginal ones operating in the suburbs and/or over the Greater London Boundary, were put out to tender. Len Wright Travel, trading as London Buslines, won the contract to run the 81 and placed yellow ex-London Transport DMSs onto the route. Nowadays all London Buses routes are operated under contract and it is difficult to realise how radical - and controversial - this process was then.
Although later reverting to single-deckers, loadings on the 81 have increased - not least because of the relatively low fares charged under the TfL regime; the journey from Slough to Hounslow costs just £1.30 if Oyster pre-pay is used. In fact there are those who use the 81 to travel from Slough to Hounslow and connect with the Underground, this being much cheaper than catching the train from Slough into London. Another factor is that Slough retains a Grammar School, and many families in Hounslow send their children there - taking advantage of the fact that children under 19 in full-time education receive free travel on London Buses routes. As a result, double-deckers are once again the norm.
81 to Slough
London United's VA295, an Alexander ALX-bodied Volvo, calls at Hounslow West on Friday 9th September 2011 on its way to Slough, the most westerly point served by a transport for London bus route.
The 81 is a long-standing route between Hounslow and Slough, and is the most westerly route operated by Transport for London and its 'red bus' predecessors; it is also the only TfL route to operate into the ceremonial County of Berkshire. In the 1970s the 81 was one of two routes which went off the edge of the Red Bus Map (the other being the 84 to St. Albans, which ceased to be a London Transport responsibilty in the 1980s).
The 81 scored a notable first at 5am on 13th July 1985, when it saw the first journey by a private operator on a London Bus route. Twelve routes, mostly marginal ones operating in the suburbs and/or over the Greater London Boundary, were put out to tender. Len Wright Travel, trading as London Buslines, won the contract to run the 81 and placed yellow ex-London Transport DMSs onto the route. Nowadays all London Buses routes are operated under contract and it is difficult to realise how radical - and controversial - this process was then.
Although later reverting to single-deckers, loadings on the 81 have increased - not least because of the relatively low fares charged under the TfL regime; the journey from Slough to Hounslow costs just £1.30 if Oyster pre-pay is used. In fact there are those who use the 81 to travel from Slough to Hounslow and connect with the Underground, this being much cheaper than catching the train from Slough into London. Another factor is that Slough retains a Grammar School, and many families in Hounslow send their children there - taking advantage of the fact that children under 19 in full-time education receive free travel on London Buses routes. As a result, double-deckers are once again the norm.