Lewisham (LM)
Located in Units A-C, Dragoon Road, Deptford - but called Lewisham (source TLB 351).
Kentish Bus opened a new garage called Lewisham for newly awarded routes 126, 138, 161, 181, 225, 284 and new route 162 in 1994.
45 x 9.0m Dart + Northern Counties Paladin - 112-146/148-155, 12 x Volvo B6 also with Northern Counties Paladin - 201-212 (for the renewal of the 108 contract) and 8 x Volvo Olympian with N/C Palatine II for the 161 - 557-559/561-565.
The 138, 181 and 225 were taken over from 18th February followed by the 126, 161, 284 and new route 162 from 12th March.
Part of the 108 also moved from Dartford to Lewisham on 27th February along with some Leyland Lynx.
Due to late deliveries the 138 was operated with MetroRider from Northfleet and hired Leyland Nationals, R&I Darts and RB from London Bus Sales covered operations outside London.
Ex Boro’line Olympians 753, 762, 765-770 and Scania 706/7 were loaned from Dartford for the 161, MCW Metrobuses from West Midlands Travel were loaned to Dartford as cover.
All buses had arrived by mid-April but in the change of plan it was decided to use Metroriders for the 138 and 284, Darts 120-127 went to Leyton to release the Metroriders from the 42 and 151-157 went to Northfleet to replace the hired buses.
Lewisham retained two of the loaned buses - Scania 706/7 for the 161.
It was also decided not to transfer all of the 108 to Lewisham, so 207-212 moved to Dartford for its share from 10th April.
On 15th July 1994 the owner of London & Country and Luton & District (British Bus) acquired the owner of Kentish Bus (Proudmutual Transport Group) bringing three of the four London Country operations under common ownership - but it was now bigger because Luton & District had acquired London Country North West and part of the Stevenage operations of Sovereign and London & Country the former operations of Alder Valley at Guildford and Woking.
Cambridge Heath (ex-Ash Grove) replaced Leyton in May.
The 225 moved to Cambridge Heath from 17th July.
The whole of the 108 moved to Cambridge Heath from 14th August taking the Volvo B6.
As you may guess, Lewisham was struggling, both recruiting staff and disruption caused by roadworks.
In 1995 the 181 and 284 moved to a new site in Bromley from 18th February.
The 138 moved to Croydon (at that point coded CR) from 25th February.
The 138 moved to Bromley from 18th June, the Mon-Sat daytime operation of the 181 moved back to Lewisham.
Bromley then closed at the end of traffic on 3rd November and the 138, 284 and the rest of the 181 returned to Lewisham.
The 138 and 161 were surrendered to Metrobus from 2nd December who also acquired some of the Metroriders, followed by the 181 and 284 from 27th January 1996. 6 new Optare MetroRiders were acquired by Metrobus rather than take more from Kentish Bus but they did take their ex-Transcity Darts which were non-standard with Kentish Bus.
Cowie Group purchased British Bus on 18th June 1996, this added the County Bus & Coach segment of London Country North East to the former parts of London Country under common ownership.
There was then a delay because plans for a new site fell through, but the last day was 27th July, from 28th July the 126 moved to Dartford and the 162 went to Dunton Green who were due to lose the 493 (as the R9) in August, CentreWest took this over early until the formal start of the new contract.
Source - various newsletters from the London Omnibus Traction Society (LOTS).
Elmers enD.
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7 сен 2024
