London Buses route 406

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406
London United Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH in Kingston upon Thames in June 2020
Overview
OperatorLondon United[1]
GarageTolworth
VehicleVolvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 3
Volvo B5LH Wright Gemini 3
Peak vehicle requirement7
PredecessorsRoute S6
Night-timeNo night service
Route
StartEpsom
ViaEwell
Tolworth
Surbiton
EndKingston upon Thames
Length8 miles (13 km)
Service
LevelDaily
FrequencyAbout every 20-30 minutes
Journey time35-53 minutes
Operates05:45 until 00:15

London Buses route 406 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Surrey, England. Running between Kingston upon Thames and Epsom, it is operated by London United.

History[edit]

A bus route was established in 1920 between Epsom and Redhill by the East Surrey Traction Company (ESTC), extending to Kingston in 1922.[2] This initially ran without a route number, before gaining the S6 number in 1921. Following the introduction of the Bassom Scheme, which aimed to introduce consistent route numbering, the S6 was renumbered as the 406 in 1924.[2][3]

In 1929, the ESTC was taken over by the London General Omnibus Company, which in turn was taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933.[2]

By the winter of 1949/50, the AEC Regent III RTs began running on the 406, which at its peak required 22 RTs to operate the service.[2][3] In 1957, the second prototype AEC Routemaster ran on route 406 between Redhill and Kingston.[4]

Following the privatisation of London bus services the 406 became part of London Country South West as a commercial route, the company later rebranding as Arriva Guildford & West Surrey by 1998, operating from their garages at Crawley and Merstham.[2]

In 1991, the 406 was diverted at Surbiton Hill Road via Surbiton railway station to Kingston.[5] It was also shortened to operate mainly between Kingston and Epsom, with a handful of peak journeys continuing to Redhill. The 406 ran at four buses an hour at this time, with two continuing to Walton-on-the-Hill.[2]

On 27 January 2001 it became a tendered Transport for London route with London United's Hounslow garage taking over operation.[citation needed] A proposal to extend the 406 to Teddington in 2001 was not received favourably by residents and did not proceed.[6]

Upon being re-tendered, on 30 June 2007 it passed to Quality Line with new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s. It was the first double deck contract won by Quality Line.[7] The route was diverted via Surbiton Hill Road instead of Surbiton station at the same time, thus the route was restored to its original routing.[7]

In 2016 a petition was launched calling for the route to run overnight.[8]

On 24 April 2020, route 406 along with routes 418 and 465 were transferred to London United operating from their Tolworth bus garage.[9]

Current route[edit]

Route 406 operates via these primary locations:[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Who runs your bus". TfL. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Bus Route 406". Epsom & Ewell History Explorer. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Country Area Routes 406-409". E Plates. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012.
  4. ^ Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 99. ISBN 0853290830.
  5. ^ London Country Bus Preservation Page ampyx.net
  6. ^ Head Slams Plans To Extend 406 Bus Route Daily Echo 7 December 2001
  7. ^ a b Aldridge, John (December 2006). "Quality Line wins first double-deck contracts". Buses (621). Ian Allan Publishing: 22.
  8. ^ Richard, Craig (17 November 2016). "Stoneleigh woman petitions Sadiq Khan and Transport for London for 24-hour buses between Kingston and Epsom". Your Local Guardian.
  9. ^ RATP reorganises and retires London's last Versas Buses issue 781 April 2020 page 24
  10. ^ Route 406 Map Transport for London

External links[edit]

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