London Buses route 328
| 328 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Operator | Tower Transit |
| Garage | Atlas Road (AS) |
| Vehicle | Volvo B7TL 10.1m / Wright Eclipse Gemini Wright Gemini 2 DL 10.4m |
| Peak vehicle requirement | 27 |
| Night-time | Night buses N28 and N31 |
| Route | |
| Start | Golders Green station |
| Via | West Hampstead Kilburn Kensington Earls Court |
| End | Chelsea World's End |
| Length | 8 miles (13 km) |
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
| Frequency | 6-10 minutes |
| Journey time | 38-83 minutes |
| Operates | 04:50 until 01:21 |
London Buses route 328 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Golders Green station and Chelsea World's End, it is operated by Tower Transit.
History
Route 328 commenced operating on 29 May 1999 between Golders Green station and Chelsea via West Hampstead, Kilburn, Maida Hill, Notting Hill Gate, Kensington High Street and Earl's Court. It was initially operated by First London's Westbourne Park garage with Marshall Capital bodied Dennis Darts.
It replaced the northern end of route 28 and the southern end of route 31. Those two busy routes were said to be difficult to operate reliably due to their orbital nature, which meant they crossed many heavily congested radial corridors out of London. Shortening the routes would make them more reliable.
Route 28 took the biggest hit, being cut almost in half as it was curtailed at Westbourne Park, with the section north to Golders Green going to route 328. Route 328 ran as far south as Kensington, providing a short overlap, though journeys between Kensington and Kilburn could still be made on route 31. Route 31 was also trimmed back to Notting Hill Gate from Camden Town, making it actually quite a short route at six miles. Its traditional southern terminus of Chelsea was taken over by route 328.
Upon being re-tendered and retained by First London from 5 June 2004, the route was converted to double deck operation with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.[1]
Early enthusiasm for hybrid vehicle technology, in which all or part of the motive power is provided by electricity rather than directly by the engine, saw a number of small batches of experimental vehicles ordered. One of the routes selected for trials was route 328,[2] and it gained five Wright Gemini 2 HEVs. Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident 2s formed part of the official allocation to route 328.
On 3 July 2010, route 328 was diverted via Cremorne Road, Cheyne Walk, Beaufort Street and King's Road to reach the bus stand on King's Road after 23:00 and before 06:30. When next re-tendered, the route was retained by First London with a new contract commencing on 30 April 2011.[3]
On 1 October 2011, the route was transferred to Atlas Road garage. On 22 June 2013, route 328 was included in the sale of First London's Atlas Road garage to Tower Transit.[4][5][6]
Incidents
- On 21 June 2004, a black woman bus driver on route 328 was shot in the stomach with nail gun on Great Western Road.[7]
- On 27 February 2008, a young woman was hit by a northbound 328 near St Mary Abbots on Kensington Church Street.[8]
Current route
- Golders Green station
- West Hampstead West End Green
- West Hampstead station
- Kilburn High Road station
- Kilburn Park station
- Maida Hill
- Westbourne Park station
- Notting Hill Gate station
- High Street Kensington station
- Earl's Court station
- Chelsea World's End
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ New hybrid buses unveiled for London fleet Transport for London 2 December 2008
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ FirstGroup Announces Sale of Eight London Bus Depots FirstGroup 9 April 2013
- ↑ Tower Transit announces First Group partial acquisition Transit Systems 9 April 2013
- ↑ Date set for Aussie takeover of London bus routes Australasian Bus & Coach 14 June 2013
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons- London Bus Routes gallery
- Timetable
