London Bus Museum is pleased to be presenting the Route 65 event on Sunday 11th April 2021, assuming the end of lockdown on 29th March. Now that we are allowed out and permitted to travel locally, we hope you will be able to come and enjoy the spectacle of old buses running along this long historic route between Ealing and Leatherhead.
The event will comprise two elements – a road run by historic vehicles over the route and a free bus service subject to Covid-19 constraints. We hope that you will take the chance to ride on some of the buses, but request that you spend part of your day watching (and photographing) at the many scenic places along the route. Buses will operate with limited capacity in order to maintain social distancing, so please don’t be disappointed if you are unable to board a bus.
We expect to have at least 25 buses in service on route 65, of which 20 will be over 40 years old. We will also be operating route 465 between Malden Rushett (at the edge of London) and Dorking, providing connections with buses to Leatherhead using younger preserved buses which are not eligible to enter the London Low Emission Zone.
Service buses will include both historic and current buses from the London Bus Museum, private owners and bus operators, the majority being former London Transport RT and Routemaster families. London Bus Museum plans to operate its 1937 STL2377 and the 1939 prototype RT1. See here for the current list of entrants.
The 65 route from Ealing Argyle Road to Leatherhead will follow existing TfL bus routes and the free service serve all relevant stops, as follows: E10 from Ealing Argyle Road to Ealing Broadway, 65 from Ealing Broadway to Kingston Eden Street, 71 from Kingston Eden Street to Hook Parade (White Hart), 465 from Hook Parade to Leatherhead Leisure Centre. Buses will run broadly every 15 minutes between Ealing Argyle Road and Chessington Zoo (some journeys requiring a change in Kingston), continuing every 30 minutes to Leatherhead with connecting 465 journeys to Dorking. See our 65 timetable and 65 route map.
The 465 route will follow the existing TfL 465 route in Surrey, except that Mickleham will not be served by double-deck buses; the route will operate approximately every half hour. See our 235 465 K8 timetable and 465 route map.
There will also be two journeys on former London Transport 235 (235 465 K8 timetable and 235 route map) in Richmond, a route passed to independent operators in 1966; in order to provide additional capacity, the afternoon journey will be duplicated. Green Line route 714 will provide three journeys each way between Richmond and Leatherhead, following the route of the 65, and there will be four return journeys from Leatherhead or Chessington to Kingston on route 265.
A feeder service will operate on route K8 (a route operated commercially by Epsom Buses between 1993 and 1996) from West Ewell via Copt Gilders and Berrylands, see 235 465 K8 timetable. Please note that Copt Gilders will otherwise not be served during the day.
Road run participants will follow some or all of route 65, but will not stop at bus stops. The road run will not be timetabled, participants being free to choose their own times within 1000-1700 and the sections of the route that they cover. Participants already confirmed include representatives of a wide range of London bus classes and four non-London operators. See here for the current list of entrants.
65 timetable (incorporating 714 and 265) and 235 465 K8 timetable are now available, but may change before the day – please check back regularly.
The event continues to be subject to any changes in Government regulations and advice; current plans are based on the end of the ‘stay at home’ rule on 29 March, whereby limited local travel will be permitted.
Buses in free service will operate with limited passenger numbers, in accordance with owners’ risk assessments. The focus will therefore be on viewing the buses from the roadside, rather than spending all day travelling. Bus crews have been provided with the following guidance:
- Passengers (single or family) to be requested to sit with empty seats in front, beside and behind them. No standing
- Windows to remain open throughout the day
- Touch points to be sanitised between each journey
- Masks mandatory for passengers and crew
- Crews will be encouraged to refuse boarding to potential passengers seen failing to socially distance at bus stops.
Additional participants are still welcome and are requested to contact Peter Osborn.
Public toilets are available (during store opening hours) at the following locations along the route:
- Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, access from Broadway and High Street
- Kingston Sainsbury’s, north of BR Station
- Surbiton Sainsbury’s, Victoria Road
- North Leatherhead Tesco, Woodbridge