London Buses route 271

London Buses route 271 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England.[1] Running between Highgate Village and Finsbury Square, it is operated by Metroline.

271
A Metroline Dennis Trident 2 double-decker bus on route 271 at Finsbury Square, 2010
Overview
OperatorMetroline
GarageHolloway (HT)
Peak vehicle requirement12
Night-time24-hour service
Route
StartHighgate Village
ViaArchway
Holloway
Islington
Hoxton
EndFinsbury Square
Length5 miles (8.0 km)
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency8-15 minutes
Journey time23-43 minutes
Operates24-hour service

History

Route 271 commenced operating on 20 July 1960 running between Highgate Village and Finsbury Square to replace trolleybus route 611 with AEC Routemasters. The route was initially operated out of Holloway garage and has changed little since its introduction.

On 7 November 1965, new Leyland Atlanteans commenced a six-month trial on route 271.[2][3] On 17 April 1966, eight XF-class Daimler Fleetlines were transferred from London Country Bus Services's East Grinstead garage to Holloway and replaced by XA-class Leyland Atlanteans. After the fuel consumption of the two vehicles was compared, the eight XF-class buses returned to East Grinstead.[4]

On 10 July 1966, route 271 returned to AEC Routemaster operation. On 16 January 1971, it was converted to one-man operation with Daimler Fleetlines.

On 6 June 1987 the route was extended on Sundays from Highgate Village to Hendon Central station to cover the withdrawn part of route 143, although this extension only lasted until 2 February 1991.

For an eight-month period from September 1990, the route was based at Chalk Farm garage, before returning to Holloway.

On 16 May 1992 the route received a weekend extension to Liverpool Street station.

Upon tendering in September 1993, the route transferred to London Suburban Bus, operated from a garage in Edmonton, using red, brown and cream livered Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympians.

Route 271 was included in the April 1996 sale of London Suburban Bus to MTL London and transferred back to Holloway, with the existing buses repainted in MTL's red livery. MTL London in turn was sold in August 1998 to Metroline.[5] The route received low-floor buses in 1999.

Upon being re-tendered, the route was retained by Metroline with a new contract commencing on 30 September 2005.[6]

On 18 June 2011, route 271 was withdrawn between Finsbury Square and Liverpool Street station due to Crossrail works. When re-tendered, it was retained by Metroline with a new contract commencing on 29 September 2012 with existing double deckers.[7][8]

In 2018, Transport for London consulted on proposals to withdraw the N271 night bus route. In April 2019, it announced that it would not go ahead with the proposals and that the N271 route would continue to operate.[9]

In December 2021, Transport for London opened a consultation on proposals that included the scrapping of the daytime 271 service. The N271 night bus would continue to operate.[10][11] In March 2022, Transport for London confirmed that the route would be withdrawn in early 2023.[12]

Current route

Route 271 operates via these primary locations:[13]

References
  1. Blake, Imogen (3 February 2016). "Campaigners celebrate bid to move 271 bus terminus from Highgate Village centre". Hampstead Highgate Express. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  2. Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 109. ISBN 0853290830.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Day, John (1973). The Story of the London Bus. London Regional Transport. ISBN 9780853290377.
  4. Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 112. ISBN 0853290830.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. History Metroline
  6. Bus tender results Route 271/N271 Transport for London 20 December 2004
  7. Bus tender results Route 271 Transport for London 28 October 2011
  8. Tender News BusTalk (Go-Ahead London) issue 13 December 2011
  9. Gelder, Sam (12 April 2019). "Plans to scrap N271 bus to Whittington Hospital dumped by TfL after campaign". Islington Gazette. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  10. Boniface, Michael (1 December 2021). "'Unacceptable': Highgate fears over TfL bus changes". Hampstead Highgate Express. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  11. Talora, Joe (15 February 2022). "TfL: Everything you need to know about upcoming bus service cuts". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  12. Marius, Callum (22 March 2022). "Iconic London bus route 1 saved as TfL announces service changes across capital". MyLondon. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  13. Route 271 Map Transport for London

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