London Buses Route 183 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Pinner and Golders Green, it is operated by London Sovereign.
History
Route 183 commenced operation on 3 October 1934 between Northwood Station and Golders Green Station via Pinner, North Harrow, Kenton, Kingsbury and Brent Green. The route was initially operated by London Transport from their Hendon (AE) garage using Leyland Titan STDs which were in turn replaced on 19 May 1954 by the AEC Regent III RTs.
On 17 April 1935, LT-type buses were introduced and part of the allocated was transferred to Harrow Weald (HD) garage.
In April 1937, STD-type buses first went into service on route 183.
On 4 January 1975, the route was converted to one person operation using Daimler Fleetlines.
On 28 October 1978, the route also swapped with Route 83 in the Hendon area running via The Bell instead of Hendon Central Station.
On 10 February 1980, the Daimler Fleetlines were replaced by MCW Metrobuses.
On 6 June 1987, the Hendon (AE) garage was announced closed and the allocation was transferred to Harrow Weald (HD) garage and the Daimler Fleetlines were reintroduced. At the same time, the route was extended from Northwood station to Harrow Weald for garage journeys.
On 14 November 1987, the route was withdrawn between Pinner and Northwood except for school journeys to Northwood Hills. The Daimler Fleetlines were replaced by MCW Metrobuses and Volvo Ailsas at the same time.
On 29 January 1991, the Volvo Ailsas were withdrawn and was converted to full MCW Metrobus operation.
On 4 September 1999, the route passed to London Sovereign operating from their Harrow (SO) and Edgware (BT) garages and was converted to low floor single deck operation using brand new Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart SLFs.
On 3 November 2001, the route was converted back to double deck operation using brand new Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs introduced and the Harrow (SO) allocation was transferred to Edgware (BT) garage.
On 5 September 2009, the route was retained by London Sovereign using Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs.
In October 2009, the Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs were replaced by brand new Scania OmniCitys.
On 18 January 2014, the frequency was increased and Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs were reintroduced.
On 25 July 2015, part of the allocation was transferred to Harrow (SO) garage.
On 3 September 2016, the route was retained by London Sovereign using existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LHs and Scania OmniCitys.
On 8 October 2016, a half hourly weekend night service was introduced.
In January 2017, brand new Wright SRM bodied Volvo B5LHs were introduced.
On 6 January 2018, the Edgware (BT) allocation was transferred to Harrow (SO) garage and was converted to full Scania OmniCity and Wright SRM bodied Volvo B5LH operation.
On 20 March 2020, the 24-hour weekend night service was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2020, Enviro 400 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E40Hs were temporarily introduced alongside the existing scania OmniCitys and Wright SRM bodied Volvo B5LHs.
In June 2020, the route was converted back to Scania OmniCity and Wright SRM bodied Volvo B5LH operation.
In August 2020, existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LHs were temporarily reintroduced alongside the existing Wright SRM bodied Volvo B5LHs and Scania OmniCitys.
In February 2021, the route was converted back to Scania OmniCity and Wright SRM bodied Volvo B5LH operation.
In August 2021, the route was converted to Scania OmniCity operation.
On 4 September 2021, the route was retained by London Sovereign using existing Scania OmniCitys.
On 13 January 2022, Enviro 400 City bodied BYD D8UR-DDs where introduced alongside the existing Scania OmniCitys.
On 12 February 2022, the route converted to full Enviro 400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DD operation.
On 25 November 2023, the peak frequency was reduced to every 10 minutes with the PVR decreasing from 25 to 19.
The 24-hour weekend night service will be reintroduced from TBA.
Current Route
Routes 183 operates via these primary locations:
- Pinner Station Bridge Street
- Pinner Cemetery
- North Harrow
- Harrow Bus Station for Harrow-on-the-Hill Station
- Northwick Avenue for Northwick Park Station
- Kenton Station
- Kingsbury Station
- Edgware Road / The Hyde
- West Hendon Broadway
- Hendon Station
- Hendon Town Hall
- Hendon The Quadrant
- Brent Street / Green Lane
- North Circular Road
- Golders Green Station
Gallery
External Links
iBus
https://www.londonbuses.co.uk/audio/183.wav
