London Buses route 249 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Anerley Station and Clapham Common, it is operated by Arriva London.
History[]
Route 249 commenced operation on 25 May 1991 and provided a Monday to Saturday service between Crystal Palace and Tooting Bec Station (via Beulah Hill and Streatham Common). The route was introduced to replace route 49 between Crystal Palace and Streatham Garage . The route was initially operated by South London from their Streatham (AK) Garage using Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts and an MCW Metrobus,
On 14 March 1992, a Sunday service was introduced as the Sunday 349 service was withdrawn. The route Monday to Saturday stayed the same as before but the Sunday service continued on to West Brompton (via Clapham Junction, Battersea Bridge, and Chelsea). A Norwood (N) garage allocation was also introduced on this date and the Streatham (AK) allocation was transferred to Brixton (BN) garage.
On 24 October 1992, the Sunday service was converted to single deck using Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts.
By 14 February 1993, there was another route change to the Sunday allocation, as the 249 was withdrawn between Sloane Square and West Brompton. This change was enforced to replace part of route219. The route Monday to Saturday ran from Crystal Palace to Tooting Bec Station and Sundays ran from Crystal Palace to Sloane Square (via Tooting Bec and Clapham Junction).
On 15 September 1996, the Sunday service was withdrawn between Tooting Bec and Sloane Square this section was replaced by route 319 which was introducing a Sunday service.
On 30 August 1997, the Brixton and Norwood allocations were transferred to Thornton Heath (TH) Garage.
On 30 January 1999, the allocation was transferred back to Norwood (N) Garage and was converted to double deck using Leyland Olympians.
On 29 May 1999, the route was extended from Tooting Bec Station to Balham Station via Balham High Road.
On 1 April 2000, the route was retained by Arriva London.
On 26 July 2003, the route was extended from Crystal Palace to Anerley Station.
On 2 April 2005, the route was retained by Arriva London and the Leyland Olympians were replaced by brand new low floor Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs.
On 30 August 2008, the route was extended from Balham Station to Clapham Common.
On 31 March 2012, the route passed to London General operating from their Merton (AL) garage with brand new Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs introduced.
On 1 June 2013, the allocation was transferred to Stockwell (SW) garage.
In 2016, the Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs were replaced by existing Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs.
On 1 April 2017, the route passed back to Arriva London operating from their Norwood (N) garage with brand new Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs introduced.
On 23 March 2024, the route was retained by Arriva London. At the same time, the PVR decreased from 15 to 14.
Current Route[]
Route 249 operates via these primary locations:
- Anerley Station
- Anerley Hill
- Crystal Palace Station
- Upper Norwood
- Beulah Hill
- Crown Point
- Streatham Common North Side
- Streatham Station
- Saint Leonard's Church
- Tooting Bec Common
- Tooting Bec Station
- Balham Station
- Clapham South Station
- Clapham Common South Side
- Clapham Common North Side