London Buses route 444 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Chingford and Turnpike Lane Station, it is operated by London General.
History[]
Route 444 commenced operation on 16 November 1991 between Chingford and Turnpike Lane via Larkshall Road - New Road - Chingford Mount - Hall Lane - North Circular Road - Edmonton - Silver Street - "Cambridge" - Great Cambridge Road - The Roundway - Westbury Avenue. It replaced route 144 except for Sunday extension to Muswell Hill Broadway. It was initially operated by London Country North East from their Edmonton (EM) garage using Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts.
On 2 April 1998, County Bus was renamed as Arriva East Herts and Essex.
On 26 February 2000, the route was retained by Arriva East Herts and Essex.
In June 2000, the route was converted to low-floor using brand new Alexander ALX200 bodied Dennis Dart SLFs.
On 20 July 2002, the route was rerouted in Edmonton via Wilbury Way to serve North Middlesex Hospital.
On 5 March 2005, the route was retained by Arriva London.
In July 2009, the Alexander ALX200 bodied Dennis Dart SLFs were replaced by Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120s.
On 6 March 2010, the route was retained by Arriva London.
On 24 March 2012, the allocation was transferred to Lee Valley (LV) garage.
On 1 March 2014, the allocation was transferred to Edmonton (EC) garage but using Palmers Green (AD) garage drivers.
On 7 March 2015, the route passed to Tower Transit operating from their Lea Interchange (LI) garage using brand new Wright StreetLites and an existing Wright StreetLite demonstrator (Previously owned by First London).
In March 2018, the Wright StreetLite demonstrator was withdrawn.
In January 2019, the route was partially converted to hydrogen operation with existing Wright Pulsar 2 Hydrogen-powered bodied VDL SB200s introduced alongside the existing Wright StreetLites.
On 7 March 2020, the route passed to London General operating from their Northumberland Park (NP) garage using brand new Enviro 200 EV MMC bodied BYD D8URs and existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Darts.
From 9 March 2020 until 4 June 2020, an Enviro 200 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E20D demonstrator was trialed on the route.
In April 2020, the route was converted to a full Enviro 200 MMC EV bodied BYD D8UR operation.
On 5 February 2022, existing Enviro 200 MMC EV bodied BYD D9URs were introduced alongside the existing Enviro 200 MMC EV bodied BYD D8URs.
On 19 December 2023, the route converted to a full Enviro 200 MMC EV bodied BYD D9UR operation.
Current Route[]
Route 444 operates via these primary locations:
- Chingford Station Bus Station
- Chingford Mount
- Montagu Road (for Meridian Water Station)
- Silver Street Station
- North Middlesex Hospital
- White Hart Lane
- Lordship Lane
- Turnpike Lane Station Bus Station