London Buses route 57 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Kingston and Clapham Park, it is operated by London General.
History
Route 57 commenced operation on 7 January 1951 between Tooting Broadway and Victoria via Southcroft Road - Streatham - Brixton - Stockwell - Vauxhall. The route was operated by London Transport from their Brixton (BN) garage using AEC Regent III RTs. The route was introduced as part of the tram replacement program to replace Trams 8 and 20.
On 29 January 1964, the allocation was transferred to Merton (AL) garage. The route was extended from Tooting to Kingston and withdrawn from between Stockwell and Victoria. The route now ran from Kingston to Streatham (Monday-Saturday) and Stockwell (peak hours & Saturday shopping hours).
On 31 December 1966, the route was withdrawn between Streatham and Stockwell.
On 17 June 1967, the route was extended from Streatham to Brixton Station.
On 18 September 1971, the route was converted to One Person Operation with AEC Swifts.
On 13 November 1977, the route was converted back to double deck operation with Daimler Fleetlines.
On 9 September 1982, a Saturday Leyland National allocation was introduced.
On 2 September 1989, the service was transferred from Merton to Norbiton garage and MCW Metrobuses were introduced.
On 7 September 1991, the allocation transferred to Fulwell (FW) garage.
On 5 September 1992, the London United contract was withdrawn and London & Country took over the route from their Leatherhead and Croydon garages. A Sunday operation was introduced by London & Country. The route was revised Monday to Saturday ran from Kingston to Streatham Hill and Sundays ran from Kingston to Tooting Broadway.
On 4 September 1994, the Sunday service was extended from Tooting Broadway to Streatham Hill, in line with the weekday service.
On 28 June 1997, the route passed to London United operating from their Kingston (K) garage using MCW Metrobuses.
On 1 June 1998, the MCW Metrobuses were replaced by Alexander RH bodied Volvo Olympians.
On 3 November 2001, Kingston (K) garage was announced closed and the allocation was transferred to Tolworth (TV) garage.
On 29 June 2002, the route was retained by London United.
On 16 November 2002, there was an increase in the PVR, and the route was converted to low floor operation using brand new Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Tridents.
On 30 June 2007, the route was converted into a 24-hour service.
On 4 July 2009, the route was retained by London United.
On 26 October 2013, existing East Lancs Myllenium Vyking bodied Volvo B7TLs were introduced alongside the existing Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Tridents.
On 2 July 2016, the route passed to London General operating from their Merton (AL) garage using existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s and an existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL.
In October 2018, the route was converted to a full Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 operation.
On 28 June 2022, existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs and Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LHs were introduced alongside the existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s.
On 11 February 2023, the frequency reduced from every 10 to every 12 minutes reducing the PVR from 24 to 19.
On 25 March 2023, existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs replaced the existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LHs.
On 1 July 2023, the route was retained by London General.
On 27 July 2023, existing Wright StreetDecks were introduced alongside the existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s and Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs.
From 28 August 2023 until Summer 2024, the route does not serve Cromwell Road Bus Station due to reconstruction works taking place.
On 22 September 2023, the route reverted to a full Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 and Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH operation.
On 7 November 2023, brand new Enviro 400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DDs were introduced alongside the existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s and Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs.
The route will convert to a full Enviro 400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DD and Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH operation from Spring 2024.
Current Route
Route 57 operates via these primary locations:
- Kingston Fairfield Bus Station
- Cromwell Road Bus Station
- Norbiton
- Kingston Hospital
- Raynes Park
- Wimbledon Bus Station
- South Wimbledon
- Colliers Wood
- Tooting Broadway
- Streatham Hill
- Clapham Park Atkins Road
External Links
Gallery
iBus
https://londonbuses.co.uk/audio/057.wav