London Buses route 68 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between West Norwood and Euston, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus.
Route 68 has a parallel peak-hour Superloop express service, route SL6, previously numbered X68.
History[]
In the early period of motor omnibus travel, before 1913, number 68 was not in use as a route for the London General Omnibus Company, even though higher numbers up to 93 were active in 1912, for example.
The route started operation on 1 January 1913; it was previously unnumbered. During World War II, its usual peacetime lighting of a pale blue colour was removed because of the risk of aerial bombing and the buses were blacked-out.
By 1952, following the removal of the last trams, the route ran from the Earl of Eldon public house in South Croydon to Chalk Farm station in Camden. This was a long 15 mile journey via places such as Thornton Heath, Norwood, Herne Hill, Camberwell, Elephant & Castle, Waterloo and Euston station which nowadays would require two changes of bus. The route started operating AEC Routemaster buses on Sundays on 1 December 1963 and switched to full Routemaster operation on 7 February 1970. The buses at this time were based in garages in Chalk Farm, Norwood and Croydon.
After the route was converted to one man operation on 25 October 1986 and the Routemasters were replaced by MCW Metrobuses, Leyland Titans and Leyland Olympians.
On 27 March 1999, the route was retained by Arriva London.
On 29 April 2000, the route was converted to low floor using Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250LFs. The DAF DB250LFs were replaced by Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs in 2004.
On 1 April 2006, route 68 passed to London Central operating from their Camberwell (Q) garage with brand new Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs introduced. Route 68 was withdrawn between West Norwood Station and Norwood Garage on the same date.
On 21 June 2009 Wright (Pulsar) Gemini 2s were introduced.
On 2 April 2011, the route was retained by London Central.
In April 2014, Wright Eclipse Gemini 2s were introduced with a new Livery to replace the existing Wright (Pulsar)Gemini 2s.
In November 2014, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s were introduced alongside the Wright Eclipse Gemini 2S.
On 6 February 2016, the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s, Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied B9TLs & Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs were replaced by New Routemasters.
On 31 March 2018, the route passed to Abellio London operating from their Walworth (WL) garage using existing New Routemasters.
In October 2021, the frequency of the service was reduced from seven or eight buses per hour to six.
On 7 February 2023, Existing Enviro 400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DDs were temporarily introduced alongside the existing New Routemasters.
On 26 June 2023, the route was converted back to full New Routemaster operation.
On 28 October 2023, existing Enviro 400 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E40Hs were introduced alongside the existing New Routemasters. At the same time, a crosslink with route N68 was formed.
On 2 March 2024, Abellio London was rebranded to Transport UK London Bus.
Current Route[]
Route 68 operates via these primary locations:
- West Norwood Station Knight's Hill
- Tulse Hill Station
- Herne Hill Station
- Kings College Hospital
- Denmark Hill/Camberwell Green
- Elephant & Castle Station
- Waterloo Station
- Waterloo Bridge South Bank
- Aldwych (Strand)
- The Royal Courts Of Justice
- Holborn Station
- Russell Square Station
- Euston Bus Station