London Buses route 74 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Baker Street and Putney, it is operated by London General.
History[]
Route 74 originally operated from Camden Town to Putney Heath Green Man and Putney Heath Telegraph Inn (Monday to Saturday journeys).
On 31 December 1966, it was extended from Putney Heath to Kingston Vale (Monday to Friday peaks) with journeys to Telegraph Inn transferred to route 85. At this time, there was a 74A which terminated at Marylebone and a 74B which terminated in Hammersmith. In 1968, a large-scale experiment on bus supervision was carried out with driver-to-controller radios being introduced on route 74. On 25 April 1981 it was rerouted via the withdrawn section of route 30 to Roehampton Earl Spencer (Sunday) and Bessborough Road (Monday to Saturday).
On 4 September 1982, it was withdrawn between Putney and Roehampton on Sundays. It was withdrawn between West Brompton Empress State Building and Roehampton (Monday to Saturday) on 3 August 1985 and Sunday on 2 February 1985 but was extended back to Roehampton on 7 February 1987. On 25 May 1991, it was rerouted at Baker Street to King's Cross, and the withdrawn section was replaced by new route 274.
It was withdrawn between Baker Street and King's Cross on 24 April 1993.
On 22 November 1997, the route was retained by London General.
On 23 November 2002, it was withdrawn between Putney High Street and Roehampton being replaced by route 430 as part of a reorganisation of routes in preparation for the introduction of the London congestion charge and was retained by London General.
On 21 November 2009, the route was retained by London General.
Due to the temporary closure of Putney Bridge, on 14 July 2014, the route temporarily had its southern terminus relocated from Putney High Street to Putney Bridge. It resumed operating to Putney High Street on 28 September 2014.
On 19 November 2016, the route was retained by London General.
On 18 November 2023, the route was retained by London General.
Vehicles and garaging[]
Before it was operated by London General, it was operated from Putney Bridge garage (F), using AEC Regent III RT's. The allocation was transferred to Chelverton Road (AF) and Riverside (R) and RT's were replaced by AEC Routemasters on 7 November 1965. Chelverton Road gained the whole allocation and 30-foot Routemaster RMLs replaced RMs on 1 June 1967.
Holloway (HT) gained part of the allocation on 25 April 1981. MCW Metrobuses replaced the Routemasters on 7 February 1987. Chelverton Road (now Putney) (AF) gained the whole allocation on 25 May 1991. Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympians replaced the Metrobuses in January 1998 and Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs were bought to convert the route into low-floor on 23 November 2002.
On 20 October 2012, Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LHs and Volvo B9TLs were introduced.
In November 2016, the Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LHs and Volvo B9TLs were replaced by brand new Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs.
Current Route[]
Route 74 operates via these primary locations:
- Putney High Street, Lacy Road
- Putney Bridge
- Fulham High Street
- Charing Cross Hospital
- West Brompton
- Earl's Court
- Gloucester Road
- South Kensington
- Knightsbridge
- Harrods
- Hyde Park Corner
- Marble Arch
- Portman Square
- Baker Street Allsop Place
External Links[]
Gallery[]
iBus[]
https://www.londonbuses.co.uk/audio/074.wav