London Buses route 328 explained

Number:328
Bgcolor:red
Titlecolor:white
Operator:Metroline
Garage:Cricklewood
Vehicle:Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 3
Pvr:19
Predecessors:Route 28
Route 31
Night:N28 and N31
Start:Golders Green station
Via:West Hampstead
Kilburn
Kensington
Earl's Court
End:World's End
Level:Daily

London Buses route 328 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Golders Green station and World's End, it is operated by Metroline.

History

Route 328 commenced operating on 29 May 1999 between Golders Green station and Chelsea via West Hampstead, Kilburn, Maida Hill, Notting Hill Gate, Kensington High Street and Earl's Court. It was initially operated by First London's Westbourne Park garage with Marshall Capital bodied Dennis Darts. It replaced the withdrawn parts of routes 28 and 31.[1]

Upon being re-tendered and retained by First London from 5 June 2004, the route was converted to double deck operation with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs.[2]

Early enthusiasm for hybrid vehicle technology, in which all or part of the motive power is provided by electricity rather than directly by the engine, saw a number of small batches of experimental vehicles ordered. One of the routes selected for trials was route 328.[3]

When next re-tendered, the route was retained by First London with a new contract commencing on 30 April 2011.[4] In October 2011, it moved from Westbourne Park to Atlas Road garage while the former was partially closed to make way for Elizabeth line construction works.[5]

On 22 June 2013, route 328 was included in the sale of First London's Atlas Road garage to Tower Transit.[6] [7] [8] With the closure of Atlas Road garage, route 328 returned to Westbourne Park in June 2017.[5] On 1 May 2021, route 328 passed to Metroline from Cricklewood garage.

In 2022, Transport for London proposed to reroute bus route 328 to run to Hammersmith bus station as part of wider bus cuts.[9] However, the changes did not go ahead.[10]

Incidents

Current route

Route 328 operates via these primary locations:[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Tender losses for Go-Ahead and Tower Transit Buses issue 751 October 2017 page 21
  2. Web site: Route 328 - award announced 24 October 2003 . Transport for London . 24 October 2003 . 18 November 2013.
  3. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/december/new-hybrid-buses-unveiled-for-london-fleet New hybrid buses unveiled for London fleet
  4. Web site: Route 328 - award announced 12 July 2010 . Transport for London . 12 July 2010 . 18 November 2013.
  5. Fleet News Buses issue 750 September 2017 page 78
  6. http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/latest_news/?id=009241 FirstGroup Announces Sale of Eight London Bus Depots
  7. http://www.transitsystems.com.au/articles-t-t/313-tower-transit-announces-first-group-partial-acquisition-9-april-2013 Tower Transit announces First Group partial acquisition
  8. http://www.busnews.com.au/news/articleid/84137.aspx Date set for Aussie takeover of London bus routes
  9. Web site: Big Changes Ahead For Bus Services in Hammersmith & Fulham . 2023-01-03 . www.hammersmithtoday.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Local Campaigners Claim Victory After Bus Cuts Scrapped . 2023-01-03 . www.hammersmithtoday.co.uk.
  11. News: Black woman bus driver is shot with nail gun . The Daily Telegraph . 22 June 2004 . 28 December 2013.
  12. News: Woman is crushed by bus in Kensington . Evening Standard . 28 February 2008 . 18 November 2013.
  13. https://www.tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/328 Route 328 Map