Blue Triangle facts for kids
Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL in Romford in February 2023
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| Parent | Go-Ahead London |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Barking |
| Service area | East London |
| Service type | Bus operator |
| Routes | 31 (April 2024) |
| Hubs | Barking, Barking Riverside, Canning Town, Beckton |
| Depot(s) | 2 |
| Fuel type | Diesel, Hybrid and Electric |
| Chief executive | David Cutts |
| Web site | www.goaheadlondon.com |
Blue Triangle is a bus company that helps people travel around East London. It's part of a bigger company called Go-Ahead London, which is officially known as London General Transport Services Limited. Blue Triangle runs many of its bus services for Transport for London, which is the main organization in charge of transport in London. They also operate the special East London Transit service.
Contents
History of Blue Triangle
Blue Triangle started operating in 1999. In August 2002, Blue Triangle quickly took over bus route 185. This happened after another company, London Easylink, stopped running its services.
A few years later, on June 29, 2007, Blue Triangle was bought by the Go-Ahead Group. This sale included eight bus routes for Transport for London and nine routes for Essex County Council. About 60 buses were part of the deal. However, the special buses used for private hires were not included. They stayed with Roger Wright's company, The London Bus Company.
Bus Garages
Bus garages are like big parking lots and repair shops for buses. This is where buses are kept when they are not in use, and where they get fixed and cleaned. Blue Triangle has two main garages.
River Road Garage (RR)
The River Road garage is located in Barking. As of April 2024, this garage operates many bus routes, including route 5, 101, 104, 147, and the special EL1, EL2, EL3 services. Some buses from River Road are also used at the Henley Road garage.
River Road Garage History
A new garage opened on River Road in May 2016. It started with 22 buses for route 147. However, it's big enough to hold up to 155 buses! This garage was built on the site of an old Ford vehicle repair center. In July 2016, all the buses and routes from the Rainham garage moved here.
Henley Road Garage (DS)
The Henley Road garage also operates many routes. As of April 2024, some of its routes include route 15, 69, 115, and N15. Like River Road, some buses from Henley Road are shared with the River Road garage and another garage called Silvertown. This garage also stores buses for the Here East area.
Former Bus Garage
Rainham Garage (BE)
The Rainham garage used to operate many bus routes. For example, in May 2015, it ran routes like 167, 193, and the EL1 and EL2 services. On June 27, 2015, route 498 was taken over by Stagecoach London. In July 2016, the Rainham garage closed, and all its operations moved to the new River Road garage.
Past Routes Operated
Bus companies often win or lose contracts to operate specific routes. Here are a few routes that Blue Triangle used to run:
- Route 372 was a temporary route that Blue Triangle won a contract for. They used four second-hand buses for this route. In March 2004, Blue Triangle kept the contract for another five years. This route is now operated by Stagecoach London.
- In 2001, Blue Triangle started operating route 248. In September 2008, this route also passed to Stagecoach London.
- Route 375 was another temporary route. It used only one bus! On July 4, 2009, this route was taken over by Arriva Kent Thameside.
- Blue Triangle operated route 66 starting in September 2003. In September 2010, this route passed to Arriva Southern Counties.
- On November 3, 2007, Blue Triangle began operating route 368. It passed to First London in March 2011 but was taken back by Blue Triangle in June 2013.
- In September 2001, Blue Triangle started operating route 648. This route passed to First London in September 2011 but was also taken back by Blue Triangle in June 2013.
Special Vehicles
Blue Triangle used to own some special buses for private hire, like old Green Line AEC Routemaster buses and other classic London Routemasters. These special buses were not part of the sale to the Go-Ahead Group. They are still owned by Roger Wright's London Bus Company.
Bus Fleet
A "fleet" is the total number of vehicles a company owns. As of May 2015, Blue Triangle needed 131 buses to run all its London services during the busiest times.
