This time, East London beckoned for a series of bus rides in the Stratford, Docklands and Barking area, covering some recent type changes and others where change is afoot!

Stagecoach London Enviro200 36574 at Mile End Station at the start of my rides. These diesels have just been transferred to West Ham (WH) Garage for the 323 from their former home at Bromley (TB) on the 246 which has been double-decked. The former electrics on the 323 are to be converted to Cycle Buses for the new Silvertown Tunnel.

*The countified surroundings give little indication that this is Inner East London!*

Route 323: Mile End to Canning Town

The day began by Central Line to Mile End, where I crossed the main road to the first pick-up stop of the 323. This has hit the headlines recently due to its “de-electrification”, reverting to diesel operation as a result of its newish electrics being commandeered for conversion into cycle buses for the new Silvertown Tunnel, which is due to open in April 2025. The replacement Enviro200s were obtained from the 246, which was converted to double deck using spare Enviro400s for now.

First off the blocks when I arrived was Stagecoach London fleet no 36574 of West Ham (WH) Garage, formerly of Bromley (TB), and one of 5 transferred for the 323. A fairly quiet run in terms of usage, with passengers on and off throughout the short trip, but never into double figures. All was well at first, as we traversed the narrow back streets of East London unique to this service, until we hit a snag due to temporary lights at Devons Road Station, which cost us about 5 mins. Once past, we were delayed again after Bromley-by-Bow Station, due to the barrier into Prologis Park remaining down for long periods between vehicles allowed through. After entering the park, we made better progress, double-running to Amazon as planned and then continuing past the operational garage and up to the terminus at Canning Town Bus Station. An overall time of about half an hour, compared with the expected 20 mins or so.

The 323 has a fairly short history, starting in 2003 and providing new links via areas previously unserved by bus between Mile End & Canning Town. Originally operated by First London with high floor then low floor Darts, Stagecoach took over in 2010 using Enviro200s which were replaced by BYD E200 EVs in 2020. Now Enviro200s have returned following the re-purposing of the electrics.

Formerly with First London then Tower Transit as VN37994, this Volvo B9TL is now fleet no 16698 with Stagecoach London at Lea Interchange (LI) Garage. Seen at Crossharbour ASDA on the D8 prior to my ride on it back to Stratford.

*Few of this inherited type now remain with Stagecoach and are due for replacement with electrics later in 2025*.

Route D8: Stratford to Crossharbour (and back)

At Canning Town, I switched to the Jubilee Line for a couple of stops up to Stratford, where I met up with my next bus route, the D8. This is home to the remaining Volvo B9TLs inherited by Stagecoach from Tower Transit (and originally with First London) at Lea Interchange (LI) Garage, but the recent retention of the contract from later in 2025 specifies new electric double deckers, so the old-timers are unlikely to remain for much longer.

I had 16990, which swept out of Stratford Bus Station with the typical throaty roar of these Volvo-engined vehicles. Swinging a right at the High Street, we made good progress down towards Bow, diverting over the flyover due to roadworks beneath, then calling at Bow Church and circling back round under the flyover to gain the A12. After passing Bromley-by-Bow to the northern end of Blackwall Tunnel, we turned off through Poplar and continued onto the Canary Wharf development, where we virtually emptied out. The final stretch through the Isle of Dogs to Crossharbour via South Quay was accomplished quickly and we arrived at the ASDA terminus after a journey of just 35 mins.

Sister vehicle 16998 was ahead on the stand, so I was able to step up a working for the return run. This was generally quieter than the outward trip at first, although we filled up after Bow, probably due to a gap in the 25s & 425s over the common section between that point and Stratford. Also 35 mins on this trip.

The D8 has had quite a complex history, starting in 1991 between Stratford & Isle of Dogs ASDA, although for much of its early years it ran only M-F eves and Weekends, essentially as a DLR replacement at those times when the trains didn’t run due to upgrade works. Various intermediate rerouteings have occurred over the years, both on the IOD and more recently in 2016 when it swapped routes with the 108 between Bow and Poplar. The Stratford terminus has also varied between the Bus Station, Stratford City & Stratford International at different times.

After starting as a double deck route run by East London with Scania double deckers, operators and types have switched around - Thamesway, Kentish Bus, Thamesway (again), First Capital, Go Ahead, Tower Transit and Stagecoach all having performed in turn. Midibuses and single decker periods have come and gone, with the present Volvo B9TLs being the standard since 2018.

After a temporary period of operation with WVN and WVL diesels, Go Ahead London have electrified the 262 with Enviro400 EV City types, like Ee266 of Henley Road (DS) Garage seen at a wet and windswept Gallions Reach Shopping Park.

*The high backed seating on these new vehicles can be clearly seen.*

Route 262: Stratford to Gallions Reach

My last trip on the 262 had been in 2024, soon after Go Ahead gained the contract from Stagecoach, during the period when it was temporarily operated with WVL / WVN class diesels. However, its promised electrics have since entered service and I boarded Enviro400 EV City Ee266 of Henley Road (DS) Garage on the next departure from Stratford Bus Station. Despite a quick acceleration away, we soon ground to a halt due to roadworks and temporary lights in the High Street! Once past this, we sped up and made good progress through Plaistow and across the Barking Road to Newham Hospital. Once over the A13, we continued through the redeveloped Docklands housing area to Beckton. After calling at the station, it was a short hop to Gallions Reach, circling around the back of the DLR Depot, to the terminus at the Shopping Park. A touch under 40 mins for the whole trip, which was busy throughout.

Another complex route history here, with the 262 beginning in 1966 between Leyton and V&A Docks replacing part of the 26 with RMLs. After extensions to Chingford and Walthamstow in the 60s & 70s, the northern terminus became Stratford in 1986. At the southern end, Canning Town, Beckton and East Beckton have been the destination at different times, finally being cut back from East Beckton to Gallions Reach in 2022.

After operation with DM and RM types in the 70s, OPO came in 1981 with DMS, soon replaced by T. The late 90s saw VN / VA Olympian operation, replaced in the noughties with Tridents and Scanias. Long-time operator Stagecoach was displaced in 2019 by Tower Transit using VNs at first, but soon replaced by WH hybrids. Stagecoach returned briefly when they took over in 2022 after Tower Transit folded, but on retendering in 2024, Go Ahead emerged as the victor and current operator.

Part Route 366: Gallions Reach to East Beckton

At Gallions Reach Shopping Park, I switched to Go Ahead single deck electric SEe214 of River Road (RR) Garage on the 366, for a short positioning run to East Beckton Sainsburys, start point of my next full route. Prior to the changes of 2022, when the 262 was cut back to Gallions Reach, I could have continued on the same bus to that point without changing, but such is progress!

The 325 was in process of conversion to Enviro200 EV (Ee) types at the time of my visit, although I rode one of the outgoing diesel Enviro200s, SE123, of River Road (RR) Garage, seen here at East Beckton Sainsburys.

*Go Ahead London was operating up to 4 new electrics per day on the route at this time, out of a PVR of 12.*

Route 325: East Beckton to Prince Regent

By now, the drizzle which had been falling for most of the morning turned heavier, but I only had a couple of minutes at East Beckton to await SE123 on my next choice, the 325. This route is another operated by Go Ahead out of RR Garage and was in course of conversion to SEe class electrics at the time, although only a couple of these were out on this occasion. I was happy for a ride on one of the old stalwarts instead, before they disappear.

The 325 is in the form of an inverted “U”, operating between East Beckton and Prince Regent in Docklands the long way round. After passing through the retail park up to the Barking Road with few on board, we picked up a crowd at East Ham Town Hall. We were then on diversion due to the High Street being closed for roadworks, basically following Ron Leighton Way on the reverse of the normal southbound route, before regaining the usual alignment just before East Ham Station. Turning left at Plashet Grove, we continued through suburbia to the Romford Road at Forest Gate. After a short distance westbound, we turned south down Upton Lane past West Ham Park down to Plaistow. Then down Balaam Street, across the Barking Road again over the final section along Freemasons Road down to Custom House, hanging a left to the terminus at Prince Regent DLR Station, adjoining the large EXCEL exhibition centre, which was unusually closed and quiet. A total of 50 mins end to end.

The 325 started as an East London “Hoppa” service between Prince Regent and Beckton Savacentre (now Sainsburys) in 1993, operated by Stagecoach with MRLs. These were later replaced with high floor then low floor Darts. Arriva took the contract in 2010 with ENL class Enviro200s, which continued until the switch to current operator Go Ahead in 2024.

***Stagecoach London Enviro400s 19774 and 10101 of Barking (BK) Garage share the stand at Clayhall, The Glade, conveniently displaying the opposite ends of the route in the blind boxes.***

*The 169 currently hosts a mix of “classic” and MMC versions of the Enviro400, although the recently retained contract specification is for new electrics in due course.*

Route 169: Barking to Clayhall (and back to Barkingside)

At Prince Regent Bus Station, I was able to interchange with the adjoining DLR Station, taking this mode of transport to West Ham, where I swapped to the Hammersmith & City Line for a train to Barking.

Emerging from Barking Station, a short walk to London Road brought me to the first stop on my final route of the day, the 169. This service has been retained by Stagecoach this year, with new electric double-decks in due course, but continuing for now with the current mix of older and MMC type Enviro400s.

The next departure was in the hands of one of the classic Enviros, fleet no 19774 of Barking (BK) Garage, so I embarked with a couple of others. More joined us at Barking Station, before the slow slog up Ilford Lane and the Loxford area into Ilford Town Centre, the narrow road and busy traffic restricting progress somewhat. After looping around central Ilford and serving all the main stops, we made better time as we continued on the freehold section of the 169 along Ley Street, passing the site of the former Ilford (ID) Trolleybus Depot, from where the 169’s predecessor, the 691 Trolleybus, used to operate. A bit of a queue to cross the Eastern Avenue, but then reasonable progress up Horns Road into Barkingside through typical suburbia. After serving busy Barkingside High Street, we set off on the 169’s unique “prong” via Fullwell Avenue to the terminus at “The Glade”, a surprisingly countrified enclave amid the surrounding housing. Arrival was 50 mins after leaving Barking, by which time the rain which had been falling on and off all day had finally ended!

We joined fellow Enviro 10101 on the stand, which left ahead of us packed with home-going school students. 19774 picked up the remnants, so I awaited the next bus, 10178 for a fairly comfortable ride back through Barkingside, alighting at the station.

As mentioned, Bus 169 was the direct replacement for Trolleybus 691, which occurred in 1959 using RTs. The route soon gained extensions beyond the former Trolleybus terminus at Barkingside Fullwell Cross, initially in M-F Peaks to Hainault Industrial Estate in 1962, although when the main service was projected along Fullwell Avenue to Caterham Avenue in 1965, the Hainault leg was renumbered 169B and lasted until withdrawal in 1969. Upon OPO conversion to DMS in 1973, the route was extended a short distance to The Glade, where the larger vehicles could turn more easily. At this time, the 169 was extended to Barking Gascoigne Estate on Sundays (on which day the 62 didn’t run on this section), together with variant 169C, which had been introduced in 1968 and ran as per the 169 to Barkingside but then covered the Claybury Broadway leg of the 129 (which also didn’t run on Suns at this time). This continued until 1976, when the “C” variation was withdrawn upon introduction of a Daily service on the 129.

Brief mention should be made of the other member of the 169 “family”, the 169A, introduced in 1959 as part of the Trolleybus Replacement Scheme between Barkingside, Ilford, Stratford and Bow / Mile End Gate, initially with RT and later with RM, although this gradually withered away, ending as a M-F Peaks only service between Barkingside & Stratford only, which bit the dust in 1977.

The main 169 was converted to Titan operation in 1980 and in 1982 was extended at the Barking end to Thames View Estate in lieu of the 179 / 199 on this section, although this was reversed in 1991 when routes B1 and B2 took over the Thames View part of the route. The mid 90s saw a conversion to DA type Optare single deckers, although this was short term and Trident double-decks restored the status quo ante in the early noughties. In due course, Enviro400s became the standard allocation, bringing the story up to date.

From Barkingside Station, I rejoined the Central Line to complete my travels for the day.

Watton

Strutting Around Stratford

Eclectic Electrics in South London

Enveloping Enfield