65 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Operator | London United[1] |
Garage | Fulwell (FW)[1] |
Night-time | Night bus N65 |
Route | |
Start | Ealing Broadway station |
Via | South Ealing Brentford Kew Richmond Petersham Ham |
End | Kingston |
London Buses route 65 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Ealing Broadway station and Kingston, it is operated by London United.
Route 65 originally ran from Ealing Argyle Road (now Scotch Common) to Leatherhead via Ealing Broadway, South Ealing, Brentford, Richmond, Petersham, Ham, Kingston, Tolworth, Hook and Chessington. In the summer months, the route was extended from Kingston to Chessington Zoo. It was initially operated from Kingston (K) and Turnham Green (V) garages, using STL-class AEC Regents and, after World War II, AEC Regent III RTs, Leyland Titans, and Routemasters. In 1946, "pay-as-you-enter" experiments were carried out on route 65, running between Ealing Broadway and Leatherhead.[2][3]
Armchair finally took over in January 1991, using a batch of seventeen Leyland Olympians plus three second-hand Atlanteans.[4] It retained the route upon it being re-tendered in 1996, and subsequently replaced the ageing Atlanteans with new Northern Counties Palatine II bodied Volvo Olympians. A variety of other buses worked the route during Armchair's tenure, including Alexander bodied Leyland Olympians after Armchair lost route 260, two MCW Metrobuses new to East Kent Road Car Company.[5]
Upon being re-tendered, the route passed to London United on 29 June 2002 with new Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2s from Fulwell garage.[6]
Upon being re-tendered it was retained by London United with a new contract commencing on 4 July 2009, that saw the section between Kingston and Chessington reinstated for night-time services only.[7] London United retained the route when next tendered with the new contract to commence on 2 July 2016.[8]
In 2022, the bus fleet was converted to zero-emissions at tailpipe vehicles. The bus model now in use is the BYD ADL Enviro400EV[9]
Route 65 operates via these primary locations:[10]