A bus trip to West London this time, riding on prefixed routes from A almost to Z in the Uxbridge & Hounslow areas, featuring diesel and hybrid traction.

I began at Ruislip Station, where we see Metroline Enviro400 TE1090 of Uxbridge (UX) Garage on the U1 during a previous visit in November 2023. This was the only decker on the route that day, such appearances being merely occasional on the route.

*This particular bus has since been withdrawn from service in London although more recent examples remain at UX for now.*

Route U1: Ruislip - West Drayton - Uxbridge

An early start on a rare sunny Saturday in recent weeks brought me to Ruislip Station, start point for some TfL bus rides in the area. All the routes on my itinerary were comparatively new in terms of longevity, all being prefixed ones in the “A”, “H” or “U” series.

I began with the U1, which I had last ridden in 2023 when I discovered a lone double decker in service on what is normally a single deck route. Although such instances do occur, they are relatively rare and this time the service was fully single deck with a mix of Enviro200s. Metroline operate the U1 out of Uxbridge (UX), with new electric single deckers envisaged as part of the last contract renewal in 2024, but which have yet to make an appearance as necessary charging facilities have yet to be installed at the garage. For now, I was happy to take a ride on DE1170, a fairly elderly diesel, but still in good condition and doing the job it was built for.

A straight run through largely traffic-free roads at this hour with passengers only in single digits as we progressed along Ruislip High Street, then sped along via West Ruislip Station to Ickenham Village Pump, where we took a right turn along Swakeleys Road, named after the nearby Jacobean Manor House “Swakeleys” which was restored in recent times and after some communal use was returned to single property ownership. Crossing the A40 roundabout, we continued into Uxbridge, calling at Belmont Road and the High Street, but avoiding the Bus Station, one of the few routes not to call there in this direction. A passenger exchange at the stops in the town, before moving along Hillingdon Road and passing close to the former RAF Uxbridge site, where the restored Battle of Britain Bunker can be visited.

Turning off the main road at Kingston Lane, we passed the Brunel University campus on our right before continuing to Hillingdon Hospital, where a few alighted. It was then through the estate roads of Violet Avenue and Apple Tree Avenue to Falling Lane, before reaching Yiewsley Library and adjacent West Drayton, where we terminated at the station, this terminus now restored after a long period of closure for road resurfacing. A simple 35 min journey.

After the 15 min layover, I returned on the same bus via the reverse of the outward route as far as Uxbridge Station, where I alighted.

The U1 has been an UX Garage route all its life, beginning in 1989 as part of the “U Line” minibus scheme in the area, later rebranded as “Uxbridge Buses”. It has passed through the various ownership periods of Centrewest, First and Metroline. Starting off as a short Uxbridge to Ruislip local, replacing a section of the 223, it enjoyed forays out to Harefield, Rickmansworth & Chorleywood between 1991 and 1994, before the section across the border was replaced by HCC supported Route R1. However, it then grew in the other direction, reaching West Drayton, Stockley Estate and Hayes in lieu of former routes U5 & U6 in 1996. Retraction came in 2004, when it was cut back to Hillingdon Hospital and a new U5 took over the Hayes section, although it reached West Drayton again in 2008, becoming essentially the route we know today.

Initially operated with MA class midis, it gained larger single deckers in 1998 with the arrival of DML Dart Marshalls, replaced in due course with DMC Dart Caetanos. The 2010s saw Enviro200s take over in the form of the current DE types, with a few longer DELs giving support. Double deckers have appeared as visitors on occasion, with TE, VW and VWH classes possible at the time of writing.

***Back to the present and Metroline Enviro200 DE1170 is more typical of the offering on the U1, seen at West Drayton Station between my rides on it.***

*This route was retained by Metroline in 2024 on the basis of new electric single deckers being introduced, but these have yet to appear, pending infrastructure works needed at UX Garage.*

Route A10: Uxbridge - Heathrow & back

Back at Uxbridge, I switched to the beginning of the alphabet with a rounder on the A10, which provides a fast link to Stockley Park and Heathrow Central. Surprisingly perhaps, this service has not been incorporated into the Superloop fold, as it has a non-stop section and could perhaps be made limited stop over the rest of the route. Another Metroline service provided by UX Garage, the typical fare comprises DE and DEL single deckers, although at least one or two double deckers a day is not uncommon.

My previous ride on the route had been on a TE Enviro400, so this time it was good to sample a Volvo B9TL in the form of VW1384, one of the vehicles released from the 81 by hybrids a few months ago and transferred from Lampton to Uxbridge with several others to replace older examples of the same class together with older TEs. This appeared to be the only double decker on the route that day.

We set off with a handful on board, our two decks certainly not required on a quiet Saturday mid morning. Making our way through the town and out towards Hillingdon Hill, we turned off along Harlington Road and into Dawley Road, passing the Transport UK Hayes (DH) Garage. A short section through the greenery brought us to the back entrance of the Stockley Park business estate, where we traversed the mix of office blocks and landscaped areas and had a few joiners and leavers, although relatively quiet being a weekend. Back on Stockley Road, we served one final stop before the fast run along the M4 spur road and through the tunnel to Heathrow Central Bus Station. A good run of just under half an hour.

After the layover, I rejoined the same bus for the return trip, having the top deck to myself for the first part of the journey. Back at pace to Stockley Park, although once back on the “all stops” section, we slowed down as we picked up considerable numbers travelling to Uxbridge, presumably due to a gap in the U4 at the common stops. Nevertheless, we took only 4 mins longer on this trip than the outward one and I was soon alighting with the crowd back in Uxbridge at Belmont Road. A nice thrash.

The A10 is another to have been at UX since inception in 1996, with only a minor rerouteing to better penetrate Stockley Park in the meantime. It began in a blaze of publicity as the “Heathrow Fast”, with L class Darts in a striking dark blue and yellow livery. Sadly, subsequent types have reverted to plain red, losing some of its former special status, with DML and then DE type Enviro200s in succession, although various double deck classes have provided some variety.

***Another double deck interloper on a mainly single deck service, with Metroline Volvo B9TL VW1384 of UX Garage on the A10 at Heathrow Central Bus Station during my rounder aboard it.***

*DE/DEL type Enviro200s are the main allocation on the A10, but VW, VWH & TE visitors were not uncommon at the time of my visit.*

Route U4: Uxbridge - Hayes

I then left Uxbridge on another of the original “U Line” services from 1989, the U4, which again has been an UX Garage inmate ever since. This was double-decked fairly early on and at the time of my visit was sporting a mix of TE, VW and VWH types. I had another of the Lampton refugees, VW1385, for what turned out to be a busy old run through to Hayes.

Good progress to begin with, as we wended our way through Uxbridge Town Centre again and out towards Hillingdon, this time turning off along Kingston Lane as per the U1 earlier. No-one on or off at Brunel University this time and we were soon passing Hillingdon Hospital, after which we parted company with the U1 and continued on to Harlington Road and through the suburban housing via Judge Heath Lane and Barra Hall Circus into Hayes.

We hit the expected traffic on approach to Hayes Town Centre, which seems permanently snarled up and seemed to take an age to traverse the High Street up to the station. Then on the meandering course via the back streets through to Bourne Avenue and the terminus at Prologis Park. The 55 min journey seemed overly long but not untypical around midday on a Saturday.

After a short 5 min stand, I returned aboard the same vehicle a short distance to Hayes Station, where I alighted 15 mins later. The U4 was retained by Metroline in 2024 with new electric double deckers intended in due course, but delayed pending necessary infrastructure works at the garage.

The U4 directly replaced former Route 204 and began with the inevitable Mercedes MA midibuses, which were supplanted by longer DML single deckers in 1998, but upgraded to TN class Trident double deck in 2004. TEs took over in the mid 2010s, culminating in the current mix of types. The only routeing changes of note have been the diversion around the Pinkwell Lane area in Hayes and the short extension from Bourne Avenue to Prologis Park in 2012.

Fellow VolvoB9TL VW1385 (UX) at Hayes Prologis Park on the U4 between trips during my journey. This bus and VW1384 pictured on the A10 above were both formerly at Lampton (SG) on the 81 before being displaced by VWH /VMH hybrids.

*The U4 at this time was operated with a mix of TE, VW and VWH classes. New electric double deckers are again anticipated in due course as part of the 2024 contract renewal.*

Part Route H98: Hayes Station - Hayes End

In the afternoon, I switched my attention from the “U” to the “H” routes, beginning with a short trip from Hayes Station to Hayes End on the H98. Another busy run on First London LT666 from Hounslow (AV) Garage, this being another use of NRMs on a suburban route away from their Inner London heartlands and my first time aboard the class on this route. A 20 min journey to the terminus at Wood End Green Road.

The H98 contract was renewed with RATP (now taken over by First Bus) in 2025 with NRMs. LT666 of Hounslow (AV) Garage at Hayes End (Wood End Green Road) prepares to head for home base after I travelled on it here from Hayes Station.

*The LTs have spread their wings in recent times to suburban routes like this, presenting an unusual sight away from their Central London heartland.*

Route H98: Hayes End - Hounslow

Whilst LTs form the main allocation on the H98, a few diesel and hybrid Enviro400s make up the numbers, with LVF showing me that one of the latter, ADH45072, was on the following working. Therefore, I awaited its arrival at Hayes End, the bus being one of those that has come full circle, new to First at Westbourne Park (X), then passing through Tower Transit and RATP Group, before returning to its original owner once again when First returned to London in 2025. The purple First interior and Tower Transit moquette providing the evidence!

The bus was a few minutes late, arriving at the scheduled departure time and leaving 5 mins down after the driver politely informed me he would be taking a much-needed break but allowing me to board whilst he did so. However, this meant we picked up at virtually every stop on the section back through Hayes End and on to Hayes Town, once again having to force our way through the congested town centre. Eventually, we sped up through Harlington, only to join a long queue down to the lights at Harlington Corner, quite unusual outside of M-F peak times in my experience.

I was relieved when we joined the dual carriageway section on the Bath Road and we zipped along to Cranford, only to find another slow moving queue up to the Great West Road roundabout, which added further delay. Once past this pinch point, it was a turgid run to Hounslow West Station, with another LT on the H98 behind having caught us up by now. Eventually we reached Hounslow Town Centre, where we deposited the majority of our full load and finally reached the home garage after an extended run of 1h25m, some 25 mins late on the timetable.

The H98 came in 1990 to replace the majority of the former 98 between Hounslow and Hayes End, the only change to the route since being the short extension to the Wood Green End Road terminus. It has been a Hounslow (AV) route throughout, passing through the various ownerships of London United, beginning with the little DT class Darts, which were branded as “Harrier” in common with similar services in the area. These were replaced by longer DRL Darts in 1996 and with low floor DP Darts in 1999, although the shorter DPS version appeared, as did other single deck types plus frequent double deck visits by Ms. In 2011, DLE Enviro200s became the norm, although double deckers increasingly gained dominance with ADE and SP types, later joined by ADHs, Hounslow Garage becoming quite well known for mixing its types over the years.

LTs became the official allocation on contract renewal with RATP in 2025, since taken over by First London, but as mentioned above, other classes continue to provide variety.

A few Enviro400 diesels & hybrids make up the numbers on the H98 for now, like ADH45072 seen with LT668 on the same route at Hounslow Bus Station outside their home garage. I had just had an extended journey on this bus from Hayes End.

This ADH is one of those formerly at Westbourne Park (X) Garage. New to First, it passed through Tower Transit and RATP back to First again when they returned to London. The grey dash gives away its origin compared with the light blue of the ex London United examples.

Piccadilly Line: Hounslow East - Hounslow West

From Hounslow Garage, I walked the short distance up the road to Hounslow East Station, to catch the Piccadilly Line a couple of stops to Hounslow West, rather than battle my way back through the congested town centre by bus, which saved a few minutes! This was the start point for my final route of the day, the H91.

Metroline took the H91 from RATP on retender back in 2023, but I hadn’t ridden it with the new operator until now. LT748 of Brentford (AH) Garage is on stand at Hounslow West prior to my trip aboard to Hammersmith.

*Visible behind is a VWH which often turn out in support as AH Garage tends to allocate its LTs to Central London route 9 as first priority.*

Route H91: Hounslow West - Hammersmith

The H91 was one I last rode a few years back when it was still with London United operated with VH types. In 2023, it passed to Metroline, mainly with more displaced NRMs, although a percentage of the run-out from Brentford (AH) Garage is with VWH or VMH hybrids.

Sitting in pole position on the stand was LT748, with the driver preparing to depart as I arrived. I duly hopped on when he opened the doors and soon we were off with a small number of passengers. Turning into Vicarage Farm Road, we reached the Great West Road after a short time and turned right into the long straight dual carriageway. This was one of the early by-pass roads, opened by King George V in 1925 and which triggered significant ribbon development typical of the inter-war era. Whilst it can get congested at peak times, I have usually enjoyed a fast run along it and this was no exception, a pleasant change to experience an LT at speed!

Passing the suburban housing lining the route, we reached Osterley Station, rebuilt in a new location and opening in 1934, with its distinctive tower and beacon which was lit at night. Continuing on, we reached the industrial part of the road, now with many modern commercial buildings replacing those of the more traditional manufacturing industries which were originally located here. The Art Deco Gillette building with its famous clock tower is still there, with plans approved in 2025 to convert it into state-of-the-art film and production studios.

Progress then slowed as we reached the section underneath the M4 flyover, with sets of traffic lights at the various intersections causing short delays. At the Chiswick Roundabout, we moved onto the Chiswick High Road, passing through a traffic free Gunnersbury and the site of the former LT Chiswick Works, where the famous skid-pan is now history. At Turnham Green Church, we entered the slow moving section past the shops and Stamford Brook (V) Garage, before entering the one-way system west of Hammersmith. As usual, a crawl past the H&C Station to the new Bus Station, where we terminated after a run of just on 1 hour.

The H91 was another midibus route with DT class “Harrier” Darts which started in 1991 to replace much of the former 91 between Hammersmith & Hounslow West, although there were garage journeys in service at first to Hounslow Bus Station (AV Garage). The route was operated by London United for many years, the allocation switching between AV, WK (Hounslow Heath) and V (Stamford Brook) at different periods, until the latest move to Metroline at AH.

It was mostly single deck for a considerable time, DT, DR and DRL high floor Darts giving way to DP low floor versions in 1999, although there were a couple of scheduled double decks with Ms in M-F peaks plus unofficial visits at other times. In 2000, the pioneer low floor LLW types moved to the H91 when the 120 was double-decked, but DP (and DPS) type Darts later returned. Full double deck conversion came in 2009 with SP Scanias, although other types often appeared in support. 2018 saw the route receive VH hybrids due to the Chiswick High Road low emission scheme, which operated until the route passed to Metroline in 2023.

This had been an interesting ride to end the day and I transferred to the Piccadilly Line at Hammersmith for the journey home.

Watton

Man of Letters

Jams & Jaunts in North London