Back in the land of TfL, I travel on a number of routes that have recently swapped operator or are due to swap types shortly, focused on the Borough of Haringey.

The 217 passed from Go Ahead London to Arriva from 15th November 2025 on a new 7 year contract, with ES class Wright StreetDeck electrics on order. In the meantime, VDL DB300 Wright Eclipse Geminis cover, like DW483 seen at Waltham Cross Bus Station before I travelled on it.

*This is one of a batch displaced from the loss of the 144 at Wood Green (WN) Garage and transferred to Enfield (E) for temporary use on the 217.*

Route 217: Waltham Cross - Turnpike Lane

My previous ride on the 217 was covered in my article On & Around the Great Cambridge Road dated 29/12/24. Some months previous to this, operator Sullivan Buses had given up its TfL work at short notice, including the 217, with a temporary contract for the route awarded to Arriva using mainly T type Enviro400s out of Tottenham (AR) and then Edmonton (EC) Garage. Towards the end of that year, the position was stabilised with a 1 year contract awarded to Go Ahead London using mostly WVN and EN types from Northumberland Park (NP) Garage, which was featured in the above article.

However, from mid November 2025, a new 7 year long term contract came into effect, awarded back to Arriva again, but this time operated by Enfield (E) Garage, incidentally taking the 217 back to its ancestral home which it occupied for many decades until 1990. Whilst new ES class electrics are promised in due course, for now, existing diesels provide temporary cover, mainly utilising DWs made redundant from Wood Green (WN) Garage a few weeks prior when the 144 was relinquished to GAL. One or two ES types also turn out in support, taken from the existing allocations for the 279 and 307 at Enfield Garage, giving a taste of what will eventually be the standard fare on the route.

On the day I travelled, a couple of Enfield’s existing DWs in the 5** series were out in addition to those in the 4** series inherited from Wood Green, the difference being that whilst the newly acquired ones had 217 blinds, the indigenous versions did not and were sporting crude cardboard signs with hand written route number in the windscreen, not a very professional approach.

However, I boarded DW483 (with full blinds) at Waltham Cross Bus Station just after 9AM on its next trip to Turnpike Lane. Expecting a trouble-free run at that hour, I was soon disappointed! As we turned from Hertford Road into Bullsmoor Lane, we joined a traffic queue which was proceeding at walking pace all the way up to the Great Cambridge Road. There is a Bus Lane just over the railway bridge, but this was too short to be of much use. Once we had turned left onto the A10, we sped up, although we picked up many passengers at most stops. After the Carterhatch Lane junction, we soon had to turn off again to serve Enfield Retail Park and were stuck in another slow queue up to the lights at Southbury Road, wasting more time. Unfortunately, the delay meant that the hot coffee I had consumed before the ride to warm me up on a cold day was beginning to have consequences, so I had to take the decision to abandon ship at Morrisons and make use of the facilities!

Fortunately, after returning immediately to the stop, the next southbound 217 appeared within a couple of minutes, so I duly boarded fellow DW479, which was more lightly loaded than the previous one and a more comfortable environment for the remainder of the journey. A reasonable run down past Lincoln Road, Bury Street and Church Street to Edmonton Cambridge Roundabout, with few stops. By White Hart Lane, I could see from LVF that we had almost caught up with my original bus, being only 3 mins behind by this stage. A final twist saw us stopped at temporary lights with single carriageway working in Westbury Avenue, but we eventually made it to Turnpike Lane Bus Station, where we terminated after a trip of 1 hour net moving time from Waltham Cross, exclusive of my enforced short break.

For those interested in my usual “potted history” of the route, this was included in the previous article referred to above, but read on for more references in the following sections.

*The 144 passed the other way from Arriva to GAL on 11th October 2025. Once again, a temporary allocation has been gathered, this time at Northumberland Park (NP) Garage, comprising a mix of hybrids.*
***Volvo B5LH MCV EvoSeti MHV69 on stand at Muswell Hill Broadway represents one of the types used.***

*This bus was formerly at Bexleyheath Garage and still has its “BX” codes on the sides.*

Part Route 144: Turnpike Lane - Muswell Hill

At Turnpike Lane, I was able to connect with my second route of the day, the 144. This is another which switched operators recently, although in this case, moving the other way from Arriva to GAL in mid October. Unusually, the contract was won on the basis of “existing electrics”, which will probably turn out to be Ee class deckers displaced by the arrival of newer vehicles on other routes once deliveries and cascades are complete elsewhere. For the time being, a collection of hybrids has been gathered at NP Garage for the service, comprising mainly MHVs from Bexleyheath and WHVs from Henley Road Garage, although existing NP vehicles also turn out including EHVs.

Next to arrive was a smartly presented MHV69, still with “BX” codes from its former home, so I jumped on with the crowd for the short trip up to Muswell Hill. A straight run through Hornsey and Alexandra Park, before ascending the steep hill to the terminus at the Broadway. A 15 min trip.

***The other main type on the 144 is the Volvo B5TL Wright Eclipse Gemini. WHV61 of NP Garage is seen at Edmonton Green Bus Station after my ride on it.***

*This vehicle has been transferred from Henley Road (DS) Garage. In due course, existing Ee class electrics are intended for the route, once further vehicle cascades are completed.*

Route 144: Muswell Hill - Edmonton Green

My intention then was to ride one of the WHVs on the full route back to Edmonton Green, but I had a bit of a wait. The scheduled frequency on the 144 has been reduced with the new contract from 8-9 mins M-S daytimes to 10 mins, but a couple of buses appeared to be missing. The working in front of MHV69 seemed to have been cut, as did the one after, meaning a 20 min gap before WHV61 finally showed up. This was a former Henley Road (DS) Garage inmate and had some interior damage, with a black patch crudely affixed to its white ceiling downstairs.

With a bus missing in front of us, progress was a bit lethargic to say the least and we were busy at virtually every stop with passengers on and off. Back down the hill to Hornsey and Turnpike Lane once again, before continuing to Wood Green Shopping City, where we exchanged our load. Then along Lordship Lane back to The Roundway and the Great Cambridge Road, which we followed to the Cambridge Roundabout, before turning right through Silver Street to Angel Corner, Edmonton. It was then a straight run up the Hertford Road to Edmonton Green, finishing at the Bus Station after another 1 hour run, nearly 10 mins down on schedule.

The 144 has a complicated but interesting history. The original version of the route ran between Turnpike Lane and Ilford, crew operated with RT (later with RM at weekends), until OPO conversion to DMS in 1974. Extended in 1977 from Turnpike to Muswell Hill, this section was transferred to the 144A in 1982, by which time the parent had become one of the few routes to operate both M and T types, although from different garages. In 1988, the service was rerouted away from Ilford to Chingford, although in 1991 it was withdrawn completely, replaced by new route 444 and changes to the 144A.

Turning to the suffixed variants:

144A (1st version). This ran between Alexandra Park and Upshire with RT / RTL, but in 1954 was renumbered 217, which is how today’s route of that number began.
144B. This ran between Alexandra Park and Forty Hill, also with RT / RTL, also renumbered in 1954, to 231, which is the origin of that current route.
144A (2nd version). Began in 1982 between Muswell Hill & Edmonton Green, with M operation. Renumbered plain 144 in 1994, as the parent number was vacant by that time.

Therefore today’s 144 is really the second 144A renumbered! It was one of the trial low floor routes in London, operated with Scania Wright single deckers (SLW type) from 1994, although the odd M double decker still appeared. Converted back to full double deck in 1999, types including DLA, DLP, VLW, DW, T and HV operated at different times over the years until the recent switch from Arriva to GAL.

***8th November 2025 saw the 318 move from Arriva to GAL, also out of NP Garage. Single door Enviro200 SE248 is at North Middlesex Hospital before I rode it to Stamford Hill.***

*This is one of a batch of SEs formerly at Stockwell (SW) Garage for the G1, made spare when that route was lost to Transport UK earlier in the year.*

Part Route 491: Edmonton Green - North Middx Hospital

From Edmonton Green Bus Station, I took Metroline Enviro200 DE1121 of Potters Bar (PB) Garage on the short 10 min positioning journey to North Middlesex Hospital.

Route 318: North Middx Hospital - Stamford Hill

My next full route was the 318, another which recently passed from Arriva to GAL on retender, this time in early November. Also operated by NP Garage, the service utilises some of batch of short single door Enviro200s released from Stockwell (SW) Garage in May when the G1 transferred from GAL to Transport UK. As I arrived at North Mid, SE248 appeared on cue and I had a few minutes to await its departure on the next trip. Upon boarding, the driver made an announcement that he would be diverting via Wilbury Way and the Great Cambridge to pick up line of route at White Hart Lane (that is, via route 444). This was due the usual route via Bull Lane being closed due to gas main works. The diversion was in place in both directions.

A straight run, with a handful on board, down to White Hart Lane and then around the eastern arm of The Roundway to Bruce Castle Park, site of Bruce Castle, a remodelled 16th Century manor house which is now a museum devoted to the history of the London Borough of Haringey. Crossing the Hertford Road, we continued on the loop around the narrow roads of suburban housing in the Northumberland Park area, before rejoining the Tottenham High Road near Bruce Grove Station. Continuing south, we passed Tottenham (AR) Garage, where the 318 was previously operated from by Arriva, whilst on the opposite side of the road, I espied the interesting little “High Cross Pub”, located in a rebuilt 1920s public toilet!

Down to Seven Sisters and South Tottenham stations, after which we again turned off to serve another loop around the narrow back streets of Stamford Hill, not covered by other routes, with several passengers on and off. Returning again briefly to the main road, we hung a left down Egerton Road to the terminus outside Arriva’s Stamford Hill (SF) Garage. Just over 40 mins for the ride on this relatively short route.

The 318 started as a 1 bus operation by Capital Citybus (later part of First) in 1996, providing new links to North Middx Hospital from Stamford Hill and Tottenham, via several previously unserved back streets. Initially, a Mercedes midi or a Metrorider was used. As the popularity of the service grew, so did the frequency, with low floor DMS class Marshall Darts being introduced in 2001. Arriva took the contract in 2006 with PDL Darts and retained it for the next 19 years, although EN and ENR type Enviro200s appeared from the mid 2010s onwards. The latest change sees the route return to its original base of NP with GAL.

The 41 was retained by Arriva on retender earlier in 2025, with new electrics expected in due course. For now, the service is mostly provided by a mix of hybrids & diesels. HV333 of Tottenham (AR) Garage at Tottenham Hale Bus Station illustrates the hybrid contingent.

*This is the bus I later rode from Archway to Turnpike Lane on the return journey.*

Part Route 349: Stamford Hill - Seven Sisters

At Stamford Hill, I switched to the 349, for a short ride back to Seven Sisters Station, a trip of less than 10 mins. This was aboard LT221 of Tottenham (AR) Garage, to which the route was reallocated recently to free up space at Enfield (E) for the uptake of the 217.

Route 41: Tottenham Hale - Archway

It was then a 10 min walk down to Tottenham Hale, to pick up my fourth route of the day, the 41. Whilst not changing operator, this one has been retained by Arriva on contract renewal in 2025 on the basis of new electric double deckers which have yet to be delivered. In the meantime, the service is mainly in the hands of hybrids and diesels, with the allocation being about 50:50 HV and DW types when I travelled. Tottenham Garage share their DWs between the 41 and 123, but when the latter route moves to GAL in February 2026, it is probable that the diesels will be made spare as there should then be enough hybrids to cover the 41 pending electrification.

The 41 may be quite a short local route, but it is extremely busy and one that seems to lap up as many buses as are thrown at it! A 5-6 min frequency operates M-S daytimes, so there was plenty of choice of vehicles to ride. I opted for DW466 on its next trip from Tottenham Hale. We had plenty of takers at almost every stop and by Seven Sisters, had already caught up the bus which had left 5 mins ahead of us. Squeezing through the parked cars and vans in West Green Road, we continued past the site of West Green Station near the junction with Philip Lane, which was on the Palace Gates branch line that closed to passengers in 1963. A little further on, we reached the location of another bit of transport history at Willow Walk, where the former West Green (WG) Garage was situated, this closed in 1962.

Turning briefly into Green Lanes, we had a significant passenger exchange at both stops serving Turnpike Lane Station. Making our way towards Hornsey, we swung into Tottenham Lane to call at Hornsey Station on the Great Northern route. Then on into Crouch End, with a mass exodus at the Broadway. With a slightly lighter load, we continued up the hill to the site of Crouch End Station on the former Alexandra Palace branch, closed in 1954, but with platforms still extant and now on a pleasant walking and cycling route from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Park. Reaching Hornsey Rise, it was but a short hop to the end of the route at Archway Station, where I alighted after a bustling 45 min run on this important link.

The 41 is a longstanding route between Archway and Tottenham Hale, although it once reached further east to destinations such as Walthamstow, Stratford and V&A Docks. It was cut back to Tottenham Hale under the “Reshaping” Scheme of 1968, being replaced by the 241 on the eastern leg. Due to its busy nature, RTWs were employed for many years in the 50s & early 60s, with RMs forming first a part allocation and then a full one from 1964. In 1981 came a short extension from Tottenham Hale Station to the nearby Ferry Lane Estate, which lasted until 1992 when this section was ceded to the W4 instead.

OPO came quite late for a suburban route, with M operation introduced in 1985. Tendering saw the 41 pass to London Suburban Bus in 1994 using Olympians and former London Titans, although this phase didn’t last long and the route reverted to Leaside Buses (later Arriva) after a couple of years, M types then returning. Low floor conversion in the noughties saw DLA, VLW and DW types performing at different times, although in recent years, HV class hybrids entered the mix.

*DW466 is seen at the other end of the 41, Archway Station, after my trip aboard from Tottenham Hale. These vehicles were providing around 50% of the allocation on the route at the time of this trip.*

Tottenham’s DWs are split between the 41 and the 123, but with the latter passing to GAL in early 2026, it is likely that this type will be soon be withdrawn here, as sufficient hybrids will then be available for the 41.

Part Route 41: Archway - Turnpike Lane

After a short break, I returned from Archway part of the way I had come to Turnpike Lane, this time on one of the hybrids, HV333. 25 mins on this leg.

Route 217: Turnpike Lane - Waltham Cross

To complete my rides for the day, I rejoined the 217 in order to return to my start point at Waltham Cross. Next off the blocks at Turnpike Lane Bus Station was DW467, this time a transferee from Tottenham to Enfield Garage. A large crowd of home-going school students boarded with the hordes and soon we were on the move - but not for long! Turning into Westbury Avenue, we were caught in a traffic queue to the temporary lights. After we eventually made it through, busy at most stops along the Great Cambridge past White Hart Lane to the Cambridge Roundabout. A good run from here to Church Street (the only decent one on the trip), before we hit slow moving traffic up to Bury Street, where the lights seemed to be short phasing. On to the next junction at Lincoln Road, where we joined the right hand lane to filter right at Southbury Road - which took an absolute age to navigate.

At Baird Road, a lengthy pause for a driver change, with two replacement drivers seemingly confused over whether this was their bus or not! After this was sorted, a painful run through Enfield Retail Park, where we got stuck on the narrow section of road. Back onto the A10 and yet another slow queue up to the Halfway House, where I noted a short-turned 217 approaching along Carterhatch Lane to return to Turnpike Lane. Reasonable progress past Hoe Lane to Turkey Street, where there was yet another queue to turn right at Bullsmoor Lane. Whilst this was free-flowing, Waltham Cross was snarled up and we literally inched our way around Monarchs Way to the Bus Station. A massive 1h25m for the trip - the longest ever in my experience - which compares with 35 min back in the halcyon days of RTs on the route! Admittedly, there was no M25 to attract traffic back then and the route did not deviate via Enfield Retail Park, running straight along the Great Cambridge. However, this is surely something that needs to be reconsidered, maybe with more bus priority measures on the A10, plus new lay-bys and stops on the main road near Enfield Retail Park, as Baird Road is very narrow and totally unsuited to buses.

Nevertheless, this trip aside, my other rides had been reasonable and I had accomplished all I had set out to do during the day.

Watton

Swapsies in Haringey

Return to the Emerald Isle