London Buses route RV1

Infobox London Bus
number=RV1


operator=First Capital
garage=Lea Interchange (HO)
vehicle=Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro
pvr=8
start=Covent Garden
via=Waterloo station
London Eye
Royal Festival Hall
National Theatre
Tate Modern
London Bridge station
Tower Bridge
end=Tower Gateway station
level=Daily
length= 4 miles (6 km)
frequency=About every 10 minutes
time=24-33 minutes
day=6:00am until 1:00am
night=No night service

London Buses route RV1 is a Transport for London (TfL) contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. Prior to its launch, the service was heavily promoted as Riverside Bus, and was intended to open up the south bank of riverside London, connecting visitor attractions such as the Tower of London, the Tate Modern, the South Bank arts complex, the London Eye and Covent Garden.cite web | title = Riverside bus |url = http://www.crossriverpartnership.org/page.asp?id=1235 | publisher = Cross River Partnership | accessdate = June 22 | accessyear = 2007]

The service was jointly promoted by TfL and the South Bank Employers' Group, and is currently contracted to First Capital. The buses serving it are route branded with "Riverside" logos, and the route number reflects this branding.cite web | title = Riverside bus |url = http://www.crossriverpartnership.org/page.asp?id=1235 | publisher = Cross River Partnership | accessdate = June 22 | accessyear = 2007]

History

The route was inaugurated on April 27 2002 and proved popular with both tourists and commuters, as it is the only route to serve many roads between Waterloo and London Bridge.cite web | url = http://www.londonbuspage.com/021207.htm | title = Best of 2002 part 1: The RV1 | publisher = London Bus Page | accessdate = June 22 | accessyear = 2007]

It was one of the first routes in London to be off-ticketing onlyFact|date=June 2007. This meant quicker boarding and journey times, and during the first few months most buses ran early to the timetable.Fact|date=June 2007

The route is operated by diesel fuelled rigid (ie. not articulated) Mercedes-Benz Citaros. Between September 2004 and January 2007, three trial fuel cell powered Citaros (more information) were used on this route to compare their efficiency with their diesel equivalents. The fuel cell buses only operated in the mornings and early afternoon due to a lack of fuel capacity.cite web | url = http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/1354 | title = RV1 emission-free bus trial "a great success" | publisher = London SE1 Community Website | accessdate = June 22 | accessyear = 2007]

Current route

Route departing Covent Garden

* Covent Garden "Catherine Street"
* Catherine Street
* Aldwych
* Strand
* Lancaster Place
* Waterloo Bridge
* Waterloo Road
* Tenison Way
* Waterloo station
* York Road
* Chichely Street
* Belvedere Road
* National Theatre
* Upper Ground
* Broad Wall
* Stamford Street
* Southwark Street "(junction with Sumner Street or Great Guildford Street for Tate Modern)"
* Borough High Street
* London Bridge station
* Duke Street Hill
* Tooley Street
* Tower Bridge Road
* Tower Bridge
* Tower Bridge Approach
* Minories
* Tower Gateway Station

Route departing Tower Gateway

* Tower Gateway Station
* Goodmans Yard
* Mansell Street
* Tower Bridge Approach
* Tower Bridge
* Tower Bridge Road
* Tooley Street
* Duke Street Hill
* London Bridge station
* Borough High Street
* Southwark Street
* Great Guildford Street
* Tate Modern
* Great Guildford Street
* Sumner Street
* Southwark Street
* Blackfriars Road
* Upper Ground
* National Theatre
* Belvedere Road
* Chichely Street
* York Road
* Waterloo station
* Waterloo Road
* Waterloo Bridge
* Lancaster Place
* Aldwych
* Catherine Street
* Russell Street
* Wellington Street
* Tavistock Street
* Covent Garden "Catherine Street"

Diversion when Tower Bridge lifted

The RV1 crosses Tower Bridge, which is occasionally lifted to permit sea going vessels to access the Pool of London. When this happens, buses are diverted between Tower Gateway and London Bridge station via Aldgate, Fenchurch Street and London Bridge.

ee also

*List of bus routes in London
*First Capital

References

External links

* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk Transport for London]
* [http://www.londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net/c973434.html London Buses by Adam RV1 Pictures]
* [http://www.firstlondontimetables.co.uk/timetables/a10-w12/RV1mf.htm Timetable]
* [http://www.southbanklondon.com/images/page/SBBusMap.pdf Route Map]