London Buses route 521

Infobox London Bus
number=521


operator=London General
garage=Waterloo (RA)
vehicle= Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro
start=Waterloo
end=London Bridge
via=Holborn
St Paul's
Cannon Street
length= 5 miles (8 km)
time=21-33 minutes
level=Weekdays
pvr=19
frequency=About every 4-10 minutes
night= No night service
day=6:40am until 12:30am

London Buses route 521 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London General.

History

The 521 is one of two Red Arrow routes, the other being route 507, to survive.

Routes 507 and 521 were the first London Bus Routes to be converted to articulated, or bendy, buses on 2 June 2002, from the ageing Leyland National single deckers. At peak times Route 521 used to run via Strand Underpass rather than Aldwych, making double deck operation impossible, along with the fact that many passengers are short distance travellers and unlikely to use the top deck. Being commuter routes, and so little used outside peak times, these routes were suitable to test the bendy buses suitability in London and providing extra capacity in a single deck form.

During late 2003, early 2004, a series of onboard fires on newly delivered Mercedes-Benz Citaros led to withdrawal of the entire fleet, while Mercedes-Benz made some modifications. During this period limited services operated using a variety of different buses on route 507 and 521. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3563279.stm BBC NEWS | England | London | Bendy-buses withdrawn after fires ] ]

In April 2007, the route was diverted to serve the Strand Underpass at all times, previously only during peaks and running via Lancaster Place and Aldwych outside of peak times. An evening service was added at this time.

Current route

Route departing Waterloo

* Waterloo Station "Tenison Way"
* Waterloo Bridge
* Strand Underpass
* Kingsway
* Holborn Station
* Southampton Row
* Theobalds Road
* Drake Street
* Procter Street
* High Holborn
* Holborn
* Holborn Circus
* Holborn Viaduct
* Newgate Street
* King Edward Street
* Angel Street
* St. Martin's Le Grand
* Cheapside
* St Paul's
* New Change
* Cannon Street station
* Monument station
* King William Street
* London Bridge
* Borough High Street
* Railway Approach
* London Bridge Station

Route departing London Bridge

* London Bridge Station
* London Bridge Street
* Borough High Street
* London Bridge
* King William Street
* Monument station
* Cannon Street station
* New Change
* St Paul's
* Cheapside
* Newgate Street
* Holborn Viaduct
* Holborn Circus
* Holborn
* High Holborn
* Holborn Station
* Kingsway
* Aldwych
* Strand
* Lancaster Place
* Waterloo Bridge
* Waterloo Station "Mepham Street"
* or Waterloo Station "Sandell Street - Garage Journeys Only"

ee also

* List of bus routes in London
* London General

References

External links

* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk Transport for London]
* [http://www.londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net London Bus Routes Fotopic]
* [http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/521.pdf Full timetable]