London Bus Route 54

Route History

Date	Gar	Mon-Fri	Sat	Sun
at 03.10.34	ED	21ST	21ST	17STL 4ST

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - Woolwich - Blackheath - Lewisham - Catford - Bellingham - Beckenham Hill - Beckenham - Elmers End Green - Shirley Road - Addiscombe Road - East Croydon - South Croydon - Upper Selsdon Road - SELSDON Farley Road


Taken from 1934 historical map drawn by Mike Harris busmap.co.uk Click map to enlarge

29.04.36	ED	--	--	21STL
	TL	21STL	21STL	--

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Mon-Sat Elmers End (ED) allocation moved to Catford (TL) - TL lost 21 and 21A
The 194 allocation was increased to partly compensate

04.12.40	ED	--	--	11LT
	TC	--	8STL	--
	TL	28STL	24STL	10STL

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Saturday Croydon (TC) allocation introduced

02.04.41	TC	--	8STL	11STL
	TL	29STL	24STL	11STL

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Sunday Elmers End (ED) transferred to Croydon (TC) - the 194 Croydon Sunday allocation moved to Elmers End (ED) to compensate

25.10.44	TC	8ST	7STL+	9STL
			1STL/64 2STL/133
	TL	21STL	21STL	9STL

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Mon-Fri Croydon (TC) allocation added

13.02.46	TC	10ST	4ST	9STL
	TL	20STL	27STL	9STL
			+1STL/75

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Mon-Fri Croydon (TC) allocation added

03.07.46	TC	10ST	4ST	9STL
	TL	20STL	27STL	9STL
			+1STL/75

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Diverted in Croydon between George Street and Park Lane to run via Park Lane, St Peters Road and Aberdeen Road instead of High Street and South End

12.11.47

25STL
7ST

25STL
13ST

28STL

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Croydon (TC) allocation withdrawn

03.05.50

35RT

38RT

28RT

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
STL type replaced by RT

07.11.51	ED	6RT	6RT	--
	TL	29RT	32RT	28RT

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Mon-Sat Elmers End (ED) allocation added.

14.05.52	ED	6RT	6RT	5RT
	TL	29RT	32RT	21RT

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Sunday Elmers End (ED) allocation added.

30.04.58	ED	--	--	9RT
	TL	26RT	26RT	8RT

PLUMSTEAD COMMON Woodman - SELSDON Farley Road
Mon-Sat Elmers End (ED) allocation withdrawn.

14.10.59	ED	--	--	5RT
	TL	26RT	26RT	7RT

SELSDON - WOOLWICH (Suns) - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )
Sunday withdrawn between Woolwich and Plumstead Common.

10.05.61

26RT

14RT

SELSDON - WOOLWICH (Suns) - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )
Elmers End (ED) allocation withdrawn.

11.10.61

26RT

12RT

SELSDON - WOOLWICH (Suns) - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )
Winter schedule commenced

08.05.63

24RT

23RT

14RT

SELSDON - WOOLWICH
Withdrawn between Woolwich and Plumstead Common - replaced by revised Route 51.and 241

09.10.63

24RT

23RT

12RT

SELSDON - WOOLWICH
Winter schedule commenced

30.06.65

24RT

23RT

12RT

RIDDLESDOWN (Mon-Fri peaks) - SELSDON - WOOLWICH - WOOLWICH Industrial Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Mon-Fri peak journeys extended at both ends of the Route
Woolwich to Woolwich Industrial Estate vis Plumstead Road - Griffin Manor Way - Nathan Way - and Purland Road.
Selsdon to Riddlesdown via Addington Road - Rectory Park and Mitchley Avenue.
Timetable bus note that and one pm journey ran the whole length of the route from Woolwich Industrial Estate to Riddlesdown - a journey time of approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

This photo of RT2812 (TL) was taken during the 1968 period of closure of Long Lane for the reconstruction of of the bridge over the Hayes railway line just to the west of Elmers End and the 54, along with the 725, were diverted from Ashburton up to Norwood Junction, then via The Goat House, Croydon Road, and Elmers End Road. Both routes ran non-stop over the diversion.

Photo published by kind permisson of © Gerry Cork

19.07.69

27RT

20RT

7RT

RIDDLESDOWN (Mon-Fri peaks) - SELSDON ( Mon-Sat ) - WEST CROYDON (Suns) - WOOLWICH - WOOLWICH Industrial Estate ( Mon-Fri peaks)
Sundays diverted at East Croydon to West Croydon instead of Selsdon.

08.01.72	ED	6RT	6RT	6RT
	TL	21RT	12RT	--

RIDDLESDOWN (Mon-Fri peaks) - SELSDON ( Mon-Sat ) - WEST CROYDON (Suns) - WOOLWICH - WOOLWICH Industrial Estate ( Mon-Fri peaks)
Daily Elmers End (ED) allocation added to partly compensate for a lot of Route 12 duties being lost.
Sunday Catford allocation withdrawn.

06.01.73	ED	--	3RT	6RT
	TL	21RT	12RT	--

CROYDON Park Lane (Mon-Fri) - WEST CROYDON (Sat/Sun) - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN - WOOLWICH Industrial Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Mon-Fri withdrawn between Croydon and Selsdon/Riddlesdown - replaced by alterations to Route 12A.
Saturdays diverted at East Croydon to West Croydon instead of Selsdon

RT4771 West Croydon

17.10.73	ED	--	3RT	6RM
	TL	20RT	12RT	--

CROYDON Park Lane (Mon-Fri) - WEST CROYDON (Sat/Sun) - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN -WOOLWICH Industrial Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Sunday Routemasters introduced - spare from Route 12.

01.12.73	ED	--	3RM	5DMS
	TL	20RT	12RT	--

CROYDON Park Lane (Mon-Fri) - WEST CROYDON (Sat/Sun) - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Sunday converted to |One Person Operation.
Elmers End (ED) Saturday allocation converted to RM
Withdrawn between Woolwich and Woolwich Industrial Estate - this section replaced by Route 198

23.03.75	ED	--	3RM	5DMS
	TL	20RT	12RM	--

CROYDON Park Lane (Mon-Fri) - WEST CROYDON (Sat/Sun) - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Catford (TL) Saturday allocation converted to RM

RM752 Blackheath

busmap.co.uk

22.04.78	ED71+	--	--	5DMS
	TL1+	18DMS	18DMS	--

CROYDON Park Lane (Mon-Fri) - WEST CROYDON (Sat/Sun) - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Daily conversion to One Person Operation.

DMS514 Addiscombe Road

busmap.co.uk

25.07.83	ED31+	--	--	5DMS
	TL1+	16T	15T	--

CROYDON Park Lane (Mon-Fri) - WEST CROYDON (Sat/Sun) - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Catford allocation converted from Daimler to Leyland Titan operation.

T807 East Croydon

busmap.co.uk

27.04.85

TL1+

15T

14T

WOOLWICH ARSENAL STATION - WEST CROYDON ( Sat/Sun) - CROYDON Park Lane ( Mon-Fri )
Elmers End allocation withdrawn.

02.11.85

TL1+

14T

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH - CHARLTON Asda (Sat shop hours)
Rerouted in Croydon to terminate at West Croydon Bus Station at all times.
Saturday shopping hours extended from Woolwich to CHARLTON Asda via Greens end - General Gordon Place - Vincent Road - Burrage Road - Plumstead Road - Beresford Street - Market Hill - Woolwich High Street - Woolwich Church Street - Woolwich Road - Gallions Road - and Bugsbys Way.

T823 heading for the New Asda at Charlton


Click image for timetable

21.06.86

TL1+

15T

12T

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH
Withdrawn between Woolwich and Charlton Asda

19.11.88	PD71+	--	--	6L
	TL1+	16T	12T	--

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN - PLUMSTEAD GARAGE (Sunday garage journeys)
Sunday garage journeys extended from Woolwich to PD Garage.
Sunday only Plumstead allocation added - Catford allocation withdrawn on this day.

L116 General Gordon Place

busmap.co.uk

19.01.91	PD81+	--	--	5MRL
	TL1+	15T	12T	5MW

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Sunday converted to midibus operation - and Catford allocation re-introduced on this day.

MW14 Wellington Street, Woolwich

busmap.co.uk

27.04.91	PD81+	7dd	7dd	8MRL
	TL1+	9T	6T	3MW

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Plumstead (PD) operation now daily.

SR2 Thomas Street

busmap.co.uk

09.11.91	PD121+	--	--	10MRL
	TL1+	15T	12T	--

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Mon-Sat PD allocation transferred to TL but Sunday TL allocation transferred to PD.

24.07.93	PD21+	16T	13T	--
Sunday op	PD81+	--	--	9MRL

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Sunday Catford (TL) allocation withdrawn.

MRL149 Monk Street

busmap.co.uk

06.09.94	PD21+	16T	13T	--
Sunday opo	PD81+	--	--	9MRL

	Selkent purchased by Stagecoach

24.09.96

PD21+

16L

14L

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Sunday Route reverted to big bus operation.

01.12.97

PD21+

17VN

9VN

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Converted from Leyland Olympian to Volvo operation.

23.01.99

TL111+

16VN

9VN

WEST CROYDON - WOOLWICH ARSENAL STN
Daily PD allocation transferred to TL.

VN103

10.06.00

TL111+

14VN

13VN

9VN

WOOLWICH Monk Street - ELMERS END GREEN
Withdrawn between Elmers End and West Croydon as part of the new tram scheme in Croydon.

17.03.01	PD101+	7VN	8VN	5VN
Sunday op	TL121+	7VN	7VN	5VN

WOOLWICH Monk Street - ELMERS END GREEN
Daily PD allocation re-introduced

27.04.02	PD101+	7VN	8VN	5VN
	TL121+	7VN	7VN	5VN

WOOLWICH Monk Street - ELMERS END GREEN
Contract renewed with Stagecoach Selkent

15.02.03

TL121+

14TAS

13TAS

9TAS

WOOLWICH Monk Street - ELMERS END GREEN
Plumstead allocation withdrawn - to make room for new Route 453.

30.08.06

TL121+

14TAS

13TAS

9TAS

	Purchased by Macquarie Bank

WOOLWICH Monk Street - ELMERS END GREEN
New operator

02.05.09

MB371+

14dd

13dd

9dd

	Contract reassigned to Metrobus

WOOLWICH Monk Street - ELMERS END GREEN
New operator

Trident 17582 was hired from Stagecoach until the new buses arrived for Metrobus - this example at the Elmers End Green stand

05.02.11

MB371+

14dd

13dd

9dd

WOOLWICH Monk Street - ELMERS END STATION
Withdrawn from the terminal at Croydon Road and diverted via Elmers End Road and St Margarets Road to terminate at Elmers End Rail and Tram Station

894 Blackheath

19.05.12

C371+

14SC

13SC

9SC

WOOLWICH - ELMERS END STATION
Orpington (MB) allocation moved to Croydon (C) - working timetables shown

03.05.14

TL1+

16TE

13TE

9TE

	Contract reassigned to Stagecoach Selkent (TL)

WOOLWICH - ELMERS END
New operator

	Enviro Trident 12277 at Woolwich © Robert Mighton

10.02.18

TL1+

17TE

14TE

11TE


Taken from 2018 map drawn by Mike Harris busmap.co.uk

04.05.19

TL1+

17TE

14TE

11TE

WOOLWICH - ELMERS END STATION
Contract renewal for 5 years with Stagecoach using new E40D Enviro 400MMC buses

11132 Woolwich Arsenal Station 27.05.22

======================================================================================================================================================

Current Blind

Operating Garages

PD Plumstead
Changeover point at garage.

TL Catford
Changeover point at garage.

ED Elmers End
Changeover point at Elmers End Green.

MB Orpington
Changeover point at Elmers End

C Croydon
Changeover point at Elmers End

Live Visual