Route 66 switches to double decker

26 August 2014
Service improvement delivered in response to requests from local residents and councillors.

From Saturday 30 August route 66 will convert from single to double deck buses.  

Route 66, which is operated by Arriva Kent Thameside, runs from Romford Station to Leytonstone via Romford Market, Chadwell Heath, Newbury Park Station, Gants Hill Station, Redbridge Station and Wanstead Station.  

On Saturday the route's 60 capacity single deck buses will be replaced by double deck buses that can carry 87 passengers.  

This improvement has been made by Transport for London (TfL) to ensure that all passengers throughout the route can benefit from higher capacity vehicles.

In particular the service is very busy in both directions around Newbury Park Station, where many passengers interchange with the Central line.  

The change allows the withdrawal of the limited supplementary single-deck journeys which were introduced last October as a temporary measure pending double-deck buses becoming available.  

John Barry, TfL's Head of Network Development for buses, said: `The number of passengers using route 66 on weekdays has grown by 15% since 2012. Converting this route to higher capacity double-deck buses responds to feedback from passengers and local councillors, with benefits to all passengers on route 66.`

This service change is part of TfL's management and development of a network that comprises around 700 routes across Greater London operated by 7,600 buses at peak times, carrying more than 2.4 billion passengers every year. TfL keeps the network under regular review, working with the London boroughs and other partners to help ensure that services can respond to London's changing travel needs..

  • Route 66 buses will run every 12 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 20 minutes on Sundays and in the evenings.