Parent Transport for London Headquarters Westminster Service area East London | Founded 20 February 2010 Locale Greater London Service type Bus rapid transit | |
 | ||
East London Transit (ELT) is a part-segregated bus rapid transit, operated as part of the London Buses network. It was opened in phases between 2010 and 2013. The scheme has been developed by Transport for London due to the existing and anticipated demand for public transport in East London caused by the Thames Gateway redevelopment. The scheme has been planned to allow for a possible future upgrade to tram operation.
Contents
- Services
- EL1
- EL2
- EL3
- Vehicles
- Delivered phases
- Extension to Barking Reach
- Proposed destinations
- Thames Gateway Transit
- References
It connects National Rail, London Underground and London Overground stations in the London boroughs of Havering, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham with major population centres, such as the Barking Riverside, currently only served by bus routes. There are proposals for a variety of extensions. The first stage of the scheme opened on 20 February 2010.
Services
There are three routes. EL1 replaced the previous 369 bus service and operated 24 hours a day between Thames View Estate and Ilford. EL1 has been extended from Thames View Estate to Barking Riverside. EL2 operated over the whole length of the phase 1 route between Dagenham Dock and Ilford until March 2016 when it was amended to run to Becontree Heath after leaving Barking. EL3 replaced the previous 387 operated between Little Heath and Barking Riverside, the route change through Barking Town Centre. Route 179 was withdrawn between Ilford and Barking and was diverted to terminate at Ilford (Hainault Street) bus terminus.
Each route operates five buses an hour on Monday to Saturday daytimes and three an hour during the evenings and on Sunday; giving a combined frequency of ten buses an hour over the core route from Barking to Thames View Estate during the day.
EL1
EL1 operates via these primary locations:
EL2
EL2 operates via these primary locations:
EL3
EL3 operates via these primary locations:
Vehicles
All services are operated by Blue Triangle using Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL double-deckers. In February 2017, Blue Triangle commenced a new contract on routes EL1 and EL2 along with new route EL3 (which replaced the similary routed 387). All routes will be operated by New Routemasters.
Delivered phases
Phase 1 commenced on 20 February 2010.
Construction of phase 2 began in 2011 and was completed in 2013. It received funding from the Homes and Communities Agency.
Extension to Barking Reach
In 2013 it was proposed to extend route EL1 from Thames View Estate to Barking Reach and a consultation was held. The extended service started on 7 September 2013.
Proposed destinations
Early proposals for extensions have included Gants Hill for the Central line, Rainham, Barkingside, Romford, Elm Park and Collier Row and Harold Wood. Havering London Borough Council has voiced support for the extension to Rainham through London Riverside.
In a bus network development paper from 2016, a new route EL4 was proposed between Barking Riverside and Becontree Heath bus station via Becontree tube station. Additional proposals include services to Gallions Reach for the Docklands Light Railway, East Ham, Silvertown and Stratford.
Thames Gateway Transit
The East London Transit formed part of a plan for a much larger Thames Gateway Transit service. It was proposed that it would use the Thames Gateway Bridge to connect to the Greenwich Waterfront Transit on the south side of the River Thames. However, construction of the bridge and the Greenwich busway was cancelled in 2008.