London Buses heritage route 9

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English: Route 9 (9H) was one of the two Transport for London Routemaster heritage services in London. There have been three versions of the route since it launched, due to a major revision in November 2010, and a lesser change in February 2012. It was withdrawn on 25 July 2014.

14 Nov 2005 to 12 Nov 2010

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Between the launch of the service and 12 Nov 2010, route 9 ran from the Royal Albert Hall in the west, to Aldwych in central London. The roads served were:

Westbound: Strand (Stop R, Aldwych / Somerset House, 51°30′44″N 0°06′59″W / 51.512151°N 0.116413°W / 51.512151; -0.116413) - Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross roundabout) - Cockspur Street - Pall Mall - Waterloo Place - Lower Regent Street - Piccadilly - Hyde Park Corner gyratory (Duke of Wellington Place, Grosvenor Place) - Knightsbridge - Kensington Road (stop RC, Royal Albert Hall, 51°30′05″N 0°10′44″W / 51.501505°N 0.178818°W / 51.501505; -0.178818)

Eastbound: Kensington Road (Stop RM, Prince Of Wales Gate, 51°30′07″N 0°10′16″W / 51.50197°N 0.171133°W / 51.50197; -0.171133) - Knightsbridge - Hyde Park Corner gyratory (Piccadilly) - Piccadilly - Piccadilly Circus - Coventry Street - Haymarket - Cockspur Street - Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross roundabout) - Strand - Aldwych (Stop E, Aldwych / Drury Lane, 51°30′46″N 0°07′07″W / 51.512721°N 0.11861°W / 51.512721; -0.11861)

The roads were the same in both directions, except for the route around the Hyde Park Corner gyratory, and the route between Cockspur Street and Piccadilly (due to the one way system).

Western end, first/last stops & out of service

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The Royal Albert Hall sits on the south side of Kensington Road, the same side as the last stop, RC. To get from there to the first stop, buses would turn around using the anti-clockwise square formed by the streets around the hall - Queen's Gate (southbound) - Prince Consort Road (eastbound) - Exhibition Road (northbound). If necessary, buses would lay over in the bus stand in Prince Consort Road.

Stop RC
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Kensington Road (arrivals)
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Prince Consort Road bus stand
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The stand is at the alighting only Stop RW (Prince Consort Rd Imperial Col) 51°29′59″N 0°10′44″W / 51.49978°N 0.179005°W / 51.49978; -0.179005 on north side of Prince Consort Road (facing east), partly outside the Holy Trinity Church (the front of the stand overlaps just slightly with the church facade). There is a stop to the east of the stand - Stop RZ (Prince Consort Road) 51°29′59″N 0°10′41″W / 51.49984°N 0.178115°W / 51.49984; -0.178115 - but this is not served by the heritage route 15 buses, as it is not part of the standard route 15.

  • SRM3 16 August 2008 Blinds already set for Aldwych
    SRM3
    16 August 2008
    Blinds already set for Aldwych
  • ? 26 May 2010 Blind set to Not In Service, driver's door open
    ?
    26 May 2010
    Blind set to Not In Service, driver's door open
  • ? 26 May 2010 Routemaster in the back half of the stand, driver's door open and cab empty. The rear of the parked up single-decker is just outside the stand box.
    ?
    26 May 2010
    Routemaster in the back half of the stand, driver's door open and cab empty. The rear of the parked up single-decker is just outside the stand box.
Exhibition Road (departures)
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Eastbound

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Knightsbridge
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Knightsbridge before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Aldwych)

Piccadilly
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Piccadilly before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Aldwych). In this period, buses would run in both directions along the full length of Piccadilly, from Hyde Park Corner to the junction with Regent Street (eastbound buses continuing around Piccadilly Circus into Haymarket)

Haymarket
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Haymarket before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Aldwych). As a one way street, buses would only proceed south down Haymarket (westbound buses using Pall Mall heading westbound, then Waterloo Place & Regent street heading north)

Cockspur Street
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Cockspur Street before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Aldwych).

Trafalgar Square
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Trafalgar Square before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Aldwych). Eastbound buses take the direct route as they transit from Cockspur Street into Strand, passing inbetween the square/Neslon's column (to the north) and the Charing Cross roundabout/Charles I statue (to the south).

Strand
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Strand before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Aldwych).

Eastern end, first/last stops & out of service

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The last stop, E, was on Aldwych. The first stop, R, is on the westbound portion of Strand, south of Aldwych, just east of St Mary-le-Strand church. To get from E to R, buses would run to the east end of Aldwych and turn back onto Strand. If necessary, they could lay over on bus stands in the area, located on the south side of Aldwych (on the opposite side to the last stop, with the transition made possible because it's a one way street), or in the westbound section of Strand before R.

Aldwych bus stand
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Aldwych
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Strand
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Westbound

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Strand
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Westbound route 9 buses on Strand before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Royal Albert Hall).

Trafalgar Square
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Westbound route 9 buses on Trafalgar Square before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Royal Albert Hall). Westbound buses take the longer route in this direction as they transit from Strand into Cockspur Street, passing to the south of both the square/Neslon's column and the Charing Cross roundabout/Charles I statue.

Cockspur Street
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Westbound route 9 buses on Cockspur Street before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Royal Albert Hall)

Lower Regent Street
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Westbound route 9 buses on Lower Regent Street before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Royal Albert Hall). As a one way street, buses would only proceed north along Lower Regent Street, as part of the section using Pall Mall heading west, then Waterloo Place & Lower Regent Street heading north (eastbound buses going via Piccadilly Circus, Coventry Street and Haymarket).

Knightsbridge
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Westbound route 9 buses on Knightsbridge before 13 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Royal Albert Hall)

13 Nov 2010 to 25 Jul 2014

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On 13 Nov 2010, at the request of Kensington borough who were seeking to increase tourism, route 9 was shifted west - the western terminus was extended to the western end of Kensington High Street, and to compensate the eastern end was cut back to Trafalgar Square. The new route was as follows (new roads served in bold, roads no longer served struck out, roads with changed length of service in italics):

Westbound: Strand - Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross roundabout) - Cockspur Street (Stop S, Trafalgar Square, 51°30′27″N 0°07′46″E / 51.5075°N 0.129367°E / 51.5075; 0.129367) - Pall Mall - Waterloo Place - Lower Regent Street - Piccadilly - Hyde Park Corner gyratory (Duke of Wellington Place, Grosvenor Place) - Knightsbridge - Kensington Road - Kensington High Street (Stop Z, Warwick Gardens, 51°29′51″N 0°12′12″W / 51.497542°N 0.203218°W / 51.497542; -0.203218)

Eastbound: Kensington High Street (Stop W, Warwick Gardens, 51°29′51″N 0°12′12″W / 51.49761°N 0.203454°W / 51.49761; -0.203454) - Kensington Road - Knightsbridge - Hyde Park Corner gyratory (Piccadilly) - Piccadilly - Piccadilly Circus - Coventry Street - Haymarket - Cockspur Street (Stop B, Trafalgar Square, 51°30′27″N 0°07′45″W / 51.507591°N 0.129148°W / 51.507591; -0.129148) - Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross roundabout) - Strand - Aldwych

From 25 Feb 2012, the route followed by the standard route 9 in the St James area was altered (meaning the heritage route was altered as well). The new route was as follows (new roads served in bold, roads no longer served struck out, roads with changed length of service in italics):

Westbound: Cockspur Street (Stop S) - Pall Mall - Waterloo Place - Lower Regent Street - St James's Street - Piccadilly - Hyde Park Corner gyratory (Duke of Wellington Place, Grosvenor Place) - Knightsbridge - Kensington Road - Kensington High Street (Stop Z)

Eastbound: Kensington High Street (Stop W) - Kensington Road - Knightsbridge - Hyde Park Corner gyratory (Piccadilly) - Piccadilly - Piccadilly Circus - Coventry Street - Haymarket - St James's Street - Pall Mall - Cockspur Street (Stop B)

Western end, first/last stops & out of service

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Despite being named Warwick Gardens, stops Z & W are on Kensington High Street itself, at its western end. They are on opposite sides of the road. After turning around, if necessary, bus can lay-over in the tail stop bay/stand which was added to the front of the head stop bay for Stop W - leaving the head stop space clear for conventional front entrance buses to use.

Stop W & stand
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  • RM1776 27 August 2011 14:35 Blind set to Not In Service
    RM1776
    27 August 2011
    14:35
    Blind set to Not In Service
  • RM1776 7 September 2012 In the front stand, brake lights on, blind already reset for Trafalgar Square Viewed from the top deck of modern bus calling at the head stop bay
    RM1776
    7 September 2012
    In the front stand, brake lights on, blind already reset for Trafalgar Square
    Viewed from the top deck of modern bus calling at the head stop bay
  • RM1562 27 August 2011 15:25 Blinds still set for Kensington High Street
    RM1562
    27 August 2011
    15:25
    Blinds still set for Kensington High Street
  • RM1640 & RM1562 27 August 2011 15:25
    RM1640 & RM1562
    27 August 2011
    15:25
  • RM1640 27 August 2011 15:26
    RM1640
    27 August 2011
    15:26
  • RM1735 & RM1913 13 May 2012 Both blinds already reset for Trafalgar Square, driver is climbing into the cab of RM1735 Note the plain numeric blind on RM1735
    RM1735 & RM1913
    13 May 2012
    Both blinds already reset for Trafalgar Square, driver is climbing into the cab of RM1735
    Note the plain numeric blind on RM1735
  • RM1913 & RM1776 28 October 2012 RM1913's blind still set for Kensington High Street, RM1776's blind set to Not In Service
    RM1913 & RM1776
    28 October 2012
    RM1913's blind still set for Kensington High Street, RM1776's blind set to Not In Service
  • SRM3 & RM1204 2 September 2013 SRM3's blind already reset for Trafalgar Square, RM1204's set to Not in Service
    SRM3 & RM1204
    2 September 2013
    SRM3's blind already reset for Trafalgar Square, RM1204's set to Not in Service
  • RM1218 29 October 2013 15:05 Parked up minus a driver, blinds reset to Trafalgar Square Being overtaken by an LT class (New Routemaster) on standard route 9 to Aldwych
    RM1218
    29 October 2013
    15:05
    Parked up minus a driver, blinds reset to Trafalgar Square
    Being overtaken by an LT class (New Routemaster) on standard route 9 to Aldwych
  • RM1218 29 October 2013 15:19 Still parked up minus a driver Being overtaken by another LT class (New Routemaster) on standard route 9 to Aldwych
    RM1218
    29 October 2013
    15:19
    Still parked up minus a driver
    Being overtaken by another LT class (New Routemaster) on standard route 9 to Aldwych
  • RM1627 Parked up minus a driver, blinds reset to Trafalgar Square
    RM1627
    Parked up minus a driver, blinds reset to Trafalgar Square

Eastbound

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Kensington High Street
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Kensington High Street after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Trafalgar Square).

Kensington Road
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Kensington Road after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Trafalgar Square).

Knightsbridge
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Knightsbridge after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Trafalgar Square)

Hyde Park Corner gyratory (Piccadilly)
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Eastbound route 9 buses on the Hyde Park Corner gyratory after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Trafalgar Square). Eastbound buses take the short route across the gyratory, effectively heading straight on from Knightsbridge into Piccadilly (which forms the north side of the gyratory). As they transit the gyratory, the pass the following on the north side: the Hyde Park Corner Screen, Apsley House, the bottom of Park Lane, and the InterContinental London Park Lane hotel

Piccadilly (13 Nov 2010 to 24 Feb 2012)
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Piccadilly after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Trafalgar Square), but before the re-routing of standard route 9 (see above). During this time, buses travelled the full length of Piccadilly to Picadilly Circus. After the re-routing, buses now only travel as far as St James's Street, where they turn right.

Coventry Street (13 Nov 2010 to 24 Feb 2012)
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Eastbound route 9 buses on Coventry Street after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Trafalgar Square). Eastbound route 9 buses ceased using Coventry Street entirely after the re-routing of standard route 9 (see above)

Eastern end, first/last stops & out of service

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After the shift west, the central London terminus of route 9 is now on the west side Trafalgar Square, with the first/last stops on opposite sides of Cockspur Street. As with route 15, to get from its own first & last stops (B & S), route 9 buses can either turn right around Charing Cross roundabout and layover on the first stop, or use Whitehall/Northumberland Avenue and other streets to the south, to turn around and if necessary, layover in nearby stands.

Cockspur Street -> Trafalgar Square -> Charing Cross roundabout (arrivals)
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Great Scotland Yard bus stand
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Whitehall, northbound (departures)
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  • ? 9 July 2011 ? Blinds set for Kensington High Street
    ?
    9 July 2011
    ?
    Blinds set for Kensington High Street
  • RM1913 22 March 2014 Top end (next to a HV class on route 29 to Wood Green) Blinds set for Kensington High Street
    RM1913
    22 March 2014
    Top end (next to a HV class on route 29 to Wood Green)
    Blinds set for Kensington High Street
Charing Cross roundabout -> Trafalgar Square -> Cockspur Street (departures)
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Westbound

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Waterloo Place (13 Nov 2010 to 24 Feb 2012)
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Westbound route 9 buses on Waterloo Place after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Kensington High Street). Westbound route 9 buses ceased using Waterloo Place entirely after the re-routing of standard route 9 (see above)

Piccadilly (25 Feb 2012 to 25 Jul 2014)
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Westbound route 9 buses on Piccadilly after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Kensington High Street)

Westbound route 9 buses on Piccadilly after the re-routing of standard route 9 (see above) - after this change, westbound buses heading to Hyde Park Corner in the west, only travelled along Piccadilly from its junction with St James's Street. Before this change, westbound buses travelled the full length of Piccadilly, ie starting from Piccadilly Circus, further to the east.

Hyde Park Corner gyratory (Duke of Wellington Place/Grosvenor Place)
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Westbound route 9 buses on the Hyde Park Corner gyratory after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Kensington High Street). Westbound buses have to take the long way around the gyratory as they transit from Piccadilly to Knightsbridge - using Duke of Wellington Place to go south and then west, then Grosvenor Place to go north.

Knightsbridge
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Westbound route 9 buses on Knightsbridge after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Kensington High Street)

  • RM1640 26 April 2014 Departing Stop M (Hyde Park Corner Station)
    RM1640
    26 April 2014
    Departing Stop M (Hyde Park Corner Station)
Kensington Road
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Westbound route 9 buses on Kensington Road after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Kensington High Street)

Kensington High Street
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Westbound route 9 buses on Kensington High Street after 12 Nov 2010 (ie ordinarily terminating at Kensington High Street)

Route 9 buses in unknown locations

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  • RM1204 23 November 2008 Passengers on board, blinds set for Royal Albert Hall
    RM1204
    23 November 2008
    Passengers on board, blinds set for Royal Albert Hall
  • RM1218 27 March 2014 Somewhere in Trafalgar Square
    RM1218
    27 March 2014
    Somewhere in Trafalgar Square

Route 9 buses off route

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