London Buses route 23

23
Overview
Operator	Tower Transit
Garage	Westbourne Park (X)
Vehicle	Alexander Dennis Enviro400H 10.2m Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.2m
Peak vehicle requirement	31
Night-time	24-hour service
Route
Start	Westbourne Park station
Via	Ladbroke Grove Paddington Oxford Circus Aldwych
End	Liverpool Street bus station
Length	8.78 miles (14.13 km)
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	7-10 minutes
Journey time	46-95 minutes
Operates	24-hour service

London Buses route 23 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Westbourne Park station and Liverpool Street bus station, it is operated by Tower Transit (London).

First London AEC Routemaster on The Strand in January 2003

First London Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2 in May 2011

History

Route 23 was introduced on 18 July 1992 between Liverpool Street and Westbourne Park from First Centrewest's Westbourne Park garage.

In January 2009, the route's peak frequency was reduced from twelve buses per hour to ten, as part of Transport for London's policy of reducing the number of buses using Oxford Street in order to reduce congestion and pollution by 10% in 2009 and a further 10% in 2010. The off-peak service already operated at this frequency. On 5 January 2009, a bus operating on the route crashed into a shop in Westbourne Grove after swerving to avoid a van, injuring ten people.

Later in 2009, Transport for London decided not to proceed with a possible change of the eastbound route in the Elgin Crescent area, following a consultation with residents and local interest groups. The proposal would have routed the eastbound 23 along Ladbroke Gardens instead of Elgin Crescent, while routes 52 and 452 would continue to run along Elgin Crescent in both directions. The most common benefit stated amongst supporters was fewer buses along the overcrowded Elgin Crescent; those opposing the change were concerned about safety at the junction of Ladbroke Grove and Ladbroke Gardens, and the suitability of Ladbroke Gardens to accommodate a bus service.

AEC Routemasters were introduced in July 1992, Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2 double deckers were introduced in November 2003, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double deckers were introduced in May 2008, Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL double deckers were temporarily introduced in January 2012 and Alexander Dennis Enviro400H double deckers were introduced in May 2013.

First London had successfully retained route 23 with a new contract starting on 13 November 2010 and was included in the sale of First London's Westbourne Park garage to Tower Transit on 22 June 2013.

Tower Transit has successfully retained route 23 with a new contract starting on 14 November 2015.

In popular culture

Radio presenter Geoff Lloyd featured the route in the show Boring? The number 23 bus? Never! at the Boring Conference in December 2010.

Radio presenters Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo discussed if the number 23 bus route was in fact more interesting than the movie The Number 23 starring Jim Carrey.

According to Google Maps this service runs between Charing Cross (Trafalgar Square) and Paddington Station in less than one minute, making it one of the fastest bus services in the world.

Current route

Route 23 operates via these primary locations:

• Westbourne Park station
• Ladbroke Grove Sainsbury's
• Ladbroke Grove station
• Paddington station
• Marble Arch station
• Oxford Circus station
• Regent Street
• Piccadilly Circus station
• Charing Cross station
• Strand
• Aldwych
• City Thameslink station
• St Paul's Cathedral
• Mansion House station
• Bank station
• Liverpool Street bus station for Liverpool Street station

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Timetable