Routes that CAN’T be ‘decked’

[Deleted]

Hi all, I thought I’d start a thread about all the routes that cannot possibly run with double deckers. The purpose is to help those with route ideas and whether or not they are suitable for the vehicles they want to use. I’m sure I’ll miss out some and get some wrong so bear with me but I’ll keep the list updated as more of your facts come in. Please feel free to use the thread as a debate too, just to keep it interesting but try keep the topic to single vs double deck as much as possible. Here we go!!!

33: Weight restriction Hammersmith Bridge, Hammersmith
72: Weight restriction Hammersmith Bridge, Hammersmith

108: Low clearance Blackwall Tunnel northbound, North Greenwich
117: Low bridge St. John’s Road, Isleworth
124: Small roads and tight turns in Downham
130: Low bridge Portland Road, Norwood Junction
146: Narrow lanes, trees and limited passing places High Street, Downe
162: Turns between Domonic Drive and Molescroft, New Eltham
167: Low bridge Roding Road, Loughton
170: Low bridge Lombard Road, Battersea
181: Low bridge Southend Lane, Lower Sydenham
192: Narrow roads and tight turns in Bush Hill Park area, Enfield
193: Narrow roads and parked cars on Ascot Gardens, Hornchurch

201: Low bridge Thurlow Park Road, Tulse Hill
209: Weight restriction Hammersmith Bridge, Hammersmith
223: Narrow road with limited passing places The Avenue, Wembley
225: Low bridges Sanford Street and Surrey Canal Road, New Cross
226: Low bridge Twyford Abbey Road, Hanger Lane
227: Low bridge Bromley Road, Shortlands
228: Low bridge Old Oak Common Lane, East Acton
255: Narrow lanes with limited passing places Old Devonshire Road, Clapham Park
272: Low bridge Fishers Lane, Acton Green
276: Low bridges Manor Road, West Ham and Fairfield Road, Bow
284: Low bridge Bexhill Road, Catford
286: Low trees, Frognal Avenue, Sidcup
299: ?

300:
309:
314: Low bridge Elmstead Lane, Elmstead Woods
315: Low bridge Bedford Hill, Balham
318: Low bridge Lordship Lane, Haringey
322: Narrow road with parked vehicles Gipsy Road, West Norwood
323: Low bridge, Bow Common Lane, Bow
325:
326:
327:
336: Low bridge Homesdale Road, Bromley
339: Low Bridge Grove Green Road, Leytonstone
346: Low bridge St. Mary’s Lane, Cranham
347: Low bridge St. Mary’s Lane, Cranham
352: Low bridge Southend Lane, Lower Sydenham
354:
356:
357: Height restriction Hospital Road, Whipps Cross University Hospital
358: Low bridge Bromley Road, Shortlands
360: Low bridge Black Prince Road, Lambeth
362: Narrow road with parked vehicles The Lowe, Hainault
364:
366: Narrow road with parked vehicles Eton Road, Ilford
367: Narrow roads with parked vehicles Primrose Lane, Addiscombe
376:
377:
379: Narrow roads with parked vehicles Hawkwood Crescent and Drysdale Avenue, Lee Valley
383:
384:
385:
386:
389:
393:
394:
397:
398:
399:

404:
410: Narrow road with parked vehicles Maberley Road, Crystal Palace
413:
419: Weight restriction Hammersmith Bridge, Hammersmith
424: Narrow roads and tight turns Sands End and Craven Cottage areas, Fulham
433:
434: Narrow roads and parked vehicles on Ridgemount Avenue and Woodlands Grove, Rickman Hill
440: Low bridge Fishers Lane, Acton Green
450: Narrow road with parked vehicles Queen’s Road, Croydon
455: Low bridge Old Lodge Lane, Reedham
462: Low bridge Forest Road, Fairlop
463: Narrow roads and parked vehicles on Whitethorn Avenue and The Mount, Coulsdon
464: Narrow lanes Saltbox Hill, Westerham
465:
470: Low bridge Station Road, Cheam
481:
484: Narrow road and parked vehicles Brookbank Road, Brockley
485: Weight restriction Hammersmith Bridge, Hammersmith
488: Low bridges Fairfield Road, Bow and Kenworthy Road, Homerton
491:

549:

609: Weight restriction, Hammersmith bridge, Hammersmith
631: Narrow roads and tight turns Hampstead Garden Suburb
646: Low bridge St. Mary’s Lane, Cranham
648: Low bridge St. Mary’s Lane, Cranham
665: Low trees Elgar Avenue, Berrylands

965:

B11: Narrow roads Lodge Hill, Welling and Overton Road, Abbey Wood
B13 : Narrow roads Ramillies Road, Blackfen.
B14 : Narrow roads in Albany Park area.

C1:
C10:
C11: Low bridges Gordon House Road, Gospel Oak

D3: Low bridges Vallance Road, Bethnal Green

E5:
E6:
E10:
E11:

G1: Narrow roads and tight turns Shaftesbury Estate, Battersea

H2: Narrow roads and tight turns Hampstead Garden Suburb
H3: Narrow roads and tight turns Hampstead Garden Suburb
H9: Low bridge Headstone Drive, Wealdstone
H10: Low bridge Headstone Drive, Wealdstone
H11:
H13: Narrow road with parked vehicles Wiltshire Lane, Northwood
H17:
H20: Narrow roads and tight turns Central Avenue, Hounslow
H22:
H25:
H26:
H28: Low bridge Spring Grove Road, Lampton
H37: Low bridge St. John’s Road, Isleworth

K1:
K2: Low bridge Coombe Road, Norbiton
K3: Low bridge Coombe Road, Norbiton
K4: Low bridge Coombe Road, Norbiton
K5: Low bridge Coombe Road, Norbiton

P5: Low bridges Thessaly Road, Nine Elms, Stewart’s Road, Nine Elms, Loughborough Road, Loughborough Junction, Bedford Road, Clapham and Coldharbour Lane, Brixton
P12: Low bridge Gibbon Road, Nunhead
P13: Low bridge Thurlow Park Road, Tulse Hill

R1:
R2:
R3:
R4:
R5: Narrow lanes Cudham Lane, Cudham
R6:
R7: Narrow lanes Hewitts Road, Knockholt
R8:
R10: Narrow lanes Cudham Lane, Cudham

S1: Narrow road with parked vehicles Robertsbridge Road, St. Helier
S3: Low bridge Langley Park Road, Sutton
S4:

U2: Narrow road with parked vehicles Granville Road, Hillingdon

W4: Narrow roads and tight turns Broadwater Farm Estate, Haringey
W5: Narrow road with parked vehicles Stanhope Road, Highgate
W6: Narrow roads with parked vehicles Northern Avenue and Victoria Road, Edmonton Green
W9:
W10:
W11:
W12: Height restriction Hospital Road, Whipps Cross University Hospital
W14:
W15: Low bridge Grove Green Road, Leytonstone and height restriction Hospital Road, Whipps Cross University Hospital
W16: Low bridge Hainault Road, Leyton
W19: Height restriction Hospital Road, Whipps Cross University Hospital

*****Updated 29 May 2018*****

[paulsw2]

Dec 21, 2017 22:38:53 GMT @metroman said:

Hi all, I thought I’d start a thread about all the routes that cannot possibly run with double deckers. The purpose is to help those with route ideas and whether or not they are suitable for the vehicles they want to use. I’m sure I’ll miss out some and get some wrong so bear with me but I’ll keep the list updated as more of your facts come in. Please feel free to use the thread as a debate too, just to keep it interesting but try keep the topic to single vs double deck as much as possible. Here we go!!!

33: Hammersmith Bridge.
39: Roads around Southfields.
46: ? I assume this CAN be decked?
72: Hammersmith Bridge
84: ? I think this one can run with deckers
100: Shadwell (?)
108: Blackwall Tunnel
117: Low bridge St. John’s Road, Isleworth
124: Small roads? Where?
130: Bridge Weight restriction?
146: Small roads? Where?
153: Small roads? Where?
162: Small roads? Where?
167: Any low bridges or tight turns?
170: Low bridge Lombard Road, Battersea
187: ?
192: Small roads? Where?
193: Small roads? Where?
206: Queens Park area Roads?
209: Hammersmith Bridge
223: The Avenue, Wembley?
224: ?
225: ?
226: Roads in Ealing?
227: ?
228: Low bridge Old Oak Common Lane, East Acton
232: St. Raphael’s Estate?
233: ?
234: ?
235: Sunbury? NBQ?
255: ?
272: Emlyn Road? Chiswick Grove Park Roads?
273: Small roads? Where?
284: ?
286: ?
288: ?
291: ?
298: ?
299: ?

Plenty of help required obviously so let’s keep it fun!

I’ll do 300+ later

Route 227 and any route that passes under the railway at Shortlands has to be Single decker because of the low bridge I believe the 227 is the longest single decker route (in years not route length)

[busoccultation]

130 passes a low bridge at Norwood Junction.
167 passes a low bridge on Roding Road near Loughton.
227 and 358 both passes a low bridge at Shortlands hence why both routes uses full size single deckers.

[redexpress]

Dec 21, 2017 22:38:53 GMT @metroman said:

Hi all, I thought I’d start a thread about all the routes that cannot possibly run with double deckers. The purpose is to help those with route ideas and whether or not they are suitable for the vehicles they want to use. I’m sure I’ll miss out some and get some wrong so bear with me but I’ll keep the list updated as more of your facts come in. Please feel free to use the thread as a debate too, just to keep it interesting but try keep the topic to single vs double deck as much as possible. Here we go!!!

33: Hammersmith Bridge.
39: Roads around Southfields.
46: ? I assume this CAN be decked?
72: Hammersmith Bridge
84: ? I think this one can run with deckers
100: Shadwell (?)
108: Blackwall Tunnel
117: Low bridge St. John’s Road, Isleworth
124: Small roads? Where?
130: Bridge Weight restriction?
146: Small roads? Where?
153: Small roads? Where?
162: Small roads? Where?
167: Any low bridges or tight turns?
170: Low bridge Lombard Road, Battersea
187: ?
192: Small roads? Where?
193: Small roads? Where?
206: Queens Park area Roads?
209: Hammersmith Bridge
223: The Avenue, Wembley?
224: ?
225: ?
226: Roads in Ealing?
227: ?
228: Low bridge Old Oak Common Lane, East Acton
232: St. Raphael’s Estate?
233: ?
234: ?
235: Sunbury? NBQ?
255: ?
272: Emlyn Road? Chiswick Grove Park Roads?
273: Small roads? Where?
284: ?
286: ?
288: ?
291: ?
298: ?
299: ?

Plenty of help required obviously so let’s keep it fun!

I’ll do 300+ later

46: only issue could be the arch bridge at Kentish Town West - this is OK for DDs but with caution.  Rail replacements do use DDs here.
84: often uses DDs.
100: think it's only tight turns around Shadwell / Wapping that are a problem.
167: low bridge at Loughton.
187: OK for DDs, Thorpes used to put the odd DD out.
192: needs small buses for tight turns round the back streets of Enfield.
206: Queen's Park should be OK, DDs have run that way on diversion.  Not sure about back streets of Willesden.
225: low bridge between Surrey Quays and New Cross.
226: low bridge near Hanger Lane.
227: low bridge at Shortlands.
232: has run with DDs in the past.
272: very low bridge in Chiswick.
286: DDs do operate.
288: DDs do operate.
291: has been cleared for DDs.
298: often uses DDs.

[Deleted]

Thanks guys, remember I’m ONLY looking for routes that absolutely CANNOT take DDs for safety reasons. Whether or not the companies concerned will run them or whether they’re suitable for route length/demand should be disregarded

[sid]

Dec 21, 2017 22:38:53 GMT @metroman said:

Hi all, I thought I’d start a thread about all the routes that cannot possibly run with double deckers. The purpose is to help those with route ideas and whether or not they are suitable for the vehicles they want to use. I’m sure I’ll miss out some and get some wrong so bear with me but I’ll keep the list updated as more of your facts come in. Please feel free to use the thread as a debate too, just to keep it interesting but try keep the topic to single vs double deck as much as possible. Here we go!!!

33: Hammersmith Bridge.
39: Roads around Southfields.
46: ? I assume this CAN be decked?
72: Hammersmith Bridge
84: ? I think this one can run with deckers
100: Shadwell (?)
108: Blackwall Tunnel
117: Low bridge St. John’s Road, Isleworth
124: Small roads? Where?
130: Bridge Weight restriction?
146: Small roads? Where?
153: Small roads? Where?
162: Small roads? Where?
167: Any low bridges or tight turns?
170: Low bridge Lombard Road, Battersea
187: ?
192: Small roads? Where?
193: Small roads? Where?
206: Queens Park area Roads?
209: Hammersmith Bridge
223: The Avenue, Wembley?
224: ?
225: ?
226: Roads in Ealing?
227: ?
228: Low bridge Old Oak Common Lane, East Acton
232: St. Raphael’s Estate?
233: ?
234: ?
235: Sunbury? NBQ?
255: ?
272: Emlyn Road? Chiswick Grove Park Roads?
273: Small roads? Where?
284: ?
286: ?
288: ?
291: ?
298: ?
299: ?

Plenty of help required obviously so let’s keep it fun!

I’ll do 300+ later

39 Can accommodate double deckers as far as I'm aware

46 Can be double decked and has been in the past. Seems drivers are no longer trusted to negotiate the arched bridge at Kentish Town West.

124 Narrow roads North Downham estate.

130 Low bridge at Norwood Junction. Could be routed around it but would be time consuming and single deckers are adequate.

146 Narrow roads in Downe, has previously been RT/RM operated by not OPO double deckers.

162 Narrow roads Longlands area.

166 Trees between Chipstead Valley and Banstead.

[Deleted]

I’ll update the list tomorrow when I have more replies and time. Keep them coming boys and girls!!

[Deleted]

Thanks redexpress and sid in particular. A lot of corrections and additions in a short time! Thanks to everyone, more from me tomorrow

[snoggle]

Many moons ago the 153 ran with double deckers. Don't think there are any height issues on the route despite it being rather longer than back then.

Pretty sure the 187 also saw double deckers a long while back too although the O2 centre might be an issue now - can't remember if there are height restrictors at the entrance or not.

No issues for DDs in St Raphaels from what I can remember. I'm sure 232 has had DD workings in the past.

No issues for the 235 to Sunbury. Used to see RMLs and Olympians a long while back. Can't see any issues at NBQ other than the over-entitled residents moaning as usual.


Ian Armstrong's www.londonbuses.co.uk historical website is a great help for seeing route and allocation histories.

[I-Azusio-I]

Dec 21, 2017 22:51:26 GMT redexpress said:

Dec 21, 2017 22:38:53 GMT @metroman said:

Hi all, I thought I’d start a thread about all the routes that cannot possibly run with double deckers. The purpose is to help those with route ideas and whether or not they are suitable for the vehicles they want to use. I’m sure I’ll miss out some and get some wrong so bear with me but I’ll keep the list updated as more of your facts come in. Please feel free to use the thread as a debate too, just to keep it interesting but try keep the topic to single vs double deck as much as possible. Here we go!!!

33: Hammersmith Bridge.
39: Roads around Southfields.
46: ? I assume this CAN be decked?
72: Hammersmith Bridge
84: ? I think this one can run with deckers
100: Shadwell (?)
108: Blackwall Tunnel
117: Low bridge St. John’s Road, Isleworth
124: Small roads? Where?
130: Bridge Weight restriction?
146: Small roads? Where?
153: Small roads? Where?
162: Small roads? Where?
167: Any low bridges or tight turns?
170: Low bridge Lombard Road, Battersea
187: ?
192: Small roads? Where?
193: Small roads? Where?
206: Queens Park area Roads?
209: Hammersmith Bridge
223: The Avenue, Wembley?
224: ?
225: ?
226: Roads in Ealing?
227: ?
228: Low bridge Old Oak Common Lane, East Acton
232: St. Raphael’s Estate?
233: ?
234: ?
235: Sunbury? NBQ?
255: ?
272: Emlyn Road? Chiswick Grove Park Roads?
273: Small roads? Where?
284: ?
286: ?
288: ?
291: ?
298: ?
299: ?

Plenty of help required obviously so let’s keep it fun!

I’ll do 300+ later

225: low bridge between Surrey Quays and New Cross.

To be slightly pedantic, there’s actually two low bridges along the New Cross - Surrey Quays section.
One on Sanford Street (just before making the turn towards the Grinstead Road / Surrey Canal Road junction) and one along the northern end of Surrey Canal Road itself (just before reaching Surrey Quays and near Deptford Park).

[RandomBusesGirl]

Trees at St Raphael's have grown really low and that's what's hindering 232 at the moment. But route saw DDs in the past.

Here's some random snippets from me:

RV1: trees by Oxo Tower have grown massively, with low-hanging branches sometimes touching SD buses. Sadly DDs of the past are ruled out currently
236: just trees
521: Strand Underpass - but only in one direction!
394: small roads, low bridge (can't remember exactly where but near some Hackney college if I recall correctly)
276: low bridge near West Ham sadly
323: low bridge
488: low bridge at Homerton
465: trees in Mickleham area, wasn't always an issue
251: trees and posh residents I believe. Which are silly reasons tbh
331: low trees
U2: trees and low hanging wires (that one that slipped out *just* made it)
H13: low hanging wires I believe and some trees
P5: a lot of low bridges!
P13: low bridge near Tulse Hill and small roads.
201: affected by the same bridge as P13 goes under
C10: low bridge unfortunately
143: a tighter road with Hail&Ride and nimbys... School shorts run though
184: same as above in all aspects

290: had DDs in the past but is unfortunate to be at SD-only garage
490: SD-only garage sadly, though decker tube strike extras have been known to run on it in the past
355: finally has some DD workings
507: look up a picture of an Oly on this I'd pay big money for somebody to replicate this!


463 & 470 both can actually take a decker at a push, fun fact.

[LT 20181]

Routes H9/H10 - Low bridge at Harrow & Wealdstone

[planesandtrains]

Route H22- low branches in the Whitton/Kneller hall area- however all DD's at HH and AV have the H22 on their blinds.
Route H37- low bridge in Isleworth
All of the 'K' routes due to a low bridge at Norbiton Station- the K3 would also face some tree issues on it's Surrey portion of route

[RandomBusesGirl]

Dec 21, 2017 23:39:45 GMT planesandtrains said:

All of the 'K' routes due to a low bridge at Norbiton Station- the K3 would also face some tree issues on it's Surrey portion of route

On top of this K3 has like 2-3 subsequent low bridges on the Surrey section of the route. Very unfortunate.
K2 I think has another low bridge somewhere on the Berrylands section, one that keeps 665 single-deck too

[snoggle]

Dec 21, 2017 23:31:50 GMT RandomBusesGirl said:

507: look up a picture of an Oly on this I'd pay big money for somebody to replicate this!

www.flickr.com/photos/24759744@N02/3391368135/

www.flickr.com/photos/24759744@N02/3391368687/

Both my photos.