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| Company History |
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| 1981 |
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Forestdale to Croydon peak hour service (route 355) commenced operation on 2nd March by Tillingbourne (Metropolitan) Limited from a base at Biggin Hill, following the collapse of Orpington & District.
Orpington to Croydon services (353 and 357) introduced on 21st April and Forestdale services supplemented to reinstate a comprehensive Monday to Saturday service, operated from a depot at St Pauls Cray.
A coach excursion programme introduced in the summer.
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| 1982 |
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Tillingbourne (Metropolitan) fleet moved to former Orpington & District premises at Green Street Green. Routes 353/355/357 expanded to cope with increased demand. Route 354 and summer service 350 (Orpington to Brighton) introduced. First double-decker bus joined the fleet.
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| 1983 |
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On 23rd September Gary Wood and Peter Larking complete negotiations to buy the other Director's shares in Tillingbourne (Metropolitan) Ltd and form Metrobus Limited.
24th September - Metrobus - the first day of operation with a fleet of six vehicles operating from the Green Street Green depot on routes 350,353,354,355,357 plus coach excursions and private charter.
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| 1984 |
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A year of consolidation with some expansion to the Orpington - Forestdale - Croydon corridor to cater for increasing passenger numbers.
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| 1985 |
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Garage premises expanded onto adjoining land at Green Street Green.
The first new bus purchased by the company entered service on 1st August.
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| 1986 |
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Contracts awarded to Metrobus for London Regional Transport (LRT) routes 61 and 361 to commence on 16th August. Fleet size reaches 24, including 3 coaches, after a number of Daimler Fleetlines are purchased for the new contracts.
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| 1987 |
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A further LRT contract awarded to Metrobus, for route 261 commencing on 21st November. Eleven Leyland Olympian double-deckers acquired for the purpose.
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| 1988 |
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Freehold of the Green Street Green site purchased and premises further expanded, but some land re-sold or leased to neighbouring tenants. The first Leyland Lynx single-decker joined the fleet and Londonlink route 705 was introduced. A new Gravesend network of routes was introduced on 20th August with eight Mercedes minibuses.
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| 1989 |
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Depot site and maintenance facilities improved. New purpose-built offices opened in August. Route 358 introduced.
Gravesend network sold to Kentish Bus on 31st December.
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| 1990 |
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Route 356 introduced and route 358 expanded.
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| 1991 |
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Route 351 (Bromley to Penge) introduced with four of the former Gravesend Mercedes returning from Kentish Bus.
Route 146 contract awarded by LRT and the first batch of seven Dennis Darts joined the fleet.
Southlands Coaches business and vehicles acquired.
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| 1992 |
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Route 358 expanded again to form a main trunk route between Orpington and Crystal Palace, operated by new Dennis Darts.
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| 1993 |
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Jasons Coaches acquired together with some adjacent land (which had been sold to Jasons in 1988) and Hoverspeed 'Citysprint' contract passes to Metrobus.
Tenth anniversary celebrated with the publication of "Metrobus - The Company's First Ten Years" by Andrew Boag.
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| 1994 |
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Increasing passenger numbers on route 358 necessitate the arrival of some larger Dennis Dart vehicles.
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| 1995 |
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Metrobus gains ISO9001 recognition but loses its first LRT contract for route 61. However routes 138 and 161 transferred from Kentish Bus at the same time (on 2nd December).
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| 1996 |
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Routes 181 and 284 re-assigned to Metrobus from Kentish Bus. Low-floor Optare Excels introduced on route 358 in August and new Volvo Olympians purchased for route 261 following the successful re-tender of the contract.
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| 1997 |
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East Surrey Bus Services purchased to form Metrobus East Surrey and establishing a depot at South Godstone. Metrobus South Coast formed to take over former Leisurelink contracts and some former Brighton & Hove/Brighton Blue Bus routes with a depot at Lewes. London Transport route 64 won on tender.
T & J coaches purchased together with further adjoining land at Green Street Green.
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| 1998 |
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London Transport route 233 won on tender, followed by routes 119 and 320. Further depot established at Swanley and coach tour and charter business franchised to operate from there as Southlands Travel Limited.
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| 1999 |
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A year of steady expansion and consolidation for the operations based at Godstone and Lewes. Metrobus joined the Go-Ahead Group plc on 3rd September.
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| 2000 |
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Contract to operate the new 'Gatwick Direct' service from Broadfield to Horley awarded to Metrobus, commencing in May with six new route-branded Mini-Pointer Darts.
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| 2001 |
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Fourth depot established at Crawley to operate new town network. Surrey County Council contract gains increase the fleet by a further 18 vehicles, taking the total to 280 buses.
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| 2002 |
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Transport for London route 64 retained on re-tender. New Scania Omnidekka vehicles ordered and these featured a red-based livery, a requirement of new TfL contracts.
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| 2003 |
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A year of huge expansion following the gain of further TfL contracts for routes 130, 405, 434 & 466 and the implementation of the Crawley & Gatwick Fastway guided-bus project. Despite the closure of Lewes depot in the summer, the fleet increased to 315 vehicles.
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| 2004 |
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A year of consolidation with further improvements made to the Crawley town network and some further gains in West Sussex. Fastway route 10 converted to 24-hour operation in May.
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| 2005 |
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Contract for route X26 awarded to Metrobus and TGM's Dartford operation (routes B14, R2, R6 and R8) taken over to increase fleet size to 335 buses. TfL route 127 transferred to Metrobus in December and operated from a new Croydon depot.
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| 2006 |
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Godstone depot closes in February with buses relocating to Croydon and Crawley depots. TfL routes 181 and 284 return to Metrobus.
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