Addington Village service changes

Back in November, Croydon saw major changes to the bus services in the Addington area. Many saw the withdrawal of two famous T-prefixed routes alongside one being renumbered. These changes were implemented in order to help save money and make use of the many routes Non-T routes that live today. The T-routes were an important part of Croydon's transport system as they ferried tram passengers around where the trams were not able to go. They were also the suggested alternative when the Tramink was undergoing a major modernization scheme.
Here's a bit of history about the routes:

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-  Route T31 began operating in 2000. It was operated by First Centrewest in their Orpington garage, it was allocated 10.2m Dennis Marshall bodied Dart SLFs. The Peak Vehicle Requirement was 10. The route served many of the areas in New Addington that Routes 64,130 and 314 didn't serve such as; King Henry's drive and Vulcan Way. After a week operating it, the route was then extended to Forestdale and the The Peak Vehicle requirement was changed to 11. In May 2007, the contract was won by Arriva London South from their South Croydon garage with a batch of new Enviro200 Darts.

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-  Route T32 also began operation in 2000. It was also operated by First Centrewest at their Orpington garage, a like its partner; T31, T32 was also allocated a 10.2m Dennis Marshall bodied Dart SLFs. The route had a Peak Vehicle Requirement of 3 buses. It too served areas which Routes 64,130 and 314 did not serve like Headley Drive. In December 2008, the contract was won by Metrobus from their Croydon garage. It was allocated the Plaxton Pointer bodied Dart SLFs spare from route 353 in which route 353 was double-decked. It then had a Peak Vehicle Requirement decrease to 1.

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- Route T33 began operating the same year as its sisters; T31 and T32. It replaced the withdrawn section of route 353 between Croydon and Addington Village. It was allocated 10.8m Plaxton Pointer bodied Dart SLFs and operated from Metrobus' Orpington garage. The route had a Peak Vehicle Requirement of 8. In May 2012, Abellio won the contract to operate the route from their Beddington Cross garage with a batch of brand new Enviro 200 E20Ds.



Many of the Addington changes included:

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Here ENL29 is seen at Addington Village on route T31 to Forestdale.
This route has since been withdrawn. 

• The complete withdrawal of route T31 between Forestdale and New Addington (Homestead Way)
• Route 353 has been granted an extension to Forestdale to replace the withdrawn section of route T31 between Forestdale and Addington Village.
• Route 64 and 130 have been rerouted to serve the withdrawn section of route T31 and have both been extended to Vulcan Way
• School route 664 will continue to terminate at Homestead Way with no change.

 

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Here 923 is seen at Addington Village having completed
a journey on route T32 from New Addington
This route has been withdrawn.

• The complete withdrawal of route T32 between Addington Village and New Addington.
• Route T32 has been replaced with the changes of routes 64 and 130

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Here 8785 is seen at Addington Village having done a journey
on route T33 from West Croydon

• Route T33 being renumbered to 433 following the withdrawal of the T-prefix route system, the route remains with no change.

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Here WHV45 is seen at Poplar Walk, West Croydon on its way
to Vulcan Way, New Addington

• Route 64 as prior to T31 section, has been rerouted and extended to Vulcan Way, New Addington via Homestead Way.
• Route N64 has been withdrawn and replaced with a 24-hour 64 instead. It will continue to serve Route 64's current routing as normal.
• Route 359 has been extended to Purley via Sanderstead using spare MCV Evolution bodied MAN 12.240s from Route 202.

Many of the locals have noticed the change but feel that perhaps its for the best, I, myself; not a local but very, very, frequent visitor to Croydon definitely will miss the T-branded routes but  feels its for the best. 

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to swing a comment below :)