London Buses route 394

London Buses route 394 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Homerton University Hospital and Angel Islington, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

394
CT Plus Optare Solo in Angel Islington in February 2014
Overview
OperatorStagecoach London
GarageAsh Grove
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC
Route
StartHomerton University Hospital
ViaHackney
London Fields
Haggerston
Bethnal Green
Hoxton
EndAngel Islington

History
CT Plus Caetano Slimbus bodied TransBus Dart SLF in April 2009

Route 394 originally commenced operating on 15 September 2001 as the Shoreditch Hoppa[1] under a London Service Permit.[2] It was developed to address the lack of public transport running east to west across Shoreditch and funded as part of the New Deal for Communities (NDC). The NDC appointed Hackney Community Transport to run the service following a competitive tendering process.[1]

The service initially ran at a half-hourly frequency between Tolpuddle Street in Islington and Broadway Market. It was operated with two Renault minibuses in a unique blue livery and served several roads with no other bus routes.[3] Passenger numbers rose rapidly to 2,200 per week and Transport for London agreed to integrate the Shoreditch Hoppa into the mainstream London Buses network, with a route number and inclusion on network maps.[1]

Transport for London awarded HCT Group subsidiary CT Plus a contract to operate route 394 from 3 May 2003.[4] Upon being re-tendered, CT Plus retained the route with a new contract commencing on 1 May 2010.[5] At the same time, the route was extended to Homerton and the vehicles on the route changed to low-floor Dennis Dart SLFs. The frequency of the route was increased; from initially using just two vehicles, it now requires 10 buses.[6]

In October 2009, a baby was born on a bus operating route 394. The baby was given the middle name Dennis after the manufacturer of the bus.[7]

On 29 April 2017, route 394 was retained by HCT Group with a new fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC buses introduced.[8]

On 27th August 2022, route 394 was included in the sale of HCT Group's ‘red bus’ operations to Stagecoach London.[9]

Current route

Route 394 operates via these primary locations:[10]

Route 394 links the busy boroughs of Hackney and Islington, and visits the culturally significant areas of London Fields and Hoxton. Its route was featured in Time Out London magazine in March 2009.[11]

References
  1. Making the Connections: Final Report on Transport and Social Exclusion, report by Social Exclusion Unit of HM Government, February 2003
  2. 1997 - 2003 on HCT Group website, retrieved 2009-10-18
  3. Aldridge, John (October 2001). "Hackney's Harriers herald East End innovation". Buses. Ian Allan Publishing (559): 13.
  4. Our red bus routes on HCT Group website, retrieved 2009-10-09
  5. Bus tender results Route 394 Transport for London 29 October 2009
  6. Aldridge, John (January 2011). "In London: North of the Thames, hail-&-ride is alive and thriving". Buses. Ian Allan Publishing (670): 25.
  7. Irvine, Chris (27 October 2009). "Baby born on London bus named Dennis after manufacturer". Daily Telegraph.
  8. "Bus Tenders: 2017". London Connected. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  9. "Stagecoach completes purchase of HCT Group TfL work". RouteOne. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  10. Route 394 Map Transport for London
  11. Bus Route 394: Angel Islington to Hackney Time Out London, 2 March 2009

Media related to London Buses route 394 at Wikimedia Commons

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