View source for Blue Triangle

{{Short description|Bus company operating services in East London}}
{{About|the London bus operating company|the Nazi concentration camp badge|Blue triangle|the butterfly|Graphium sarpedon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name            = Blue Triangle
|logo            =
|image           = Blue Triangle GAL - EBD36 - Route 101.jpg
|image_size      = 300
|image_caption   = [[BYD BD11]] on route 101 at [[Beckton#Beckton_bus_station|Beckton bus station]] in January 2025
|company_slogan  =
|parent          = [[Go-Ahead London]]
|founded         = 1999
|headquarters    = [[Barking, London|Barking]]
|locale          =
|service_area    = [[East London]]
|service_type    = Bus operator
|hubs            = Barking, Barking Riverside, Canning Town, Beckton
|stations        =
|routes          = 31 (April 2024)
|depots          = 2
|fleet           =
|ridership       =
|fuel_type       = Diesel, Hybrid and Electric
|operator        =
|ceo             = Gary Meek <ref>https://bluetriangle.org.uk/gary-meek-announced-as-new-ceo/</ref>
|website         = [https://www.goaheadlondon.com/ www.goaheadlondon.com]}}

'''Blue Triangle''' is a bus operator brand under '''London General Transport Services Limited''',<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02328489 Companies House extract company no 2328489] London General Transport Services Limited</ref> [[trading as]] '''Go-Ahead London'''. It operates services in [[East London]] under contract to [[Transport for London]]. It is the operator of the [[East London Transit]] service.
{{TOClimit}}

==History==
[[File:Blue Triangle logo.PNG|thumb|Original Blue Triangle logo]]
[[File:East-London-Transit-Demonstration-Bus1.jpg|thumb|[[Wright Eclipse Gemini 2]] bodied [[Volvo B9TL]] with [[East London Transit]] branding]]
[[File:Blue Triangle TL903 V903 FEC.jpg|thumb|[[East Lancs Lolyne]] bodied [[Dennis Trident 2]]]]
[[File:Blue Triangle DP189 EJ52 WXC.jpg|thumb|Two Blue Triangle [[Dennis Dart SLF]]s on [[London Buses route 372|route 372]] at [[Lakeside Shopping Centre]]]]
In August 2002, Blue Triangle took over [[London Buses route 185|route 185]] at short notice after London Easylink ceased trading.<ref>No blinds needed, it's a 185 ''[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]]'' issue 572 November 2002</ref>

On 29 June 2007, Blue Triangle was purchased by the [[Go-Ahead Group]].<ref>[http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/archive/2007-06-29.aspx Acquisition of Blue Triangle Buses Limited] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011202437/http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/archive/2007-06-29.aspx |date=11 October 2013 }} Go-Ahead Group 29 June 2007</ref> The sale included eight [[Transport for London]] and nine [[Essex County Council]] routes and approximately 60 buses, but not the charter fleet which were retained by Roger Wright trading as The London Bus Company.<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06304920 The London Bus Company Limited] Companies House</ref>

==Garages==
===River Road (RR)===
As of April 2024, River Road garage operates routes [[London Buses route 5|5]], [[London Buses route 101|101]], [[London Buses route 104|104]], [[London Buses route 147|147]], [[London Buses route 304|304]], [[London Buses route 325|325]], [[London Buses route 364|364]], [[London Buses route 366|366]], [[London Buses route 368|368]], [[London Buses route 396|396]], [[London Buses route 608|608]], [[London Buses route 646|646]], [[London Buses route 652|652]], [[London Buses route 656|656]], [[London Buses route 677|677]], [[London Buses route 679|679]], [[London Buses route 686|686]], [[London Buses route 687|687]], [[London Buses route EL1|EL1]], [[London Buses route EL2|EL2]], [[London Buses route EL3|EL3]] and [[London Buses route N15|N15]]. Some buses are regularly shared with Henley Road garage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/who-runs-your-bus|title=Who runs your bus|website=Transport for London|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref>

====History====
In May 2016 a new garage opened on River Road in [[Barking, London|Barking]]. It initially opened with an allocation of 22 buses to operate [[London Buses route 147|route 147]] but has a capacity for 155 buses. It was built on the site of a former [[Ford of Britain|Ford]] commercial vehicle sales and repair site.<ref>[http://www.goaheadlondon.com/news/post/our-new-garage-based-at-river-road-barking-ig11-opened-on-saturday-7-may-2016 Our new garage based at River Road, Barking opened on Saturday 7 May 2016] Go-Ahead London</ref><ref>Go Ahead's 7m new Barking garage ''Buses'' issue 736 July 2016 page 25</ref> In July 2016, all of the routes and buses from Rainham garage were transferred.<ref name=Buses737>"Short Hops" ''Buses'' issue 737 August 2016 page 27</ref>

===Henley Road (DS)===
As of April 2024, Henley Road garage operates routes [[London Buses route 5|5]] (Early/late trips from route [[London Buses route N15|N15]]s allocation), [[London Buses route 15|15]], [[London Buses route 69|69]], [[London Buses route 115|115]], [[London Buses route 129|129]], [[London Buses route 330|330]], [[London Buses route 376|376]], [[London Buses route 473|473]], [[London Buses route 474|474]], [[London Buses route 651|651]], [[London Buses route D3|D3]], [[London Buses route SL4|SL4]] and [[London Buses route N15|N15]]. Some buses are regularly shared with River Road garage(like route 5).<ref name=KCarr119>{{cite book|last1=Carr|first1=Ken|title=The London Bus Guide|date=May 2015|publisher=Visions International Entertainment|location=Boreham|isbn=978-0-9931735-3-0|page=119|edition=5}}</ref> This garage also acts as a storage for the [[Here East]] bus fleet.

==Former garage==
===Rainham (BE)===
As of May 2015, Rainham garage operated routes [[London Buses route 167|167]], [[London Buses route 193|193]], [[London Buses route 300|300]], [[London Buses route 347|347]], [[London Buses route 362|362]], [[London Buses route 364|364]], [[London Buses route 368|368]], [[London Buses route 376|376]], [[London Buses route 462|462]], [[London Buses route 498|498]], [[London Buses route 608|608]], [[London Buses route 646|646]], [[London Buses route 648|648]], [[London Buses route 649|649]], [[London Buses route 650|650]], [[London Buses route 651|651]], [[London Buses route 652|652]], [[London Buses route 656|656]], [[London Buses route 667|667]], [[London Buses route 674|674]], [[London Buses route 679|679]], [[London Buses route 686|686]], [[London Buses route EL1|EL1]], [[London Buses route EL2|EL2]] and [[London Buses route W19|W19]].<ref name=KCarr113>{{cite book|last1=Carr|first1=Ken|title=The London Bus Guide|date=May 2015|publisher=Visions International Entertainment|location=Boreham|isbn=978-0-9931735-3-0|page=113|edition=5}}</ref> On 27 June 2015, route 498 passed to [[Stagecoach London]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Carr|first1=Ken|title=The London Bus Guide|date=May 2015|publisher=Visions International Entertainment|location=Boreham|isbn=978-0-9931735-3-0|page=122|edition=5}}</ref> In July 2016 the garage was announced closed with all operations transferred to River Road garage.<ref name=Buses737/>

==Previous routes operated==
*[[London Buses route 372|Route 372]] was won on a temporary contract as part replacement for route 324 which ran between [[Romford Market]] and [[Bluewater (shopping centre)|Bluewater Shopping Centre]]. Blue Triangle was awarded the temporary contract using four second hand [[Plaxton Pointer]] bodied [[Dennis Dart]]s. In March 2004, Blue Triangle retained the contract for another five years. This route has since passed to [[Stagecoach London]].<ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=524 Bus tender results Route 372] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927210454/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=524 |date=27 September 2013 }} Transport for London 17 July 2008</ref>
* In 2001 Blue Triangle commenced operating [[London Buses route 248|route 248]]. In September 2008, the passed to [[Stagecoach London]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130906072431/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=502 Bus tender results Route 248] Transport for London 28 March 2008</ref>
* [[London Buses route 375|Route 375]] was won on a temporary contract as a part replacement to Essex County Council route 500, which was withdrawn between [[Ongar, Essex|Ongar]] and Romford, Transport for London stepped in with this replacement service using just one bus. On 4 July 2009 this passed to [[Arriva Kent Thameside]].<ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=683 Bus tender results Route 375] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927052210/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=683 |date=27 September 2013 }} Transport for London 6 April 2009</ref>
* In September 2003 Blue Triangle commenced operating [[London Buses route 66|route 66]]. In September 2010 this passed to [[Arriva Southern Counties]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130906221046/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=659 Bus tender results Route 66] Transport for London 10 December 2009</ref>
* On 3 November 2007 Blue Triangle commenced operating [[London Buses route 368|route 368]]. On 26 March 2011 this passed to [[First London]] but was re-acquired on 22 June 2013.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130906221128/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=788 Bus tender results Route 368] Transport for London 27 July 2010</ref>
* In September 2001 Blue Triangle commenced operating [[London Buses route 648|route 648]]. On 3 September 2011 this route passed to First London but was re-acquired on 22 June 2013.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130906221128/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=870 Bus tender results Route 648] Transport for London 23 December 2010</ref>
* In March 2012 Blue Triangle commenced operating [[London Buses route 20|route 20]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130905225807/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/tenderresults/route.aspx?btID=923 Bus tender results Route 20] Transport for London 21 July 2011</ref>

==Special vehicles==
Blue Triangle owned a number of special vehicles including an ex [[Green Line Coaches|Green Line]] [[AEC Routemaster]], ex London Routemasters and [[AEC Regent III RT]]s for use on charter duties. These vehicles were not included in the sale to Go-Ahead Group and remain in the ownership of Roger Wright's London Bus Company.<ref>[http://www.thelondonbuscompany.co.uk/ Welcome to The London Bus Company] London Bus Company</ref>

==Fleet==
As at May 2015, Blue Triangle's London services had a peak vehicle requirement of 131 buses.<ref name=KCarr113/>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140515091406/http://www.bluetrianglebuses.co.uk/ Blue Triangle website]

{{Go-Ahead Bus Companies}}
{{London bus operators}}
{{Bus companies in East England}}

[[Category:Go-Ahead Group London bus operators]]
[[Category:Transport in Epping Forest District]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in England]]