November 6, 2024

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Go Ahead London General Merton Bus Garage

Go Ahead London General Merton Bus Garage

Details of Go Ahead London's Merton Bus Garage, including Address, Allocation and History.

Merton Bus Garage


Operator: Go Ahead London
Subsidiary: London General
Address: Merton High Street, London SW19 1DN
Subsidiary: London General
Garage Code:  AL
Opened:  November 1913
Peak Vehicle Requirement: 149


Vehicle Types Operated

Alexander Dennis Enviro200
Alexander Dennis Enviro400
Optare Esteem
Optare Metrodecker EV
Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 2
Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 3
Wrightbus StreetDeck
Wrightbus StreetLite




Garage History

In 1911, the London General Omnibus Company decided to withdraw their horse-drawn vehicles and replace them with motor buses. The changeover proved incredibly popular and led the company to begin construction of Merton Bus Garage.

Following the takeover of the LGOC by the Underground Electric Railways Company of London in 1912, Merton garage was opened for operation in November 1913. With the opening of the garage, LGOC routes and its vehicle fleet rapidly expanded, with Merton becoming the company’s largest garage.

During the late 1920s, the UERL suffered financially due to the competition provided by smaller unregulated operators, causing them to petition the Government of the day, and leading to the enactment of the London Passenger Transport Act 1933.

The act created the London Passenger Transport Board, which from commencement, absorbed all of the independent and municipally operated railway, bus, and tram services in the London area, including the UERL, bringing them under a single brand, London Transport.

The need for more covered parking space for allocated vehicles, coupled with the need for better staff accommodation, led to the garage being modernised, beginning in the late 1950s and being completed in 1960.

29 June 1984 saw the introduction of the London Regional Transport Act which necessitated the formation of an arms-length subsidiary company, London Buses Limited. Initially, bus services continued as before but, on 1 April 1989, London Buses was divided into 12 individual business units to prepare for the sell-off to private companies.

Merton Garage was allocated to the London General business unit and was responsible for routes in the South West area of London. As part of this arrangement, Merton Garage was again subjected to modernisation to make it fit for modern-day operation. These works included the demolition of some buildings on the site to provide a wider total space, new engineering facilities, new washrooms for staff, and expanded covered parking. Also, the opportunity was taken to replace the garage roof.

The London General business unit was purchased by its management in 1994, although this only lasted for two years before the business was sold to the Go Ahead Group.

Ten years later in 2004, Go Ahead purchased the Grade II listed King’s Head public house located next to Merton, converting it into offices, and moved the company’s head office from Mitcham to the site.