London Buses route 26

History

On 18 July 1992, route 26 was introduced to replace the withdrawn section of route 6 between Hackney Wick and Aldwych, running between Hackney Wick and Waterloo station from Bow garage using Leyland Titans. The Titans were replaced by a new fleet of 38 Alexander RL-bodied Volvo Olympians in late 1997.

Upon being re-tendered, on 25 June 2011 the route passed to First London's Lea Interchange garage with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs.

On 22 June 2013, route 26 was included in the sale of First London's Lea Interchange garage to Tower Transit. When next tendered, it was awarded to CT Plus with the new contract commencing on 27 February 2016. It is operated out of Ash Grove garage.

On 27 August 2022, route 26 was included in the sale of HCT Group's ‘red bus’ operations to Stagecoach London.

On 23 November 2022, it was announced that a proposed rerouting of route 26 at Aldwych to serve Victoria instead of Waterloo would be going ahead following a consultation; it was implemented on 29 April 2023.

Bomb incident

Main article: 21 July 2005 London bombings

On 21 July 2005, would-be bomber Muktar Said Ibrahim attempted to explode a device contained in his rucksack on a number 26 bus on Hackney Road in Haggerston. A small explosion on the top deck caused the vehicle's windows to explode, but the device did not detonate as intended and there was no significant damage. The vehicle, operated by Stagecoach London, was stopped and a 200-yard safety cordon established while the bomb was defused.

Ibrahim left the bus following the failed attack, but was later caught. He and five other men were taken to court in January 2007, and his DNA was found on a battery used in the bomb. He was convicted in July 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Current route

Route 26 operates via these primary locations:

• Hackney Wick
• South Hackney
• Cambridge Heath station
• Hoxton station
• Shoreditch High Street station
• Liverpool Street station
• Bank station
• Mansion House station
• City Thameslink station
• Aldwych
• Charing Cross station
• Trafalgar Square
• Westminster station
• St James's Park station
• Victoria station

References

References

1. Blacker, Ken. (2007). "Routemaster: 1970–2005". Capital Transport.
2. (7 November 1997). "Olympians for East London". Glen-Holland Limited.
3. [https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/13796.aspx?btID=808 Bus tender results Route 26/N26] Transport for London 22 May 2010
4. link. (7 June 2014 ''Bus & Coach Professional'' 9 April 2013)
5. [http://www.busnews.com.au/news/articleid/84137.aspx Date set for Aussie takeover of London bus routes] ''Australasian Bus & Coach'' 14 June 2013
6. [https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/13796.aspx?btID=1246 Bus tender results Route 26/N26] Transport for London 7 October 2015
7. [http://issuu.com/goaheadlondon/docs/bus_talk_dec15_pgs Tender News] ''[[Bus Talk]]'' issue 37 December 2015 page 11
8. [http://www.route-one.net/articles/Bus%20routes/HCT_orders_38_ADL_buses HCT orders 38 ADL buses] ''RouteOne'' 24 May 2016
9. {{usurped
10. [http://ctplus.org/ct_plus/red_bus_routes_20 Our routes] CT Group
11. [https://www.focustransport.org/2022/08/hct-to-sell-london-bus-operations-to.html?m=1] CT Group
12. (2022-11-23). "Central London Bus Review 2022: Decision summary and next steps".
13. "Central London bus changes".
14. [http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/200806413391044 Windows Blown Out Of Number 26 Bus] ''Sky News'' 21 July 2005
15. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6309783.stm Bus bomb bid' CCTV shown to jury] ''BBC News'' 29 January 2007
16. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6291238.stm Four 21/7 bomb plotters get life] ''BBC News'' 11 July 2007
17. [https://www.tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/26 Route 26 Map] Transport for London
18. Marius, Callum. (2023-04-29). "New bus route Londoners will want to avoid as it could be rammed with tourists".