London Buses route 324

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Introduced: 28th September 1996

Withdrawn: 9th November 2002

Original Operator: Capital Citybus

Last Operator: Arriva

Replaced By: Route 372

## Capital Citybus Era

Route 324 commenced operation as a Monday to Saturday/partial Sunday service during daily shopping hours, providing bus transportation between Hornchurch, Madison Exchange, and Lakeside on September 28 1996 as a service by Capital Citybus. It went via Abbs Cross Lane, *Elm Park Station*, South Hornchurch *Cherry Tree*, Rainham *Tesco*, Wennington *Lennards* and Purfleet *Uplands Estate*, replacing withdrawn 348 journeys between Lakeside and Purfleet from just a couple years prior as well as withdrawn Ensign Citybus route 565 that ran between Barkingside and Lakeside via Rainham and Romford. The primary purpose of Route 324 was to meet the transportation needs of the local community, offering a convenient connection between Hornchurch and Lakeside. On July 28 1997, Capital Citybus, the operator of Route 324, introduced a new timetable for the route and it would operate every 60 minutes. The route was extended to include Thurrock College via West Thurrock (The Ship) during college days, providing an additional destination for passengers. On October 10 1998, due to the withdrawal of Route 323, Route 324 was rerouted via Aveley *Sandy Lane*, Aveley *Mill Road*, Aveley *High Street* and Aveley *Hall Lane* to replace the lost section in Aveley of Route 323. This rerouting ensured that Aveley remained connected to the bus network and continued to receive bus service. The route also had a new timetable introduced which made it operate every 30 minutes for most of the day with more buses from Hornchurch on Bank Holidays, as well as taking over the Aveley section of 348, which became an express service between Belhus and Lakeside, taking over passenger services for Hall Lane, Love Lane and also Ship Lane, however the school version of 348, the 648, remained the same. The route also had special journeys to Belhus *Derwent Parade* via Aveley *Usk Road* to compensate for Route 323's withdrawal. but it was mainly replaced by the 373.

## Ensignbus Era

Route 324 was taken over by Ensignbus based in Purfleet on February 7 1999 and was subsequently extended to operate from Romford Market to Bluewater via Gidea Park, Emerson Park, Hornchurch, Elm Park, South Hornchurch, Rainham, Wennington, Aveley and Lakeside from March 15 1999. There was even a night service numbered N324, but only lasted five nights, and would be withdrawn to allow later 324 journeys into the night, as evident from timetables after this date which show that 324 continued operation until 0034, This remained unchanged until December 11 1999 when Ensignbus sold the 324 operation to Town and Country Buses which operated from the Ensignbus Purfleet base.

## Town & Country Era

On January 17 2000, the 324 was extended from Bluewater to Gravesend Monday-Saturday, but this section was withdrawn on May 8 2000. On October 5 2000, Town and Country Buses passed the 324 over to Arriva.

## Arriva Era

On November 6 2000 the Romford Market to Hornchurch section of the 324 was withdrawn. Then on September 29 2001, the 324 was withdrawn between Abbs Cross and Hornchurch and diverted via Roneo Corner to Romford Market. This only lasted until January 19 2002 when the route was withdrawn between Abbs Cross and Romford and diverted to Hornchurch again. Subsequently the 324 was withdrawn on November 9 2002, being partially replaced by the 372, as well as later the X80 between Lakeside and Bluewater on October 16 2004.