London Buses route 348

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Introduced: 21st April 1990

Withdrawn: December 2001

Original Operator: Ensignbus

Last Operator: Arriva

Replaced by: 370 & 373

Route 348 commenced on April 21 1990 as a Monday-Saturday link between Romford *Parkside* and Purfleet *Uplands Estate* and was originally operated by Ensignbus. The route originally covered areas such as Roneo Corner, Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch *Madison Exchange*, Upminster Bridge, Upminster, North Ockendon, Ockendon Station, Belhus, Aveley and Lakeside. In 1991, Route 348 was withdrawn between Purfleet and Lakeside, but Purfleet would be introduced as a secondary terminus with limited service shortly after in 1992 but would be withdrawn in 1993, making Lakeside its main terminus for many years to come. Route 348 would become a part of Ensign Citybus, which would later become Capital Citybus. Purfleet would later be served by 324 from 1996-1998.

## Capital Citybus era

Route 348 would join the Capital Citybus network in August 1993 continuing to operate Monday-Saturday, as well as joining the Capital Citybus Rombus Network, running between Romford *Parkside* and Lakeside. In 1995, a school varient of the route numbered 648 began service alongside the 348 during college days running between *Romford Market* and *Thurrock College*. The route would stay like this until March 1997, when the route was withdrawn between *Parkside* and *Romford Market*. On July 28 1997, Capital Citybus released a new timetable for Route 348. The route became a daily route during shopping hours and was extended on college days from Lakeside *Bus Station* to *Thurrock College* via West Thurrock *The Ship* like Route 324. This route would remain the same as Capital Citybus was bought by First and becoming First Capital. On October 10 1998, Route 348 was made to run every 30 minutes during the most of the day and replaced withdrawn Route 349 as well as Route 323 in the Belhus section of its route. However, most journeys were altered to become express services between Belhus and Lakeside, withdrawing the Aveley section of the route and replacing it with Route 324, although Route 648 continued to operate through Aveley. Both routes 324 and 348 both became Monday-Saturday again for a short period of time until being handed over to Ensignbus on 7 February 1999.

## Ensignbus era

Route 348 would be extended from Lakeside to Gravesend *Clock Tower* on March 16 1999, creating a connection with 324 at Bluewater *Bus Station*. However, the route would soon be withdrawn back to Lakeside after a short period of time. This remained unchanged until December 11 1999 when Ensignbus sold the 348 operation to Town and Country Buses.

## Town & Country era

Route 348 would be extended to Chadwell St Mary *Sleepers Farm Road* from Lakeside on 17 January 2000 but withdrawn between *Ockendon Station* and *Romford Market* on Sundays, with no late evening service. 348 would also have some early morning journeys that ran from Aveley *Purfleet Road*.  On October 5 2000, Town and Country Buses passed the 348 over to Arriva.

## Arriva era

On 2 December 2000, Route 348 was withdrawn between Chadwell St Mary and Lakeside not during Monday-Friday peak hours and evening service, but it's evening service was extended to Upminster Station. The route also became Monday-Saturday again. By 7th April 2001, the late evening service was withdrawn but most of the route remained the same. However, by August 2001, Route 348 was withdrawn and replaced by Routes 370 & 373.