Investment First
Recent years have seen considerable investment in new facilities. In November 2003 we opened a brand new depot at Willesden Junction for the new articulated bus service on route 18. In 2004 we took over operation of Romford, Gallows Corner depot, formerly part of First Essex - this small-scale operation was subsequently absorbed by Dagenham depot.
In April 2005 we acquired an out-station site at Hayes, which is used for the operation of articulated buses on route 207.
Hayes was upgraded in 2008 enabling route 427 to move there and the small Acton depot to close. December 2005 saw the opening of our new depot at Dagenham, replacing our leased premises at Rainham. In addition Hackney and Northumberland Park depots had major improvements and a new MOT preparation centre was opened at Isleworth.
In 2007, Hackney depot's operations were moved to a new site at Lea Interchange, to allow construction work for the Olympics. 2007 also saw the sale of Orpington depot which no longer fitted within the portfolio of depots operated by First in London.
We started to operate new hybrid-drive buses in 2008. These double-decks built by Wrightbus combined electric drive with a small diesel engine.
Acton depot was closed with its routes being absorbed into other West London depots.
The new Lea Interchange depot, formally opened in 2010, including the hydrogen fuelling facility heralded the introduction of the most technologically advanced vehicles in London operating initially on the RV1 route.