London Buses route K2

London Buses route K2 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.

History
Route K2 is part of the K-prefix network of services run around Kingston upon Thames, introduced in 1987. At the time, route K2 ran only between Hook and Kingston.

The route remained in much the same format from its introduction until 2001, which saw a route change. At the time, route K4 was suffering from capacity problems from an extension, and when the K-prefix route came up for re-tender it was proposed that the K4 would be withdrawn, a replacement provided by extending route K2 at both ends. Part of the plan was dropped, because journey times would be extended and the larger buses used on route K2 wouldn't fit round the Mansfield Estate section of route K4, which used 8.8m buses (which wouldn't be able to cope with demand on route K2).

However, the proposal for route K2 to be extended to Kingston Hospital went ahead, replacing route K4 over that part of the route. Incidentally, route K4 was later extended to the hospital again after passenger demand.

There was an earlier K2 shopper service using Routemasters, but 1987 saw MCW Metroriders take to the streets of Kingston. Later, Dennis Darts were running on the service. The types of these varied, with no particular allocation, although Plaxton Pointer bodied examples mainly ran. Low floor vehicles were introduced following the new contract in 2001, with a batch of Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointers. introduced to the service.

Since its introduction, route K2 has been operated solely by London United and now by its direct successor, Transdev London.

Current route

 * Hook Library
 * Chessington Industrial Estate Cox Lane
 * Tolworth Station
 * Berrylands Surbiton Lagoon
 * Berrylands Station
 * Surbiton Station Claremont Road
 * Kingston Eden Street
 * Kingston Cromwell Road bus station
 * Kingston Hospital