London Buses route E3

London Buses route E3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.

History
Route E3 was established on 30 November 1968 as one of three flat-fare routes in the Ealing area, the others being the E1 and E2. It ran from Greenford to Chiswick via Hanwell, West Ealing, Northfields, Popes Lane, Acton and Turnham Green, replacing part of the former route 55.

Like the E1 and E2, the E3 was initially operated using single-deck, MBS-class AEC Merlins. These were stationed at both Hanwell (HL) and Turnham Green (V) garages. In 1975, the E1 and E2 were converted to double-deck operation, but a low railway bridge in Acton Lane, Acton meant that the E3 could not follow suit. Instead, the Merlins were replaced by shorter SMS-class AEC Swifts, which in turn were replaced by LS-class Leyland Nationals in 1978. Double-deck operation was eventually introduced in 1981, provided by the slightly lower MCW Metrobus.

Turnham Green garage closed in 1980, its allocation transferring to the new Stamford Brook base nearby. This was withdrawn three years later, following which the E3 was entirely operated by Hanwell.

When London Buses Limited split into eleven pre-privatisation subsidiaries in late 1988, the E3 came under the operation of Centrewest. In 1990, the route was converted to minibus operation using RW-class Renault S75 / Wright Nimbuses, marketed under the name of E-Line, and the long-closed Acton Tram Depot (AT) was re-opened to provide an allocation. In 1993, Hanwell garage closed, the RWs there transferring to Greenford (G).

Centrewest was privatised in 1994, and retained the E3 upon re-tender in May 1997, replacing the RWs with Dennis Dart SLF / Marshall Capitals. From this point onwards, the route's entire allocation was stationed at Greenford.

On 25 May 2002, the E3 was converted back to double-deck operation using TN-class Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton Presidents, after Centrewest had again retained the route upon re-tender. In May 2009, the TNs were replaced by brand-new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s.

Current route

 * Greenford Red Lion
 * Hanwell Station
 * Hanwell Broadway
 * West Ealing Broadway
 * Northfields Station
 * Acton Town Station
 * Acton High Street
 * Turnham Green Station
 * Chiswick Station
 * Chiswick Edensor Road