London Buses route E2

London Buses route E2 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.

History
Route E2 was established on 30 November 1968 as a flat-fare route from Greenford to Brentford via Pitshanger Lane, Ealing Broadway and Northfields, replacing the former route 97.

Like the E1 and E3, established on the same date, the E2 was initially operated by MBS-class AEC Merlins stationed at Hanwell (HL) garage. On 7 December 1975, it was converted to double-deck operation using DMS-class Daimler Fleetlines, which in turn were replaced by MCW Metrobuses in 1981.

In June 1984, the E2 gained an extension to Ruislip Station, plus a further extension on summer Sundays to Ruislip Lido, replacing the former route 273.

When London Buses Limited split into eleven pre-privatisation subsidiaries in late 1988, the E2 came under the operation of Centrewest. Two years later, in 1990, this subsidiary created the E-Line network, which involved the E2 being converted to minibus operation using RW-class Renault S75 / Wright Nimbuses, and losing its Ruislip - Greenford section to new route E7, except on Sundays.

Hanwell garage closed in 1993, the RWs being transferred to the then-new Greenford (G) base.

In May 1997, the now-privatised Centrewest lost the E2 upon re-tender to Armchair Passenger Transport, who ordered a batch of single-door Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointers for both this route and the E8, painted in the company's distinctive orange and white livery. At the same time, the E2 was diverted in Brentford to terminate at Armchair's Commerce Road base instead of the County Court, while the Sunday service to Ruislip was transferred to the E7.

Armchair retained the E2 upon a second re-tender, in 2002, and ordered a fresh batch of Dart SLF / Pointers, this time with dual doors and a new livery of red with orange relief, in compliance with Transport for London's 80%-red regulation.

In November 2004, Armchair was acquired by Metroline. Just over two years later, on 6 January 2007, its bus operations were rebranded under the Metroline name, and the Dart SLFs were subsequently repainted red with blue skirts.

Following another re-tender, Metroline retained the E2 from 30 May 2009, converting it back to double-deck operation using existing TP-class Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton Presidents. These were replaced by brand-new TE-class Alexander Dennis Enviro400s in September 2009.

In October 2010, new VW-class Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2s entered service on the route.

Current route

 * Greenford Red Lion
 * Pitshanger Lane
 * Ealing Broadway Station
 * West Ealing
 * Northfields Station
 * Brentford Commerce Road Bus Garage