With TfL routes 507 and 521 coming to an end, MARK LYONS looks at the history of Central London’s short, limited stop services
The implementation of Transport for London’s central London bus review led to the withdrawal of routes 507 and 521 which linked Waterloo with Victoria and London Bridge stations on April 28. They were the last remnants of what had once been branded Red Arrow, a network of high frequency central London routes that largely catered for commuter flows from mainline railway stations.
Red Arrow was launched on April 18, 1966, when route 500 was introduced. The new service ran from Victoria station to Marble Arch via Park Lane during peak hours. At off-peak times it was extended to serve Oxford Street for the benefit of shoppers. A flat fare of 6d (2 ½ pence) was charged, which passengers placed into coin slots before passing through a turnstile. The route ran only on Monday – Friday.
