Metrobus (South East England)

Metrobus is a bus operator with routes in south and south-east London, and parts of Surrey, Kent, West and East Sussex. The company operates many routes on tender from Transport for London. Formed through a management buyout of Tillingbourne (Metropolitan) Ltd. in 1983, it was later acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in 1999.

Company history

In February 1981 the Orpington & District bus company collapsed due to financial difficulties, and the Tillingbourne Bus Company based in West Surrey took over their operations, setting up Tillingbourne (Metropolitan) Ltd. On 24 September 1983, Metrobus Ltd was formed through its two directors, Gary Wood and Peter Larking, buying out the subsidiary.

The newly-formed company acquired the former Orpington & District garage at Green Street Green, Orpington, along with six employees and six vehicles. Three routes were operated by Metrobus at the time it was set up: Route 353 (Croydon to Orpington via Coombe Road, weekday peak hours only), Route 355 (Croydon to Forestdale, weekday peak hours only) and Route 357 (Croydon to Orpington via Forestdale, Monday-Saturday, all day). In May 1982 a 'shopper bus' service was introduced, running from Sanderstead to Bromley town centre via New Addington. In keeping with the route numbers of the former Tillingbourne services, this route was numbered 354. In October 1983 the 354 was rerouted to...
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