END OF AN ERA... Route 493: 2012-2026 (GoAhead to Transport UK) Enviro200s to GB Kites

On the 28th of March 2026, London bus route 493 will be changed. The 493 has been operated by GoAhead London for almost 14 years. And has used ADL Enviro200s for almost 2 decades. This will change when Transport UK start running the route next Saturday. TUK will use London's first 2nd generation GB Kites on the 493, as shown here. These buses are expected to be the first TfL 26 plate buses to enter service. The route is also expected to use diesel buses temporarily, as not all Kites are ready for service. 0:00 493 Introduction 0:30 NEW GB Kite - TUK preview 0:40 493 details 1:15 Frequency decrease 1:50 PVR change 2:20 Where does the 493 run? 3:00 Route details 3:45 First & last buses 4:25 FLEET DETAILS 6:25 YX61s, YX60s 7:20 Route history & more 25:25 Short tribute + throwbacks The 493 currently runs every 9 to 21 minutes, from 5:20am until 1:30am. When TUK take over, the route's frequency will be decreased. Instead of running every 9 to 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes, The route will instead run every 15 minutes. The 493's peak vehicle requirement will also be increased. And will now use 17 buses instead of 16. The 493 runs between Tooting, St. George's Hospital and Richmond. The route serves the grounds of St George's Hospital, Tooting Broadway, Haydons Road, Wimbledon, Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon Village, Wimbledon Tennis Club & Museum, Southfields, Southmead Primary School, Putney Heath, Roehampton, Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton University, Rosslyn Park RFC, Queens Ride, Kings Road, East Sheen, Sheen Court, North Sheen Station, Eton Street and Richmond. As mentioned earlier, the 493 currently runs every 9 to 21 minutes. Due to the route running through several traffic hotspots in Tooting, Haydons Road and Sheen, Gaps of up to 20-40 minutes are common at some ends of the route. The first 493s of the day depart Tooting and Richmond at around 5:20am. With the last buses departing at 00:45 and 01:05am. The 493 is around 13 miles (20km) long. With a full journey on the route taking 50 to 110 minutes. The 493 is currently allocated diesel ADL Enviro200s from 2010, 2011 and 2012. The SN12 plates ordered for this route have been used since GoAhead started running the route. Once the 493 is lost, most will be withdrawn from TfL service. With some SN12s expected to transfer to Plymouth. Out of the 17 SN12 E200s ordered for the 493, Only 14 have remained at Merton garage for use on the route. The 493 started running in November 2002, meaning it's around 24 years old. The route originally ran from Richmond, Manor Circus to Tooting, St. George's Hospital. The 493 served different roads between Wimbledon and Tooting. And ran via South Wimbledon, Merton Abbey and Colliers Wood. Mitcham Belle began running the 493 with Cateano Nimbus single deckers. The route ran from Beddington garage. Two years after the 493's creating, Mitcham Belle was sold to Centra. Centra then ceased operations in May 2006. Meaning the 493's contract was novated to Armchair, the predecessor to Metroline. Armchair ran the 493 from Brentford garage on an emergency contract. After rebranding to Metroline in January, the 493 was lost to NCP in March 2007. NCP Challenger was the 493's sixth operator in 5 years. New Enviro200s were ordered for the route, now running from Twickenham (NC) garage. In July 2007, the 493's routing was changed for the first time. Instead of serving South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood, The route was changed to run via Haydons Road and St George's Hospital. In November 2009, the 493's contract was novated to Transdev. The route continued operating from Twickenham garage with Enviro200s. Go-Ahead began running the 493 on the 31st of March 2012. New ADL Enviro200s entered service on the route. With the 493 transferring to Waterside Way (PL) garage. This garage was located much closer to the 493's line of route, in Haydons Road. At this point, the 493 used 17 Enviro200s. In December 2020, the 493's terminus was changed. The route now started and ended at Richmond Bus Station / George Street. This meant buses no longer served Richmond Station or Manor Circus. This change resulted in the 493's peak vehicle requirement being reduced to 16. The 493's cutback was the most recent change to the route. #bus #buses #rip493 #tfl