London Buses route 293 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Surrey, England. Running between Morden station and Epsom Hospital, it is operated by First Bus London subsidiary London United.
History Route 293 commenced operating on 18 April 1970 between Wimbledon and Epsom stations, replacing route 93 between North Cheam and Epsom.Last Scanis singles to go Buses issue 756 March 2018 page 20 The new route was allocated to Merton garage with operation by AEC Merlins. On 20 April 1974, it was converted to double operation with Daimler Fleetlines.
On 23 April 1983, route 293 was rerouted to serve Hackbridge instead of Wimbledon. Upon being put up for tender, the route passed to London Country on 19 July 1986, who introduced using second hand ex Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Leyland Atlanteans. Upon the privatisation of LCBS, the route was transferred to London Country South West.Round three for LRT tenders Commercial Motor 2 November 1985
In 1990, the route was withdrawn between Morden station and Hackbridge, and was extended to run to Merton Abbey. New Volvo Citybuses replaced the Atlanteans. The route passed from the control of London Regional Transport, and became a commercially operated route by London Country. From 1993-1995, evening and Sunday services were renumbered 593, and were operated by Epsom Buses using Mercedes-Benz minibuses.
Between 1995 and 1998, there were a number of route changes, but the route was finally standardised to run its current service in 2000, now operated by London General.
Upon being re-tendered, on 19 July 2003 route 293 passed to Quality Line. The service was slightly re-routed between Morden and North Cheam. When next tendered, the route passed to Metrobus' Croydon garage on 30 August 2008.
Metrobus successfully tendered to retain the route, with a new contract commencing on 31 August 2013.Tender News Bus Talk issue 21 April 2013
On 1 September 2018, operation of the route was taken over by Quality Line.Gain for Quality Line in London bus tender round Coach & Bus Week issue 1327 30 January 2018 page 7Tender News Bus Talk issue 50 February 2018 page 16Latest tendered service awards Buses issue 756 March 2018 page 21 On 19 June 2021, operation of the route was transferred from Quality Line to fellow RATP Group company London United's Tolworth garage.Short Hops Buses issue 795 June 2021 page 24Our Services RATP Dev Transit London
On 28 February 2025, the route passed from London United to First Bus London following the acquisition of RATP Dev Transit London by FirstGroup.
Current route Route 293 operates via these primary locations:Route 293 Map Transport for London Morden station Lower Morden North Cheam Stoneleigh Ewell Epsom station Epsom Hospital
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