London Buses route 96 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Kent, England. Running between Bluewater Shopping Centre and Woolwich, it is operated by Arriva London.
History
Route 96 was a tram line running between Woolwich and Dartford. On 10 November 1935, it was replaced, along with several other tram routes, by trolleybus route 696 operating out of Bexleyheath garage. Route 696 was replaced by motor bus route 96 on 4 March 1959. It was extended from Dartford to Bluewater Shopping Centre on 16 March 1999. It was rerouted along Watling Street to serve Darent Valley Hospital on 14 December 2000. Because this stretch is outside Greater London, it runs express between these points, only stopping at Darent Valley Hospital in between.
On 31 July 2006, a Dennis Trident 2 Alexander ALX400 operating route 96 bound for Bluewater caught fire in Dartford.Teenagers wanted over bus blaze News Shopper 1 August 2006 On 30 October 2013, a report from the London Assembly found the route to be among the ten most crowded in London.
There were proposals in June 2011 to alter the route to run via Darent Valley Hospital. However, this change was delayed as it was deemed necessary to use the Fastrack Busway, and Kent County Council had refused to allow route 96 to use it.TfL to serve Fastrack for first time Buses issue 752 November 2017 page 23 The route alteration was finally implemented on 16 December 2017.Improving route 96 Transport for London 11 December 2017Bus service changes Transport for London 1 December 2017 page 7
Having been operated by Bexleybus and Kentish Bus, it was then operated by Selkent out of Plumstead garage from 23 January 1999 to 24 January 2026.Large TfL tender round sees Arriva scoop new service Coach & Bus Week issue 1357 28 August 2018 page 7Latest tendered service awards Buses issue 763 October 2018 page 23
On 18 July 2025, Arriva London was awarded as the new operator of route 96. Operations transferred on 24 January 2026.
Current route Route 96 operates via these primary locations:Route 96 Map Transport for London Bluewater Shopping Centre Darent Valley Hospital Dartford station Crayford Bexleyheath town centre Crook Log Welling East Wickham Plumstead station Woolwich station Woolwich Arsenal station Woolwich
Between Dartford and Bluewater, route 96 operates as an express service, only stopping at Darent Valley Hospital in between.
Previous use The 96 route number has also been used for a non-related route in Chelsea. This route was withdrawn in the late 1950s.
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