Green Line Coach Routes 711–714

Route 711 ran from Reigate Garage and High Wycombe Garage via Lower Kingswood, Banstead, Sutton, Mitcham, Tooting Broadway, Clapham, Stockwell, Kennington, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Circus, Baker Street, Shepherd’s Bush, Acton Vale, Ealing Broadway, Hanwell, Southall, Hayes End, Uxbridge, Denham, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield and Loudwater. The route was finally withdrawn around 1978 when it was replaced on the western section by new Green Line route 790, operated jointly with City of Oxford Motor Services.

Route 712 was introduced in 1946 as part of the post-war re-instatement of the coach services and ran from Dorking to Luton via Leatherhead, Epsom, North Cheam, Morden, Tooting, Clapham Common, Stockwell, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Baker Street, Golders Green, Borehamwood, London Colney, St. Albans and Harpenden. In the early ’60s the 712 was diverted between Radlett and St. Albans to run via Park Street instead of London Colney. By 1964 service was reduced to Saturdays only and most journeys ran to Dunstable via St. Albans (or Markyate as route 712A), with only a few coaches to Luton during rush hours. Some journeys ran as route 712B to Whipsnade Park Zoo instead of Dunstable during the summer, suplementing the 726. The 712A and 712B were very quickly renumbered as plain 712. By 1968 the 712 again ran daily from Dorking to Dunstable, with some trips to Luton on Saturdays. Operated throughout most of the 1950s and all of the 1960s by the famous RF-class coaches, conversion to one-person operation came in 1969. In 1971 journeys to Luton were withdrawn and service between St. Albans and Dunstable was provided during Monday to Friday peak hours and Sunday only. In 1975 the 712 was withdrawn south of Victoria, replaced by new route 703, and north of St. Albans except for Whipsnade Zoo journeys. The remaining route was withdrawn in 1977 with replacement by new routes 707 and 717.

The number 712 was later used for a route between Bishop’s Stortford and Romford via Harlow, Epping, Abridge and Hainault which replaced part of the “’round London” 724 express. Routes 713 and 714 are described below.

Route 713 was introduced in 1946 as part of the post-war re-instatement of the coach services. It ran between Dorking and Dunstable via Leatherhead, Epsom, North Cheam, Morden, Victoria, Hendon, Borehamwood and St. Albans. From the mid-1960s some journeys diverted at St. Albans to Luton. Operated throughout most of the 1950s and all of the 1960s by the famous RF-class coaches, conversion to one-person operation came in 1969. The Green Line network began to be run down in the 1970s, and 713 journeys north of St. Albans and south of Victoria were withdrawn in 1975, the latter being replaced by new route 703. The remaining route was withdrawn in 1977 with replacement by new routes 707 and 717.

Route 714 was introduced in 1946 as part of the post-war re-instatement of Green Line coach services. It ran between Baker Street and Dorking via Oxford Circus, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Kensington, Hammersmith, Richmond, Kingston, Surbiton, Hook, Chessington and Leatherhead. In 1951 it was extended northwards via King’s Cross, Archway, North Finchley, Barnet, South Mimms, London Colney, St. Albans and Harpenden to Luton to replace the withdrawn 727. Operated throughout most of the 1950s and all of the ’60s by the famous RF-class coaches, conversion to one-man-operation came in 1968. The 714 struggled on until 1977 when it was withdrawn north of Victoria, with the southern section not surviving much longer.

In its latter days (1968), route 717 ran between Baker Street and Wrothem via Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Victoria, Elephant & Castle, New Cross, Lewisham, Eltham, Sidcup, Swanley, Farningham and West Kingsdown. The 717’s northern section from Welwyn Garden City via Hatfield, Potters Bar, Barnet, North Finchley and Golders Green to central London was withdrawn shortly before the end.