London Buses route 20

London Buses route 20 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Walthamstow bus station and Debden,^[2] it is operated by East London, a subsidiary of Stagecoach London.

20
Stagecoach London Alexander Dennis Enviro400H at Walthamstow bus station in April 2025
Overview
Operator	East London (Stagecoach London)
Garage	Leyton
Vehicle	Alexander Dennis Enviro400H City
Peak vehicle requirement	10[1]
Route
Start	Walthamstow bus station
Via	Leyton Whipps Cross Woodford Green Buckhurst Hill Loughton
End	Debden
Length	10.37 miles (16.69 km) [1]

History

Volvo B9TL Wrightbus Gemini 2 on High Road, Loughton, in September 2016

On 7 March 1992, the route passed to Grey-Green, operating from their Barking garage, following its opening in 1991,^[3] using East Lancashire bodied Volvo B10Ms. In 1998, Grey-Green was rebranded as Arriva,^[4] and Grey-Green's Barking garage was absorbed into Arriva London, with operation of route 20. ^[5]

On 26 April 2003, the route was converted to low-floor operation, when new Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs were introduced to the route. When the contract was renewed on 24 March 2007, the route was moved to the garage in Edmonton and the buses were replaced with older Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250LFs.^[6][7]

The route was under Arriva London operation, following a successful 2006 tender award,^[8] until 24 March 2012, when the route was won by Blue Triangle, operating from their Rainham garage with Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2s in the next tender awards.^[9] It later was transferred to London General, another Go-Ahead London Company.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2015, Essex County Council announced that it would withdraw its subsidy for the 20, as well as the 167. Concerns were immediately raised from local residents and the headteacher of Davenant Foundation School, who said the routes were used by many schoolchildren.^[10]

The route was proposed to have a reduced frequency between 7 and 9 am from 23rd March 2019, when the route was passed to CT Plus which operated brand new Euro VI hybrid double-decker buses.^[11][12]

On 27 August 2022, route 20 was included in the sale of HCT Group's ‘red bus’ operations to Stagecoach London. It is now operated by Stagecoach's East London subsidiary branch. ^[13]

Current route

Route 20 operates via these primary locations:^[2]

• Walthamstow bus station for Walthamstow Central station
• Leyton Bakers Arms
• Whipps Cross
• Upper Walthamstow
• Woodford Green
• Buckhurst Hill
• Loughton station
• Loughton High Street
• Debden