please empty your brain below
Thanks so much for covering this. I never could quite get my head around the proposed changes. I still can't but it is a lot clearer than it was.

Despite regularly using Purley Station/Purley High St stop and sometimes alighting at Purley High St/Purley Station for the past 30 years, I never spotted the subtle difference in names.

I look forward to the more frequent service of the 312 relacing the route out to the end of Old Lodge Lane. I hope these will be electric (as now) but I have not read anywhere that they definitely will be.

Pedantic of Purley | 11.02.24 - 7:28 a.m. | #

Let’s hope they don’t try to send any double deckers down Old Lodge Lane. There have been quite a few substitute double deckers in the 312 recently.

Robert Butlin | 11.02.24 - 8:58 a.m. | #

Was it the old design of the Cybermen or new?

Bob | 11.02.24 - 9:41 a.m. | #

Many years ago, there was another very indirect bus which ran from Wallington to Purley - the 115 which went via Streatham!

Malc M | 11.02.24 - 10:45 a.m. | #

Many years ago I found myself in Wallington - having cycled south from Streatham Hill, and at St Leonard's church coincidentally taken the route of Malc M's estwhile route 115 (western leg). Little did I suspect the rich tapestry that lay beyond!

Further embellished by tales of wayward buggy-mums and suspect journeys to Clacton, I feel that unfinished business has finally been rounded off.

cau1khead | 11.02.24 - 11:45 a.m. | #

Even though the 455 is indeed very tortuous it is great for getting to the shops on Purley Way (Sainsburys, M&S, Currys, Ikea, B&Q) directly from South Croydon Station without changing. Yes you can do it with a tram, bus switch but that can be a bind. Nevertheless I suspect, from observation that this is only a small minority of users so the writing has been on the wall for a long time.

In general I am always sorry when a pub converts to an express supermarket. The Tesos at the Swan and Sugarloaf is for me an exception. The pub was appalling and at least they have kept most of the building intact, including the Overtons relief ( as far as I know the only reference left to a long lost Croydon brewery) and I can get a bottle of Milk at 22.00

So fairewell 455 and all the happy (extremmely loud and bouncy):memories…..

keith the Kraut | 11.02.24 - 12:44 p.m. | #

The Swan & Sugar Loaf had a unique interior and its closure was a loss to the London pub scene.

KR | 11.02.24 - 1:13 p.m. | #

'via' displays would be useful on routes such as these... and the old Spider Maps suited these types of routes far better too.

matthieu1221 | 11.02.24 - 2:42 p.m. | #

Just to say that the Purley Wetherspoons hasn't been a Wetherspoons since December- it's now run by a different pubco, although it looks the same.

Jeremy | 11.02.24 - 2:47 p.m. | #

It does look from the “dry valley” link that there is a PH at south end on Hayes Lane, so that would make it not an entirely dry valley.

Southern Heights (Light Railway) | 11.02.24 - 4:31 p.m. | #

Can confirm that the PH Wattenden Arms referenced by Southern Heights is a very friendly local pub.
Will await your news of the replacement bus route for what can be a handy route to Purley.

Paul | Homepage | 11.02.24 - 6:11 p.m. | #

Went to secondary school in Wallington and would sometimes catch the 455 back to Croydon on a whim so I read this fondly. Very pleased to hear the 312 might extend!

I would agree the Swan and Sugarloaf was a bit of a dive. Some much nicer pubs around.

Mudcrutch | 11.02.24 - 7:22 p.m. | #

Well! Something interesting that starts in Sutton!

But I'm sorry to advise you, courtesy of TfL that "Routes 405 and 455 are on diversion via Brighton Road due to safety reasons caused by a large pothole. Buses towards South Croydon are missing the stops Purley Library, Purley Hospital, Wyvern Road, Lynscott Way, Blackford Close, Regina Coeli School, St Giles School, Haling Park Gardens, Whitgift Avenue, Croydon Bowling Club and Warham Road/Brighton Road."

Peter | 11.02.24 - 10:37 p.m. | #

I too gave this route a shot on the day you posted this. Reading this, I feel satisfied that it done in 10 minutes less, and I see why it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

Despite being grotty, the sewage works section isn’t too boring.

The walk from Old Lodge Lane to Old Coulsdon along Canons Hill isn’t terrible, apart from a fallen down tree blocking the muddy path. It’s also quite an interesting one through Dollypers Hill as your walking on firm chalk.

PVR | 12.02.24 - 10:01 a.m. | #

I suppose I should give it a ride myself. 12 years I've lived in Wallington and never set foot on one. Though my missus has used it to get from the Plough to the trams.

Chz | 13.02.24 - 1:38 p.m. | #

The official changes have just been announced on the TfL website.

All as proposed...
• 455 scrapped
• 166 diverted via Pampisford Road
• 312 extended to Old Lodge Lane
• 434 diverted away from Kenley backstreets and extended to Caterham
• new route 439 from Waddon Marsh to Whyteleafe, taking on the 434's Kenley backstreets
• 470 withdrawn between Sutton and Epsom
• S4 extended to Waddon Marsh (replacing 455) and cut between St Helier and Sutton
• new route S2 from St Helier to Epsom taking on withdrawn sections of S4 and 470

...except the 434 isn't being diverted to the top of Kenley, it'll shadow the 407 to Warlingham.

Bloody complicated. No maps.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 19.02.24 - 8:47 a.m. | #

There are now maps.
(and a dedicated webpage for the changes)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 21.02.24 - 4:21 p.m. | #











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