Maidstone Borough Transport long entertained ideas of expanding beyond the borough boundaries. The opportunity for expansion came in the late 1980s when Boro'line (the post deregulation trading name for the company) was successful in winning a number of London Transport tenders, including the 188 service between Euston Station and Greenwich. Unfortunately, this expansion also heralded the end of the company. Tenders were surrendered and later the vehicles were required back on home territory to fight off competition from Maidstone & District, a conflict Boro'line were to lose.
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Boro'line initially commenced operation of London Transport route 188 between Euston & Greenwich using a collection of hired vehicles from Ipswich and Nottingham. These were later replaced by new Volvo Citybuses with Alexander bodywork, as exemplified by 921 seen here in Deptford in the last few days of Boro'line operation, November 1990. |
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Volvo Citybus 921 was transferred to services in Bexleyheath following surrender of the contract for route 188. A Leyland Titan of London Central (who had recently taken over Bexleybus services) waits next to 188 at Bexleyheath in 1991. |
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Boro'line acquired a number of Volvo Ailsas from Tayside for services in Bexleyheath. Here 914 is seen in King Harold's Way, West Heath on a route 422 journey from Erith. This bus was later transferred to Maidstone to work services between Park Wood and the Town Centre in competition with Maidstone & District. |
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Boro'line purchased Leyland Olympians with Optare bodywork to operate London Transport services in the Eltham area. 751 is shown here at Blackfen with a journey to Eltham. |
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Two Boro'line Volvo Citybuses purchased for service 188 (924 and 926) wait at Bexleyheath before returning to Erith on London Transport route 422 in the last few weeks of operation. |
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Volvo Citybus 922 waits in Bermondsey with a 188 working to Greenwich. Boro'line hired Nottingham and Ipswich vehicles while awaiting delivery of these buses. |
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Boro'line hired a number of Atlanteans from Ipswich Buses pending delivery of new vehicles. Ipswich Buses 4 is seen in Okehampton Crescent, Welling working route 322. |
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Boroline 757 at Eltham Station in November 1990 |
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Nearside profile of Boroline Olympian 762 (F991UME) at Eltham station in November 1990 Thanks to Simon Trill for identifying this vehicle. |
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Boroline 760 and an unidentified sibling on layover at Eltham Station, together with a Ford Transit crew transfer vehicle |
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Another view of Boroline 757 at Avery Hill, Eltham in November 1990 working a route 132 journey to Bexleyheath |
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Boroline 753 at Bexleyheath in 1991 with a route 132 journey to Eltham. |
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