London Buses route 45

Route 45 was introduced on 1 October 1950 as a replacement for trolleybus route 34 between Battersea and Farringdon Street via Clapham Junction, Clapham Common, Stockwell, Brixton, Camberwell Green, Elephant & Castle and Blackfriars Bridge.^[1] It was operated by AEC Routemasters.^[2] On 17 January 1951 it was extended from Battersea to South Kensington station. On 1 February 1961, the route was extended from Farringdon Street to Hampstead Heath via Grays Inn Road and King's Cross replacing trolleybus route 513. On 8 January 1972, it was withdrawn between King's Cross and Hampstead and replaced by route 46. On 28 October 1978, the route was extended from King's Cross to Archway station.^[3]

On 3 August 1985, route 45 was converted to one man operation with the AEC Routemasters replaced by Leyland Titans.^[4]

Having been operated by London Central out of Camberwell garage since first tendered in 1987,^[5] on 11 November 2017 it was taken over by Abellio London's Walworth garage with Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMCs introduced.^[6][7][8] On 15 June 2019, the route was withdrawn between King's Cross and Elephant & Castle.^[9]

In June 2022, Transport for London launched a consultation with a view to withdrawing route 45, with route 35 and a re-routed 59 continuing to serve its length.^[10] However, it decided not to go ahead with the proposals and so no changes to route 45 were made.^[11]

In September 2024, Transport for London launched a consultation proposing to restructure route 45 in order to replace route 118 which was proposed for withdrawal.^[12] In December 2024, it was confirmed that the changes would proceed with route 45 being restructured to operate between Morden station and Camberwell Green. This change was implemented on 1 February 2025.^[13]

Route 45 operates via these primary locations:^[14]

• Morden station
• Mitcham tram stop
• Streatham Common station
• Streatham station
• Streatham Hill station
• Brixton station
• Loughborough Junction station
• Camberwell Green