Green Line route 724 is a high-profile limited-stop express bus service, currently operated by Arriva Shires & Essex as part of the large Green Line Coaches network. It operates between Harlow and Heathrow Airport, and is partly funded by the British Airports Authority (BAA). It is the only Green Line service to be operated by buses rather than coaches.

History

Route 724 was started in 1966, on a similar route to the current day service.

In 1998, a fleet of nine DAF SB220/Plaxton Prestige were purchased, with extra luggage space built in. These were some of the first low floor wheelchair accessible buses to operate in the United Kingdom.

These were replaced in August 2006 with a fleet of nine new Mercedes-Benz Citaro, an investment of £1.3 million. These were the result of a Quality Bus Partnership between Arriva, BAA and Hertfordshire County Council. These buses seat 39 and also have extra luggage racking. The previous DAFs were refurbished and cascaded around Arriva Shires and Essex, some now branded for route 500 (Watford - Aylesbury).

The most recent development of the route reflects the opening of Heathrow Airport's new Terminal 5 in March 2008. Service 724 will run via Terminal 5 between the Central Bus Station and Terminal 4.

From 19 May, the service was withdrawn from Heathrow Terminal 4, with another new timetable introduced. Short workings on other parts of the route became numbers 725 and 726.

Current route

This is the route from 25 March 2008, when terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport opened. The service also diverted in St Albans.

Route departing Harlow

• Harlow Bus station
• Ware College
• Hertford Bus station
• Hertford North railway station
• Panshanger Herns Way
• Welwyn Garden City Bus station
• QEII Hospital
• Hatfield railway station
• Hatfield Town Centre
• St Albans railway station
• St Albans London Road
• Garston Garage
• Watford Junction railway station
• Watford Town Hall
• Rickmansworth railway station
• Maple Cross The Cross pub
• Denham railway station
• Uxbridge Belmont Road
• Heathrow Airport Central Bus station
• Heathrow Airport Terminal 5

Route departing Heathrow

• Heathrow Airport Terminal 5
• Heathrow Airport Central Bus station
• Uxbridge Belmont Road
• Denham railway station
• Maple Cross The Cross pub
• Rickmansworth railway station
• Watford Clarendon Road
• Garston Garage
• St Albans London Road
• St Albans railway station
• Hatfield Town Centre
• Hatfield railway station
• QEII Hospital
• Welwyn Garden City Bus station
• Panshanger Herns Way
• Hertford North railway station
• Hertford Bus station
• Ware College
• Harlow Bus station

* No longer serves Terminal 4 from 19th May 2008.

See also

• Green Line Coaches
• Arriva Shires & Essex
• Arriva

References

External links

• Green Line Coaches website
• Green Line - Route 724
• Arriva Shires & Essex website
• Full timetable - Arriva
• Full timetable - Transport for London