East London Transit

East London Transit is a part-segregated bus rapid transit whose first phase opened in 2010, with an additional phase planned to open in 2013. The scheme has been developed by Transport for London due to the existing and anticipated demand for public transport in northeast London caused by the Thames Gateway redevelopment. The scheme has been planned to allow for a possible future upgrade to tram operation. It is planned to connect National Rail and London Underground stations in the London boroughs of Havering, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham and Newham with major population centres currently only served by bus routes. There are proposals for a variety of extensions. The first stage of the scheme opened on 20 February 2010.

Services
There are currently two routes. EL1 replaced the previous 369 bus service and operates 24 hours a day between Thames View Estate and Ilford. EL2 operates over the whole length of the phase 1 route between Dagenham Dock and Ilford. Bus route 179 was withdrawn between Ilford and Barking and was diverted to terminate at Ilford (Hainault Street) bus terminus. Both services are operated by Go-Ahead Blue Triangle using Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 double-deckers. The vehicles have air cooling (not full air-conditioning). Each route operates five buses an hour on Monday to Saturday daytimes and three an hour during the evenings and on Sunday; giving a combined frequency of ten buses an hour over the core route from Ilford to Thames View Estate during the day.

Confirmed phases
Phase 1 was opened on 20 February 2010.
 * Phase 1
 * Ilford — Barking — Thames View Estate — Dagenham Dock

Construction of phase 2 will begin in 2011 and will be completed in 2013. It has received funding from the Homes and Communities Agency.
 * Phase 2
 * Barking — Barking Riverside — Dagenham Dock

Proposed destinations
Proposals for extensions have included Gallions Reach, Rainham, Barkingside, Romford, Elm Park and Collier Row. Havering London Borough Council has voiced support for the extension to Rainham through London Riverside. The possible destinations are:



Thames Gateway Transit
The East London Transit formed part of a plan for a much larger Thames Gateway Transit service. It was proposed that it would use the Thames Gateway Bridge to connect to the Greenwich Waterfront Transit on the south side of the River Thames. However, construction of the bridge and the Greenwich busway was cancelled in 2008.