The service was jointly promoted by Transport for London and the South Bank Employers' Group.[1]The Daily Telegraph called the route one of the "best routes for sightseeing on a shoestring".[2]
It was one of the first routes in London to use off-bus ticketing only, leading to quicker boarding and journey times, and unusually operated at the same frequency on Sundays as on other days of the week.[3]
The route used to be operated by diesel fuelled Mercedes-Benz Citaros. Between September 2004 and January 2007, three trial fuel cell powered Mercedes-Benz Citaros were used on this route to compare their efficiency with their diesel equivalents. The fuel cell buses only operated in the mornings and early afternoon due to a lack of fuel capacity.[4]
In November 2010, it was announced that the route would again be operated with hydrogen-powered vehicles.[5] One new bus came into service in December 2010, and seven more were in service by the end of 2011.[6][7]
On 22 June 2013, route RV1 was included in the sale of First London's Lea Interchange garage to Tower Transit.[8][9] In August 2014, WiFi technology was introduced on one bus on route RV1.[10][11][12] New passenger information screens were also introduced on one bus on the route.[13][14][15]
Following declining usage and a frequency cut in February 2018, it was proposed by Transport for London that the route be withdrawn.[18] Although Southwark Council and local residents protested against the withdrawal of the route,[19][20] the route was withdrawn on 15 June 2019 and partly replaced by route 343.[21][22][23]
Former route
Route RV1 operated via these primary locations:[24]