The origins of Abellio can be traced back to June 1998 when National Express commenced operating routes C1 and 211 under the Travel London brand. In August 2000, National Express sold the business to Limebourne, who in July 2001 sold out to Connex. In February 2004, National Express repurchased the business. Further expansion in 2005 saw the purchases of the London bus operations of Tellings-Golden Miller with a depot in Byfleet and various Surrey County Council contracts. Travel London operated contracts on behalf of Transport for London, Surrey County Council, and Kingston University. Operations were split between three registered companies; Travel London Limited, Travel London Limited, and Travel London Limited. The Surrey routes were rebranded as Travel Surreyin September 2007. In May 2009, National Express sold Travel London to Abellio. The sale included 66 routes, 36 Transport for London tendered services and 30 Surrey County Council and Kingston University routes. All vehicles, depots and staff were included. On 30 October 2009 the businesses were rebranded as Abellio London and Abellio Surrey. In November 2014 an Abellio bus caught fire in Wallington, with one of its rear tyres exploding. A casualty was treated by London Ambulance service.
As of April 2020, Armstrong Way garage operates routes 195, 207, 427, E5, E7, E9, E10, E11, N207 and weekend night route E1.
Battersea (QB)
As of April 2020, Battersea garage operates routes 24, 27, 49, 156, 159, 344, 345, 414 and C1. This garage was established by Q-Drive in the late 1990s, hence the QB code. Travel London's original bus garage was situated further north towards Stewarts Lane railway depot which was the home of the Gatwick Express, a rail franchise then operated by its parent National Express. Connex moved into these premises after purchasing the Limebourne business in July 2001. In December 2015, Battersea garage started operating route 159.
As of May 2020, Walworth garage operated routes 3, 45, 68, 196, 381, 415, 484, C10, P5, P13, N3, N68 and N381. On 30 April 2016, routes 35 and 40 passed to London Central. After being closed by London Regional Transport in the 1980s, Walworth garage was reopened by Travel London in 2005, who needed more garage space after some contract wins.
Former garages
Southall (AB)
garage opened on 29 July 2017, when routes E1, E5, E7 and E9 were transferred from Hayes. It was replaced by Armstrong Way garage in July 2019.
Abellio Surrey
Abellio operated one garage in Byfleet. It held 50 buses and was the base for several Surrey County Council tendered routes as well as some commercial services. This garage was operated by Tellings-Golden Miller and was sold to National Express in June 2005. It was rebranded as Travel Surrey in September 2007 and ran buses in a livery of white with a red skirt. Renamed Travel London, in September 2007 it was rebranded as Travel Surrey. In October 2009 it was rebranded Abellio Surrey. In September 2017, all 17 of its Surrey County Council tendered routes passed to other operators. As at July 2017, the remaining routes were commercially operated services 441 and 461. Route 441 was taken over by White Bus in March 2018 and route 461 by Falcon Coaches in September 2018.
Fleet
As at March 2016, the fleet consisted of 769 buses.
