Route 160's history goes all the way back into the calenders of 1949 (26th October 1949). Originally running between Catford, St Dunstan's and Welling, Guy Earl of Warwick, the six mile route say Route 160 being operated from Catford Garage with 16 RT's. The route remained the same until 8th May 1963 where route 160 saw its Sunday service dropped, the lead to have a knock on effect on the routes PVR (Peak Vehicle Requirement) which dropped by 5 (16-9). The ex-Sunday service of route 160 was to be replaced by route 160A- Lower Sydenham- Plumstead Garage.
On 24th January 1970, Route 160 was converted to a single decker operation. This operation proceeded until 28th January 1978 where the route was converted back a double decker operation (Daimler Fleetline buses) but saw the PVR drop again. This time by two (9-7). A Sunday service was re-introduced to operate between Catford and Welling with a PVR of 3. But once again on 4th September 1982, Route 160 saw its Sunday service axed. The Sunday service was once again renamed to route 160A.
25th July 1983, Route 160 was converted from a Daimler Fleetline operation to a Leyland Titan operation. The 2nd November 1985 saw route 160 once again regain its Sunday operation with a PVR of 2. This day also was the start of route 160's extension to Bexleyheath Bus Garage. The route was soon converted to a single deck operation (Leyland National Buses) on the 3rd February 1987.
The route was cut back to Eltham, Southend Cresent on the 1st September 1990 due to the Eltham to Welling section being under-used. The PVR also dropped to 4 buses but however a few years later on 15th September 1996 the route was extended to Sidcup Staion via Chislehurst-replacing route 228's section between Eltham and Sidcup. The route saw Alexandra Dash Darts join its allocation.
On 16th September 2006, Route 160 was succesfully won by Arriva Kent Thameside from their Dartford Garage. The routes termius at Catford Garage/St Dunstan's was changed to terminate at Catford Bridge Station, Thomas Lane. With a PVR of 10, the route did not actually have its own set of buses in Dartford Garage. DLA's were mostly found on the route but you often sometimes saw DW's and ENL's appear on the route.
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| Route 160, Arriva Kent Thameside (DT), 6465, GN61JRU seen at Queen Mary Hospital |
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| Route 160, Arriva Kent Thameside (DT), 6461, GN61JRX seen at Sidcup Station |
17th September 2011, the route was retained by Kent Thameside with 12 new Enviro400's. All of these Enviro400's were delivered in late December due to the overflowing orders with Alexander Dennis. The new buses for route 160 have started to appear on the roads from 4th January 2012. Each bus weighs U.W. 11655 KGS and contain's Estaban Civic seats.
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| Upper Deck Interior -6461/GN61JRX |
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| Upper Deck Interior -6461/GN61JRX |
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| Upper Deck Saloon of 6461/GN61JRX |
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