Depots are the staging grounds for every journey in Croydon London Bus Simulator. Each operator maintains garage facilities where buses spawn before route assignment. Custom companies use separate designated depots. Knowing depot locations relative to your chosen route reduces dead running time and helps you join hourly shifts before timetable slots fill.
Operator Depots
Free operators — Croycoach, Arriva, Go-Ahead/Transport UK — each maintain depot buildings on the map. When you select a bus from an operator menu and pick a route, the game places you at that operator's garage. You cannot spawn a Croycoach bus from an Arriva depot or vice versa.
Spawning Workflow
- Select operator from main menu or garage browser
- Choose your bus model from owned fleet — see free buses for starter options
- Select route from operator's available services
- Spawn at depot and drive to route starting stop if required
Custom Company Depots
Custom company buses spawn only at company-designated depots, not standard operator garages. When planning a new company, verify depot proximity to your published custom route terminuses. Long dead runs from depot to route start waste shift participation time.
Depot Congestion Tips
Popular depots congest during shift hour changes when dozens of players spawn simultaneously. Arrive early or wait 30 seconds for the queue to clear. On Pro private servers with collisions enabled, depot exits become chokepoints — use indicators and patience per Simulation Server etiquette.
Tram Depots
Trams operate from tram network staging points, separate from bus garages. Pro subscribers accessing TR replacement routes spawn trams at network-specific locations. Tram point economics differ from buses — see earn points for per-stop rates.
South Croydon Bus Garage
South Croydon Bus Garage serves as a notable terminus for N68 night route and several daytime services. Depot-adjacent terminuses like this allow quick turnaround between route cycles — ideal for night grinding on our night routes page.