London Buses route 139
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 139 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to Metroline
for London Buses.
between West Hampstead and Baker Street. Route 139 originally ran from West Hampstead, with some daytime journeys extended to and from Golders Green
, to Trafalgar Square, using standard length Routemaster
s from London Northern's Chalk Farm Garage. The destination for these extended journeys read "WEST HAMPSTEAD & Golders Green" and the Routemasters were initially route branded displaying West End via points (West Hampstead, Baker Street, Oxford Street, Regent Street) above the lower deck windows and Route 139 West Hampstead & Oxford Street on the front advertisement panels eitherside of the blinds.
In 1993, less than a year since the route's inception, Chalk Farm Bus Garage closed, and the Routemasters moved to Holloway Bus Garage, which already operated Routemasters on route 10
. They lost their route branding in favour of the MTL London livery, after London Northern was bought out by MTL in October 1994.
A rather surprising change happened in 1998 when the 139 was converted on 28 March to single deck one person operation, using Marshall-bodied Darts based at North Acton Bus Garage, running at approximately the same frequencies as before. This was therefore a reduction in capacity; but a new route 189, formed the previous year, was extended to help on the overlapping section between Abbey Road and Oxford Circus. The Golders Green journeys were withdrawn, terminating at West End Green at all times. In September 2000, North Acton Garage closed and the whole fleet moved to Cricklewood Garage, being closer to the West Hampstead Terminus.
On 1 February 2003 the route was extended from Trafalgar Square
to Waterloo Station
, via the Strand
and Waterloo Bridge
, and at the same time was gradually converted back to double deck, this time Dennis Trident
9.9m Plaxton President
s were ordered, in preparation for the London congestion charge
. "This will provide new links in the West End and enhance the frequency of some links currently provided by route 176
." In reality, all bus types working from Cricklewood Bus Garage can be seen on the route. Darts also make the odd rare appearance.
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
contracted bus route in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The service is currently contracted to Metroline
Metroline
Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:...
for London Buses.
History
The current route 139 was formed on 14 March 1992 to replace the withdrawn Northern section of route 159London Buses route 159
London Buses route 159 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
between West Hampstead and Baker Street. Route 139 originally ran from West Hampstead, with some daytime journeys extended to and from Golders Green
Golders Green
Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. Although having some earlier history, it is essentially a 19th century suburban development situated about 5.3 miles north west of Charing Cross and centred on the crossroads of Golders Green Road and Finchley Road.In the...
, to Trafalgar Square, using standard length Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
s from London Northern's Chalk Farm Garage. The destination for these extended journeys read "WEST HAMPSTEAD & Golders Green" and the Routemasters were initially route branded displaying West End via points (West Hampstead, Baker Street, Oxford Street, Regent Street) above the lower deck windows and Route 139 West Hampstead & Oxford Street on the front advertisement panels eitherside of the blinds.
In 1993, less than a year since the route's inception, Chalk Farm Bus Garage closed, and the Routemasters moved to Holloway Bus Garage, which already operated Routemasters on route 10
London Buses route 10
London Buses route 10 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
. They lost their route branding in favour of the MTL London livery, after London Northern was bought out by MTL in October 1994.
A rather surprising change happened in 1998 when the 139 was converted on 28 March to single deck one person operation, using Marshall-bodied Darts based at North Acton Bus Garage, running at approximately the same frequencies as before. This was therefore a reduction in capacity; but a new route 189, formed the previous year, was extended to help on the overlapping section between Abbey Road and Oxford Circus. The Golders Green journeys were withdrawn, terminating at West End Green at all times. In September 2000, North Acton Garage closed and the whole fleet moved to Cricklewood Garage, being closer to the West Hampstead Terminus.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
to Waterloo Station
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
, via the Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
and Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815...
, and at the same time was gradually converted back to double deck, this time Dennis Trident
Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
9.9m Plaxton President
Plaxton President
The Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under...
s were ordered, in preparation for the London congestion charge
London congestion charge
The London congestion charge is a fee charged for some categories of motor vehicle to travel at certain times within the Congestion Charge Zone , a traffic area in London. The charge aims to reduce congestion, and raise investment funds for London's transport system...
. "This will provide new links in the West End and enhance the frequency of some links currently provided by route 176
London Buses route 176
London Buses route 176 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
." In reality, all bus types working from Cricklewood Bus Garage can be seen on the route. Darts also make the odd rare appearance.
Current route
- West HampsteadWest HampsteadWest Hampstead is an area in northwest London, England, situated between Childs Hill to the north, Frognal and Hampstead to the north-east, Swiss Cottage to the east, and South Hampstead to the south. Until the late 19th century, the locale was a small village called West End...
West End Green - West Hampstead National Rail StationsWest Hampstead railway stationWest Hampstead interchange is a proposal by Chiltern Railways to connect three existing railway stations and two lines now without platforms, on West End Lane in West Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden in London, England. Although physically separate, they are near each other and the...
- West Hampstead Underground StationWest Hampstead tube stationWest Hampstead tube station is a London Underground Jubilee line station in West Hampstead. It is on West End Lane between Broadhurst Gardens and Blackburn Road and is in Travelcard Zone 2. It lies between Kilburn and Finchley Road tube stations...
- Baker Street StationBaker Street tube stationBaker Street tube station is a station on the London Underground at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road. The station lies in Travelcard Zone 1 and is served by five different lines...
- Bond Street StationBond Street tube stationBond Street tube station is a London Underground station on Oxford Street, near the junction with New Bond Street. Note that the street-level entrances are approximately 200 metres west of New Bond Street itself...
- Oxford Circus StationOxford Circus tube station-External links:* ** ** * Plans of the station after the Victoria Line works , , *...
- Piccadilly Circus StationPiccadilly Circus tube stationPiccadilly Circus tube station is the London Underground station located directly beneath Piccadilly Circus itself, with entrances at every corner...
- Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
- Charing Cross StationCharing Cross stationCharing Cross station may refer to:In London, England:*Charing Cross railway station*Charing Cross tube station **Embankment tube station was previously named Charing CrossIn Glasgow, Scotland:...
- AldwychAldwychAldwych is a place and road in the City of Westminster in London, England.-Description:Aldwych, the road, is a crescent, connected to the Strand at both ends. At its centre, it meets the Kingsway...
- Waterloo StationWaterloo stationWaterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
Mepham Street