London Buses route 139

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.

History
The current route 139 was formed on 14 March 1992 to replace the withdrawn Northern section of route 159 between West Hampstead and Baker Street.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 Routemasters 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 above the lower deck windows and Route 139 on the front advertisment panels eitherside of the blinds.

In 1993, less than a year since the route's conception, 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 23 March to single deck one person operation, using Marshall-bodied Darts based at North Acton Bus Garage, running at approximatly 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 The Golders Green journeys were withdrawn, terminating at West End Green at all times.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 Plaxton Presidents 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.

Route departing West Hampstead

 * West Hampstead West End Green
 * West End Lane
 * West Hampstead National Rail Stations
 * West Hampstead Underground Station
 * Abbey Road
 * Grove End Road
 * Lisson Grove
 * Rossmore Road
 * Baker Street Station
 * Baker Street
 * Orchard Street Selfridges
 * Oxford Street John Lewis
 * Oxford Circus Station
 * Regent Street
 * Piccadilly Circus Station
 * Haymarket
 * Trafalgar Square
 * Duncannon Street for Charing Cross Station
 * Strand
 * Aldwych
 * Waterloo Bridge
 * Waterloo Station Mepham Street

Route departing Waterloo

 * Waterloo Station Mepham Street
 * Waterloo Bridge
 * Strand
 * Charing Cross Station
 * Trafalgar Square
 * Lower Regent Street
 * Piccadilly Circus Station
 * Regent Street
 * Oxford Circus Station
 * Oxford Street
 * Gloucester Place for Baker Street Station
 * Rossmore Road
 * Lisson Grove
 * Grove End Road
 * Abbey Road
 * West End Lane
 * West Hampstead Underground Station
 * West Hampstead National Rail Stations
 * West Hampstead West End Green

Previous route 139s in London
Until 1987 Route 139 ran between Ilford and Dagenham Dock.