London Buses route 46

London Buses route 46 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.

History
The current route 46 started on 8 January 1972 between Hampstead Heath and Farringdon Street as a crew operated route created from the withdrawn section of route 45 (between Kings Cross and Hampstead). The route ran Monday to Saturday from Chalk Farm Bus Garage. Only a few months later on 17 June 1972, the route was converted from crewed Routemasters to one person operation using DMSs, and a Sunday service was also added.

On 4 September 1982, the route was extended from Hampstead to Swiss Cottage (and further to Kensal Rise Monday to Saturday). It was also withdrawn between Kings Cross and Farringdon Street, apart from Monday to Friday peaks journeys.

Metrobuses replaced the DMSs in 1984, and on the 27 October it was withdrawn between Kensal Rise and Warwick Avenue, outside of the peak. Titans replaced the short lived Metrobuses in 1986, and on the 25 October route 46's Sunday service was withdrawn. The Titans were replaced by single decker buses during November 1991, and was extended at all times to run to Kensal Rise.

Chalk Farm Bus Garage closed in 1993, and the allocation was transferred to Holloway Garage during March of that year. On 4 December 1993 the Sunday service was restored.

The allocation moved to North Acton, due to overcrowding at Holloway during April 1996, and then back to Holloway for a brief period between March and May 1998 in a swap with route 139, before returning to North Acton.

On 29 April 2000, route 46 was withdrawn at all times between Kensal Rise and Warwick Avenue, with buses running empty to stand on Harrow Road Bridge. Later that year, on the closure of North Acton Garage in September, the route transferred to Harlesden Garage (renamed Park Royal Garage in 2003, now owned by NCP Challenger).

In April 2005, Park Royal garage closed and the allocation moved once more, this time to King's Cross Garage. After many months of proposed dates, and much deferring, the route was finally extended to Lancaster Gate Station on 27 January 2007.

The route is now a rather winding and indirect route to Kings Cross, but providing many links for the residents of Hampstead. Anyone wishing to travel the entire distance would use the more direct route 390 taking a third of the time compared to route 46.

Current route
Note: All stops have tube (London Underground) stations nearby.

Route departing Lancaster Gate

 * Lancaster Gate
 * Paddington
 * Warwick Avenue
 * Maida Vale/Hall Road
 * Swiss Cottage
 * Hampstead Station
 * Hampstead Heath/South End Green
 * Kentish Town/Prince of Wales Road
 * King's Cross Station
 * Farringdon Street

Route departing Farringdon Street

 * Farringdon Street
 * King's Cross Station
 * Kentish Town/Prince of Wales Road
 * Hampstead Heath/South End Green
 * Hampstead Station
 * Swiss Cottage
 * Maida Vale/Hall Road
 * Warwick Avenue
 * Paddington
 * Lancaster Gate

Previous route 46 in London
Until 25 October 1969, route 46 ran between Victoria and Willesden Garage.