London Buses route 142 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Watford Junction and Brent Cross, it is operated by Metroline.
History[]
Route 142 was introduced by the London General Omnibus Company in March 1914. During the 1950s, route 142 was a somewhat different route from its present format. It ran from Watford Junction via Bushey, Bushey Heath and Stanmore and to Edgware Station. From Edgware, it continued to Kilburn Park Station, except in the evenings and on weekends.
As part of the trolleybus replacement programme, the route was extended to Kilburn Park full-time on 3 January 1962 (but cut back to Edgware on Sundays on 9 October 1963) and again on 23 January 1966. It was withdrawn between Colindale and Kilburn Park on 13 June 1970, with this section replaced by route 32. On 31 January 1976, it was extended to Brent Cross station. On 19 May 1976, it was cut back to Brent Cross bus station (weekdays except for peaks and Saturdays).
Buses travelling towards Brent Cross were diverted via Edgware Bus Station on 16 September 1989. On 3 July 1993, it was rerouted via the withdrawn section of route 251 between Edgware and Stanmore.
On 21 June 1986, the route passed to London & Country operating from their Watford garage. It was included in the sale of the business to Luton & District on 12 October 1990 and retained route 142 shortly afterwards, ordering brand new ECW bodied Leyland Olympians to operate the route. The route was retained again on 3 January 1998, making it the first route to be retained by its existing operator through two consecutive retenders. The operation was later rebranded as Arriva The Shires.
On 4 January 2003, the route was retained by Arriva The Shires and was converted to low floor operation using brand new Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250LFs. At the same time, it was extended to Brent Cross Shopping Centre at all times.
On 5 January 2008, the route was retained by Arriva The Shires using Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250LFs.
On 5 January 2013, the route was retained by Arriva The Shires using Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs.
In January 2016, the Arriva group restructured its bus operations, which included the transfer of route 142 from Arriva The Shires to Arriva London.
On 6 January 2018, the route passed to London Sovereign operating from their Edgware (BT) garage using existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s.
In September 2020, existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B5LHs were temporarily introduced alongside the existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s.
In April 2021, the route was converted back to a full Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 operation.
In November 2021, an Enviro 400 MMC bodied Alexander Dennis E40H was introduced alongside the existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s.
On 7 January 2023, the route passed to Metroline operating from their Edgware (EW) garage temporarily using existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s.
On 8 April 2023, brand new Enviro 400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DD Electrics were introduced alongside the existing Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s.
On 21 June 2023, brand new Wright Electroliner EVs were introduced alongside the Enviro 400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DDs and Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s.
On 24 July 2023, the route was converted to full Enviro400 City EV bodied BYD D8UR-DD and Wright Electroliner EV operation.
Current Route[]
Route 142 operates via these primary locations:
- Watford Junction Station Station Road
- Watford High Street Station
- Bushey Station
- Bushey Heath
- Stanmore The Broadway
- Stanmore Station
- Canons Corner
- Edgware Bus Station
- Edgware Community Hospital
- Burnt Oak Broadway (for Burnt Oak Station)
- Colindale Annesley Avenue (for Colindale Superstores)
- Hendon Magistrates' Court
- West Hendon Broadway Station Road
- Staples Corner
- Brent Cross Shopping Centre Bus Station