London Buses route 159

159

Overview
Operator Abellio London
Garage Battersea (QB)
Vehicle New Routemaster
Peak vehicle requirement 34
Night-time 24-hour service
Route
Start Streatham station
Via Brixton
Kennington
Parliament Square
Trafalgar Square
Piccadilly Circus
Oxford Circus
End Marble Arch
Length 8 miles (13 km)
Service
Level Daily
Frequency 6-12 minutes
Journey time 42-81 minutes
Operates 24-hour service

London Buses route 159 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Streatham station and Marble Arch, it is operated by Abellio London.

History

Arriva London AEC Routemaster in March 2004

When first introduced, the route was operated by STL-class double-deckers. In 1951, RTs and RTLs replaced the STLs. In June 1970, the RTs were replaced by AEC Routemasters. During the 1990s, London Buses' South London Transport subsidiary operated the route with Routemasters in a unique red and cream livery which was retained after South London was privatised and acquired by the Cowie Group in January 1995.[1]

On 9 December 2005, route 159 was the last route to be converted from Routemaster to low-floor bus operation, with new Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL double deckers taking over. Brixton Garage gained the whole service. The route was converted gradually from the start of service on the last day, with the last scheduled Routemaster journey (operated by RM2217) departing Marble Arch at 12:08, arriving at Brixton Garage at 14:03. The final service operated by RM54, terminated at Streatham at 14:07.[2][3]

On 24 August 2010 TfL announced an intention to extend route 159 north from Marble Arch to Paddington Basin and for it subsequently to become a 24-hour route.[4] On 29 March 2014, route 159 was withdrawn between Marble Arch and Paddington Basin.[5]

Arriva London successfully retained route 159 with new contracts starting on 10 December 2005 and 11 December 2010.[6][7] In June 2015 Abellio London won the contract, which commenced with the introduction of the New Routemaster buses on 12 December 2015.[8][9]

Current route

Route 159 operates via these primary locations:[10]

References

  1. ↑ Aldridge, John (September 2000). "RMs could live till they're 46". Buses. Ian Allan Publishing (546): 12.
  2. ↑ Routemaster makes final journey BBC News 9 December 2005
  3. ↑ Millar, Alan (February 2006). "Last rites for a London icon". Buses. Ian Allan Publishing (611): 24–28.
  4. ↑ Major changes to routes 15, N15 & 159 Transport for London 24 August 2010
  5. ↑ Route 159 will no longer serve Paddington London Buses
  6. ↑ 2005 Bus Tender Result Transport for London
  7. ↑ 2010 Bus Tender Result Transport for London
  8. ↑ Abellio London now operates route 159 Abellio 16 December 2015
  9. ↑ "Abellio wins route 159 with its first New Routemasters" Buses issue 724 July 2015 page 27
  10. ↑ Route 159 Map Transport for London

Media related to London Buses route 159 at Wikimedia Commons

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