London Buses route 143
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 143 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to Metroline
.
and Addiscombe(Black Horse)
via Church Road, Finchley Lane, Hendon Lane, Regents Park Road, East End Road, East Finchley
, Great North Road
, Archway Road, Holloway Road
, Upper Street
, Angel, Islington, City Road
, Finsbury Pavement
, Bank, London Bridge
, Borough
, Elephant & Castle, Kennington
, Brixton Road
, Streatham Hill, Streatham
, West Croydon
and Croydon
.
The Monday to Saturday service was provided by a 143A which ran between Hendon (Church End) and London Bridge Station which had commenced operation four days earlier than the 143 on 1 December 1924. There were also two supplementary suffixed operations for shortworking buses: 143B Hendon (Church End) - Streatham Common (Greyhound)
and 143C Highgate (Archway Tavern)
- Addiscombe. The 143 group of routes was closely connected to the 43 group of routes
and was in fact a renumbering of the 43A route.
On 1 February 1961 the route was extended from Archway to Farringdon Street as part of the Trolley Bus Replacement Program. This extension was modified in November of that year to run to Farringdon Street on Monday to Friday and Saturday Mornings, to Kings Cross Saturday afternoons and to Archway Saturday evenings. This arrangement lasted until 31 December 1966 when the Saturday service between Farringdon Street and Kings Cross was withdrawn.
1968 saw the conversion of the route to one person operated single deck, and the route was withdrawn between Farringdon Street and Archway at all times on 30 November. A Sunday service was added at this time to cover the withdrawn section of route 133
. The single deck buses were replaced by double deck Daimler Fleetline
s (DMSs) during April 1975. The route received an extension from Hendon to Brent Cross Shopping Centre during shopping hours on 31 January 1976.
The route transferred garages on 28 October 1978 from Holloway to Hendon Garage, and the DMSs were replaced by Metrobuses
during February 1980. The Sunday service was withdrawn on 4 September 1982 and reintroduced for a brief period between 4 February 1984 and 6 June 1987 but only running between Hendon Central and East Finchley, when it was replaced by route 271. The closure of Hendon Garage saw the route pass to Holloway Garage during June 1987, and to Edgware garage in November.
During February 1991, the route was diverted to serve narrow roads in Finchley and so the Metrobuses were replaced by Optare StarRider
minibuses and the Sunday service was also reintroduced. Some Schoolday journeys followed the old routing using the number 143A.
The allocation was transferred to Cricklewood in January 1994, and double deck schoolday journeys using Metroline's Metrobuses were added between Archway and East Finchley on 2 September 1996. The school journeys were transferred in June 1998 to London Traveller
, later Metropolitan Omnibus, but returned to Metroline in 2003 (using spare buses from route 134
).
The allocation was transferred once again in March 2000 to back to Holloway Garage, and the renwal of the contract with Metroline saw low floor Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer
s being introduced.
A garage reshuffle took place in November 2002, when the 143 was moved back to Cricklewood Garage, along with route C11, making room for the newly gained route 24
from Arriva at Holloway. Route 205
was moved from Cricklewood to the new East Perivale Garage.
The route was extended to Brent Cross at all times on 28 June 2003. Tendering saw the route pass from Metroline to Thorpes on 21 May 2005 to their West Perivale garage. Metroline subsequently bought out Thorpes, and so Metroline once again operate the route.
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:...
.
History
Today's 143 route commenced operation on 5 December 1924 as a Sunday only service between Hendon(Church End)Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
and Addiscombe(Black Horse)
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
via Church Road, Finchley Lane, Hendon Lane, Regents Park Road, East End Road, East Finchley
East Finchley
East Finchley is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet, in north London, and situated north-west of Charing Cross. Geographically it is somewhat separate from the rest of Finchley, with North Finchley and West Finchley to the north, and Finchley Central to the west.- History :The land on which...
, Great North Road
Great North Road (Great Britain)
The Great North Road was a coaching route used by mail coaches between London, York and Edinburgh. The modern A1 mainly follows the Great North Road. The inns on the road, many of which survive, were staging posts on the coach routes, providing accommodation, stabling for the horses and...
, Archway Road, Holloway Road
Holloway Road
Holloway Road is a road in London. It is one of the main shopping streets in North London, and carries the A1 road as it passes through Holloway, in the London Borough of Islington...
, Upper Street
Upper Street
Upper Street is the main shopping street of the Islington district of inner north London, and carries the A1 road. It runs from the junction of the A1 and Pentonville Road and City Road, and runs roughly northwards past Angel tube station, then past the Business Design Centre, then splits at...
, Angel, Islington, City Road
City Road
City Road or The City Road is a road that runs through inner north and central London. The northwestern extremity of the road is at the Angel, Islington where it forms a continuation of Pentonville Road. Pentonville Road itself is the modern name for London's first bypass, the New Road from...
, Finsbury Pavement
Finsbury Pavement
Finsbury Pavement is a street connecting Moorgate with City Road in the London Borough of Islington. It forms a part of the A501 London Inner Ring Road, and before the introduction of the ring of steel formed a major through route to London Bridge and south London.-History:The name was formerly...
, Bank, London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
, Borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
, Elephant & Castle, Kennington
Kennington
Kennington is a district of South London, England, mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth, although part of the area is within the London Borough of Southwark....
, Brixton Road
Brixton Road
Brixton Road is a road in the London Borough of Lambeth , leading from the Oval at Kennington to Brixton, where it forms the high street and then forks into Effra Road and Brixton Hill at St Mathews church at the crossroads with Acre Lane and Coldharbour Lane...
, Streatham Hill, Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, West Croydon
West Croydon station
West Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
and Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
.
The Monday to Saturday service was provided by a 143A which ran between Hendon (Church End) and London Bridge Station which had commenced operation four days earlier than the 143 on 1 December 1924. There were also two supplementary suffixed operations for shortworking buses: 143B Hendon (Church End) - Streatham Common (Greyhound)
Streatham Common
Streatham Common is a large open space on the southern edge of Streatham, London.It is one of two former areas of common land in the former parish of Streatham. The other is now known as Tooting Bec Common After inclosure, the Common was purchased for use as a public open space under the powers...
and 143C Highgate (Archway Tavern)
Archway tube station
Archway tube station is a London Underground station in north London, underneath the Archway Tower, at the intersection of Holloway Road, Highgate Hill and Junction Road in the area known as Archway....
- Addiscombe. The 143 group of routes was closely connected to the 43 group of routes
London Buses route 43
London Buses route 43 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
and was in fact a renumbering of the 43A route.
On 1 February 1961 the route was extended from Archway to Farringdon Street as part of the Trolley Bus Replacement Program. This extension was modified in November of that year to run to Farringdon Street on Monday to Friday and Saturday Mornings, to Kings Cross Saturday afternoons and to Archway Saturday evenings. This arrangement lasted until 31 December 1966 when the Saturday service between Farringdon Street and Kings Cross was withdrawn.
1968 saw the conversion of the route to one person operated single deck, and the route was withdrawn between Farringdon Street and Archway at all times on 30 November. A Sunday service was added at this time to cover the withdrawn section of route 133
London Buses route 133
London Buses route 133 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
. The single deck buses were replaced by double deck Daimler Fleetline
Daimler Fleetline
The Daimler Fleetline is a rear-engined double-decker bus chassis built between 1960 and 1973 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, and from 1973 until 1980 in Farington, Lancashire, England. However, the last complete vehicle did not enter service until 1983...
s (DMSs) during April 1975. The route received an extension from Hendon to Brent Cross Shopping Centre during shopping hours on 31 January 1976.
The route transferred garages on 28 October 1978 from Holloway to Hendon Garage, and the DMSs were replaced by Metrobuses
MCW Metrobus
The MCW Metrobus is a double decker bus model manufactured by MCW from 1977 until 1989, with over 4,000 examples built. The original MkI model was superseded by the MkII model in 1981/1982, although production of the original MkI continued for London Transport until 1985...
during February 1980. The Sunday service was withdrawn on 4 September 1982 and reintroduced for a brief period between 4 February 1984 and 6 June 1987 but only running between Hendon Central and East Finchley, when it was replaced by route 271. The closure of Hendon Garage saw the route pass to Holloway Garage during June 1987, and to Edgware garage in November.
During February 1991, the route was diverted to serve narrow roads in Finchley and so the Metrobuses were replaced by Optare StarRider
Optare StarRider
The Optare StarRider was a midibus/midicoach body produced by Optare between 1987 and 1994. It was based on a Mercedes-Benz 811D/814D chassis, with its body made from a steel frame with aluminium alloy and GPR exterior panels....
minibuses and the Sunday service was also reintroduced. Some Schoolday journeys followed the old routing using the number 143A.
The allocation was transferred to Cricklewood in January 1994, and double deck schoolday journeys using Metroline's Metrobuses were added between Archway and East Finchley on 2 September 1996. The school journeys were transferred in June 1998 to London Traveller
London Traveller
London Traveller was the trading name of Metropolitan Omnibus, a bus operator in Greater London in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The company was partially owned by Yorkshire Traction, and was sold to Thorpes in October 2001.-History:...
, later Metropolitan Omnibus, but returned to Metroline in 2003 (using spare buses from route 134
London Buses route 134
London Buses route 134 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
).
The allocation was transferred once again in March 2000 to back to Holloway Garage, and the renwal of the contract with Metroline saw low floor Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer
Plaxton Pointer
The Plaxton Pointer is a successful single-decker bus body manufactured during the 1990s by Plaxton and latterly built by Alexander Dennis.With the launch of the Dennis Dart in 1989, Plaxton's subsidiary Reeve Burgess made the Pointer body on the short 8.5 m...
s being introduced.
A garage reshuffle took place in November 2002, when the 143 was moved back to Cricklewood Garage, along with route C11, making room for the newly gained route 24
London Buses route 24
London Buses route 24 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:This route dates back to 1910, when it ran between Hampstead Heath and Victoria...
from Arriva at Holloway. Route 205
London Buses route 205
London Buses route 205 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:...
was moved from Cricklewood to the new East Perivale Garage.
The route was extended to Brent Cross at all times on 28 June 2003. Tendering saw the route pass from Metroline to Thorpes on 21 May 2005 to their West Perivale garage. Metroline subsequently bought out Thorpes, and so Metroline once again operate the route.
Current route
- Brent Cross Shopping Centre Bus Station
- Hendon Central StationHendon Central tube stationHendon Central tube station is a London Underground station in North West London on the A41.The station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line, between Colindale and Brent Cross stations, and is on the boundary between Travelcard Zone 3 and Zone 4. Its postcode is NW4 2TE...
- HendonHendonHendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
The Quadrant - Finchley Central StationFinchley Central tube stationFinchley Central tube station is a London Underground station in the Church End area of Finchley, North London.The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line, between West Finchley and East Finchley stations and is the junction for the short branch to Mill Hill East station...
- East Finchley StationEast Finchley tube stationEast Finchley is a London Underground station in East Finchley in north London. The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern Line, between Highgate and Finchley Central stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-History:...
- Highgate Village
- Archway StationArchway tube stationArchway tube station is a London Underground station in north London, underneath the Archway Tower, at the intersection of Holloway Road, Highgate Hill and Junction Road in the area known as Archway....
Macdonald Road