Home»London Bus Routes All Photographs»London Bus Routes: 101 - 200»Route 138: Bromley North - Coney Hall

London Bus Route 138 - Bromley North - Hayes - Coney Hall. (5 Miles)
Operated By: Go Ahead London: Metrobus
Garage: Orpington MB

Past Timetables: Sep 1982, March 2001, Sep 2004

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History:

• The 138 began on the 27th November 1940, and provided a service between Bromley North Station and Coney Hall (Via Bromley South and Hayes). The route was operated from Bromley Garage (TB) by STL type buses. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 3STL and Sunday 2STL. On the 29th October 1941, the ST type was introduced Monday to Saturday. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 3ST and Sunday 2STL.
• By the 18th November 1942 the PVR was increased, Monday to Saturday 4ST and Sunday 2STL.
• On the 27th October 1943 the STL Monday to Saturday was re-introduced. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 4STL and Sunday 2STL.
• On the 13th March 1946 the PVR was increased again, Monday to Saturday 5STL and Sunday 3STL. On the 20th October 1948 an RT type was introduced on Sundays. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 5STL and Sunday 3RT.
• On the 13th April 1949 the RT was withdrawn on Sundays. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 5STL and Sunday 3STL. On the 11th October 1950 the STL type was withdrawn and replaced by RTW type buses. The current PVR was Monday to Sunday 5RTW.
• On the 2nd May 1951, the RTW type was withdrawn and replaced by the RT type; the current PVR was Monday to Saturday 5RT and Sunday 3RT.
• On the 19th May 1954 a Sunday Catford (TL) allocation was introduced. The current PVR was Monday to Friday 5RT from TB, Saturday 6RT from TB and 6RT from TL. There was also a slight change in the route of the 138, as it was extended from Bromley North to Grove Park Station. The route was Monday to Friday Coney Hall to Bromley North Station, Saturday and Sundays run from Coney Hall to Grove Park Station.
• On the 16th June 1954 there was a slight change to the weekday PVR as it was increased to 6RT from TB. On the 17th October 1956 there were a few changes to the route of the 138, Grove Park Station (Saturday p.m.) - Bromley North Station (M‑Fri/Sat a.m/Sun) – Coney Hall. The Sunday allocation was transferred back to TB. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 6RT and Sunday 3RT.
  
• On the 26th November 1958 the Sunday allocation was withdrawn and the route was revised, Bromley North Station and Coney Hall, so the 138 was withdrawn between Grove Park and Bromley North. The current PVR was Monday to Friday 6RT and Saturday 5RT. On the 9th October 1963 there was a slight change to the PVR, Monday to Friday 6RT and Saturday 4RT.
• On the 10th May 1969 the route was converted to One Person Operation. The current PVR was Monday to Friday 8MB and Saturday 5MB. On the 27th April 1975 the route was converted to Double Deck operation, by DMS type buses. The current PVR was Monday to Friday 8DMS and Saturday 5DMS. On the 23rd June 1977 the PVR was decreased to 7DMS Monday to Friday and Saturday stayed the same at 5DMS. On the 22nd April 1978, the Saturday PVR was increased to 6DMS.
• By the 10th June 1978 the Saturday PVR was increased to 7DMS. On the 21st October 1979 the route was converted to Single Deck, by Leyland Nationals. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 7LS. On the 4th September 1982 the PVR was decreased, Monday to Friday 5LS and Saturday 3LS. On the 27th April 1985 the route was converted back to Double Deck. The current PVR was, Monday to Saturday T (Ex 119). On the 29th July 1989 the route was withdrawn and replaced by route B1.

• On the 14th July 1990, the 138 was re-introduced which replaced routes B1 and L3. The current route was Monday to Saturday ran from Catford Bridge Station to Coney Hall and Sunday ran from Catford Bridge Station to Bromley North Station, (Via Brookhowse Road, Whitefoot Lane, Downham, Southover, Bromley, Bromley North Station, Bromley South, Pickhurst Lane and Hayes). The route was now operated by Catford Garage, by SR/MRL type buses. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 6SR/MRL and Sunday 3SR/MRL.
• On the 19th January 1991 the Sunday service was withdrawn. There was a slight change to the route Buses arriving at Coney Hall re-routed to operate direct from Kingsway to Princes Way instead of loop via Layhams Road although the loop was still used for departing buses from Coney Hall. The MRL type was also withdrawn and replaced by MW type buses. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday was 6SR/MW

• On the 24th July 1993 the route was diverted in Coney Hall and the MW type was withdrawn. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 6SR. On the 12th February 1994 Kentish Bus won the contract for route 138 and they operated the route from Deptford Garage (LM). They also re-introduced a Sunday service. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 6Midi and Sunday 4Midi. On the 25th February 1995 the operation was transferred to London Links from Croydon Garage (CR). A few months later on the 18th June the operation was transferred back to Kentish Bus at their Bromley Garage (BY). A few months later on the 4th November again the 138 was back to Deptford Garage.
• On the 2nd December 1995 the operation was transferred to Metrobus of Orpington (MB) under LRT tendering progress. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 6Midi and Sunday 5Midi.
• On the 17th March 2001 the loop working at Coney Hall was revised, and the route was converted to Dennis Dart operation. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 6Dart and Sunday 4Dart.
• On the 25th September 2004 the 138 was withdrawn between Bromley North and Catford Bridge Station. The current route is Bromley North to Coney Hall.
• On the 18th March 2006 Metrobus retained the contract and they introduced some brand new East Lancs Mini Darts. The current PVR was Monday to Saturday 3DT/EL and Sunday 2DT/EL.
• In March 2011 Metrobus gained a two year contract extenstion.
• In March 2013 Metrobus retained the contract for another five years, using existing buses including some new enviro 200's too.
• 17th March 2018, yet again Metrobus (Go Ahead London) managed to retain the contract for the 138, the current PVR is Monday to Saturday 3SE and Sunday 2SE