London Buses Route 186 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Brent Cross and Northwick Park Hospital, it is operated by Metroline.
History[]
Route 186 commenced operating on 13 June 1970 between Edgware Station and Harrow-on-the-Hill Station via Canons Park - Belmont Circle - Wealdstone. The route was introduced to replace the withdrawn section of route 18 between Harrow and Edgware. The route was initially operated by London Transport from their Edgware (EW) garage using AEC SWifts.
On 7 November 1980, the route was converted to double deck operation using MCW Metrobuses.
On 2 November 1985, the route was extended Monday to Saturday shopping hours from Edgware to Brent Cross Shopping Centre via route 113 and part of the allocation was transferred to Hendon (AE) garage.
On 16 August 1986, the route was extended from Harrow to Northwick Park Hospital.
On 6 June 1987, Hendon (AE) garage was announced closed and the allocation was transferred to Edgware (EW) garage.
On 19 January 1991, the Edgware (EW) garage allocation was transferred to Harrow Weald (HD) garage.
On 26 June 1994, the route was converted to low floor operation using brand new Wright Pathfinder bodied Dennis Lance SLFs.
On 15 October 1995, the Sunday shopping hours was extended from Edgware to Brent Cross Shopping Centre.
On 22 July 2000, the route was retained by Metroline.
On 7 June 2003, the evening service was extended to Brent Cross.
On 4 September 2004, the allocation was transferred back to Edgware (EW) garage.
On 23 July 2005, the route was retained by Metroline.
On 22 February 2006, the route was converted to double deck using Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs.
In 2007, the Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs were replaced by Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s.
On 7 November 2009, the route was diverted between Mill Hill Circus and Watford Way / Greyhound Hill via Mill Hill Broadway, Watling Avenue, Lanacre Avenue and Aerodrome Road.
On 21 July 2012, the route was retained by Metroline.
On 22 July 2017, the route was retained by Metroline.
On 1 September 2018, the allocation was transferred back to Harrow Weald (HD) garage and the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s were replaced by Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs.
On 7 December 2019, the route was re-structured at Northwick Park Hospital to start at Northwick Park, Social Club instead of St Mark's Hospital towards Brent Cross, Shopping Centre.
Between January 2022 and May 2023, the route was on long-term diversion towards Northwick Park Hospital along the A409 / George Gange Way in Wealdstone via Palmerston Road and was therefore re-routed along Canning Road as part of Harrow Council's re-generation scheme.
In March 2022, existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs were introduced alongside the existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs.
In June 2022, the route was converted to full Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH operation.
On 23 July 2022, the route was retained by Metroline.
Current route[]
Route 186 operates via these primary locations:
- Brent Cross Shopping Centre Bus Station
- Hendon Central Station
- Hendon War Memorial
- Grahame Park Quakers Course
- Burnt Oak Leisure Centre
- Mill Hill Broadway Station
- Mill Hill Circus
- Apex Corner
- Edgware Bus Station
- Edgware Police Station
- Canons Park Station
- Belmont Circle
- Wealdstone High Street
- The Wealdstone Centre
- Harrow & Wealdstone Station
- Harrow Civic Centre
- Harrow Bus Station
- Harrow Town Centre
- Northwick Park Hospital