 On 3 October 2009, East Thames Buses was sold to London General, which included a five-year contract to operate route 42.On 1 October 2016, the route was extended from Denmark Hill Sunray Avenue to East Dulwich Sainsburys via Dulwich Hospital with double-decker buses introduced.On the same date, the route was temporarily withdrawn between Tower Bridge Road and Liverpool Street bus station until 23 December 2016 while Tower Bridge was closed for refurbishment.