Bus line 159 in Buenos Aires: route, stops and timetable

Line 159 is one of the colectivos (city buses) that link central Buenos Aires with the southern suburbs: it leaves Correo Central, crosses to Avellaneda via the Puente Nicolás Avellaneda and reaches Quilmes, Bernal, Berazategui and Florencio Varela. It is run by Micro Ómnibus Quilmes S.A.C.I. y F. (MOQSA) and, according to SUBE open data, it records about 54,500 trips on a typical weekday in August and September 2026, which ranks it 17th out of 265 lines. Since August 2024 it has had 13 routes and several letters changed destination, so it is worth checking the new layout.

Bus 159 route

The 159 has two families of services. The regular ones (A to H) leave the underground holding area (Playa de Regulación Subterránea) of Correo Central, in the building now called Palacio Libertad. They head down the Metrobús del Bajo and Av. Almirante Brown, in La Boca, cross the Puente Nicolás Avellaneda and continue along the Acceso Sudeste. From there they fan out by destination: most continue along Av. Mitre and Av. Los Quilmes; then some enter central Quilmes (A, D and H), others take Av. La Plata and Av. Dardo Rocha (B, C and G), and the branch to Bernal (F) leaves the Acceso Sudeste at Coronel Adrogué.

The expresses (I to M) leave from a different place: the Predio de Regulación Puerto de Buenos Aires, on Av. Cecilia Grierson, in Puerto Madero. They take the Autopista Buenos Aires–La Plata and only pick up passengers near the terminus and in the destination area.

Bus 159 to Quilmes and Bernal

Two new 2024 ramales (branches) go to Estación Bernal: the 159F, a regular service that leaves the Acceso Sudeste at Coronel Adrogué and continues along Av. Las Flores, Guaminí and Av. Caseros (about 17 km from Correo Central), and the 159I express, which does almost the same but via the motorway from the Port. The 159J express reaches Estación Quilmes, which is its terminus, and the regular A, D and H also pass through there, continuing towards Berazategui along Av. Mitre.

Bus 159 to Berazategui, Pueblo Nuevo, Barrio Marítimo and ex Maltería Hudson

The regular 159E, which uses the Metrobús Calchaquí and passes Cruce Varela, and the 159K express, which leaves the motorway at the Quilmes exit and continues along Av. Mitre, go to Estación Berazategui. The 159C goes to Pueblo Nuevo via Av. La Plata, Av. Eva Perón and the Ranelagh station area. The regular 159G and the 159M express reach Barrio Marítimo, passing Sourigues station. The regular 159H and the 159L express, which leaves the motorway at the km 26 exit, go to the ex Maltería Hudson (former Hudson malt house), on Av. Néstor Kirchner and Av. Otto Bemberg.

Bus 159 to Florencio Varela

The furthest destination is the Rotonda Juan María Gutiérrez (Juan María Gutiérrez roundabout), in Florencio Varela, terminus of branches 159A and 159B. The A passes Quilmes and Berazategui stations and is the line’s longest route, at about 46 km; the B runs via Av. La Plata and totals about 38 km. The 159D, “por Av. Mitre” (via Av. Mitre), ends at Cruce Florencio Varela, around Calle 102 and Calle 6.

Timetable and frequency

Resolution 801/2024 states that the regular branches run 24 hours a day. Expresses J (to Quilmes) and K (to Berazategui) run on weekdays only, from 6:00 to 22:15, in both directions. For expresses I, L and M the regulation sets no time window.

The same resolution caps rush-hour frequency. Branch E is the most frequent, with at most 6 minutes between buses, and the A may run every 6 and a half minutes, or every 5 and a half minutes outside express hours. The F has a maximum of 10 minutes; branches B, C, D, G and H have longer intervals, from 11 and a half to 17 and a half minutes, and the expresses between 32 and 58 minutes depending on the branch and the number of buses in service. There is no official published timetable per branch.

SUBE data show the difference between weekdays and weekends: about 54,500 trips on a weekday, 33,600 on a Saturday and 19,300 on a Sunday. To travel at night or on a Sunday, check the next bus in the BA Cómo Llego app before you leave.

Line 159 changes 2024–2026

The big change came with Resolution 801/2024 of the Ministry of Economy, published in the Boletín Oficial (Official Gazette) on 28 August 2024. The branch to Barrio Gráfico, in Avellaneda, which used to have both a regular and an express version, disappeared. Estación Bernal and Barrio Marítimo were added as new destinations, and the ex Maltería Hudson now has a regular (H) and an express (L). Letters F to K, which existed before, now correspond to other destinations: for example, the F no longer goes to Barrio Gráfico but to Bernal.

In addition, the former Correo Central building, which was the Centro Cultural Kirchner, was renamed Palacio Libertad in November 2024. Official transport documents still say “Correo Central”.

In September 2025 MOQSA announced a service called “R2 Expreso” from its Berazategui depot to Correo Central. We found no resolution adding it to the official routes, so it is not included in the branch table on this page.

Main stops and connections

In the province, several branches pass stations on the Roca train line: Quilmes (A, D, H and J), Bernal (F and I), Berazategui (A, D, E and K), Ranelagh (C) and Sourigues (A, B, G and M).

Strikes, complaints and operator

There is a reason people search for “159 hoy” (159 today): in addition to the UTA (bus drivers’ union) general strikes, the line has had its own industrial action. There were strikes on MOQSA lines over late wage payments in November 2025, on 6 February 2026 and on 8 May 2026; the May strike was lifted the same day after wages were paid. To find out whether the 159 is running, check the company’s official accounts, the BA Cómo Llego app and the day’s news.

Formal complaints are filed with the CNRT: 0800-333-0300 or control.cnrt.gob.ar, with line, branch, time and vehicle number.

Tips for riding bus 159

• Read the destination on the sign, not just the letter: since 2024 several letters have changed destination.
• If you are going to Quilmes or Berazategui on a weekday, expresses J and K are the motorway option; remember that they leave from the Puerto de Buenos Aires, not Correo Central.
• Use a registered SUBE card: unregistered, you pay double. A full trip to Florencio Varela exceeds 27 km and pays the highest fare.
• If there are rumours of a strike, check before you leave: the 159 had company-specific strikes in 2025 and 2026.