TfL confirm another south east London bus service cut
It appears another bus route in south east London serving Queen Elizabeth hospital has seen a reduction in service frequency.
Route 386 bus runs between Woolwich and Blackheath via Greenwich and last week conflicting information came out as Transport for London emailed users and put up signs stating services would reduce during the day from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes.
Yet on their own bus changes webpage they stated the reduction was only for early mornings.
It turns out that website was wrong and thanks to Billo for chasing that up with TfL. So not only do we see bus service reductions but poor communication.
Sent TfL an email to clarify the situation after you messaged me. Just got a reply from them. Confirmed that the frequency has decreased during the day Monday to Saturday. I would not be surprised if this route is split into two in future because of its meandering route.
— Billo (@billo20four7.bsky.social) 2025-12-02T16:36:05.142Z
Other service reductions have been announced on routes 51, 178 and the 291. The 178 and 291 both serve Queen Elizabeth hospital in addition to the 386.
Same buses as speeds cut
In the case of the 378 bus frequency reductions aren’t due to a reduction in the number of buses allocated to the route. When the contract was recently retendered buses were kept at the same level but lower speed limits implemented along the route. With slower limits they cannot run at the former intervals so longer gaps are the result.
The 386 can be added to the pile of reduced frequencies in advance of the 472 cut in early 2026. None of which is exactly enticing users to use public transport of course.
More traffic congestion is the likely result.
As an aside, TfL seem to be getting worse over a wide range of areas. Continual chipping away at routes coupled with ongoing poor communications is not helping the bus network.
And yes I’ll say it again(!); it’s no wonder they support the flawed north Thamesmead DLR plan while a far more useful scheme for new housing sees penny change given how out of touch they increasingly appear. It’s symbolic of an organisation ever more out of touch.
Compare that to far, far better plans in the 2000s from TfL for areas such as Thamesmead and north of the Thames. We’ve ended up with an awkward compromise offering far less than what was previously on offer.
TfL problems
Allocating far more funding to a scheme which supports fewer new homes than alternatives while cutting existing buses serving areas of major housing growth isn’t indicative of an institution in touch with proposed changes across wider SE London.
It brings to mind the Department for Transport when they managed to get planned housing figures wildly wrong in south east London and north west Kent when tendering the Southeastern franchise in the 2010s.
At that time the excellent Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead Teresa Pearce chased them up to highlight that error. She then sadly retired from the seat.
Now many MPs and politicians are silent across SE London and saying little while demonstrating little knowledge across housing and transport.
‘Route 386 bus runs between Woolwich and Blackheath via Lewisham …’. I wish the 386 did run via Lewisham as I could get it from Greenwich town centre on my way back home. It’s the 380 that runs between Woolwich and Blackheath via Lewisham. A 20 minute gap is far too long, especially if it is the only bus travellers can take to and from their destination.
Cheers Ive changed that.
Absolutely Anonymous 201486. A 20 minute frequency on the 386 is far too long a gap between buses. Route 386 is the only bus route serving roads in parts of Kidbrooke, Blackheath and Greenwich (Vanbrugh Hill) .providing a link to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Route 386 needs to maintain the 15 minute Monday to Saturday frequency at the very least. Route 386 could easily be extended from Blackheath Village to Lewisham to improve bus links to Lewisham Town Centre to serve new developments there.
So again the message has to be to Sadiq Khan Labour Of London, TFL Management Team, Lindon Buses Operations Director, , Local MP”s, Local l Councillors, The Labour Greater London Assembly Member for Greenwich and Lewisham is very clear hands of our bus services. The area is in desperate need of local bus service improvements not cuts to bus services.
We need to see frequencies increased. new local.busc routes introduced and some routes extended locally to provide new connections for sime areas. including to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich Town Centre for the Elizabeth Line Station etc. As some areas of the Borough of Greenwich still have no direct links to these locations.
Cutting bus services that serve hospitals as part of their route just goes to show that the Labour Mayor For London and Local Labor Politicians both MP’s and Councillors on Greenwich Council really do.noy care about people. Many of people using the buses to get to the hospital are elderlly, disabled , parents witb children, people that cannot afford cars or taxis.
The buses are also well used by staff. Patients and visitors to the hospital..
Car parking at the Hospital is very limited and the car parking fees at the hospital are very expensive. Many people still get parking tickets despite paying at one of the ticket machines.
So stop the cuts to local bus services and let’s see more real investment in local bus services instead.
I could not agree more Graham. Politicians have taken us for all granted for far ti long. The cuts to bus services 178 291and 386 serving the Queen Elizabeth Hospital are totally unacceptable. There is also a rumour that 486 Bexleyheath to North Greenwich Station via tbe Queen Elizabeth Hospital could see the frequency cut by a bus an hour when the new contract starts in February 2026.
Other local bus routes are seeing frequency cuts including route 51 Woolwich to Orpington Station from tomorrow 6th December 2025. .
These cuts are really not acceptable and the cuts should be reversed by TFL with immediate affect.
Politicians should be ashamed of themselves for not standing up against these cuts to local bus services. Bit has always they do not listen to constituents, local business owners and other interested parties.
Thankfully we have a chance to vote for real change in May 2026 local elections. I think Greenwich Council needs a change of administration and new blood on the council.. A lot of councillors just take their constituents for granted year after year.
Absolute silence from Labour Greenwich council with these cuts. They’ve got form. Imagine if the Tories were doing it?
Open goal for the Green’s, Lib Dems or others locally. A Labour government (with local MP as a minister no less), a Labour Mayor and a Labour council and buses to a major hospital – A HOSPITAL – are cut. What’s the point of them honestly. I voted Labour in 24 but that’s it. No more. All the wibbling on about going green and reducing carbon emissions and congestion and what do they do? TfL cut buses and Greenwich Council turn the other cheek.
I think charlie davis is a good councillor n gets things done meself. It don’t matter abahrt the party nahadays iss wot the individual does on ere.a
@a2c Charlie Davies is a good Conservative Councillor. I agree he does get a lot done. He has helped friends of mine. Sadly i never see my two local Labour Councillors except once in every 4 years when theire is an election due.
They should be supporting peopke with vus cuts and demanding existing frequencies are maintained. They won’t as their Labour Mayor For London who also oversees Transport For London are introducing the cuts to local bus services. Roure 229 Thamesmead to Queen Mary’s Hospital is also due to see a frequency cut when the new contract starts in January 2026.
It seems longer single buses are going to be allocated to the 386.
I have asked if this means that double deckers could run instead. None exist in the length of the existing buses.
TfL have told me that they rely on Oyster/Bank Card data to determine the number of buses required. I have pointed out the 386 carries a lot of buggies and wheeled shopping bags plus young children. These don’t show in the data they use but occupy space.
I have witnessed buses leaving passengers behind in the mid afternoon in Herbert Road. The main cause being the large increase in the number of students at the Shooters Hill 6th Form college.
Is it because TfL wants to add more Superloop bus routes and to replace existing bus routes to make journeys lot more accessible and reliable.
Superloop bus routes are not that accessible really unless you live where the Superloop bus stop is actually located and it stops at your destination with out the need to change buses..
I think improving local bus services is far more important serviing local areas and new housing developments.
People want to catch the bus to go to work, school or to the doctors for example involving mote local journeys.
Superloop bus routes are ok for longer journeys has very limited stop.
Superloop bus routes are not that accessible really unless you live where the Superloop bus stop is actually located and it stops at your destination with out the need to change buses..
I think improving local bus services is far more important serviing local areas and new housing developments.
People want to catch the bus to go to work, school or to the doctors for example involving mote local journeys.
Superloop bus routes are ok for longer journeys has very limited stop.