TfL confirm date of another south east London bus cut
TfL have confirmed that bus cuts on the 286 route will begin on Saturday 11th July.
The route will reduce from five buses an hour to four, with services running every 15 minutes rather than twelve. The 286 runs from Greenwich to Sidcup’s Queen Mary hospital via Eltham.
To mitigate against service reductions the route will move from single decker to double decker operation.
A petition against cuts gained 1,161 signatures earlier this year.
Widespread cuts
It’s the latest in a series of cuts impacting many routes across south east London. Some routes include those serving thousands of new homes such as the 178 from Kidbrooke and the complete removal of the 472 with its replacement SL11 failing to call at stops beside thousands of new homes.
More than 800 new homes in south Thamesmead saw a reduction in buses when the 472 ceased, and in addition TfL cut the frequency of route 229 also serving the development.
The 54 saw fewer buses serving the route from May this year. Other routes which have recently seen service frequency cuts include the 486, 51, 178, 386 and 291.
Because its the only bus that offers that route this single decker is crowded with school kids from Eltham and John Roan, and at staggered school getting out times is almost impossible to get on . The kids don’t give up seats for the vulnerable, elderly etc , stand blocking entrance and doors. They won’t go upstairs , with fewer seats downstairs it will badly impact all l those who can’t go upstairs.
Have all the operators got together to see how they can make SE London even harder to get around?
I think they have Matt. Along with Sadiq Khan and TFL.
Route 286 is a busy route between Greenwich Town Centre and Queen Mary’s Hospital via Blackheath, Eltham, Avery Hill and Sidcup. Introducing double deckers I agree with has buses do not get busy. But cutting the frequency is complete and utter madness at a time we are encouraged to use public transport more. I think the Mayor of London and TFL have completely lost the plot.
They need to invest in local bus services and new local bus routes not reduce them or axe routes completely.
These bus cuts are disgrace. Most of the bus routes that have seem cuts so there frequencies sesrve Hospitals as part of their routes. Including routes 178 229 291 386 484 486 and now the 286.
Making it harder for patients to get to their appointments, hospital staff to get to work and visitors to see patients in hospital.
There are absolutely no reason to cut the frequencies on these routes. Sadiq Khan and TFL should be held to account for these cuts which are totally unnecessary.
Time for change at City Hall and TFL they are not delivering on their promises to improve bus services in Outer London. Superloop routes alone are not the answer.
Stop the cuts to our bus services. They are not justified. We need frequent reliable local bus services. These need to be the priority before new superloop routes
Bring back the 472.
Any word from Greenwich Council on this reduction ? Did Cllrs and officers know about it ? If they knew did they object ?
TfL is run by Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greenwich Council remains a Labour led Council – does Greenwich Council have any influence with TfL ?
Doesn’t look like it.
Another bus service to be axed or to be replaced by another Superloop. I wonder why Sadiq Khan wants to axe more bus routes and replaced by more Superloop routes across London.