TfL sets out plans for 400,000km increase in buses in outer London ahead of ULEZ expansion

TfL said these proposals would add an extra 400,000km worth of bus routes across London.
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Plans for more buses in outer London have been announced today ahead of the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone.

Transport for London (TfL) has opened consultations on expanding several bus routes serving Barnet, Brent, Havering and Wandsworth ahead of the ULEZ expanding to outer London on August 29.

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These changes are part of the “more than one million extra kilometres” of bus journeys first promised by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan last year.

TfL has set out plans for 400,000km worth of bus routes across London. Credit: TfLTfL has set out plans for 400,000km worth of bus routes across London. Credit: TfL
TfL has set out plans for 400,000km worth of bus routes across London. Credit: TfL

The consultations involve:

  • Extending the route 79 to serve Stonebridge Park station and beyond.
  • Changing eight routes in the Brent Cross Cricklewood area to prepare the network to serve the new Brent Cross West rail station which will open this year.
  • Extending route 497 from Harold Wood to Upminster to create a direct link between these town centres.
  • Extending route 315 from Balham station to Springfield University Hospital in Tooting.

TfL said these proposals would add an extra 400,000km worth of bus routes across London.

Mayor Khan said:“I really encourage Londoners to share their views on how TfL can further improve bus services in their area.

“These exciting improvements will strengthen the alternatives to private car use, and make it much easier to get around key parts of outer London by public transport.”

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But Nick Rogers AM, City Hall Conservatives transport spokesperson, said: "These proposals are paltry and show that Sadiq Khan is not serious about improving public transport in outer London.

“Labour voted twice against our fully costed proposals to invest up to £100 million in outer London buses.

“It is clear that Sadiq Khan wants to cash in on his ULEZ tax without doing the hard work of delivering greener alternatives."

The consultation on changing the eight routes around Brent Cross involves the 102, 189, 210, 232, 266, 316, 326 and C11 buses. TfL’s consultation can be found here.

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The consultation on extending the 315 bus route from Balham to Springfield hospital can be found here.

The consultation to extend route 497 from Harold Wood to Upminster can be found here. These plans however propose withdrawing the 346 and 347 routes.

The proposed changes to extend route 79 to serve Stonebridge Park Station via Ealing Road, Mount Pleasant and Beresford Avenue can be found here.

Under this proposal route 79 would no longer serve stops between Ealing Road and Alperton, Sainsbury’s. Therefore, an extension of route 83 from Alperton Station to Alperton, Sainsbury’s is also proposed.

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Further enhancements are also planned for Brent, with proposals to redesign bus routes around Wembley Park and Stadium to support new development in the area. These are due to be published in the coming weeks.

There are also plans for three new routes in the Sutton and Croydon areas, with improved services to the new Cancer Hub at the Royal Marsden Hospital.