TfL responds to backlash over decision to cut South London bus route that takes people to hospital
TfL’s decision to reduce the frequency of a Greenwich bus route that connects much of the borough with a hospital has been criticised.
London’s transport authority has defended the move by saying its data shows the new timetable will still meet customer demand.
Since November 29, the 386 from Woolwich to Blackheath has run every 20 minutes during the daytime from Monday to Saturday where previously it had been every 15 minutes. TfL said it had conducted a “detailed review” which led to the reduction of the bus service.
According to TfL, its own data showed that three buses an hour was “enough to meet current and expected demand at the busiest time and location of the day” which is at Woolwich Arsenal during the evenings. It also said that bus frequency changes do not require public consultation and bus users were notified ahead of time.
TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning, Geoff Hobbs, said: “The change in frequency allows us to operate the service efficiently to meet the current and expected demand during the busiest times and customers should see minimal impact to their journeys.
“The new timetable and revised frequency complements the other changes to bus routes 178 and 291 in the area and will allow buses more time to complete their journeys, which should increase reliability and match capacity closer to demand.”
The East Greenwich Residents Association (EGRA) has criticised the timetable change, saying the 386 is the only bus that links Blackheath, East Greenwich and other “key” residential streets that have no other public transport, and that it’s the only direct bus route to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.
The group has said the reduction risks leaving residents, carers and patients with a “worse, slower and less reliable service” and “cutting frequency on a hospital route should not be an option”.
EGRA member Patrick Ives said: “TfL say ‘minimal impact’, EGRA says minimal bus service. This is the only direct bus service between our local hospital and the west of the borough.
“Despite improvements to local public transport with the arrival of the DLR and the Jubilee line, there are still vast swathes of the borough of Greenwich that are only served by infrequent and unreliable buses. We believe that TfL has a responsibility to ensure that strategic links to transport hubs, town centres and hospitals have frequent, reliable services.”
The EGRA also said the 386 reduction goes against Greenwich Council’s goals of increasing active travel and making public transport services in the borough more reliable. Many have criticised the timing of the bus service change as it comes just after the council made the East Greenwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) permanent, a scheme specifically aimed at reducing car use.
Greenwich Council said its transport team had not been consulted about the 386 change before it came into force and it would be contacting TfL to find out more. TfL said it had made the council aware of the bus service reduction before November 29.
A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: “We understand the need for public transport to be delivered according to passenger use. Royal Greenwich is committed to making it cleaner, greener and easier to move around the borough, so we will be reaching out to TfL about how these changes affect the local community.”
The Conservative leader of the opposition at Greenwich Council has criticised the 386 reduction and called on the council to do more to stop similar cuts happening again in the future. Cllr Matt Hartley said: “These new bus cuts will only exacerbate the harm being done by Labour-run Greenwich Council’s LTNs—causing people more inconvenience and higher costs.
“TfL should think again, and frankly residents deserve a council that’s effective in lobbying City Hall to prevent these bad decisions being made in the first place. We haven’t seen any evidence that the Labour councillors who run Greenwich are doing that in any meaningful way, and it’s not good enough.”
Green Councillor Tamasin Rhymes said several concerned residents had contacted her about the 386 as it runs directly through her ward of Shooters Hill. She said: “This ward has nearly a third of residents with no car who rely heavily on buses as the only public transport we have. With the lowest PTAL [Public Transport Accessibility Level] rating, any bus service is important.
“The 386 is the only bus from here to central Greenwich. It connects many people to the hospital and many other bus routes on the way. Just at the moment (and surprisingly often) Thames Water are dealing with major leaks in Shooters Hill.
“As a result the 244, the only route serving many households on the hill, is missing most of the hill while diverted. Between the 386 reduction and the 244 diversion there are seriously limited options for anyone choosing or being forced to travel without a car.”