Bus cuts to Bluewater from London postponed
Plans to shorten some bus routes from London to Bluewater have been postponed and will not be introduced in January 2020.
Back in August 2018 this site revealed plans to cut back the 428 from Bluewater, Darenth Valley Hospital and Dartford and place the terminus in Crayford which would mean a very short trip from Erith, where the route begins.
Route 492 would stop in Dartford.
TfL state:
“We received a large number of responses to the consultation on these proposals and are currently analysing these. Whilst this is happening the routes will remain as they are. The proposals will not be implemented in January 2020.”
Route 96 is expected to pick up the slack if changes do proceed. A number of reasons are behind the move, with TfL not particularly keen on paying to operate buses beyond their jurisdiction without support from Kent County Council.
TfL are in financial trouble due to a £700 million annual cut in funds from central Government and delays to Crossrail. The London Mayor’s fare freeze is also claimed to be hampering income – though others argue without it public transport use would fall.
I am waiting for TFL to announce if the changes to bus routes 428 and 492 are still to go ahead. London.Bus.Route.Net still as the changes to route 428 dated as possibly January 2020. But still no mention of route 492.
It will be a shame to see one of both of these bus routes withdrawn from serving Bluewater.
I have just checked the London.Bus.Route.net site again this morning a few minutes ago and the Janaury 2020 date for route 428 as been removed as of yesterday evening 04/01/20.
I am hoping this could be a could a good sign and the cuts to routes 428 and 492 may now be postponed permanenly after review.