London bus troubles: Costs up for TfL while passenger journeys stagnant
A number of report from Transport for London in recent weeks have highlighted ongoing problems with buses in London.
While bus use in London diverged from the rest of the country since deregulation outside the capital during the 1980s with ridership vastly outpacing much of the country, usage in London has seen issues for a number of years dating back from before the pandemic.
And since then, bus use has generally lagged behind other modes with ridership someway below budgeted expectations this year.
Expectations of a six per cent passenger increase have not been met with recent periods down to just 0.4 per cent on last year. Income is down on expectations.
A report this week states “Bus journeys are slightly higher than last year, but are down on Budget.
“Journeys are 1,151 million in the year to date, 50 million lower than Budget. Passenger income is £30m lower than expected.”
Costs
Compounding issues with sluggish passenger growth comes rising costs with a TfL Finance Meeting report to be held tomorrow stating:
“There has been an increasing cost pressure in tender prices for bus operating contracts, which was not fully anticipated when the 2024/25 Budget was set, largely driven by inflation and market conditions.
“This has been compounded by an increase in the size of the tender programme for this year, due to the early termination of contracts by operators.”
If you recall one entire company – Sullivan’s – decided to give up running buses in London earlier this year.
The report continues: “Consequently, several bus operating contracts have required unbudgeted Financial Authority, which has been approved by the Chief Finance Officer.
“The total value of the unbudgeted Financial Authority for 2024/25 is currently £29.4m, although the annualised impact in future years is £65.8m per annum.”
Bus woes
Ask what’s wrong with London’s buses and you’ll often hear various reasons given. A trend to work from home is one – but buses have been struggling even before 2020.
Poor experiences with journeys are often evident from the annoying “waiting to regulate the service” now so commonly heard to buses ending short of their final destination.
That’s often due to heavy traffic. On that front some blame is often levied towards cycle lanes, excessive or poorly planned roadworks, poor parking or general changes to road layouts.
TfL themselves have stated in reports that certain cycle lanes slow down buses. One recent example was in Charlton and east Greenwich as seen in a recent report and another on Creek Road in Deptford.
The hope is that in time more will cycle as a fragmented network is joined together – and in turn reduce short car journeys or the likes of ubers.
Excessive vehicles on the road is also a clear factor with governments both past and existing freezing petrol duty while insisting on ever higher public transport fares. Labour insisted on a 4.6 per cent rise next year as part of TfL recovering capital funding.
Bus fares are frozen next year but if taking a bus and tube, for example, obviously that means part of your journey cost goes up.
Arresting decline
Transport for London have attempted to increase the bus network’s appeal with the introduction of the Superloop network to alleviate painfully slow bus journeys so often experienced.
However even there the dreaded “your bus is being held to even out the service” is heard far too often negating the appeal of an “express” service. What good is a “fast” service that sits at stops for minutes at a time during off-peak periods when traffic is normally pretty light? Excessive timetable padding doesn’t offer a service worth bothering with.
Further bus lanes are being installed in places but even there flaws are evident.
One such idea is a proposed lane in Woolwich along Beresford Street. It’ll achieve little as TfL insist on retaining bus stands opposite the Waterfront which will act to block other bus services approaching from the east. So if like me you’re on a 177 you’ll gain a few seconds – maybe – but then meet the bus stands and the 177 will have to edge out into often heavy traffic.
Superloop expansion
Transport for London will hope their future Superloop expansion will be a success though little hear don that since the election.
A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme is also due for implementation before 2026 running between North Thamesmead and Woolwich. Early next year we should see consultation.
It’s hard to see it being a massive success though as North Thamesmead has seen a grand total of zero homes started by Peabody in the decade they’ve been in control.
Large swaths of land remains alongside extensive retail parks – which have long struggled – and car parking.
Until Peabody build new homes in north Thamesmead, few would use a limited-stop BRT as most of the populated areas are closer to the existing Superloop to Abbey Wood or those all-stopping services like the 472.
Headwinds continue?
As we enter 2025 will sluggish recovery continue? It’s hard to see anything TfL plan that will alleviate issues in the short term.
The silence on Superloop expansion doesn’t lend it self to a quick roll out.
Meanwhile freezing fares at £1.75 while London Overground, Elizabeth line and the Underground all see rises is an attempt to encourage ridership – or limit falls – but many hurdles remain.
stopped riding buses once e-bikes became ubiquitous everywhere except south east london of course, probably the same with most people my age
Traffic gridlock and the endless roadworks don’t help. In Lewisham, there is a stretch of road that has seen multiple works. No sooner has one hole been filled, then along comes another utility to re-open the road.
I agree with anonymous201486 traffic and constant roadworks are major issues for tbe bus network.
Also we have a lot of routes where buses are often lightly used and could do with route extensions including routes 291 and 335 which are relative short routes in the Royal Borough Greenwich. Superloop bus routes are also often lightly used outside of the peak hours.
We have new developments that could be better served by improved bus services
.Also some areas of the Royal Borough of Greenwich still do have links to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich Town Centre, DLR or the Elizabeth Line.
Improved bus services would help to increase passenger usage and fare revenue on many bus routes.
Ì agree with both anonymous201486 and Graham’s comments. Some passengers are also fed up keeping having to change buses for a journey they used to be able to complete on one bus.
The cuts to services have not done anyone any favours including TFL.
There needs to be a review of local buses so more areas can have improved bus services and new links to Hospitals, Schools stations and town centres.
Bus services across Greater London have been subject to cuts since 2015 with bus routes withdrawn, routes cut back and frequencies reduced.
What we need now is to see more investment in London”s bus services with frequencies increased, New local bus routes and improved bus links to Hospitals stations, schools and town centres has previously mentioned.
Sadly Greenwich Lewisham Bexley and Bromley Boroughs often have poorer bus services with less frequent services compared to other areas of London.
I am hoping we will see some bus service improvements in 2025. I do not think Superloop 2 is the answer instead investment needs to be in local bus services.