South London bus route set to be scrapped as TfL wants to merge it with another
Transport for London is holding a drop-in session to allow bus passengers to hear its proposals to scrap a route through South London and merge it with another to 'simplify' services for passengers. A public consultation opened last month, asking Londoners for their views on three routes that travel between Elephant & Castle, Camberwell, Brixton, Clapham Park, Streatham and Morden. The routes affected are the 45, 59 and 118 with the latter set for the chop.
A drop-in session is now taking place tomorrow (Wednesday, October 2) so people can questions officials on the plans and give their feedback in person. Under the proposals, the 118 from Brixton to Morden would merge with the longer 45 from Elephant and Castle to Clapham Park. This merger would see the 118 service withdrawn, and the 45 route altered to link Denmark Hill/Camberwell Green and Morden.
On the proposals page, TfL states: "The proposed line of route for the 45 between Brixton Hill and Morden would be the same as current route 118. Route 45 would directly replace route 118."
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TfL also proposes to change the 59 route, which currently links Smithfield/Bartholomew's Hospital and Streatham Hill/Telford Avenue. Under the changes, TfL proposes to keep the same route from Smithfield to Brixton Hill, but instead of terminating at Streatham Hill/Telford Avenue, it would now end at Clapham Park/Atkins Road.
If these changes were to go ahead, bus stops between Streatham Hill/Christchurch Road and Streatham Hill/Telford Avenue would no longer be served by the 59 but would instead be served by the rejigged route 45.
TfL has acknowledged the biggest impact of these proposed changes would be the need for some passengers to change buses to complete their journey. However, they add that 'in other cases, the proposals also remove the need to change bus; for example, for passengers travelling between Morden – Streatham to/from Camberwell, including Kings College Hospital'.
In justifying the proposals, TfL has said that more buses are operating than required along two key sections of route 45 (between Brixton Hill and Streatham, and between Camberwell and Elephant & Castle). Fewer passengers now travel on the 45 as a result, they say.
TfL said that the restructuring would 'create new bus journey opportunities, without the need to change bus, for customers travelling to and from Kings College Hospital and Maudsley Hospital sites in Camberwell from Morden and Streatham'.
It also cited the financial savings it would make by streamlining its service. It added that these savings would be reinvested back into the network to improve efficiency across the capital.
They added: "Our continual review of the London bus network would include ongoing monitoring of bus routes 45 and 59. Monitoring is designed to ensure there is enough space on buses for customers, and that service levels are maintained.
"London's bus network is our most affordable, accessible, and available form of public transport and offers the main sustainable alternative to cars for those journeys that cannot easily be walked or cycled. It is also London's most flexible mode of public transport."
Londoners have until Sunday, October 13 to give their views on the consultation page, found on TfL's website. TfL is holding the public drop-in session at Kings College Hospital between midday and 4pm on Wednesday, October 2.
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