• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

City Hall confirms night buses won’t be scaled back despite night Tube launch

May 23, 2016 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com
Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com
A host of threatened night bus routes have been granted a reprieve by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

As part of its plans to introduce the new night Tube, Transport for London proposed cutting the frequency of 17 night bus routes in expectation that significant numbers of passengers would transfer from the bus to the Tube.

A number of politicians and stakeholder groups expressed concerns about the plans, with many arguing that the higher cost of the Tube would limit its appeal to many groups, including low-earning night-time workers.

In addition, Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly said any service changes should be “based on hard evidence, not mere speculation of what might eventually take place.”

Last year the party’s transport spokesperson, Caroline Pidgeon, also highlighted that buses are more accessible for many disabled passengers than some Tube stations, meaning that for some the bus would remain an essential transport link.

The plans to reduce the bus routes’ frequency were delayed last year after the night Tube’s launch date slipped thanks to ongoing industrial disquiet about pay and working conditions for drivers and station staff.

On Monday Mayor Khan confirmed that all-night weekend Tube services would now run on two lines from August, with services on three other lines commencing this Autumn.

Mr Khan’s office has since confirmed to MayorWatch that the planned changes to night bus routes have been shelved pending an assessment of actual changes to passenger behaviour.

A spokesperson for the Mayor said: “No decisions will be taken until new bus ridership levels have settled down after the Night Tube has opened, but over time we will look at whether there is a case for reducing weekend additional frequencies where the bus routes are parallel to the Night Tube.”

The decision to delay any cuts to bus services has been welcomed by Ms Pidgeon, who said: “It is only right to wait until the Night Tube has been up and running for a few months before any review into the frequency of any night bus routes actually starts.

“I have long called for a cautious approach to be taken to reviewing the night bus routes. Firm evidence is necessary before any night bus routes are cut back.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.