Transport for London’s latest business plan is “depressing reading” for bus passengers according to the capital’s passenger watchdog.
The document, which was published last month, predicts bus speeds will decline even further than had previously been anticipated, increasing journey times.
With a number of bus services due to be slashed in order to help TfL balance its budgets, London TravelWatch warns that passengers face longer journeys on fewer and shorter routes.
Chair Arthur Leathley said: ‘TfL’s latest business plan makes really depressing reading for London’s beleaguered bus passengers.
“The previous business plan suggested that bus journey times would not recover from their recent decline. This plan shows bus journey times getting even longer.
“Combine this with the cuts to services that are being consulted on and it is easy to see why bus passengers are abandoning their services.
“However, for many passengers there is not a choice and they will have to continue to use slow services and suffer the inconvenience.
“This is dreadful news.”
TravelWatch says it will raise the issue of bus speeds and reliability with Gareth Powell, TfL’s Managing Director of Surface Transport, when he appears before its board later this month.
