(Photo Credit: Lachlan Gowen)
Only three routes will be eliminated and fifteen reduced after a consultation with 20,000 people last October.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that he will provide additional fundings to save many London bus routes put at risk by Tfl’s financial struggles.
In addition to £500 million that the Greater London Authority is already providing, £25 million will be invested per year.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: “Buses are a vital part of our transport network, so this is a fantastic news for all Londoners.”
Last June Tfl warned the capital’s buses could be reduced by one-fifth due to the financial challenges the company was dealing with.
The crisis was mostly caused by the pandemic, as well as by the improvement of walking and cycling facilities and the opening of the Elizabeth Line.
After Tfl’s finances were impacted by the pandemic the company had to rely on a series of short-term government funding deals.
As part of these deals, the transport company was required to make savings equivalent to four per cent of the bus network.
This led to the Tfl’s decision to cut or shorten almost 70 bus routes.
Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance had declared: “Tfl is having to consider these changes because of the savings demanded by the Government as part of the emergency funding deals during the pandemic.”
From that moment, political forces and citizens worried for the capital’s mobility, had started a controversial debate.
The transport company’s had opened a consultation to learn citizens’ opinions on the reduction and more than 20,000 people had expressed their concerns.
The original plan provided to cut 22 routes and change or shorten 49, but after such a backed consultation, citizen’s concerns could not be ignored.
As a result, 17 routes which had been proposed to be cut will be saved, and other services won’t be affected by changes as initially planned.
A Councillor of Kensington and Chelsea City Council, Cem Kemahl, said: “It’s a huge relief for me and for people across the borough that these cuts have been reversed.”
Only three routes will be eliminated, the 11, 16 and 521, but confusingly those numbers will still be seen on the front of the buses as 507 and 332 will be renumbered to 11 and 16.
Fifteen other routes will be reduced, including the 3, 6, 23, 26, 59, 77 and 133, forcing many citizens to change buses to reach their destination.
Councillor Kemahl concluded: “This is the right decision by TfL and I’m grateful for every resident who joined with us to make their voices heard.”