Bus passenger numbers - routes 469, 301 B11 - May 2022 - May 2023 monthly
Request ID: FOI-0902-2324 Date published: 11 July 2023
You asked
The bus stopped at the bus stop, let people off but then would not let anyone board as they said they were too busy to do so (yet people had alighted) The next bus stop with alternate routes is a considerable walk away and the next 469 was not for 16mins. There were approximately 5 people waiting In walking to the alternate stop there were approximately 10 people waiting, fortunately a 301 arrived, which was also packed, which we were able to board however, I would say this was also at capacity once we had done so. Given this was ‘rush hour’ on a route serving the Elizabeth Line I am of the opinion that the bus timetable / capacity was, and is, woefully inadequate. Aside from this occasion, I have noted that buses are often uncomfortably packed both too and from Abbey Wood station, and have been so since the Elizabeth Line opened. I am unsure what, if anything, has been done to rectify this. Consequently could you advise, via freedom of information: - the monthly passenger data from May 2022 - May 2023 for the 469, 301 and B11 bus routes going too and from Abbey Wood station. - any changes made to these bus timetables during this same time period I will also be contacting my local councillors, MP and the mayors office directly due to the issues I have experienced getting to and from this station via tfl services.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0902-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 21 June 2023 asking for information about the monthly passenger data from May 2022 - May 2023 for the 469, 301 and B11 bus routes going to and from Abbey Wood station.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked: Could you advise, via freedom of information: - the monthly passenger data from May 2022 - May 2023 for the 469, 301 and B11 bus routes going to and from Abbey Wood station. - any changes made to these bus timetables during this same time period.
Please see the data you have requested in the table below which shows the total recorded boardings for routes 301, 469 and B11, across the whole route, for each month from May 2022 to May 2023.
Year and Month
May-22
Jun-22
Jul-22
Aug-22
Sep-22
Oct-22
Nov-22
Dec-22
Jan-23
Feb-23
Mar-23
Apr-23
May-23
Route 301
149,730
162,305
152,688
140,893
173,522
169,606
172,939
149,227
176,829
171,168
196,266
173,834
205,302
Route 469
137,908
140,964
142,757
135,149
152,501
158,688
164,979
147,688
161,100
146,964
163,812
150,768
170,226
Route B11
63,631
55,721
58,280
54,467
60,936
61,917
61,831
56,941
63,168
59,643
67,747
54,269
65,119
Please note the following:
There has been no change to the timetable for routes 301 and 469 during this period, though route 469 was re-routed to serve Picardy Road and Woolwich Road on 14 May 2022. In May 2022, frequencies on route B11 were reduced from 4 buses per hour to 3 buses per hour on Mondays to Saturdays, and there has been no further change since.
We are aware that bus performance on these routes has declined over the past year which is due to a variety of factors including staff shortages as well as mechanical and traffic factors, however we are working hard to improve the service and we anticipate that the recent improvements seen will continue, which should translate into decreased wait times and crowding..
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
