FOI request detail

Request about bus route changes made in RBKC but no longer available on tfl webpage

Request ID: FOI-1656-2122
Date published: 22 November 2021

You asked

1. Please can you provide summary of the changes made to the following tfl bus routes operating in RBKC and as referenced in a recent letter from Cllr Thalassites to Mr Byford in the last week concerning routes; 7, 9, 11, 22, 27, 49, 148 and planned changes to route 19. 1.1. When were these changes made 1.2. For each route please provide a breakdown comparing previous number of buses per hour and number of buses per hour based on new schedule broken down by day and hourly time intervals 1.3. For each route please provide rationale for the changes made or being made 1.4. For each route was an equalities impact assessment completed (if so please share) 1.5. Cllr Thalassites has also stated on social media "axing vital local bus services is not an equitable way for TFL to make efficiencies" - can you confirm have any bus services in RBKC been, or is planned to be, axed by TfL? Thank you

We answered

TfL Ref: FOI-1656-2122

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 28 October 2021, asking about bus changes.

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 some of the information you require. You asked:

1. Please can you provide summary of the changes made to the following tfl bus routes operating in RBKC and as referenced in a recent letter from Cllr Thalassites to Mr Byford in the last week concerning routes; 7, 9, 11, 22, 27, 49, 148 and planned changes to route 19.
1.1. When were these changes made
1.2. For each route please provide a breakdown comparing previous number of buses per hour and number of buses per hour based on new schedule broken down by day and hourly time intervals

We don’t hold this data exactly in the way you have requested. Please see the below breakdown that we do have;
  • 7 – Since 28 August, buses run every 12 minutes instead of every 7-8 minutes on Monday to Friday during the AM peak, daytime, PM peak and Saturday daytimes.
  • 9 – Since 28 August, buses run every 10 minutes instead of every 7-8 minutes on Monday to Friday during the AM peak, daytime, PM peak and Saturday daytimes, with buses running every 12 minutes instead of every 10 minutes in the evening. On Sundays during the day and during every evening, buses run every 12 minutes instead of every 10 minutes.
  • 11 – since 11 September, buses run every 12 minutes instead of every 10 minutes on Monday to Friday during the AM peak, daytime, PM peak and Saturday daytimes.
  • 19 – Since 10 October, buses run every 10 minutes instead of every 8 minutes Monday to Friday in the AM peak, daytime, PM peak and Saturday daytimes. There are no changes to evening or Sunday frequencies.
  • 22 – Since 18 September, buses run every 10 minutes instead of every 7-8 minutes on Monday to Friday during the AM peak, daytime, PM peak and Saturday daytimes.
  • 27 – since 28 August, buses run every 10 minutes instead of every 8 minutes on Monday to Friday during the AM peak, daytime, PM peak and Saturday daytimes.
  • 49 – since 4 September, buses run every 10 minutes instead of every 8 minutes on Monday to Friday during the AM peak, daytime, PM peak and Saturday daytimes.
  • 148 – since 28 August, buses run every 10 minutes instead of every 7-8 minutes Monday to Friday during the peak hours and daytime. Buses run every 10 minutes instead of every 8 minutes on Saturday daytimes. On Sundays and every evening buses run every 12 minutes instead of every 10 minutes.
1.3. For each route please provide rationale for the changes made or being made

In central and inner London, increased rail capacity and improved active travel options have continued to change the way people travel. Demand on many routes, including those in Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, was declining prior to the pandemic, and while the long-term impacts remain unclear, ridership is not expected to fully return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future. Making some frequency reductions at certain times to reflect projected usage will help reduce operating costs and rebuild our financial sustainability. In turn, this will help ensure we can continue to invest in the services that customers rely on. We have carefully weighed up the impacts of the changes to the borough and believe we are doing the right thing. Residents will still be very well served by regular, reliable buses and benefit from increased accessibility across other transport modes. Our free Dial-a-Ride service is also available to those over the age of 85 or who are not able to travel on mainstream transport network.

1.4. For each route was an equalities impact assessment completed (if so please share)

No Equality Impact Assessments were done for these changes.

1.5. Cllr Thalassites has also stated on social media "axing vital local bus services is not an equitable way for TFL to make efficiencies" - can you confirm have any bus services in RBKC been, or is planned to be, axed by TfL?

We will be looking at more substantial structural alterations to bus routes in inner and central London, which may include elements of new bus services, with any such changes being subject to full stakeholder and public consultation and an Equality Impact Assessment.  All details, including the consultation material will be available on our website in due course. The first consultations on these are likely to take place later year. 

In the immediate term we have been making frequency reductions at certain times to reflect projected usage will help rebuild our financial sustainability by reducing operating costs – ensuring we can continue to invest in the services that customers rely on. 

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

Eva Hextall
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

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