I request the data that was used to inform the decision in the closed consultation proposing changes to bus routes 428 and 492. Specifically the data that led to the judgment that: making a shorter reduction for route 428, so that it would continue to run between Erith and Dartford, WOULD PROVIDE MORE CAPACITY THAN IS NEEDED ON THIS SECTION OF BOTH ROUTES. I also request passenger number data for the 96 bus route, as this uses part of the routes proposed to be cut and is already at high capacity during peak times.

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TfL Ref: 2319-1920

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 4 November 2019 asking for information about the consultation on bus routes 428, 492 and 96.

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.

The proposed changes to bus routes 428 and 492 were made based on the same data as we have provided under FOI ref 2320-1920 which was:

The average weekday passenger boardings for the 3 requested routes is as follows:

Route 96:  20,729

Route 492: 3746

Route 428: 3830

In the peak hour, there is a combined maximum demand for 491 passengers between Bluewater and Crayford on the 96 and 428.  This is the equivalent of needing 6 buses per hour. At present the 428 and the 96 provide 11.5 buses per hour between Bluewater and Crayford. With the curtailment of the 428 it will leave the 96 providing 7.5 buses per hour. With a maximum demand for 6 buses per hour, route 96 provides sufficient capacity.

For your information, capacity is set by demand in the busiest hour at the busiest point and demand data is calculated for a typical day using Oyster, contactless payment card (CPC) and other ticket type data and calculating the average figures across weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays to provide a representation of a typical day.

The original business case would have used a Keypoints survey (a manual survey done at various key locations along each route) data back when it was put together in 2017. However in order to show the ongoing suitability of the decisions made it is the data we have already provided which would be used.

Please note that although the consultation has closed, no decision has been made yet about how we will proceed in terms of changes on the 96, 428 and 492.

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

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