FOI request detail

329 Bus timetable issues along the A105

Request ID: FOI-2929-1718
Date published: 02 February 2018

You asked

During the planning process I asked about the potential impact on bus journeys through Palmers Green of the cycle-enfield scheme on the A105. I attach below for convenience the earlier correspondence. 1. Could you now explain how the scheme is now affecting bus time tabling on the 329 Palmers Green-Enfield route 2. Are journeys taking longer and has the frequency of services been reduced, as is now reported "to increase reliability"? This seems. if true, to be a significant disbenefit from the scheme. 3. Is this a permanent reduction in service? 4. Did the pre-scheme modelling reveal these problems, and if so what discussion were held with Enfield Council about them?

We answered

Our Ref: FOI-2929-1718

Thank you for your request received on 12 January 2018 asking for information about route 329 through Palmers Green.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require. You asked:

1. Could you now explain how the scheme is now affecting bus time tabling on the 329 Palmers Green-Enfield route

Changes have been made to bus timetabling on the 329, however, these changes were made following a review of the route which identified where capacity was in excess of existing demand based on the most recent travel demand data available to us.

It is not possible to accurately assess how the changes to the A105 are affecting bus journey times on this corridor at this stage. Construction works are not yet complete and a bedding-in period of at least six months is typically required following the completion of works to allow traffic conditions to settle and road user behaviour to adapt to the new road layout. We are committed to ensuring that the bus network is as reliable and efficient as possible and we will be monitoring conditions on the A105 on an ongoing basis following the implementation of the scheme.

2. Are journeys taking longer and has the frequency of services been reduced, as is now reported "to increase reliability"? This seems. if true, to be a significant dis-benefit from the scheme.

The Enfield Mini-Holland proposals include new cycle routes on the A105 and A1010. While construction on these routes was taking place in 2017, some changes to bus services were made as a temporary measure to manage delays to affected bus routes. Changes such as these are a common way of managing bus services during road construction works of any type, and all temporary changes on these routes have now been removed.

We can confirm that some permanent changes to frequencies on these routes have also been made. However, this has been done following reviews of each route, which identified where capacity was in excess of the existing demand based on the most recent travel demand data available to us, or in the case of route 491, where changes made to the routeing outside of our control have contributed to the degradation of the service. Full details of the service changes made to routes on the A105 corridor can be found below.

Route 329 was temporarily cut back to Wood Green from Turnpike Lane between January and October 2017 whilst the A105 roadworks were taking place. From 13 January 2018 route 329 was reduced from 10 buses per hour (bph) to 8 bph with the retention of the existing peak hour journeys. However, this is not related to the A105 scheme.

Route 279 had its frequency temporarily widened by up to 1 minute between July and December 2017, whilst the A1010 South and Ponders End roadworks were taking place to ensure that the service could operate. Route 279 was then reduced to 9 bph on weekdays from 6 January 2018 with two additional return journeys and two additional northbound AM peak journeys. These later changes were not because of the Mini-Holland scheme.

Route 491 was operating with up to two minutes of widening between June and December 2017 to compensate for the Mini-Holland and Ponders End roadworks. Route 491 is scheduled to have its Monday to Saturday frequency reduced to 3 bph with one additional northbound AM peak journey from 2 June 2018. This is because the North Middlesex Hospital Trust has prohibited the use of the hospital slip road, making the routeing longer and subject to traffic delays along Bridport Road which would require more resource to operate.

To summarise, the impacts of the Mini Holland schemes did require some changes to bus services but only during construction and these temporary measures have been removed. Whilst the permanent Mini-Holland schemes do impact some bus services they are not responsible for the later frequency reductions. As mentioned earlier, we will allow a 6-12 month bedding in period before carrying out monitoring of impacts on bus routes from the permanent Mini-Holland schemes.

3. Is this a permanent reduction in service?

See above.

4. Did the pre-scheme modelling reveal these problems, and if so what discussion were held with Enfield Council about them?

We have been working closely with Enfield throughout the design of all their Mini-Holland schemes to ensure that their impacts on the bus network are fully understood. Detailed traffic modelling is undertaken throughout the design process and adjustments to the design are made on an iterative basis to ensure that the final proposal minimises delay to buses as much as possible.

We have a robust system of internal approvals which schemes have to pass through before they are implemented on the network, which includes an assessment of impact on buses.

Enfield and TfL are working together to look at options to introduce measures to mitigate the potential impact of delay to buses caused by the Mini-Holland proposals. This work is ongoing.

If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]

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