Decision Not to Provide Rail Replacement Bus Services During the Closure of Colindale Station.
Request ID: FOI-4067-2324 Date published: 27 February 2024
You asked
Could I please request a report on the decision not to provide rail replacement bus services during the closure of Colindale station from the 7th of June to December 2024? The current bus services to the closest stations, Hendon Central and Burnt Oak, take over 20 minutes, which will significantly increase commute times for passengers using this route. Moreover, with the substantial increase in the number of passengers, won't the existing bus services become overwhelmed? If the buses reach their capacity and people are unable to board, they will have to wait for the next bus, further prolonging journey times. It doesn't seem feasible to divert all passengers through these services, especially considering the extensive 6-month closure period. Replacement services providing a direct route from Hendon Central and Burnt Oak, will help to alleviate local services and help to mitigate the already extended journey times for passengers during this 6 month period.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-4067-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on8 February 2024 asking for information about the rail replacement bus services during the closure of Colindale 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. We have undertaken modelling in TfL’s network transport model Railplan to assess the impacts of closing Colindale station. This modelling showed that customers disperse in all four directions from Colindale (Burnt Oak to the north, and Hendon Central to the south on the Northern line, Kingsbury to the west on the Jubilee line, and Mill Hill Broadway to the east, on the Thameslink route). This modelling also showed that existing bus services largely cope with the new demand, and that only in the very height of peak time does demand exceed capacity on several routes.
Normally, we do not operate extra buses or rail replacement buses for a single station closure, as customers usually live within a c. 800 metres to 1 kilometre walk (or slightly longer cycle) of the station, and therefore the density of stations means there is usually a second best option for customers, for which a point to point replacement bus would offer no benefit.
We agreed with the London Borough of Barnet that it would be best to focus our efforts on encouraging customers to use Hendon Central.
The bus route 186 is the direct route between the largest catchment area for Colindale station, which is the Grahame Park area (to the north-east) and from the new Colindale Park/Colindale Court etc developments immediately opposite and adjacent to Colindale station. By focussing on this corridor, we can give all customers the same alternative travel advice, and run a more frequent enhanced bus service.
The intention is to operate short trips between Grahame Park and Hendon Central through route 186, during the morning peak time, serving all local bus stops. We will operate the extra trips in between existing route 186 buses, which means doubling the frequency on the busiest section of route. We will do the same in reverse during the evening peak time, doubling the frequency between Hendon Central and Grahame Park. At other times, the existing buses have sufficient spare capacity.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Abidakun FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
