Request ID: FOI-4788-2324 Date published: 10 April 2024
You asked
When will 325 get new buses, Also will you improve regulating services on this bus route to be more often.
We answered
TfL Ref: 4788-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 26 March 2024 asking for information about bus route 325.
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 specifically asked: When will 325 get new buses, Also will you improve regulating services on this bus route to be more often.
The route changed operator on 2March 2024 and this might have impacted temporarily the performance of the route as new drivers/schedules are in place.The contract was awarded with new 60-capacity electric single-deck vehicles to replace the existing 55-capacity single-deck vehicles. This means a small boost in capacity with the new fleet. Unfortunately these are not in operation yet but they will be in the next few months.
We reviewed the route as part of the transformation of the Royal Docks in 2019 and identified that additional capacity would be required as part of the delivery of new office buildings and housing in Royal Albert Dock. Unfortunately, the project was halted in its early stage and the proposal to extend the route to the site and increase its frequency was put on hold until further notice. We reviewed the route again as part of the tendering and did not identify capacity issues. Demand on weekday in November 2023 on route 325 is at 84% of November 2019 pre-covid levels.
Unfortunately, the route has suffered due to multiple roadworks along the route, especially the works in Barking along High Street North and roadworks on East Ham High Street delivered by the London Borough of Newham. We have introduced a reliability proposal to try to improve performance and reliability of the route. This went live on 23rd March and will remain until the works are completed (which is currently due to be around September time). To summarise things, on a short-term basis there are roadworks on the route putting a strain on the operation of the route. Once the roadworks are completed, we will keep monitoring the route but our data and surveys show that the route is well used but there aren’t any capacity issue to address so there are no plans to increase the frequency at this stage. 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
