Transport for London plans to scrap the 118 bus route in February 2025, ignoring public objections and aiming to simplify the bus network.
London: So, here’s the scoop. The 118 bus route in south London is getting the axe, and it’s causing quite a stir. Despite loads of people saying they’re not happy about it, Transport for London (TfL) is sticking to its guns.
They’ve decided to pull the plug on the 118 route, which runs from Morden to Brixton, starting February 2025. This comes after a public consultation that ran from early September to mid-October 2024. They were looking at changes to a few routes, including the 45, 59, and 118.
According to TfL, the goal was to simplify things between Streatham, Brixton, and Camberwell. But when they asked folks how the changes would affect them, a lot of people weren’t too pleased. Out of 530 responses about the 118 route, 248 said they’d be negatively impacted if it was replaced by route 45.
Overall, 122 people, or about 16%, voiced their opposition to the changes, while only 49, or 6%, were in favor. TfL noticed that there were more buses running than needed on some parts of route 45, so they’re making adjustments.
They’re changing route 45 to run between Denmark Hill/Camberwell Green and Morden instead of its previous route. Route 59 is also getting a makeover, shifting its path in Streatham.
Even with all the pushback, TfL is moving forward with these changes. They say they’re always reviewing the bus network to meet customer needs. They pointed out that bus demand has dropped in inner London over the past few years, and they want to make sure they’re using resources wisely.
In their words, they believe these changes will better match bus capacity with what passengers actually need, while still keeping reliable services to popular spots in the area.