TfL are facing the imperfect storm of central government funding cuts, fare freezes and now COVID-19. Although it hasn't been mentioned, it would be perfectly understandable if Elizabeth Line opening dates slipped back a few months as a result of the current situation. The government is having to borrow up to its eyeballs and will probably not be in a position to provide TfL with much by way of funding. The next mayor and TfL are going to have to make some really tough decisions and cut their cloth to suit their purse. What decisions would you make to help TfL do more with less on their bus network?
I have to add the caveat that this threat is purely speculative.
Here are my suggestions for the next mayoral term:
1. Temporary pause on the purchase of electric buses and associated infrastructure during the next mayoral term. All new buses to be Euro 6 or equivalent as minimum specification to comply with ULEZ requirements. These buses can be replaced by zero emission vehicles at the end of their lives probably at a much more affordable price and in time for the goal of the entire fleet being 100% zero emissions by 2037.
2. End the fare freeze. I won't speculate on how much fares should go up by, but we should allow fares to increase in a way that is more fitting with a self funding model that TfL now has to operate.
3 Hopper fare modification - no longer unlimited journeys in an hour for the price of a single trip. Initial full fare would be charged on the first trip, with a much reduced fare charged on subsequent trips within the hour.
4. Ensure that all cross boundary services are self funding either through passenger volume or county council contributions.
5. Frequencies - return to clockface frequencies and allow buses to run less frequent services on less busy parts of a route. This will allow reductions to be laser-focused and allow capacity to be maintained where needed.
6. Consolidation and reduction of bus services. For example, some changes could be made in my local area:
161 - Withdrawn between Woolwich and North Greenwich. Extended to Queen Mary Hospital. Converted to single deck, 286 bus stand space extended. (Creates new links for passengers and staff between QE & QM hospitals and new direct hospital links through Mottingham. Frequency changed to every 12 minutes during the day, every 15 minutes evenings.)
180 – Extended to Erith Quarry and diverted to North Greenwich as currently planned.
244 - Decked (see 472 change).
428 - Withdrawn between Dartford and Bluewater. Extended to Thamesmead South via route 229 to Belvedere Station, then Picardy Road, Woolwich Road, New Road, Abbey Wood Station then route B11 to stand at Thamesmead, Yarnton Way. Diverted between Crayford and Dartford via route 492. (Replaces proposed new Crossrail connections for the 469, maintains local Crossrail links along Aliske Road area).
469 – Withdrawn from Erith and diverted to Welling at Abbey Wood via New Road, Woolwich Road, Brampton Road, West Heath Road*, Longleigh Lane*, Lodge Hill* (*two ways), Upper Wickham Lane, Wickham Street, Central Avenue, Welling Station, Welling High Street. Last stop Upper Wickham Lane, Coton Road. Buses stand on Nags Head Lane, first stop Welling High Street near Tesco & Morrisons. (Creates new link between Abbey Wood and Welling. New links into Crossrail. Provides many areas with a new direct service to a hospital, retains services on roads only served by the B11).
472 – Frequency reduction and direct routing via Western Way as planned. Extension to Abbey Wood cancelled.
492 - Withdrawn between Crayford and Bluewater. Section between Crayford and Dartford replaced by 428.
B11 - Withdrawn. Partially replaced by 428 and 469 change.
