news Key London bus routes saved in Sadiq Khan U-turn

Sadiq Khan has performed a partial U-turn on controversial plans to axis 22 bus routes and reduce the frequencies of almost 60 more after a massive backlash from passengers. More

than 21,500 people made their views known after the cost-cutting proposals, first revealed in June, threatened key central London routes including the 4, 12, 14, 24 and 74. The

plans ended up uniting prominent Tory MPs such as Greg Hands and Nickie Aiken with unions and bus drivers who feared for their jobs. But the Mayor has decided to save all but three

routes — the 11, 16 and 521 — and reduce or curtail the length of 15 others, including the 3, 6, 23, 26, 59, 77 and 133, by drawing an extra £ 25 million a year from City Hall

reserves. This is in addition to the £500m that the Greater London Authority is already providing Transport for London to help it balance its books. It means TfL – which is

under Government orders to break even by next April – is increasingly relying on council tax and business rates bail-outs.Read MoreThe routes being axed are the 11 (Fulham

Broadway/Liverpool St), the 16 (Victoria/Cricklewood) and the 521 (London Bridge/Waterloo).But confusingly the numbers 11 and 16 will still be seen on the front of buses, as the

routes 507 and 332 will be renumbered 11 and 16 respectively. Overall, three services will end, 11 other day routes will be changed and four night bus routes will change. But 55

routes that were under some form of threat have been protected.Mr Khan, whose late father drove the 44 bus, had been required to consider reducing bus costs by four per cent under

the Government covid bailout deals.But he was able to minimize the impact after using £25m a year from “unallocated” business rates and council tax.It means three of TfL's 620

bus routes will be focused and about 22 per cent of the original proposals will be implemented. This will mean more passengers will have to change buses to reach their destination,

primarily around Horseferry Road, Fleet Street, Edgware Road and Waterloo.The £1.65 Hopper fare, which is applied automatically for passengers using Oyster, smartcard or device,

allows unlimited journeys within an hour.TfL hopes the changes will improve bus frequencies in central London and allow more services in the suburbs.Mr Khan said: “The strength

of feeling across the capital was clear to me, and I was adamant that I would explore every avenue available to me to save as many buses as possible.“This will mean tough

decisions elsewhere, but I am very pleased that the vast majority of bus routes proposed to be cut due to the Government's funding conditions can now be saved.”Geoff Hobbs, TfL's