Andrew Dismore

13 bus

Issues raised:

• Remains at a poor level of service, admitted to in written answers.
• We were promised a review in September of the service, what is the outcome?
• How bad does the service have to be before it is cancelled and re-tendered?
• Too many buses do not complete the whole route, starting or finishing early (Generally Finchley or Park Lane)
• Driving is appalling, some drive too fast, miss bus stops and do not know the route.

TfL Response: TfL acknowledge that the excessive waiting time is unacceptable. There are disruptions all over the route, which affects performance. The route has a high level of lost mileage, but the contractor is not paid for missed mileage. TfL say they will continue to monitor and hold contractor to account, with regular performance meetings. There will be new schedules soon. TfL tend not to cancel contracts, but there are penalties for failing to perform.

Action: TfL will keep Andrew updated on service performance.

384 bus

Issues raised:

• Why was I not notified when changes were announced?
• The driving along Alston Road in High Barnet needs to be slowed down.

TfL Response: TfL will find out why there was no notification send. They are looking into the service, and have adapted morning services as appropriate, but there is still work to be done in the afternoon.

Action: TfL will look into problems on Alston Road

C11 Bus

Issues raised:

• Why is this being cut when TfL use it as a rationale for not delivering a bus service from Finchley to the Royal Free.

TfL response: TfL undertook surveys and found excessive capacity. Delays are due to unreliability, which is being taken up with contractor.

Action: Will re-do surveys to check they have appropriate service levels

Night buses

Issues raised:

• It was never said when the night tube was introduced that there would be cuts to night buses as a result.
• Night buses are cheaper. How many people use them regularly?
• What about routes that cover areas not on tube lines, eg 134 bus, which travels through Muswell Hill and South Friern?

TfL Response: They undertook surveys at the busiest points. No services are less than 2 per hour, and generally the night bus services are reliable. It will not cost users any more than now, but acknowledge longer wait. They have also tried to offer a higher level of service for routes that cover neighbourhoods not near tube lines.

125 bus

Issues raised:

• Ludicrous to divert bus down Greyhound Hill, and to add long diversion without adding capacity. It will ruin the rest of the service. Need to rethink route, or go down to single decker, and more frequent.

TfL response: They had a meeting with concerned residents, the results of which are being finalised. They will be putting on additional buses, to maintain the frequency of the service.

Action: TfL will send an update on what the outcomes and views were from the Greyhound Hill meeting.

302/305 route

Issues raised:

• Merger of these routes will make them a very poor service, as they will go between major traffic centres.

TfL response: The proposals are due to there being a service duplication, and unnecessary capacity at Kingsbury.

Cross borough services in Barnet

Issues raised:

• The lack thereof. Especially needed now because of Ark Academy.
• What discussions have there been re Hasmonean School planning application?

TfL Response: They met with Barnet Council officers recently, and are looking at ways to improve links between Edgware and High Barnet. They are looking at postcode data to see where the demand for trips are, but funding is an issue.

Action: TfL to send an update on progress with Hasmonean application.

Hoppa bus for Finchley Memorial Hospital

Issues raised:

• Will they consider this as a trial at least?

TfL response: they looked at options as part of their hospitals review, such as diverting the low frequency 383 service, but this would not be especially helpful. A hoppa bus is not something they will consider, as they do not believe there is a need for frequent services. Most hospital trips are occasional, so there will be no regular users. Difficult to make the case for a service to the hospital given lack of services there. When that increases they can make a case, but not now with the financial pressures.

North Finchley Bus Station

Issues raised:

• The bus stop has been closed for the last month, with no notice or signs. Why is this? When will it be back open?

TfL Response: Bus Station not working. Work is being done to the current station. TfL will need to consider how the station operates in the future after the North Finchley regeneration scheme happens.

Action: Send an explanation of why the station has been closed, and signs to be put up at the station.

Future of the service

Issues raised:

• What else is TfL cutting, and what is coming down the line?

TfL Response: There is a reduction in mileage due to financial pressures. The business plan contains the number of bus kilometres, and funding has to be allocated according to it. They are looking to restructure Central London services so there are fewer of them, but more frequent. Roadworks in central London have been a huge problem, and have driven down bus passenger numbers. This is not as bad now, but still a problem.

Environmentally friendly services:

Issues raised:

• What are you doing to make bus services more environmentally friendly?
• What is the future of electric buses?

TfL response: All future buses will be more environmentally friendly, at CW06 rating, which is more environmentally friendly diesel, electric or LPG. ULEZ introduced, and plan for all electric fleet in Central London. On electric buses, there is a lack of infrastructure, TfL are having discussions with power networks as there currently isn’t the capacity to provide the amount of electricity needed to charge the full bus fleet.