The wheels on the bus came to a final stop for one of Hackney’s most popular bus routes, becoming the latest victim of Transport for London (TFL) cuts.
The 48 bus, a direct route from Walthamstow to London Bridge, was withdrawn on 12 October causing commuter chaos.
The 55 was re-routed from Leyton Green to Walthamstow, and the 388 was extended to London Bridge in place of the 48.
Commuters travelling to London Bridge will have to change at Cambridge Heath from the 55 to the 388.
One angry commuter said: “Three 55 buses wouldn’t stop because they were at full capacity, and the next bus was in 26 minutes time.”
Hackney Councillor, Jon Burke, Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm, has called this “a backwards step.”
Mr Burke said: “Despite the council’s objections and the negative impact it will have on many residents who rely on buses to get around the borough, TfL’s decision to withdraw the 48 will leave the 55 as the only direct link between Lea Bridge Road and Shoreditch, leading to more overcrowding at peak times.”
However, Geoff Hobbs, Director of Public Service Planning at TfL, said: “We are reallocating buses from where there are more than customers need, to areas where there is growing demand – particularly in outer London.
“By the end of this year we will have introduced seven new routes in outer London…this helps to achieve the Mayor’s ambition of 80 per cent of all journeys in London to be made by bicycle, foot or public transport.”
This represents the 29th route change TFL has made across London boroughs in 2019, including the removal of Camden’s C2 in April.
