14 and 414 - proposed changes between Putney and central London

Proposals

Bus route 14 currently operates between Putney Heath/Green Man and Russell Square.

Bus route 414 currently operates a similar route to the 14, to and from central London between Putney Bridge Station and Marble Arch. Much of routes 14 and 414 use the same roads. Both routes currently operate at a high frequency of five or more buses per hour, and are routes where passengers tend not to look at the timetable before arriving at the stop.

We are proposing that route 414 would no longer run

Most journeys currently made on the 414, would instead be made on route 14.

The remainder of route 414 between Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch would not be served by route 14, as it would continue to operate between Putney Heath and Russell Square.

Journey planning

The Hyde Park Corner – Marble Arch bus corridor is well served by several other bus routes. As an example, bus route 74 operates between Putney Exchange – Baker Street via South Kensington, Hyde Park Corner, and Marble Arch.

The geographic map includes bus route 74 – for information only – to show the common sections it has with the 14 between Putney and central London, including along the South Kensington - Knightsbridge – Hyde Park Corner – Marble Arch corridor.

No changes to the 74 are proposed.

Click on image for larger version

The bus network map shows routes 74 and 137 – for information only.

Route 74 has common sections with the 14 between Putney and central London, including along the South Kensington - Knightsbridge – Hyde Park Corner – Marble Arch corridor.

Route 137 is another bus option between Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch that passengers could use if route 414 no longer ran.

We are not proposing changes to either of these routes.

Click on image for larger version

How we may improve route 14

We recognise the merger of routes 14 and 414 would result in less buses operating between Putney and central London.

If route 414 no longer ran, route 14 would be enhanced to help ensure there is sufficient bus space for customers that need it, including at the busiest points along the route and at the busiest times of the day.

Route 14 would continue to operate between Putney Heath/Green Man and Russell Square, however it would run approximately every 8 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes, instead of every 10 minutes. On Sundays and all evenings, it would run approximately every 10 minutes, instead of every 12 minutes.

Why?

London’s bus network is our most affordable, accessible, and available form of public transport and offers the main sustainable alternative to cars for those journeys that cannot easily be walked or cycled. It is also London’s most flexible mode of public transport.

We continuously review and adapt the bus network to reflect changing customer needs. This includes proposing changes to existing bus routes, so services operate in areas where our customers need them most.

Read more about how we are increasing the number of bus journeys by making bus travel better, faster and greener in our Bus action plan.

Why we propose to withdraw route 414

• More buses are running on route 414 than are needed by customers
  
  
• The number of passengers using the 414 has reduced by approximately 48 to 50% across a typical week
  
  
• Combining routes 14 and 414 would simplify the bus network between Putney and central London
  
  
• Operating a more efficient bus service helps us make financial savings that can be reinvested in other parts of the London bus network, including in areas where there is not enough bus capacity to meet customer needs
  
  
• By enhancing route 14 as described in the ‘Proposals’ section, we would ensure the 14 continues to meet customer needs, including at the busiest points along the route and at the busiest times of the day
  
  
• As part of our continual review of the London bus network there would be ongoing monitoring of bus services between Putney and central London to ensure there is enough space on buses for our customer and that service levels are maintained

How it impacts you

Bus route 14

• The 14 would run more often, improving frequency and journey times for passengers
  
  
• The enhanced service on the 14 would result in a bus every 8 minutes, instead of every 10 minutes
  
  

Bus route 414

If route 414 no longer ran, approximately 13% of its current passengers would need to change bus to complete their journey. These are typically passengers using the service for stops between Marble Arch - Hyde Park Corner, and at Putney Bridge:

• Customers currently using the 414 to travel to and from stops between Hyde Park Corner, Park Lane and Marble Arch could interchange between routes 14 and 74 at four pairs of bus stops between South Kensington Station and Hyde Park Corner; and also with the 137 at Hyde Park Corner to continue their journey, with a combined total of 17 buses per hour available
  
  
• The ‘Hopper’ bus fare provides the ability to make a second bus journey within 60 minutes of boarding the first, at no additional cost
  
  
• Customers currently using the 414 to travel to and from Putney Bridge Tube station/ Station Approach would need to walk to Putney Bridge/Gonville Street to access routes 14 and 74
  
  

Accessing Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, The Royal Marsden Hospital and the nearby Royal Brompton Hospital

Bus routes 14, 414 and 211 directly serve the Chelsea and Westminster and The Royal Marsden hospitals on the Fulham Road, as well as The Royal Brompton hospital which is close by.

If route 414 no longer ran, then passengers currently using this route for access to hospital would need to use route 14 or 74 and may need to change bus to complete their journey in the future.

Bus routes 14 and 211 would continue to serve the hospital as they do now.

Impact of needing to change bus to complete your bus journey

The main impact we have identified as a result of these proposals would be the need for some passengers to change bus to complete their journey.

We want to hear how you think the proposals may impact you, positively or negatively. Please visit the ‘tell us your views’ tab to take part in the consultation survey.

The following concerns may arise for passengers that need to change bus. This may affect older, younger, and disabled people and passengers with luggage, young children and buggies.

• A longer overall journey time due to the need to change bus
  
  
• Concern about the interchange environment (for example, lack of seating and shelter while waiting for the next bus)
  
  
• Concern about crowding when joining the bus (for example, less space or less chance of a seat being available)
  
  
• Concern at having to change bus at night, in hours of darkness
  
  
• Concern journeys would become more expensive if using more than one bus

To help mitigate against these concerns:

• We have identified points along the 14 and 74 bus routes where interchange could take place at stops with seating, shelter and lighting. For example, Knightsbridge Station, bus stops ‘KC’ towards Hyde Park Corner and ‘KD’ towards Putney are recommended
  
  
• The proposals are designed to ensure bus services would meet customer demand, and crowding is not expected as a result
  
  
• The 14 and 414 bus routes operate in a busy part of London that are well lit and are close to housing and businesses. There is also natural surveillance from traffic. This helps create a safer environment for people making late night and early morning journeys
  
  
• The ‘Hopper’ bus fare provides the ability to make a second bus journey within 60 minutes of boarding the first, at no additional cost

Our initial Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) identifies in more detail:

• The affects these proposals could have on people
  
  
• How we propose to minimise any negative impacts
  
  
• After we’ve considered all comments, the EqIA will be reviewed and updated.

We use the EqIA to help us decide if, and how, we should proceed with these proposals.

More Information

We have provided more information to help you respond:

Accessible Information

We want to make sure everyone is able to take part in our consultations. To help make it accessible to everyone we have provided:

Tell us your views

You can reply by completing our survey, which should take no more than 10 minutes to complete or if you are short on time, you can submit a quick response.

The closing date for comments is 13 October 2024.

Questions?

You can use our question tool during the consultation period. We will respond to your questions as soon as we can.

You can also phone us on 020 3054 6037 to leave your name and contact number and we will call you back. Please quote '14/414' when leaving your message.

Latest News

Update 5 December 2024

We have now published our consultation report, which includes a decision as to how we will proceed, and our response to the key issues raised during consultation.

We received 914 responses to the consultation and would like to thank everyone that took part.

Bus routes 14 and 414 operate similar routes, often using the same roads. As part of our continual review of the bus network, monitoring of bus services between Putney and central London showed more buses were running on route 414 than are needed by customers, and passenger numbers had reduced by 48-50 per cent across a typical week.

To help better match bus capacity with customer needs and to simplify the bus network in the area, we proposed that route 414 would no longer operate, and route 14 would operate more often.

Our decision

Following careful consideration of the consultation responses and a further review of what was proposed, we have decided to proceed with these proposals as set out in the consultation. This includes a frequency increase on route 14 which will operate with a bus every eight minutes instead of every ten minutes once route 414 is withdrawn.

In reaching this decision we took into consideration concerns related to reduced bus frequency between Putney and central London, including for access to the Chelsea and Westminster, Royal Brompton and Royal Marsden hospital; and also concerns related to access between Putney Bridge station and Putney Bridge for onward journeys on route 14.

London is constantly changing, and we keep the bus network under continuous review, evolving it to ensure that services reflect changing usage and deliver value for money while providing a comprehensive and attractive network. 

Our data shows a frequency of a bus every eight minutes on route 14 is sufficient to provide enough space for passengers at the busiest points on the along the route once the 414 is withdrawn. This includes for passengers accessing hospitals.  Once these service changes are implemented, our monitoring will continue to ensure services match demand. 

Passengers currently using the 414 to travel to and from Putney Bridge Tube station/ Station Approach would in future walk to Putney Bridge/Gonville Street to access routes 14 and 74.

Next steps

It is intended the withdrawal of route 414 will take place during February 2025. Comprehensive customer information will be issued in advance of any changes to ensure customers are aware.

Thank you again to everyone that took part in the consultation.