Bus routes 45, 59 and 118 - proposed changes in south London

Proposals

We’re proposing to make changes to routes 45, 59 and 118 between Elephant & Castle, Camberwell, Brixton, Clapham Park, Streatham and Morden. As shown in the map below, the proposal would include a merger of routes 45 and 118, and the 118 would no longer run. The proposals are explained in more detail, route-by-route, further down the page.

Click on the map for a larger version

Route 45

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Route 45 currently operates between Elephant & Castle and Clapham Park/Atkins Road.

We propose to operate the 45 between Denmark Hill/Camberwell Green and Morden.

Its start and end points in Camberwell are expected to be bus stop ‘R’ towards Camberwell Green, and bus stop ‘Q’ towards Denmark Hill. Both bus stops are near Butterfly Walk, and other shopping destinations in the area.

The proposed line of route for the 45 between Brixton Hill and Morden would be the same as current route 118. Route 45 would directly replace route 118.

Therefore, if we were to change route 45 as proposed it would no longer serve:

• Bus stops between Denmark Hill/Camberwell Road and Elephant and Castle
• Streatham Place bus stops ‘BP’ and ‘BQ’
• Atkins Road bus stops ‘H’ and ‘E’ for Clapham Park
• Poynders Road bus stop ‘V’

Bus stops between Brixton Hill and Clapham Park no longer served by route 45 would instead be served by route 59, if it were to change as proposed below.

Route 59

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We propose to operate it between Smithfield, St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Clapham Park/Atkins Road.

The current line of route for the 59, between St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Brixton Hill would remain unchanged.

If we were to change route 59 as proposed it would no longer serve:

• Bus stops between Streatham Hill/Christchurch Road and Streatham Hill/Telford Avenue

Route 59 would instead serve the following stops between Brixton Hill and Clapham Park, directly replacing route 45:

• Streatham Place bus stops ‘BP’ and ‘BQ’
• Atkins Road bus stops ‘H’ and ‘E’ for Clapham Park
• Poynders Road bus stop ‘V’

Bus stops between Streatham Hill - Christchurch Road and Streatham Hill - Telford Avenue no longer served by the 59 would instead be served by route 45, if it were to be changed as proposed above.

Route 118

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The 118 currently operates between Brixton Road/Police Station and Morden station.

We propose that route 118 would no longer run. It would be replaced in its entirety by changes to route 45, as described above.

This would create one route, the 45 (routes 45 and 118 combined), operating between Morden and Camberwell.

Why?

Why we propose to merge routes 45 and 118 and reroute the 59

• More buses are operating than are needed by customers along two key sections of route 45; between Brixton Hill and Streatham, and between Camberwell and Elephant & Castle - and less passengers now use the 45
• Combining routes 45 and 118 would simplify the bus network between Streatham, Brixton and Camberwell
• This restructure would create new bus journey opportunities, without the need to change bus, for customers travelling to and from Kings College Hospital and Maudsley Hospital sites in Camberwell from Morden and Streatham
• The rerouting proposed for the 59, supports the changes we would like to make to the 45, by ensuring existing journeys are still possible, with minimal disruption
• 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
  
  

Our continual review of the London bus network would include ongoing monitoring of bus routes 45 and 59. Monitoring is designed to ensure there is enough space on buses for customers, and that service levels are maintained.

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.

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.

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.

How it impacts you

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. In other cases, the proposals also remove the need to change bus; for example, for passengers travelling between Morden – Streatham to/from Camberwell, including Kings College Hospital

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.

Impact of needing to change bus to complete your bus journey

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 reduce these issues:

• We have identified points along Brixton Hill and in Brixton town centre where interchange between could take place at bus stops in busy locations, with seating, shelter and lighting
• The proposals aim to ensure bus services would meet customer demand, and crowding is not expected as a result
• Brixton Hill and Brixton town centre are busy parts 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
  
  

Equalities Impact Assessment

Our Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) identifies:

• The impact the scheme is having on people, including those with protected characteristics
• How we have attempted to mitigate any negative impacts

After we’ve considered all comments, the EqIA will be reviewed and may be updated.

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

Journey planning

The following bus network map shows current and proposed routes 45, 59 and 118. It also shows the 35 for information only.

Route 35 has common sections with the 45 between Brixton and Elephant & Castle and is another bus option that passengers could use if the 45 no longer served stops between Camberwell and Elephant & Castle

No changes to the 35 are proposed.

Click on the map for a larger version

Visit the ‘More information’ section for:

• Examples of typical bus journeys on routes 45, 59 and 118 and how these may change as a result of what is proposed. Contained in the ‘Journey planning’ document

More Information

You can also come and talk to Transport for London at our public drop in session.

We will be at Kings College Hospital between 12:00 and 16:00 on Wednesday 2 October 2024.

Please find us in the Golden Jubilee Wing, Ground floor atrium, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE6 9RA.

Getting to Kings: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/getting-to-kings/

If you are unable to make this date and time and would like to discuss the proposals further with us, please get in touch and we can respond to your queries directly.

We have also 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 Sunday 13 October 2024.

Questions?

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

You can also come and talk to Transport for London at our public drop in session.

We will be at Kings College Hospital between 12:00 and 16:00 on Wednesday 2 October 2024.

Please find us in the Golden Jubilee Wing, Ground floor atrium, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE6 9RA.

Getting to Kings: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/getting-to-kings/

If you are unable to make this date and time and would like to discuss the proposals further, you can also contact us by email, via our telephone call back service, 020 3054 6037; or in writing to FREEPOST TFL HAVE YOUR SAY, no stamp required.

Latest news

Update 5 December 2024

Today we have 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 795 responses to the consultation and would like to thank everyone that took part.

Our proposals aimed to help simplify the bus network between Streatham, Brixton and Camberwell, and to better match bus services with passenger demand. They also sought to create new bus journey opportunities, without the need to change bus, for customers travelling to and from Kings College Hospital and Maudsley Hospital sites in Camberwell, from Morden and Streatham.

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. In reaching this decision we took into consideration concerns related to bus reduction and frequency for journeys between Streatham Hill, Brixton Hill and Camberwell; and bus links between Camberwell and Elephant & Castle.

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. With the bus services in place we will continue to provide a frequent and reliable service on these corridors with capacity for expected passenger demand, and convenient interchange for journeys from Brixton and Camberwell to Elephant & Castle. We will work with bus operators to ensure timetables support peak-time demand.

Next steps

We intend to make the bus service changes during February 2025. Comprehensive customer information will be issued in advance of any changes to ensure customers are aware. Once the changes are implemented, as part of our continual review of the London bus network, our monitoring will continue to ensure services match passenger demand.

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

Update 14 October 2024

This consultation has now closed. Thank you to everyone who responded. We are analysing your feedback and will report back shortly.

The report will be available to everyone that takes part in the consultation and a copy will be published on our website.