Bus route 281 - proposed extension in Tolworth to serve Signal Park

Update 18 March 2024

Between 31 July and 10 September 2023, we held a public consultation proposing changes to bus route 281 in the Tolworth area of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

We have now published our report on the outcomes of the consultation, which you can view in the Documents section of this webpage.

We received 147 responses to the consultation. Our responses to the issues raised during the consultation is included in Appendix A of the report.

After fully considering the consultation responses, we have decided to proceed with the scheme as consulted upon.

-update ends-

Buses play a crucial role in making London a more prosperous and connected city, connecting Londoners to their workplaces, education, families, friends, shopping, and leisure.

We are proposing changes to bus route 281 in Tolworth to provide additional capacity and connectivity to support the Signal Park development and improve access to and from Tolworth railway station.

On this page you can find out more about our proposals, how these may impact you, and how you can have your say.

Overview

Planning for the future

What is proposed

How these proposals may change your bus journey

How you can find out more

Tell us your views

What happens next

Overview

We continuously review and adapt the bus network to ensure that services reflect changing customer needs. As part of this, we are working to improve the bus network in outer London.

This includes proposing adjustments to bus routes to ensure services are operating in areas where our customers need them most, and in areas where emerging redevelopment is bringing new homes, community, retail and employment opportunities.

These proposals relate to the proposed extension of route 281, running from Tolworth Broadway, across the A3 roundabout to serve Signal Park and Tolworth railway station.

Planning for the future

There is a substantial amount of development that has happened in recent years in and around the area south of Tolworth roundabout between the A3 and Kingston Road. There also is the large Signal Park development on the site between the A3 and railway line, bringing hundreds of residential units over the next few years, also there is a large office block just along Kingston Road that opened recently and is employing hundreds of people.

Extending route 281 would provide additional capacity which is expected to be required, provide new connections and would provide residents of Signal Park and existing local residents with the option of having shorter walk times to access the rest of the bus network and not have to cross the A3 roundabout on foot to do so.

The next section introduces proposal maps showing where the 281 bus route goes now and what is proposed.

What is proposed

Bus route 281 

(click on map for larger image)

This route currently operates between Hounslow Bus Station and Tolworth Tower (Ewell Road) which runs every 10 minutes during peak times and operates 24 hours a day using double deck buses.

We are proposing to extend the 281 between Tolworth Broadway to Signal Park, Lansdowne Close, Tolworth. The existing first and last stop at Tolworth Tower would not be served but Tolworth Broadway would be served in both directions providing a simpler and more convenient service from the High Street.

The new section of the route would run (southbound) from Tolworth Broadway to the A3 roundabout, over the roundabout, turning right onto Hook Rise South and then left onto Toby Way. At this point a short new link road will allow access to serve the new bus stand being constructed as part of the Signal Park development. This is adjacent to Tolworth railway station on Lansdowne Close where the route will terminate.

In a northbound direction the route will start from the bus stand and exit via a proposed bus only exit onto Kingston Road before returning to Tolworth Broadway, via the A3 roundabout.

Proposed bus stop names and locations are indicative for consultation purposes.

How these proposals may change your bus journey 

• Changes to route 281 are proposed to serve the Signal Park development and Tolworth railway Station which will provide more capacity in the area to meet expected future demand and will reduce walk times to access the bus network for both current and prospective residents
• It would provide Signal Park and the wider area with new connections to Teddington, Twickenham and Hounslow
• A new boarding and alighting stop would be provided on Lansdowne Close which would also facilitate improve interchange opportunities for Tolworth Station
• Under this proposal the loop around Tolworth Tower will be withdrawn and the two bus stops on Ewell Road (E & K) will no longer be served by the 281 buses
• Tolworth Broadway would be served in both directions, resulting in a simpler service and providing a higher frequency towards Kingston as through having a common stop with existing routes
• All existing bus stops would continue to be served by buses as they are at present with the exception of Tolworth Tower which would no longer be served in either direction

(click on map for larger image)

How you can find out more

We have provided more information to help you respond, and we want this consultation to be accessible to everyone. Visit the document library for:

• Overview and individual map showing current and proposed route
• Linear map showing current and proposed route
• Our initial Equalities Impact Assessment document
• A copy of our consultation survey in case you would prefer to respond in writing
• British Sign Language (BSL) video
• An audio file of our proposals
• An audio file of our survey
• An Easy Read version of our proposals
• An Easy Read version of our survey

If you require a consultation conversation to read out the materials to you, please contact us via the telephone number: 020 3054 6037 and leave your name and contact number and we will call you back. Please quote ‘281’ when leaving your message.

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

If you need to translate this page into another language, please use the ‘Select language’ button at the bottom of this page.