Routes 106, 253 and 254 restructure

We are seeking your views on proposals to restructure bus routes 106, 253 and 254

The consultation period has now closed. You can find updates on the scheme in the 'Latest news' section.

Proposals

We are proposing to restructure routes 106, 253 and 254. As part of this restructure we would withdraw route 254 and extend route 106 to serve Aldgate bus station.

We would also make some changes to the frequencies including an increase in frequency on route 253 and 106, however frequency changes are outside the scope of the consultation. Route N253 would remain unchanged.

Please see the geographic and linear maps below for more details of our proposals.

Click on image to view larger version

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Why are we proposing this?

Withdrawing route 254 and increasing frequency on route 253 from buses running every 8 minutes to run every 6 minutes Monday to Sunday daytimes would better match capacity to demand on the corridor between Holloway and Hackney Central (the 253/254 corridor). It would also rationalise and simplify the network by reducing the number of parallel routes running on the corridor while retaining key links and introducing new links.

A restructured route 106 would retain existing links between Clapton, Hackney, Cambridge Heath Road and Whitechapel High Street/Aldgate, currently provided on route 254.

Increasing frequency on route 106 from buses running every 10 minutes to every 8 minutes provides sufficient capacity on the southern end of the route 254 corridor.

Increasing off-peak frequencies at various times of day and week will ensure high frequency interchange is provided for all broken links.

The proposed changes would better match capacity to demand and provide new direct journey opportunities, removing the need for some passengers to change between buses. In turn, journey times would reduce for some passengers.

The change to route 106 would mean that passengers would no longer need to change between buses for trips between Aldgate, Whitechapel High Street and Finsbury Park, Manor Road, Stamford Hill, Northwold Road. Frequency increases on routes 106 and 253 would benefit users of those bus routes by reducing wait times, especially on the section of route 106 between Finsbury Park and Clapton Pond and route 253 between Holloway and Euston Bus station.

Our vision for buses

London is constantly changing and, as our most flexible form of public transport, our bus network must change too. That’s why our 2026 Business Plan builds on our Bus Action Plan by setting out how we will reimagine London’s bus network to ensure it can continue to deliver for the changing needs of Londoners now and into the future. This means providing an attractive, reliable, green bus service for all Londoners which reflects demand and is financially sustainable.

What this means for customers is that we’re going to be consulting on changes to ensure buses run where they’re needed most:

We will simplify routes in central and inner London, running a smaller number of high frequency, more reliable routes, so that we can deliver an attractive service which is still comprehensive and frequent, but has less duplication and excess capacity. We will seek to minimise any negative impacts, for example by ensuring convenient comfortable and accessible interchanges to help customers easily move around the network in a similar way to the London Underground and the wider rail system
We will continue to improve connections in outer London by expanding the Superloop network to link town centres and key stations. New connections will help unlock housing growth and encourage even more Londoners to go car free
While some routes will change, we will minimise any local impacts as far as possible. Our aim is to create a network that’s easier to understand and better reflects how people travel today

Alongside bus route changes, we’re also taking action to tackle congestion on bus corridors to make passenger journeys quicker and more reliable. This includes:

Rolling out world-leading FUSION technology to give buses priority at junctions and traffic signals
Partnering with boroughs and coordinating roadworks
Cutting delays to buses through our pan-London lane rental scheme, which charges utility companies for how long they take to carry out roadworks, so streets are reopened more quickly
Investing £90m a year to improve borough roads, making them safer and better for buses and those walking and cycling
Targeting £30m through our Better Bus Partnerships to improve whole bus corridors, cutting delays and making journeys quicker and more reliable in Haringey, Lewisham and Southwark
Trialling AI cameras on buses to identify delay hotspots. Using the intelligence gathered to better understand the impact of roadworks and traffic contraventions, improve enforcement and reduce delays to buses

At the same time, we’re rolling out improvements to enhance customer experience for those using our buses, making them greener, safer, and more comfortable. This includes:

Delivering the next iteration of our world-leading Bus Safety Standard, which ensures new buses in London are fitted with advanced safety features such as intelligent speed assist and camera monitoring systems
Ensuring that customers have up-to-date information, where they need it, by installing 5,000 additional real-time information displays at bus stops
Delivering next-generation bus shelters at more locations, with better lighting, seating and accessibility
Building on Western Europe’s largest zero emission bus fleet, with up to 6,000 zero emission buses in service by 2030, the equivalent of two entering service every day
Improving passenger confidence and safety with our trial of CCTV at 30 bus shelters to evaluate the feasibility of a wider introduction
Investing in bus driver training to support a better and consistent customer experience
Improving bus station layouts to improve safety, accessibility and customer experience

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.

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Impacts

Current route 254 passengers

Image of route 254 bus A restructured 106 would retain all current links on route 254 to/from Whitechapel/Aldgate to Cambridge Heath Road/Hackney Central/Clapton Station. Route 253 would retain route 254 links between Holloway and Hackney Central. However, approximately 2,430 daily trips are made on route 254 which would require interchange between bus routes in future.

The remaining routes would, between them, still have more capacity than is needed to meet demand on the affected sections of route. The busiest point affected by the proposed withdrawal of route 254 is between Stamford Hill and Manor House, which requires a combined frequency of 12 buses per hour.

If the proposals are introduced, remaining routes would continue to provide 15 buses per hour.

For southbound journeys, same-stop interchange would be available between routes 253 and 106 at Stop A “Clapton Station” on Upper Clapton Road. A shelter, seating and a Countdown sign with realtime bus arrival information is available at Stop A.

A street-light helps to provide additional lighting, and there is also good pavement width at Stop A.

For northbound journeys, same-stop interchange would be available between routes 106 and 253 at Stop P “Clapton Station” on Upper Clapton Road. A shelter, seating and a Countdown sign with realtime bus arrival information is available at Stop P. There is good pavement width at Stop P.

Increase frequency on route 253 to buses running every 6 minutes during Monday to Sunday daytimes and add a single AM peak journey which, combined with the existing peak journey, would provide a frequency of buses every 5 minutes in the AM peak hour towards Euston, timed to arrive at Clapton Common between 08:05 and 09:04.

Current route 106 passengers

Image of route 106 bus

Current route 106 passengers would benefit from increased frequency from buses running every 10 minutes to every 8 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and an increase in frequency on route 106 from buses every 15 minutes to every 12 minutes during early mornings all week.

A restructured 106 would retain all current links on route 106 except for Stop W on Cavell Street, which serves as a boarding and alighting point for the first/last stop currently. This is within 270 metres of the alternative boarding stop on the restructured route 106, stop E “Cambridge Heath Road".

Accessing this stop from Cavell Street would require crossing the A11 road at a signalised crossing. The stop on Cavell Street is within 290 metres of the alternative alighting stop A “Whitechapel Station/Royal London Hospital.” This does not require crossing the A11 road. The stop on Cavell Street would no longer be served by a bus route.

New links on route 106

Re-routeing the 106 to run between Finsbury Park and Aldgate Station would create new direct links between Finsbury Park, Manor Road, Stamford Hill, Northwold Road - Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel High Street and Aldgate Station. Passengers travelling between these locations would experience quicker journey times and would no longer need to change between bus routes in future.

Current route 253 passengers

Route 253 passengers would benefit from the following frequency/capacity increases:

Increased frequency from buses running every 8 minutes to every 6 minutes during all daytimes
Adding one extra AM peak journey towards Euston to provide buses every 5 minutes in the AM peak busiest hour to provide sufficient capacity
Increase frequency from buses every 10 minutes to every 8 minutes during all evenings

However, some passengers will experience busier buses on the common section of route 254 between Holloway and Hackney Central as capacity is reduced here.

The proposed changes would mean that some passengers would no longer be able to make a direct bus journey without having to change between buses.

Routes 106, 253 and 254 serve bus stops in the London boroughs of City of London, Hackney, Islington, Camden and Tower Hamlets.

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CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

If you have any questions about the scheme, you can ask us here and we will get back to you.

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Page last updated: 24 Sep 2026, 09:09 AM

Routes 106, 253 and 254 restructure

Proposals