Forum Topic

For the second time in a week the 267 has taken over an hour from Hammersmith Bus station to Brentford County court.So bad are the delays in King street that one bus with the slightest issue usually a passenger with difficulties or a difficult passenger leaves the bus unable to proceed. Police cannot get to the vehicle and the back up of traffic extends all the way down Fulham Palace road and Into Kensington High Street.It happens most days at some point. The A4 Road works has made it worse all the way to Kew Bridge in both directions.I've raised this with TfL about the lack of action and the overtly long delays and journey times.Their response? " We have no implemented a range of notices on Bus Stops and our website recommending customers use other means like Walking or Cycling for journeys that you may find quicker.Even if I was not carrying anything I don't think walking from hammersmith to Brentford would be quicker and certainly not manageable in lousy weather ( or even good weather) Certainly in a working day the time it would take is not viable.The Bus is the most versatile means to move almost anyone. £millions invested for access albeit with a lot of shortcomings for many less disabled. But nonetheless done and in place.But TfL is a Public transportation body. Not my doctor or a mind or health consultant.  Clearly their remit is way off the mark and putting ideology before practicality.And clearly engineering things to force a point rathe than properly solve problems and holistically.

Raymond Havelock ● 521d

Fact is Bus Journey times have increased ( as have some key rail journeys over the past 5 years.)  If you care to look at the timetables from 6 years ago, 12 years ago and the most recent. Capacity and frequency have altered but actual journey times increased.In the same period, Car journeys have fallen year on year even with a population increase, and London still has the lowest ownership of private cars.Van and light HGV use has increased and very significantly over the past 24 months. Many bus timings were altered to justify cycle lanes and traffic reduction schemes.  Rather underhandedly, routes using King Street in Hammersmith were gradually altered along with routes using Chiswick high road before public consultations and actual plans were made public, but after those plans had been laid.  And further altered twice during and after. Stretching out journey times by a huge amount.  Those who use the 267 and 237 for many years will have noticed how many times their bus would simply stop for up to 7 mins along the route even though it was packed and was the first one in ages. The journey on the 267 from Hammersmith to Brentford now takes a scheduled 18 mins longer than it did in 2018.  The reality is usually up to 40 mins longer. Similarly the 65 was messed about with yet still suffers most delays from road restrictions.It's not uncommon now for waits of 26 mins and a full bus followed by another long wait and a full bus or curtailed journeys as drivers hours have run out or the bus needs to be taken out of service due to recharghing or refuelling needs.Ken Livingstone's Bus Plus which stopped the rot of service quality returned speed, capacity and frequency and along with the Oyster card a huge swing back to bus use.All that has been quietly and gradually undone by the current incumbent and his TfL minions. In such a way that it has been barely noticed - unless you use the bus daily.

Raymond Havelock ● 526d