London Buses Discussion

[Deerfold]

In other news, from my observations, it looks like the 96 is now using the Fastrack entrance into Darent Valley Hospital which if an agreement has been reached by TfL and KCC is excellent news. Those who use the route will know whilst this is only about 200 metres of road - if that - can potentially skip on the very worst days a 30 minute queue to get into the hospital!

It was a bit of a storm in a teacup.

Threat to Bluewater buses lifted after TfL and Kent settle 'bus tax' row - The Greenwich Wire

Buses from Woolwich will still serve the Bluewater Shopping Centre and Darent Valley Hospital after a row between Transport for London and Reform-run Kent County Council was resolved.

greenwichwire.co.uk

The Greenwich Wire

Threat to Bluewater buses lifted after TfL and Kent settle ‘bus tax’ row

by Darryl Chamberlain
June 26, 2026

Route 96 bus in Bluewater bus station
TfL pays a fee to Kent to send the 96 down bus-only roads to Bluewater. Image: The Greenwich Wire
Buses from Woolwich will still serve the Bluewater Shopping Centre and Darent Valley Hospital after a row between Transport for London and Reform-run Kent County Council was resolved.

Two weeks ago The Greenwich Wire revealed that TfL was reviewing services on route 96 and two other buses because Kent wanted to impose a “significant increase” on charges to use a bus-only road leading to the giant mall – leading to MPs branding it a “bus tax”.

But the two sides have come to an agreement and TfL now says there are no plans to change the three services.

 

[Busoccultation]

Go-Ahead London's Northumberland Park garage at the moment has been going through a rough patch for a couple of years. It seems to have gotten even worse since they took over three routes in quick succession. By a lot of metrics that TfL use (including trips/miles not operated due to lack of staff, lack of buses, lack of Company-induced errors) or things such as customer complaints they are by far the worst garage in London. The 456 unfortunately has been suffering for years with how appallingly bad the service has been and on that route it is usually the very poor and unreliable nature of the vehicles used.

Indeed they are, ever since the said garage got on the hands of the 123 from Arriva at the end of February, service has been atrocious on lot of their routes including the 123 and the 144 which was also won from Arriva in October 2025. Long gaps, frequent cancellations, buses being dumped at changeover points so at Tottenham Hale while on the mid route for the 123 and at Edmonton Green stand for the 144.

Wouldn't surprise me if Northumberland Park has the most number of complaints of any garages in London, not just because they have a lot of routes but mainly because of how poor the service has been on lot of their routes and it has got to the point I ended up sending a complaint to TfL over the 123 service at the end of July, while there have been small improvements since I made the complaint, but really it isn't to the standards I was seeing on the 123 under Arriva.

Not to mention they do have a number of awful Evosetis, namely their 16/66reg batches with hideously uncomfortable seats that are not suited to a longer routes (by London standards) like the 123, which I'm actively avoiding them as much as I can while travelling on any routes with those Evosetis. Manchester readers, you will understand where I am coming from with the issues you had with the same batch used by Go North West.

 

[WH241]

Indeed they are, ever since the said garage got on the hands of the 123 from Arriva at the end of February, service has been atrocious on lot of their routes including the 123 and the 144 which was also won from Arriva in October 2025. Long gaps, frequent cancellations, buses being dumped at changeover points so at Tottenham Hale while on the mid route for the 123 and at Edmonton Green stand for the 144.

Wouldn't surprise me if Northumberland Park has the most number of complaints of any garages in London, not just because they have a lot of routes but mainly because of how poor the service has been on lot of their routes and it has got to the point I ended up sending a complaint to TfL over the 123 service at the end of July, while there have been small improvements since I made the complaint, but really it isn't to the standards I was seeing on the 123 under Arriva.

Not to mention they do have a number of awful Evosetis, namely their 16/66reg batches with hideously uncomfortable seats that are not suited to a longer routes (by London standards) like the 123, which I'm actively avoiding them as much as I can while travelling on any routes with those Evosetis. Manchester readers, you will understand where I am coming from with the issues you had with the same batch used by Go North West.

One recent positive to come from Go Ahead is that they are finally getting allocations in order over in east London! With the school routes leaving RR the 147 is finally fully hybrid bar a couple of stray 13 reg E400s but they are rare. Also the 330 over at DS now has a majority EH allocation well over a year into its tender.

I actually like the look of the MHV but do agree they are not comfortable.

 

[gka472l]

Was the 16 the first route to get LTs. I always thought it was 24 or 38

From memory, LT's went as follows when new.....

LT1-LT8 - 38
LT9-LT40 - 24
LT41-LT68 - 11
LT69-LT94 - 9
LT95-LT117 - 390
LT118/9 - 11
LT120-LT147 - 148
LT148-LT171/4/5 - 10
LT172/3/6-87 - 38
LT188-90 were top ups, LT188 Go Ahead, LT189/90 Metroline
LT191-LT238 - 38
LT239-LT272 - 8
LT273-LT311 - 453
LT312-LT316 - 55
LT317-LT354 - 137
LT355-LT390 - 55
LT391-LT415 - 15
LT416-LT456 - 12
LT457-LT463 were more top ups, I think LT457-9 were Go Ahead, LT460/1 London United, LT462/3 Stagecoach
LT464-LT477 - 73
LT478-LT487 - 88
LT488-LT500 - 73
LT501-LT512 - 88
LT513-LT516 - 149
LT517-LT542 - 73
LT543-LT563 - 16
LT564-LT601 - 149
LT602-LT640 - 159
LT641-LT663 - 168
LT664-LT715 - were 3/68 I think
LT716-LT744 - 59
LT745-LT767 - Metroline (91??)
LT768-LT788 - 211??
LT789-LT811 - Metroline (189?)
ST812 - 91
LT813-LT843 - 253??
LT844-LT902 - Go Ahead (21 & 76?)
LT903-LT953 - EL1/2/3
LT954-LT983 - 137
LT984-LT1000 - 267

Most of that should be right but any corrections welcome......

 

[Bedford OB]

Indeed they are, ever since the said garage got on the hands of the 123 from Arriva at the end of February, service has been atrocious on lot of their routes including the 123 and the 144 which was also won from Arriva in October 2025. Long gaps, frequent cancellations, buses being dumped at changeover points so at Tottenham Hale while on the mid route for the 123 and at Edmonton Green stand for the 144.

Wouldn't surprise me if Northumberland Park has the most number of complaints of any garages in London, not just because they have a lot of routes but mainly because of how poor the service has been on lot of their routes and it has got to the point I ended up sending a complaint to TfL over the 123 service at the end of July, while there have been small improvements since I made the complaint, but really it isn't to the standards I was seeing on the 123 under Arriva.

Not to mention they do have a number of awful Evosetis, namely their 16/66reg batches with hideously uncomfortable seats that are not suited to a longer routes (by London standards) like the 123, which I'm actively avoiding them as much as I can while travelling on any routes with those Evosetis. Manchester readers, you will understand where I am coming from with the issues you had with the same batch used by Go North West.

Worse still, some Northumberland Park drivers are still taking wrong turnings in Ilford on the 123; this has been going on since they started. The 123 has been a shambles since they took it over, with dreadful gaps and frequent bunching.

 

[TrenHotel]

In other news, from my observations, it looks like the 96 is now using the Fastrack entrance into Darent Valley Hospital which if an agreement has been reached by TfL and KCC is excellent news. Those who use the route will know whilst this is only about 200 metres of road - if that - can potentially skip on the very worst days a 30 minute queue to get into the hospital!

When I was using the 96 last year it used that section only when the roundabout leading into Darent Valley Hospital was congested - if traffic conditions were fine it just took the normal way in. The occasional 428 would sneak down there too if the entrance was blocked. I was never quite sure if that was the official arrangement or not!

 

[Mikey C]

I notice that the 310 now has double deckers (Streetdeck Electroliners), something not possible before the route was diverted via Holloway, avoiding the low bridge next to Finsbury Park station!

 

[bb21]

I notice that the 310 now has double deckers (Streetdeck Electroliners), something not possible before the route was diverted via Holloway, avoiding the low bridge next to Finsbury Park station!

Yes, I think that was always the plan, and now operating all day instead of finishing at 8pm. The re-routing will also partially compensate for lost capacity between Nags Head and Stamford Hill when the 254 is withdrawn.

 

[Thirteen]

DEL31 was out again on the 93 today. Interesting looking at Bustimes.org that it's just under a week since it was last used but also it's never been used on a Sunday, just Monday-Saturday.