London zone 1 routes with relatively low frequencies

[90sWereBetter]

Two of my favourite routes in London are the 4 and the 17, which run between Archway and Waterloo/London Bridge respectively. However, these tend to run on relatively low frequencies for bus routes entering Central London. You'll be lucky to get a bus every 10 minutes on these routes. Which makes me think, what other zone 1 routes run on a low frequency for London standards?

 

[PermitToTravel]

I'd bet that many zone 1 routes are booked a bus every 10 minutes. I'm not sure if I can think of any with less than that though

 

[Be3G]

The 507 is only every 12 minutes at the weekend, although its main purpose is to serve commuters so its weekday frequency reflects that (i.e. is much higher).

 

[bakerstreet]

113 (to / from Marble Arch) certainly used to be every 20 mins on a Sunday and it can be a struggle to get on if you're anywhere north of there!

 

[wimbledonpete]

It always feels like the 243 and 341 are fairly low frequency - but that could be my impatience trying to get back to Waterloo from Grays Inn Road!

 

[Stats]

Two of my favourite routes in London are the 4 and the 17, which run between Archway and Waterloo/London Bridge respectively. However, these tend to run on relatively low frequencies for bus routes entering Central London. You'll be lucky to get a bus every 10 minutes on these routes. Which makes me think, what other zone 1 routes run on a low frequency for London standards?

Huh? The 17 is timetabled to run every 4-8 minutes.

 

[Hophead]

113 (to / from Marble Arch) certainly used to be every 20 mins on a Sunday and it can be a struggle to get on if you're anywhere north of there!

Surprisingly, this is still the case. Same frequency evenings too.

 

[Busaholic]

I know it's a 'special case' but the Heritage Routemaster operation on the 15 between Tower Hill and Trafalgar Square is every 15 minutes, shortly to be lengthened to every 20 minutes to avoid having to put on extra buses for the inevitable extended running time that is afflicting bus operation throughout London.

 

[90sWereBetter]

Huh? The 17 is timetabled to run every 4-8 minutes.

I dunno, it always feels like I'm waiting a long time for a 17 to show up.

 

[duncanp]

The 13 is only every 12 minutes on a Sunday.

I suspect many people outside London would kill for any buses on a Sunday, let alone one that runs every 12 minutes.

 

[Antman]

Huh? The 17 is timetabled to run every 4-8 minutes.

The 17 is every 8 minutes M-F daytime, less frequent Sat/Sun


--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The 13 is only every 12 minutes on a Sunday.

I suspect many people outside London would kill for any buses on a Sunday, let alone one that runs every 12 minutes.

I'm sure they would but there are many routes in London with inadequate Sunday services

 

[plcd1]

Two of my favourite routes in London are the 4 and the 17, which run between Archway and Waterloo/London Bridge respectively. However, these tend to run on relatively low frequencies for bus routes entering Central London. You'll be lucky to get a bus every 10 minutes on these routes. Which makes me think, what other zone 1 routes run on a low frequency for London standards?

Surely that depends on the day of the week? Both the 4 and 17 have decent enough frequencies M-F but somewhat lower at weekends when there is far less activity within the City area east of Aldwych which both routes serve. However they're hardly infrequent given they run every 10-15 mins depending on the day / time of day in question. The 4 has certainly seen weekend improvement with better frequencies and all buses running to Waterloo daily. Looking at the patronage numbers both have seen decent increases over 15 years but they're still not "top flight" routes when put against many Z1 routes.

Where TfL do need to apply some focus is on Sunday services where some routes are very badly overloaded while others are too generously resourced. An active programme of review and adjustment should be able to juggle resources across the week to allow the most overloaded Sunday routes to receive some relief. I am sceptical whether the 4 or 17 would ever receive more buses on Sats or Sundays as part of such an exercise!

 

[Busaholic]

The 13 is only every 12 minutes on a Sunday.

I suspect many people outside London would kill for any buses on a Sunday, let alone one that runs every 12 minutes.

TfL were proposing to scrap the 13 altogether as part of their Finchley Road scheme, with what some might have considered rather inadequate replacement facilities, no doubt partly 'inspired' by their obsession with reducing the number of buses in Oxford Street, but when it went out to public consultation the outcry was sufficient for the scheme to be stillborn.

 

[Antman]

TfL were proposing to scrap the 13 altogether as part of their Finchley Road scheme, with what some might have considered rather inadequate replacement facilities, no doubt partly 'inspired' by their obsession with reducing the number of buses in Oxford Street, but when it went out to public consultation the outcry was sufficient for the scheme to be stillborn.

There are suggestions that this crackpot idea has only been deferred

 

[Busaholic]

There are suggestions that this crackpot idea has only been deferred

A bit like the Night Tube, then.

 

[Mikey C]

There are suggestions that this crackpot idea has only been deferred

Plenty of very vocal local residents ready to rise up again and storm TfL towers if they bring the scheme back