New 180 bus route expected to be jobs boom

Transport for London (TfL) says that bus changes that came into effect at the weekend will open up job opportunities for South-east Londoners, providing a sustainable alternative to the car.

The new route for the number 180 bus will also give access to the new Elizabeth line, which is about to open up faster routes between South-east and west London.

The 180, which has previously run between Lewisham and Belvedere, now runs between North Greenwich and Erith via Church Manorway. This brings a bus service to businesses in Church Manorway for the first time, serving six new stops and helping boost the local economy.

Residents in North Greenwich, Woolwich, Abbey Wood, Belvedere and Erith can now travel directly via public transport to jobs at companies with warehouses at Church Manorway, including Tesco and Ocado.

As many as 3,000 jobs are thought to be located within 400m of the new section of the bus route, and this number is expected to increase.

Route 180 continues to serve Abbey Wood station, from which Elizabeth line services will start to run from May 24. This link to the Elizabeth line will open up job opportunities at Church Manorway to an even wider catchment area.

Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s Director of Public Transport Planning, said: “Buses are a vital part of our transport network and for linking Londoners to job opportunities.

“With Church Manorway now being served directly by public transport for the first time, people in South-east London and beyond now have improved access to this large centre of employment. Not only that, the bus is an affordable way to get around, and the zero-emission buses on route 180 offer a more environmentally-friendly journey.”

Leader of the London Borough of Bexley, Cllr Teresa O’Neill OBE, said: “These changes are great news for our residents. Good transport connections are a key part of our vision for growth in the borough.

“Conveniently linking our residents and businesses to the new Elizabeth line and Abbey Wood Station will make a big difference, providing wider opportunities for those who previously would have struggled to get there.”

Details of each stop on the route can be found at: https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/180/

(Picture credit: TfL)