Bus from Putney to Holburn already goes walking pace – but now it will go even slower

By Jacob Phillips, local democracy reporter

 

London’s slowest bus is set to become even slower.

The number 14 bus, which runs from Putney Heath to Russell Square, already travels at a walking pace for parts of its route because of heavy traffic.

But from February 12, Transport for London (TfL) plans to cut the frequency of the service, slowing down the key route to spots such as Putney Bridge Station, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and South Kensington station.

TfL’s bus speed figures show in the four weeks from May 29 to June 26, the average speed on route 14 was just 6.2mph – roughly a medium jogging pace.

At 9am, the new bus service will make even slower progress and is predicted to take an hour and a half to make its eight-mile journey.

Between Russell Square and Green Park, the timetable allows 25 minutes to make the 1.8-mile journey, which means it crawls along at just 4.3mph over this section.

A brisk walking pace is 5mph, meaning it’s quicker to get out and walk than take the no 14 across Central London.

Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands said: “It’s a really important route. It’s one of London’s oldest.

“There are a lot of vulnerable users going to and from the hospital.

“TfL’s decision to reduce the service will make London’s slowest bus route even slower, as more and more passengers cram in.

“This is a bus route used by many Chelsea and Fulham residents daily, going via Putney Bridge station, Fulham Broadway, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and South Kensington station.”

The politician has set up a petition with councillors from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) to try and reverse the changes.

The new timetable would mean the bus would run every ten minutes instead of every seven minutes.

RBKC asked TfL to protect key bus routes in the borough as they were concerned elderly and disabled residents would be left stranded.

The 7, 9, 11, 22, 27, 49 and 148 buses will have a reduced service while there will be a change to the route of the no 19.

A joint letter from council leader Elizabeth Campbell and head of planning Johnny Thalassites said: “We know that many bus journeys in our borough are made by older and disabled people who find using the tube system difficult, largely due to lack of step-free access.

“Axing vital local services that are disproportionately used by older and disabled people is not an equitable way to achieve efficiencies.”

Transport for London has been contacted for comment.