London ‘slowest bus’ loses its crown

By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter

London’s ‘slowest bus’ has lost its crown – and the new route is so slow it can take up to 80 minutes to get to from Fulham to Central London.

The number 11 bus is now officially London’s slowest bus, according to the latest Transport for London (TfL) data.

TfL’s most recent bus speed figures show that the average speed on the route was just 6.4mph – roughly a medium jogging pace.

The bus arrives every seven to 10 minutes and CityMapper data shows it can take up to 80 minutes to get from Fulham Town Hall to Primrose Street during rush hour.

Alternative routes on the London Underground take a fraction of the time.

The route narrowly edges out that of the number 14 bus, which travels at speeds of 6.5mph. The number 14 recently became even slower as TfL cut the frequency of the service to every 10 minutes.

In rush hour the bus is expected to take an hour-and-a-half to make a short eight-mile journey.

A petition has been set up by Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands and Kensington and Chelsea councillors to try to make the bus more frequent.

But TfL has said cutting the bus times will help it to save costs and allow it to invest in services customers rely on.

Pictured top: A number 11 bus on its way to Liverpool Street