Anger Over Service Reduction on Local Buses


Users of route 430 say changes are unjustified


A 430 bus at Putney Riverside. Picture: Au Morandarte

December 8, 2023

There has been an angry reaction from some users of the number 430 bus after recent schedule changes.

Since 18 November there have been five buses per hour on the route as opposed to six previously.

One regular passenger on the route said, “I had no idea this change had taken place until I commented on the deterioration of the service to a friend who explained what had happened. A reduction from a bus every 10 minutes to every 12 might not seem much but they rarely keep to schedule and that means long waits in this very cold weather.”

It is understood that TfL made the decision to cut capacity on the route because of duplication with route 74 which also runs between Putney and South Kensington. TfL had originally intended to withdraw the 74 under a service reduction programme but that was largely scrapped earlier this year.

However, the route overlap does not occur for passengers on the section between Danebury Avenue in Roehampton and Putney Exchange. The route had become more important to Roehampton residents heading north of the river since the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.

The 430 was introduced as a service in 2002 when the 74 ceased to run between Putney and Roehampton.

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