Transport for London (TfL) has announced it is cutting the 414 bus route between Marble Arch and Putney Bridge and instead delivering an ‘enhanced’ 14 service.
This is despite the majority of consultation responses objecting to the route’s potential removal, with a local MP describing the decision as ‘disappointing’.
Geoff Hobbs, Director of Public Transport Service Planning at TfL, said the transport authority is ‘committed to providing an extensive bus network for Londoners with the resources available’ and that it has sought to reduce the impact on passengers as much as possible.
In consultation documents published in September TfL said it was proposing the withdrawal of the 414 partly due to more buses running on the service than are needed by customers.
It stated the number of passengers using the 414 has dropped by around 50 per cent across a typical week, and that increasing the frequency of the 14, which goes from Putney Heath up to Russell Square and uses much of the same route, would mitigate its loss.
A final report has since been published by the transport authority, in which it details its decision to axe the 414 route.
A total of 914 responses were received during the consultation, the majority of which, 471, considered the merging of the services would have ‘a negative impact’.
Among the concerns raised were that the decision would lead to overcrowding, that it would affect people using the buses to access the Chelsea and Westminster, Royal Brompton and Royal Marsden hospitals, and that there would be accessibility issues for people having to change buses to complete their journey between Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch.
In the data provided, almost a quarter of those who responded to the consultation saying they used the 414 indicated they do so daily, 19 per cent four to five days a week, and 20 per cent two to three times. The vast majority, 75 per cent, of those answering how the merger would affect them said it would have a negative impact. The proposals did receive some support, including for the proposed increase in buses operating the 14 route.
Ben Coleman, Labour MP for Chelsea and Fulham, said: “While expected, Transport for London’s decision to axe the 414 is still disappointing. What particularly concerns me is that the proposal to increase the frequency of the 14 to cope with extra passenger demand on the route doesn’t go anywhere near far enough. I’ve met the Deputy Mayor for Transport and made that clear to him.
“One bus every eight minutes simply won’t deal with the demand and I’ve asked for a rethink as a matter of urgency before the changes are introduced. Separately, I’ve asked for a review of the operation of the 211 bus.
“The decision to divert it to Battersea Power Station rather than Waterloo was wrong in my view. It served as an important link between St Thomas’s Hospital and the Royal Brompton, the Royal Marsden, Chelsea and Westminster and Charing Cross Hospitals, and I would like to see it reinstated. I am encouraged by the Deputy Mayor’s promise to look into these issues and to work together to improve the bus network serving Chelsea and Fulham.”
Conservative councillor Cem Kemahli, Lead Member for Planning and Public Place at Kensington and Chelsea Council, said he ‘can’t believe’ the decision to withdraw the 414. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I strongly opposed this and so did pretty much everyone else according to TfL’s own consultation report. [London Mayor and TfL Chair Sadiq Khan] is even ignoring his own Labour MPs.
“People rely on the 414 to commute and patients need this service to reach our hospitals at Chelsea and Westminster, the Royal Marsden and the Royal Brompton. Even with an increase in the frequency of the number 14, it will mean significantly fewer buses per hour and force passengers to change at busy Hyde Park Corner, which can be quite challenging for people using wheelchairs, buggies or with heavy luggage. The Mayor continues to fail our residents.”
TfL has said it will be removing the 414 in February 2025, and that comprehensive information will be provided to customers ahead of time. Mr Hobbs said: “We are committed to providing an extensive bus network for Londoners with the resources available, and we regularly review our services against levels of customer usage.
“Following a public consultation this year and careful consideration of the feedback received, we decided to increase the frequency of route 14, while withdrawing route 414. Both buses operate similar routes and route 14 will now operate every eight minutes, rather than every 10 as previously. Our data shows that this frequency will provide sufficient capacity at the busiest points of the route.
“We sought to reduce the impact on passengers as much as possible to reflect current customer demand and will continue to review any changes to bus routes.”
