TfL reveal a number of bus changes in south east London.

In the next weeks, a number of bus routes in south east London will see modifications to their timetables and vehicles.

One of the most significant changes begins on December 6, when electric vehicles will be available on many routes, including routes 51 between Woolwich and Orpington, 244 between Abbey Wood and Woolwich, 178 between Woolwich and Lewisham, 291 between Plumstead and Woolwich, and the B11 between south Thamesmead and Bexleyheath.

The 244 will transition from single-decker buses to electric double-deckers. Over the last week, double-deckers have begun to operate, but they are older diesels in preparation for new electrics.

The 244 will no longer stop at Belmarsh in Thamesmead on its way to Abbey Wood. This could be in anticipation of redirecting the route via a planned bus-only road, however that new link is still some time away as consultation has only recently begun.

Service reductions

Not all is good news, however, since service reductions on Route 51 are on the way. According to Transport for London, the frequency has been lowered to every 12 minutes during the day, Monday through Saturday.

The frequency will stay at one bus every 15 minutes in the evenings and all day on Sundays.

Route 178 will also experience a drop, with “a new timetable on all days of the week, with the frequency reduced to every 20 minutes during the day on Monday through Saturday.”

The frequency will stay at one bus every 20 minutes in the evenings and all day on Sundays.

A similar story is witnessed with the 291 “with the frequency reduced to every 12 minutes during the daytime on Mondays through Saturdays.” Both Routes 178 and 291 service the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.

Reducing the 178 in particular is little eye opener given it serves areas of significant housing growth at Lewisham, Kidbrooke and Woolwich.

Housing projects passed along the road include hundreds of new Greenwich council homes nearly ready for new inhabitants in Kidbrooke as well as TfL’s own 619-home development.

Hundreds more units are also under construction from Berkeley houses, with thousands more expected in the future years.

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