TfL to Go Ahead with Curtailing Bus Route 27

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Run from Hammersmith to Chiswick to be cut despite public opposition

Bus route 27 currently runs from Chalk Farm through Hammersmith along King Street and Chiswick High Road to Chiswick Business Park, but Tfl says it will make route 27 'more reliable' by terminating it at Hammersmith Grove, removing the least-used section to Chiswick Business Park.

This is despite 72% of the 604 public responses to the proposal saying they were against the plan and only 9% supporting it.

The only change that TfL is making as a result of the consultation is a change to the end of the route which will now be at a bus stand on Glenthorne Road currently used by rail replacement buses. The last and first stops will be at this location instead of at Hammersmith Grove, as the Hammersmith Grove stand has been removed as part of a local urban realm scheme

The extension of the route to the business park was introduced four years ago after a lengthy campaign.

The extension was made possible by a sum of over £537,000 given to London Buses over three years, which paid for an additional bus added to the London United fleet. The money was paid by Hounslow Council through contributions from Chiswick Business Park.

The idea was to serve the thousands of workers who commute to the Park and relieve pressure on the tube station at Gunnersbury.

Route 27 currently runs every seven to eight minutes from Monday to Saturday and every 12 minutes during Sunday shopping hours and late evenings.

However, TfL says its data shows that this section between Hammersmith and Chiswick, is the least used part of the route, particularly between Turnham Green and the Business Park.

A TfL spokesman said that if the 27 was removed there would still be over 22 buses per hour on the route from Hammersmith to Chiswick High Road. The Business Park is also served by routes 237, 267 and H91 at Gunnersbury Station.

Changes are also set to be made to route N27.

Under TfL's proposals, the route will be cut back slightly at night only, so it will not travel between Hammersmith Bus Station and Hammersmith Grove.

TfL says turning around at the bus station during these hours removes the under-used section along King Street when the shops are closed.

Under the proposals, eastbound route N27 services will run every 30 minutes. The first service towards Chalk Farm, Morrisons will depart Hammersmith Bus Station at 0.35am (no later than 040.am) and the last service will depart the bus station at 5.15am (no earlier than 5.10am).

Westbound N27 services will also run every 30 minutes. The first service towards Hammersmith Bus Station from Chalk Farm, Morrisons will depart at 0.55am (no later than 1am). The last service will depart Chalk Farm, Morrisons at 5.5am (no earlier than 5pm).

TfL now intends to proceed with the changes as proposed in early 2019.

More details including a full consultation report and TfL’s response to issues raised have been published online.

 

November 19, 2018