All change: the 45 route, will no longer run north of Camberwell Green, and the 118 won’t run any more at all
Transport for London has today started a consultation on three bus routes, which is likely to affect journeys in and around Streatham and Morden, and will see the end of the 118.
Under TfL’s “proposals” (which mean it is what they intend to do, come what may…):
- Route 118 would no longer run
- Route 45 would directly replace route 118, operating between Denmark Hill and Camberwell Green and Morden
- Bus stops between Brixton Hill and Clapham Park no longer served by route 45 would instead be served by route 59 if it were to change as proposed
It represents a significant curtailing of service, which will require additional changes of buses for passengers.
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
The former trend towards shorter bus routes seems to have gone into reverse: now we are seeing some routes being extended to cover the withdrawal of others. Another example is the recent extension of the 133 to Holborn to take over part of the withdrawn 521. In this case, quite an old route will be lost: London Bus Routes Wiki states that “Route 118 commenced operation on 18 November 1936 as a daily service between Mitcham Common and … Clapham Park.
The 45 has been subjected to many changes over the years: until only 5 years ago, it ran beyond the Elephant to King’s Cross.
I can’t quite see that withdrawing the 118 will “will require additional changes of buses for passengers” as the whole route will be covered by the extended 45, so in fact people who previously had to change between the routes will now enjoy a through journey. Whether or not overall the change will be an improvement is another matter: the longer route could well prove less reliable, and frequencies are not stated in the consultation.