Transport for London (TfL) have made a number of changes to buses in Carshalton and Wallington to help children get back to school.
To do that, TfL are laying on additional services on some routes, and introducing 'school services' priority on other routes.
Government guidance allows for all seats to be occupied on these 'school services', doubling their capacity, which is currently limited due to necessary social distancing.
These 'school services' will be clearly signed and are planned to operate on:
- Every other bus on key routes from 07:30-09:30 and 14:30-16:30 on weekdays
- All existing school services
- Some additional buses on less frequent routes
TfL ask that schoolchildren travelling without adult's travel on the designated school services where these are provided, in order to help ensure space for customers on other services.
I'm told that TfL will continually review how the network is operating to ensure this approach is working and meeting demand as best as possible.
The local bus routes affected are:
Routes with extra buses being provided:
407, 413, 455, 463, 470, S3, S4 and X26.
Plus school routes: 612, 613, 627
Routes with school priority buses running between 0730 and 0930:
80, 127, 151, 154, 157, 164, 410 and S1.
Routes with school priority buses running between 1430 and 1630:
80, 157, 410 and S1.
Full details of the changes can be found here. Additional guidance from TfL about travelling to school can be found here.