Transport for London

Thursday 29 Feb 2024

TfL changes set to boost the bus network in the Croydon and Sutton area from this Saturday

TfL changes set to boost the bus network in the Croydon and Sutton area from this Saturday: TfL Image - Route 312 bus in Croydon

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  • Improvements to the bus network in the Croydon and Sutton area will start from Saturday 2 March, following the introduction of more than 80 electric buses in the area last summer 
  • These changes will make it easier for people to travel affordably and sustainably, provide new local connections, and add over more than 500,000 operated bus kilometres per year to the network 
  • Buses are a vital part of the transport network for millions of Londoners, with the Hopper fare giving people unlimited journeys for £1.75, made within one hour of touching in 

Transport for London (TfL) is bringing in improvements to the bus network in the Croydon and Sutton area from this Saturday 2 March, as work continues to grow outer London’s bus network, making it bigger, simpler and more efficient, while improving access to places where people need to travel.

The bus network across London plays a vital role in enabling people to travel affordably and sustainably, with more than 95 per cent of Londoners now living within 400 metres of a bus stop. By focusing on the local bus network, TfL is continuing to support current and expected demand in the areas, providing connections Londoners need, while ensuring resources are fully invested where customer demand is highest. 

The key changes set to be introduced include: 

  • Bus route 312 will be extended, providing customers with new direct links between Norwood Junction and Purley 
  • Bus route 434 will be extended from Whyteleafe South to Caterham Station, providing new connections to the town centre and train station. Bus route 434 will follow a temporary routeing via Godstone Road pending road modifications to allow it to use its final new routeing along Higher Drive in Kenley 
  • A new route 439 will be introduced linking Waddon Marsh, Sainsburys to Whyteleafe South, to make it easier for people to travel between key destinations in the area including schools, stations, hospitals and town centres 
  • Another new bus route, the S2, will be introduced in Sutton connecting St Helier Station to Epsom, Clock Tower via Sutton Town Centre 
  • Bus routes 470, S3, S4 and 166 will be re-routed to complement other changes to the network and to enable buses to serve people more effectively, with route 455 being replaced by the new bus changes 

Last summer, TfL introduced more than 80 electric buses in the area and some of the bus changes will result in additional electric buses serving the area. 

These enhancements are part of the Mayor’s commitment to improve outer London’s bus network and follow a comprehensive review of the local bus network. The changes complement other work that TfL is doing to improve and grow outer London’s bus network, which includes the Superloop, a network of express routes in outer London connecting town centres, hospitals, schools and transport hubs. The SL7 between West Croydon and Heathrow Central was renumbered and had its frequency doubled from two buses per hour to four buses per hour when it launched in August, leading to around a 70 per cent increase in passenger usage. The SL5 between Croydon and Bromley was also launched in February this year, providing quicker connections between the neighbouring boroughs.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “When I became Mayor I made a promise to Londoners to improve public transport in outer London, and it’s a promise I’m proud to have delivered on. The Superloop has already transformed journeys in outer London, with the full loop to be in service by the end of March. We’re also working hard to introduce more localised, but just as significant, improvements all over the network, bringing real benefits to the people who rely on buses to get around London.

“I will continue to improve the bus network in outer London and strengthen alternatives to private car use as I build a better, fairer and greener city for all Londoners.”

Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning, said: “We aim to always offer affordable and sustainable public transport options where possible, with more than 95 per cent of Londoners living within 400 metres of a bus stop. We know how vital an efficient bus service is for the people in Croydon and Sutton and we constantly monitor and review our bus network to ensure our bus services reflect current and expected customer demands.

“These improvements will play an important role in attracting even more people to the bus network and we think these changes will enable us to serve our customers even more effectively. As always, we will monitor these changes closely to ensure our buses are operating as they should be and encourage customers to check their journeys using the planning tools on our website or the TfL Go app.”

Contact Information

TfL Press Office
 Transport for London
0343 222 4141
pressoffice@tfl.gov.uk

Notes to editors

The full details of changes set to be introduced are: 

  • Route 312 between Norwood Junction Station and South Croydon Bus Garage, which will be extended from South Croydon Bus Garage to Purley, Old Lodge Lane via Brighton Road, providing customers with new direct links between Norwood Junction and Purley. The extension of this route will replace the current route 455 between Purley Cross Tesco and Purley, Old Lodge Lane. Route 312 will continue to operate every 12 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytime, and every 15-20 minutes during the evening, early morning and all day on Sundays
  • Route 434 between Whyteleafe South and Coulsdon, Ridgemount Avenue will be extended from Whyteleafe South to Caterham Station, running from Coulsdon to Caterham. Pending modifications to the road configuration it will be temporarily re-routed in both directions at Purley Station via Godstone Road to Whyteleafe and Upper Warlingham Station before returning to its current route. The new route 439 will serve Northwood Avenue, Oaks Road, Oaks Way, Kenley station, Valley Road, Beverley Road, Hornchurch Hill and Whyteleafe Hill in place of the current route 434. Route 434 will continue to operate every 30 minutes on all days of the week, with no late evening service.  The final proposed change to route 434 between Purley Station and Kenley to run via Higher Drive (as consulted on) will take place once changes to the roads have been completed.
  • Route 166 will continue to run between West Croydon Bus Station to Epsom Hospital serving both Epsom Hospital and Purley Hospital. It be re-routed between South Croydon (Swan & Sugar Loaf) and Purley Tesco via Warham Road, Haling Park Road, Pampisford Road, Russell Hill Road (Banstead Road and Foxley Lane towards West Croydon) and Purley Cross to Brighton Road, replacing current route 455 between these locations. Buses on route 166 will no longer serve Brighton Road between South Croydon (Swan & Sugar Loaf) and Purley Tesco. Customers will be able to use the revised route 312 or routes 60, 407 and 466 instead between these two locations. There is no change to the frequency of the route
  • A brand new route 439 between Waddon Marsh, Sainsburys and Whyteleafe South, Wapses Lodge Roundabout, will be introduced. The route will operate from Trafalgar Way via Drury Crescent, Purley Way and Russell Hill Road (Banstead Road and Foxley Lane towards Waddon Marsh only) to Purley Cross then via the current route 434 to Whyteleafe South. Route 439 will also serve Waddon Marsh London Trams stop, creating a direct interchange between this bus route and the tram network, allowing for more journey options between Purley, Kenley and Whyteleafe and the tram network. Customers are also able to take advantage of the Hopper fare on buses and trams. Route 439 will operate every 30 minutes between 07:00 and 20:00 on all days of the week with no evening service
  • Route 470 between Colliers Wood Station and Epsom, Clock Tower will be re-routed between Colliers Wood Station and Sutton Station, The Quadrant., It will no longer operate between Sutton Station and Epsom. Customers will be able to use new route S2 instead to travel between Sutton Station and Epsom, Clock Tower. Route 470 will also be re-routed in both directions from Sutton Common Road via Marlborough Road, Dibdin Road, Stayton Road and Hallmead Road to Sutton High Street, replacing the current route S3 between these locations. This section of the route will remain as a Hail and Ride section, where customers can still board or alight the bus at any safe location. Route 470 will no longer serve Sutton Common Road beyond Marlborough Road or Angel Hill. Customers will be able to use new route S3 between these points instead. Route 470 will continue to operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday, with no late evening or Sunday service 
  • A brand new zero-emission route S2 will operate between St Helier Station and Epsom, Clock Tower replacing the current route S4 between St Helier Station and Sutton Station, as well as replacing the current route 470 between Sutton Station and Epsom, Clock Tower. Route S2 will operate every 20 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 30 minutes during the evening and all day on Sundays. This change allows a Sunday service to be offered for the first time on the sections of 470 and S4 that the S2 replaces
  • Route S3 will continue to run between Malden Manor Station and Belmont Station and will be re-routed in both directions from the junction of Sutton Common Road and Marlborough Road via Sutton Common Road and Angel Hill to Sutton High Street. The section of Sutton Common Road to Angel Hill will be a Hail and Ride section, where buses will pick up and drop off customers at any safe location. Route S3 will no longer serve Marlborough Road, Dibdin Road, Stayton Road or Hallmead Road. Customers will be able to use the revised route 470 instead between these locations. Route S3 will continue to operate every 20 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes only, with last buses running until 21:30 with no Sunday service
  • Route S4 which currently runs between St Helier Station to Roundshaw, will be adapted to connect Sutton, Marshalls Road and Waddon Marsh, Sainsbury's – which will also serve those getting to and from Royal Marsden Hospital. Route S4 will no longer operate between Sutton, Marshalls Road and St Helier Station. Customers will be able to use the new route S2 instead between these locations. Route S4 will also be extended from Roundshaw, Wilson’s School to Waddon Marsh, Sainsbury’s. From Mollison Drive, route S4 will replace current route 455 via Plough Lane, Croydon Road, Hilliers Lane, Beddington Lane, Beddington Lane Asda, Beddington Lane, Coomber Way, Ampere Way, Purley Way, Trafalgar Way and Drury Crescent to Waddon Marsh, Sainsbury’s. Route S4 will also serve Waddon Marsh, Therapia Lane and Ampere Way London Trams stops, creating a new direct interchange between the bus and Tram for even more public transport options for customers. Route S4 will be increased to three buses per hour Monday to Saturday daytime, with a Sunday service being introduced
  • Route 455 which currently runs between Wallington Station and Purley, Old Lodge Lane will be replaced by the changes to routes 166, 312 and S4. The bus stop on Saint Peter’s Road in South Croydon will no longer be served in either directions. Customers can use alternative bus services from Brighton Road which is about 400 metres from these stops. More information on alternative bus services can be found here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/croydon-and-sutton-bus-changes?cid=croydon-sutton-bus-changes
  • In late 2020, we consulted on proposals to change a number of bus routes in the London Boroughs of Croydon and Sutton (https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/access-our-older-consultations/widgets/34077/documents). Following the consultation, we revised some of the proposals to address some of the feedback received. This was explained in the consultation report, which was published in September 2021
  • The majority of the changes will come into place on Saturday 2 March. The remaining changes will be expected to be implemented later this year and customers will be notified once dates have been confirmed
  • A dedicated webpage is also on our website with full details of the changes, including maps and further travel advice - https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/croydon-and-sutton-bus-changes?cid=croydon-sutton-bus-changes
  • A comprehensive customer communications campaign took place ahead of the changes, including emailing stakeholders, emailing registered regular customers of the routes affected, updating bus stop publicity, a dedicated webpage is now live providing advance warning notices at affected bus stops and key transport interchanges, along with updating maps and posters
  • The Superloop express network serves many parts of outer London. Superloop route SL7 operates between Heathrow, Sutton and West Croydon, doubled in frequency in August 2023. New Superloop route SL5 started operating between Croydon and Bromley on Saturday 3 February, running every 12 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes, and every 15 minutes during the evenings and all day on Sundays. More information on the Superloop can be found here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/superloop
  • TfL’s Bus Action Plan aims to increase the number of customers choosing to travel by bus across London by making bus travel more reliable, faster and greener. Journeys are getting better with new comfortable zero emission buses and investing in more bus lanes and the latest traffic light technology to improve reliability. There are also upgrades to real-time information at stops and on buses. Improvements in 2023 included adding an extra one million scheduled bus vehicle kilometres per annum to outer London services. TfL’s growing fleet of zero-emission buses now has over 1,300 vehicles – around one in seven buses in the fleet including nearly 100 operating in the Sutton area
  • TfL has also invested in over 300 new Countdown signs at bus stops 
  • Information about increases to the SL7 route are in the press release here: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/tfl-launches-further-two-brand-new-superloop-routes-as-new-data-shows-huge-success-of-initial-routes

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