Night Bus services in Enfield could face changes this September after the introduction of the Night Tube, Transport for London (TfL) has announced. Local London Assembly Member Joanne McCartney AM warned TfL to be sure their changes don’t leave passengers worse off.
Ms McCartney’s comments come after TfL launched a consultation into changes to the Night Bus to complement the Night Tube from September. Proposals from TfL would see the introduction of 20 new services, but 17 of these would run only on Friday and Saturday evenings. Ms McCartney welcomed the additional routes but said, with the Night Bus providing a cheap and easy way to travel home from work at night, she would like to see the service continued throughout the working week.
Whilst there are currently no proposals to axe entire night bus routes, reductions are planned for 17 routes across London. TfL said the reductions will be made to those routes where passengers were more likely to use the Night Tube. Joanne McCartney AM said TfL must ensure their reductions “don’t leave Londoners feeling less safe.”
Joanne McCartney AM raised her concerns over staff and passenger safety this week at Mayor’s Question Time and pressed the Mayor to ensure that there is no single staffing, particularly in outer London boroughs when the night tube is operating. She also raised concerns with the Mayor on the potential reduction of night bus services in Enfield when the night tube begins in September 2015.
Commenting on the proposals, London Assembly Member Joanne McCartney AM said:
“The Night Tube will be fantastic for Enfield and for London but many local people will still rely on night buses to get them that much closer to their front door.
“Whilst I welcome that TfL aren’t planning on axing any routes entirely we will need to be absolutely sure their reductions in frequency don’t leave Londoners feeling less safe.
“Nobody wants to see passengers forced to wait long times at secluded bus stops or walk long distances home from the tube station at night.
“I have raised these concerns with the Mayor of London and will continue to press the Mayor to ensure that residents in Enfield feel safe when travelling home and do not see a reduction in their night bus services.
“It’s great to see that some new services will be running in, but with night buses providing a cheap and easy way to travel home from work at night, ideally I’d want to see the service continued throughout the working week.”