Cuts to Hackney bus services

Saturday 16th October will see Transport for London imposing changes to the 149 bus running along Kingsland Road.

In order to fulfil Boris Johnson's election pledge, the buses used for the route will change from being articulated 'bendy' buses to conventional double-deckers. Although a few more buses will run in the weekday peak hours, at all other times the service will be less frequent. This will result in a lower passenger capacity on the new service.

Service on the 349 route from Ponders End through Seven Sisters is also being cut, with the service now ending at Stamford Hill rather than going on to serve Stoke Newington.

We'd like to assure you that Hackney Council has vigorously objected to this reduction in passenger capacity, and are fully aware that the 149 is already often overcrowded particularly at peak times. The cuts will mean a poorer quality service for residents and visitors using Dalston and Stoke Newington town centres, and will cause particular problems for people using buggies or wheelchairs.

Both of these retrograde changes fly in the face of our aim to have an attractive public transport service in the borough for residents and visitors alike.

Improvements continue on London Overground's North London Line

Work continues to improve the North London Line. The final phases are due to begin in early 2011, and by mid-2011 these will have delivered more frequent services with longer trains. This will provide greater capacity and improving the experience of those who use Dalston Kingsland station or others within Hackney.

In the immediate future the following closures are required in order to complete the installation of the signalling system that has been installed over the past months:

• Gospel Oak to Stratford from the evening of 18 December until 24 December 2010
• Richmond to Stratford and Shepherd's Bush to Willesden Junction from 27 December 2010 until 3 January 2011

Further shorter closures during spring 2011 to complete the works by next May, the dates of these will be confirmed closer to the time. Works requiring weekend-only closures will carry on until mid-2011.

Whilst the disruption continues to frustrate at weekends, once complete this work will both make the rest of London more accessible to those who live in Hackney, and make Hackney more accessible to those who live elsewhere, benefiting the area in a range of ways.

Full details on the works can be found by looking here or by calling 08457 11 41 41, and you can find out more about overall improvement programme here.