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.”