This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Change in vehicle type to Bus Route 78'.

 
 
 
 
Our Ref: MH/1011/Stage1/General/Spring/0209 
Consultation and Engagement Centre 
 
Surface Transport Communications 
Transport for London 
 
 
 
11th Floor, Zone B2, Palestra 
 
197 Blackfriars Road 
 
London SE1 8NJ 
11 February 2009  
 
 
xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
 
 
Dear Stakeholder 
 
2010/2011 - Spring bus service review programme – we need your input 
 
Consultation 
As you may know, Transport for London constantly reviews the structure and 
performance of the London bus network. When undertaking this review work, 
we positively encourage feedback from customers together with information on 
local developments, customer research and survey data. We have an 
extensive programme of liaison with stakeholders and a formal consultation 
process which facilitates the understanding of the aspirations of our 
stakeholders and customers and which we continue to develop. 
 
We are keen to seek any initial comments additional to those you have shared 
through our on-going liaison with you. I have sent this initial request for views 
to: 
 
• London 
Boroughs 
• London 
TravelWatch 
•  London Assembly Members & London Members of Parliament 
•  Key stakeholder groups, including local interest groups, disability and other 
interest groups 
 
Our three stage consultation process is as follows: 
   
•  Stage 1 – Represented by this letter which summarises the bus services 
which are to be reviewed over the next six months. 
•  Stage 2 – Consultation on more detailed proposals is triggered when our 
initial plans have been developed.   
•  Stage 3 – Consultation on the preferred option following negotiations with 
the operators and/or tender award.  
 
The bus routes listed are those with contract end dates between September 
2010 and March 2011.  Most routes operate under Quality Incentive Contracts 
(QICs) where provision is made for an extension of two years if performance 
meets or exceeds the required standard. Major review work is best scheduled 
for the end of the initial five year contract. Where a route contact is extended 
any changes recommended at the end of the 5 year stage have often only 
been implemented for a short period by time of the 7 year stage review and so 
 

there is generally no requirement for a further major review of these routes. 
The routes which may be eligible for extension are shown in bold on the table 
that follows.  
 
Stakeholder Input 
We positively welcome comments that you may have following discussion or 
representation from members of the public or a constituent, from members of 
your committee (as appropriate) or your own observations. We would 
particularly welcome information on any particular problems you may have 
identified rather than a specific suggestion for extension or enhancement of an 
individual route.  This is because the best solution to a problem may be a 
change to another route rather than the one being directly reviewed.   
 
Suggestions might include: 
 
•  ideas which enhance social inclusion 
•  corridors or areas which might benefit from new or enhanced Sunday or 
night services  
•  areas or corridors on which you feel increased frequency or larger vehicles 
are needed to cater for demand 
•  identifying routes which you feel are unreliable 
•  ideas which improve integration with other transport modes or interchange 
with other bus routes or improve access to major developments 
 
I look forward to receiving your suggestions and will respond when we consult 
again on more detailed proposals. Once we have input from stakeholders and 
undertake the review work, proposals for change are evaluated to ensure that 
those which are progressed represent value for money and that our finite 
resources are fairly distributed across the capital. This means that although not 
all suggestions made can be progressed, it is important that we have your 
ideas in order to understand the differing priorities which stakeholder groups 
may have. 
 
Next Steps 
I am asking you to return comments by Friday 10 April 2009.  
 
Responses can be sent by either post or e-mail to:  
•  Transport for London, Consultation and Engagement Centre, Surface 
Transport Communications, 11th Floor, Zone B2, Palestra, 197 
Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ 
• xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx 
 
London TravelWatch 
I’m sure most of you are aware that London TravelWatch is the official 
watchdog representing the interests of transport users in an around the capital. 
In the Autumn we passed copies of stakeholder responses to London 
TravelWatch as we received them. This allowed them to comment strategically 


on our review programme with the benefit of being aware of other 
stakeholder’s comments and knowing the context. We will assume you are 
happy for your comments to be passed to London TravelWatch for this review 
unless you indicate specifically in your response that you do not wish for this to 
happen. London TravelWatch is also happy to discuss any issues you may 
have with the bus service review independently of TfL.       
 
Please can I positively encourage you to engage with this process. If you feel 
that conveying and expressing your views in a local forum (perhaps involving 
local groups and/or adjoining boroughs) would be beneficial, we would be very 
happy to discuss the best way of facilitating this. In addition please feel free to 
pass this on to the other organisations or groups that may have an interest in 
commenting. Alternatively, let us have their contact details and we will be 
happy to contact them directly. If you have any further questions or require this 
consultation material in an alternative format, do please let me know. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Peter Bradley 
Head of Consultation and Engagement Centre 
xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx  
Surface Transport 
Transport for London