Cable in talks for bus route solutions (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Cable in talks for bus route solutions

7:17am Wednesday 6th February 2008 in News By Chris Wickham

Twickenham's MP thinks there may be a positive solution to two issues concerning buses in the area.

Vincent Cable and representatives from Richmond Council met Transport for London (TfL) executives to speak about two controversial decisions concerning buses in the borough.

Late last year, an all-night service was introduced on the 111 route, which runs from Kingston to Heathrow airport through Hampton and Dr Cable has received complaints from residents in Hampton, particularly in Nightingale Road, because of the disruption caused by this service and the fact that it does not seem to be widely used.

Dr Cable also wanted to discuss a decision to replace the 465, half-hourly bus through Teddington, which was the only bus to run along Sandy Lane, with a new 481 hourly service on a different route.

He said: "There are strong feelings on these bus routes and on both issues residents' groups and I have been in touch with the mayor to try to modify the proposals.

"I am particularly concerned that the halving of the 481 service will make it seriously unattractive, which will justify the decision to curtail it."

Following last month's meeting, Dr Cable said he will prepare a letter to see what effect the night bus is having in Hampton and was told by TfL this route would be a candidate when it builds new hybrid buses, which are quieter than the current vehicles,.

He added there was a possibility the R62 bus could be timetabled to stop on the road.