Part of 277 bus route faces axe amid scheme to revamp Highbury Corner
En route: The 277 bus could lose seven stops. Photograph: Hackney Citizen
Plans to axe part of the 277 bus route have been described as “disappointing” by London’s travel watchdog.
The 277 route, which currently runs through Hackney on its way between Leamouth and Highbury Corner, may in the future have to stop at Dalston Junction due to the proposed redesign of Highbury Corner.
Transport for London (TfL) and Islington Council are looking at the possibility of replacing the Highbury Corner roundabout with a two-way traffic system, and pedestrianising the road outside Highbury and Islington station.
As the redesign leaves the 277 with no space to turn at Highbury Corner, TfL has proposed to shorten its journey “to help the road layout to operate more effectively”.
But London TravelWatch, the capital’s transport watchdog, has criticised the plans to shave off seven bus stops from the 277 route.
“These plans are disappointing as this is a roads scheme which is dictating the future of an important bus route,” said a spokesperson for the group.
“We want to see the 277 continuing to serve Highbury and Islington station but unfortunately there is no alternative turning place for buses included in the proposed works.”
Nigel Hardy, TfL’s Head of Road Space Management Sponsorship, said: “Our proposed improvements at Highbury Corner would radically change this area from a traffic thoroughfare to a place to visit, and provide safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians.
“The improvements would help us deliver our aim of eradicating death and serious injury from London’s roads and encourage more people to walk and cycle.
“We have carried out an extensive communications campaign to ensure people are aware of the proposals, this included contacting users of the 277 bus.”
I use the 277 most days of the week and this is the first thing I’ve seen about it, this extensive comma has not reached me at all!!
277 is rammed at peak travel times already as is the overground
this is a joke
“To ensure there is enough capacity on buses between Highbury Corner and Dalston with the proposed changes to route 277, additional buses would run on route 30 (Marble Arch – Hackney Wick) at the busiest times. Two extra buses would run from Hackney Wick to Marble Arch at morning peak times, and two more in the opposite direction in the evening peak”.
heres the link to the tfl consultation
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/roads/highbury-corner-roundabout#Bus service changes
currently 10x 277 in each direction from 0800-2000
to be replaced by 2 x extra 30 buses an hour which will arrive at highbury packed
So they are going to ‘improve’Roads by removing buses? Its a f*****g road. Thats what roads are for. Why not make it a really delightful road scheme by planting flowers all over it and banning all traffic completely?
Well maybe they could redirect the 263 bus which currently terminates at Highbury Barn after passing Highbury & Islington. If the 263 continued to Dalston and turned at Graham Road then it might be a good substitute for the 277 which could perhaps then use Essex Road to continue to Angel (as all the buses currently using Essex Road are packed in the morning rush hour).