London's Top 10 Least Reliable Routes

A brief post, but here's the latest figures on how London's buses are doing.

Given to me by a trusted contact at Transport for London, I have been allowed to publish these figures. They have been broken down into high frequency and low frequency routes.

Top 10 LEAST reliable high frequency routes:

• In position 10, route 321 between New Cross Sainsbury's and Foot's Cray Tesco sits. On average it is 1.60 minutes late, and is operated by Go-Ahead London from New Cross (NX) garage. The route however, at night, is the fastest route in London in terms of average speed.
• In position 9, route 381 between Waterloo, County Hall and Peckham Bus Station stands. On average it is 1.62 minutes late, and is operated by Abellio London from Walworth (WL) garage. 
• In position 8, route 66 between Leytonstone Bus Station and Romford Station sits. On average it is 1.64 minutes late, and is operated by Arriva London from Grays (GY) garage. The route is often congested by the A12 Eastern Avenue, which may explain the poor figure.
• In position 7, route 77 between Waterloo, Royal Festival Hall and Tooting Station. On average it is 1.65 minutes late, and is operated by Go-Ahead London from Merton (AL) garage. 
• In position 6, route W15 between Higham Hill, Cogan Avenue and Hackney, Town Hall. On average it is 1.66 minutes late, and is operated by Tower Transit from Lea Interchange (LI) garage.
• In position 5, route 78 between Nunhead and Shoreditch, Curtain Road stands. On average it is 1.67 minutes late, and is operated by Arriva London from Ash Grove (AE) garage. The reason stated for the poor reliability on this route is because of the highway works at Aldgate.
• In position 4, route 468 between South Croydon, Swan & Sugar Loaf and Elephant & Castle, Newington Causeway sits. On average it is 1.68 minutes late, and is operated by Go-Ahead London from Camberwell (Q) garage.
• In position 3, route 21 between Newington Green and Lewisham, Shopping Centre stands. On average it is 1.71 minutes late, and is operated by Go-Ahead London from New Cross (NX) garage.
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• Also in position 3, route 100 between Elephant & Castle and Shadwell. On average it is also 1.71 minutes late, and is operated by Go-Ahead London from Mandela Way (MW) garage. The reason stated for the poor reliability on this route is because of the highway works at Aldgate.
• And in position 1......route 135 between Crossharbour ASDA and Old Street Station, Provost Estate. On average it is 1.75 minutes late making it the most unreliable route in London as it stands. Once again, the reason for the poor reliability is due to the highway works at Aldgate. It is one of the few routes that still serves Aldgate whilst other routes have been cut back or diverted short or away from the area. 

A summary of London's, out of 673, their 10 worst operating routes:

10th place: Route 321

9th place: Route 381

8th place: Route 66

7th place: Route 77

6th place: Route W15

5th place: Route 78*

4th place: Route 468

3rd place == Route 21

3rd place == Route 100*

1st place: Route 135*

*As a result of works at Aldgate.

Top 10 LEAST reliable low frequency routes:

• In position 10, route 300 between Wordsworth Health Centre in East Ham, towards Canning Town, Bus Station. The route operates about 74.5% on time. It is operated by Go-Ahead London from their Blue Triangle garage in Rainham (BE). 
• In position 9, route N73 between Walthamstow Central and Victoria Bus Station. The route operates about 74.4% on time. It is operated by Arriva London from Stamford Hill (SF) garage. Please note this route uses New Routemaster buses.
• In position 9 as well, route 273 between Petts Wood and Lewisham, Tesco. This route operates about 74.4% on time. It is operated by Stagecoach London from Catford (TL) garage. 
• In position 7, route 225 between Canada Water and Hither Green. This route operates about 74.0% on time. It is operated by Go-Ahead London from New Cross (NX) garage.
• In position 6, route 160 between Sidcup Station and Catford Bridge Station. This route operates about 73.9% on time. It is operated by Arriva London from Dartford (DT) garage.
• In position 5, route 395 between Harrow Bus Station and Greenford, Westway Cross. This route operates about 73.8% on time. It is operated by Metroline Travel from Perivale (PA) garage. This is as a result of several closures of the Racecourse Estate due to inconsiderate parking repeatedly, which affects the route severely. Please note this route is to be a standard once every 20 minutes and not once every 22 minutes as of today (19th March). The PVR has also been raised from 4 to 5.
• In position 4, route W19 between Walthamstow, Argall Avenue and Ilford, Hainault Street. This route operates about 72.5% on time. It is operated by Go-Ahead London from their Blue Triangle garage in Rainham (BE). Please note this route's new contract has been awarded CT Plus for a start date in November 2016 with brand new buses.
• In position 3, route 386 between Blackheath Village and Woolwich. This route operates 72.2% on time. It is operated by Stagecoach London from their Plumstead (PD) garage. 
• Also in position 3, route 353 between Forestdale, Courtwood Lane and Ramsden Estate. This route also operates 72.2% on time. It is operated by Go-Ahead London from their Metrobus (MB) garage. Please note this route until 23rd October 2015 route 353 terminated at Addington Village. Thereafter, although branded to the public as 353, it was contracted as T353 and was extended to Forestdale.
• In position 1, the most unreliable low frequency route in London: route P5. Between Battersea, Patmore Estate and Elephant & Castle, Newington Causeway this route runs, it runs 71.7% on time. It is operated by Go-Ahead London from their Camberwell (Q) garage. Please note this route is to get about 2 new vehicles later this year as part of a frequency increase.

Summary of low frequency route reliability:

10th place: Route 300

9th place == Route 273

9th place == Route N73

7th place: Route 225

6th place: Route 160

5th place: Route 395

4th place: Route W19

3rd place == Route 386

3rd place == Route 353

1st place: Route P5

That's it for now........stay safe!