"Dreadful" bus service on routes 1 and 78: Val Shawcross investigates

I grateful to Ms Shawcross for keeping on with this - it really isn't good enough of the Mayor to blame it all on roadworks - we need more buses! The 199 route used to run from the Elephant to Catford, now it starts from Canada Water - couldn't we have that back?

I seem to recall the buses for 78 and 1,were just as bad when i was a youngster ,growing up in Bermondsey.
mind that was back in the late forties to early sixties .Nothing changes much ,does it

Walking back home yesterday from Aldgate to Bricklayers Arms, I passed so many northbound 78s along the way that they could practically have done the conga. A coincidence or is the campaign already having an effect?

more likely there was a time following of about an hour when there were one at all

I respect your disaproval in regard to the poor service that is provided by Arriva but you also need to consider the impact this bus route has on local residents who live along the route.

I live on Ansdell Road, Nunhead which is the start of the 78 bus route towards Shoreditch.

We have a big problem with the 78 bus route operatives speeding down our street in excess of 30mph.

The residents and I have complained to the TFL, Arriva and Sothwark Council, yet nothing has been done about it.

We are planning to put together a petition in hope that someone will take notice.

Failing that we are going to have a sit down protest in the middle of the road and invite the media and show them the lack of action in regard to our complaints.

The clock is ticking.

Any guidance or support in this regard will be most welcome.

Maybe if more 78 buses were added to the route, the existing buses would not need to go so quickly along Ansdell Road.

Southwark's Scrutiny Sub Committee B is taking evidence on bus services in Southwark on Wednesday 13 May.

I am incredulous about Boris's comment as to the 78 service. It is not ''well matched'' to demand level in any way; this is the worst bus service and uses the oldest and most poorly designed buses in London. If anything the service has gone downhill since January.
Vast numbers of new flats are being built all along its route and no bus service improvements are planned or happening. This is a complete failure of TFL and both they & Arriva couldn't care less.

I heartily agree with 'fortyfive' - it is a DREADFUL service! The Mayor must be a parrot! Blind, too.

Surely the 360 must take The Crown for oldest buses, with its rather battered old R-reg buses?