London's buses are ready to take extra passengers switching to public transport to avoid the congestion charge, Transport for London announced today.
Seventy-five services to the zone have benefited from the biggest single package of improvements since the Second World War to help them take an extra 11,000 passengers in the morning peak.
Transport for London's Managing Director of Surface Transport Peter Hendy said:
"London's buses have gained more than 300 buses over the last nine months to serve the congestion charge zone.
"A mixture of brand new routes including new bendy buses, converting single decks to double decks and more frequent services will help people make the switch from car to bus. Everyone involved - bus operators, our staff and bus crews in particular - should be congratulated for delivering the improvements in such a short space of time.
"I expect congestion charging to improve bus reliability through the zone and services will be kept under review as the scheme is implemented."
Highlights to boosted services include:
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18-metre bendy and cashless buses on route 436 Lewisham to Paddington; 507 (Waterloo - Lambeth Bridge - Victoria) and 521 (Waterloo - Cannon Street - London Bridge).
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New services between Covent Garden and Tower Bridge; Camberwell and Shepherd's Bush; Fulham and Maida Vale; Elephant and Castle and South Kensington; Hackney and Mansion House; Deptford Broadway and Marylebone and Northumberland Park and Euston;
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Single deck to double deck on ten routes and more than 300 extra buses to boost at least fifty services.
The improvements to central London are being complemented by continuing improvements to services elsewhere in the rest of London.
