206, 224, PR2 Response to Issues Raised
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Consultation on possible changes to routes 206, 224 and PR2 Response to Issues Raised September 2011 Response to issues raised in the public consultation on possible changes to routes 206, 224 and PR2 Transport for London consulted stakeholders and the public between 11 July and 19 August 2011 about possible changes to routes 206, 224 and PR2. The proposals were that: • Route 206 would be diverted at Brent Park to Wembley Park and The Paddocks. • Route 224 would be diverted at Harlesden Station to Brentfield Road and the St Raphael’s Estate. • Route PR2 would be withdrawn. This document contains TfL’s response to the key issues that were raised during the public consultation. A copy of the consultation report is available - tfl.gov.uk/busrouteconsultation. Services between Hillside and Brent Park/central Park Royal (including Central Middlesex Hospital)/Harlesden Station Many of the current users of route PR2 from the stops at the eastern end of Hillside will be within a short walk of routes 206 and 224 at stops in Knatchbull or Brentfield Roads. There are around 10 weekday trips on route PR2 between these stops and Brent Park, and around 20 weekday trips to or from central Park Royal. Routes 206 serves Brent Park and route 224 serves Park Royal, with up to four buses per hour on each route compared to the current two buses per hour on route PR2. From the central part of Hillside about 10 passengers per day currently use route PR2 to and from Brent Park and about 25 use the link to central Park Royal. Very few passengers use the indirect PR2 between Hillside and Harlesden station. Extending route 440 from Stonebridge Park to Brent Park via Hillside and Brentfield Road was considered as a means of maintaining some further direct links. However it would significantly increase the cost of operation and the number of passengers who would benefit is relatively small. Route 18 continues to serve Hillside with links to Wembley, Harlesden and central London. Services between the St Raphael’s Estate and Park Royal/Wembley Park The diversion of route 224 to the St Raphael’s Estate will give a much more direct link to central Park Royal, running at twice the current frequency at most times, and on Sundays for the first time. Route 232 will also continue to serve the estate, with links to Neasden and Brent Cross. About 80 passengers per day currently use route PR2 to travel between the main stops in the estate and the Wembley Stadium/Wembley Park area. This journey will be possible by changing between routes 224/232 and 92 or 206 at Brent Park. Links between Queensbury/Kingsbury and Brentfield Road/Park Royal We carefully considered the response from the Swaminarayan Temple and others suggesting that a link would be useful for visitors to the Temple, and for other local destinations. However extending route 206 from The Paddocks to Kingsbury would add significantly to operating costs. Some passengers would be able to make the journey by using the Jubilee Line to Wembley Park and changing there to route 206, which will run at twice the current frequency of route PR2 at most times (and on Sundays for the first time). Therefore we consider that the extra benefit of extending route 206 to Kingsbury (or route 305 southwards) is not sufficient to make this a priority for funding. Services between central Park Royal/Central Middlesex Hospital and Stonebridge Park Station/Abbey Road Stonebridge Park Station is served by routes 112 and 440 each at up to four buses per hour. It is a short walk from route 18 on the Harrow Road. Route 440 maintains the link between the station and central Park Royal / Central Middlesex Hospital and the level of service is appropriate for the use of made of it. Routes 224 and 440 continue to link Abbey Road and central Park Royal. Direct links between Northwick Park and Central Middlesex Hospitals The demand for bus travel from one hospital to another is relatively small and a cost- effective means of providing a direct TfL service in this case has identified. The journey will still be possible with one interchange, between routes 182 and 224 in Wembley. Frequency increases on routes that serve Park Royal The changes make better use of existing resouces and provide sufficient capacity for the passenger demand in the area. They give higher frequency on a number of corridors, including Brentfield Road, and new Sunday services. In addition in the last few years we have introduced a totally new service in the Park Royal area (route 228) providing new links to Old Oak Common, East Acton and Shepherd’s Bush. Bi-directional service between North Acton Station and Central Middlesex Hospital Route 440 links Central Middlesex Hospital to North Acton station. The northbound stop is currently somewhat distant from the station entrance as the route is on diversion due to building works. When these are complete it will revert to serving a stop closer to the entrance. The one-way system in the area prevents routes 260 and 487 from stopping outside the station towards Park Royal (at least without very substantial time penalties for through passengers). For Central Line users from the western end of the line, route 226 links central Park Royal to Hanger Lane station. Links to and from Willesden Junction Station Routes 228 and 487 will continue to provide a direct link between central Park Royal and Willesden Junction. These services plus routes 187, 224, 226 and 260 also link central Park Royal to Harlesden Station. Service reliability Service reliability will continue to be monitored and actions would be taken to deal with any unacceptable performance. The schedules for routes 206 and 224 take account of varying traffic conditions at different times of day and operators are incentivised to exceed minimum performance standards. We will also continue to work with highway authorities so that bus priority can be augmented wherever this is appropriate. Impact of interchanging on fares The new services have been carefully designed so that direct services continue to be provided for the large majority of passengers. Where interchange is needed many passengers uses passes and will not be affected (including those using Freedom Passes). For other passengers, Oyster Pay As You Go offers the best value. Daily capping reduces the cost for those who need to use more than one route in each direction. The consultation process TfL regularly discusses the development of the local network with stakeholders and their feedback is an important consideration when specific schemes are being devised, including in this case. For the current proposals, all responses to our consultation were carefully considered before final decisions were made. Many of the comments we received were suggestions for further enhancements rather than opposition to the specific proposals. Our responses are summarised in this document. As opportunities arise we will continue to consider aspirations for enhancements, taking account of the general availability of funding and the level of benefits delivered to passengers. Support for continued growth in public transport use in Park Royal Park Royal has a comprehensive network of bus services. Development takes place on the basis of active engagement with stakeholders. Significant improvements in recent years include new route 228 and enhanced reliability, as well as enhancements to passenger information and new vehicles. The current changes are designed to ensure that the money invested in the area’s bus services continues to secure the maximum benefits for passengers. TfL will carry on working closely with local boroughs, the Park Royal Partnership and other stakeholders, to understand local aspirations and to be aware of opportunities for further development. Continued development of effective bus priority in the area will also support bus usage. Route 223 We consulted boroughs, London TravelWatch and other stakeholders earlier in the year on proposals to extend route 223 from Wembley Central to North Wembley via Harrowdene Road and to divert it via Empire Way instead of Wembley Park Drive and Park Lane. Comments on these proposals were also received as part of the current consultation (as shown in the Consultation Summary document) and our responses to the issues raised at this stage are given below. We will also write separately to stakeholders who responded to the route 223 consultation. A further extension from North Wembley to Northwick Park Hospital or Harrow We are reconsidering the feasibility of the proposed extension to North Wembley in conjunction with Brent Council and will respond to stakeholders on that issue in due course. However in any event we consider that the cost of a further extension to the hospital would not be justifiable. There are links between Harrow, the hospital and Wembley High Road on route 182 and to the Preston Road area on route 223 (via Kenton). Journey times between Preston Road and Wembley High Road Routes 79 and 204 will continue to link Preston Road and Wembley High Road via Park Lane, with a very high combined frequency of up to eleven buses per hour. The diversion of route 223 will give a closer link to the developing areas around Wembley Stadium. .