TfL has been accused of putting people’s lives at risk with overcrowded rail replacement buses in Colindale.
An image posted on X appears to show commuters standing on the top deck of a 186 bus while the vehicle was moving, which would breach safety regulations.
Overcrowding has become an issue since the closure of Colindale Station, in Barnet, for refurbishment in June, with works expected to take until at least Christmas.
X user Lottie Nightingale posted the picture saying: “@TfL putting people’s lives at risk.
“This is illegal and people will get hurt.”
@EveningStandard @myldn
— Lottie Nightingale (@Valkyrie20201) September 15, 2024
People standing on the top deck of the 186 bus from Hendon Central to Colindale. This is the only bus people can use at weekends while Colindale station is closed. @TfL putting people's lives at risk.
This is illegal and people will get hurt. pic.twitter.com/rOdmLIOiy3
TfL has provided an additional NL6 bus between Colindale and Hendon Central stations at peak times and offers automatic refunds on the 186 route, which runs from Northwick Park Hospital to Brent Cross Shopping Centre, to address journey disruption, but passengers say the measures do not go far enough.
Some feel unsafe due to the lack of provision at night.
Lisa Lu, 54, a London tour guide, said she often returns home after 9pm, when the NL6 does not operate.
If there is no onward bus nearby, she feels unsafe walking home and often chooses to take a taxi instead, significantly increasing the cost of her journey.
Other passengers feel this financial pressure, with many taking alternative routes to address unreliable and overcrowded services but missing out on the refund scheme.
Bus user Toby French explained: “There is essentially a two tier system whereby how well you can mitigate the removal of the service depends on your wage. It just seems very discriminatory and unfair.”
Despite efforts to communicate their frustrations to TfL, residents feel their appeals have largely been ignored.
Charlotte Gracias, a 56-year-old NHS Occupation Digital Services Lead said: “TfL have treated us with utter contempt and have refused to lay on additional services or provide refunds on any routes other than the 186.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “The major upgrade of Colindale station will transform the journeys of thousands of our customers for decades to come. We are working at pace to achieve the December deadline for re-opening and are still on target to do this.
“We understand that a station closure causes disruption for customers but are committed to ensuring that people can complete their journeys using the public transport network during this period.
“The additional, free-of-charge bus route (NL6) is currently running every 10 minutes in the morning peak period and every 12 minutes in the evening, and we are looking into further enhancing bus services as a matter of priority after reviewing our own monitoring data and customer feedback.
“In the meantime, we would encourage those with flexibility to travel earlier or later in the morning peak period if they can.”
Featured image: Joe Rossiter
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