Why are London buses so late?

Either the driver being late, or passengers causing delays. And there's always traffic in London. Can be if there are roadworks; if the bus passes, earlier in the route, through a pinch point or roadworks or an incident, it can lead to delays even if the traffic about you seems sparse.



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Many of London's bus routes run 24/7. When the Underground closes between about midnight and about 5am, extra night buses are put on. In the centre of London you only wait a few minutes for a bus whatever time of day or night.

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What is the Hopper? Any second bus or tram journey made within one hour of the start of your first journey will be free, if you're using contactless or Oyster pay-as-you-go.

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A vast majority of passengers waiting at bus stops will see their buses arrive within or under the expected waiting time. In fact, the average bus on the 5th May 2019 has arrived in only 92% of the expected waiting time.

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The reason behind their colour dates to the early 1900s, when the transport system was operated by different rival companies. London General Omnibus Company (or L.G.O.C.) owned most of the buses and in 1907 painted its entire fleet red to stand out from competitors.

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Door closing warning beeps are a safety feature incorporated into most buses to make passengers aware that the doors are about to close. Until recently no TfL standards existed with regards to the maximum permitted sound level of these warning beepers.

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Transport for London (TfL) does have air conditioning fitted in bus cabs to help drivers regulate the temperature during hot summer days. During the pandemic, it was necessary to switch off and modify some of these to make sure they drew in air solely from outside the vehicle.

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The infamous number 14 bus no longer holds the unenviable title of being London's slowest bus with it's neighbour somehow even slower. Taking 80 minutes to cover seven miles from Fulham to Central London, the number 11 bus is officially London's slowest, according to the latest TfL data.

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Remember the 'rush hour' The London Underground is very busy during 'rush hour' with commuters moving around the city. You can expect the trains and stations to be overcrowded between 7.30AM and 9AM in the morning and between 5PM and 7PM in the evening.

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Pay as you go at adult rate on buses and trams and our Hopper fare gives you unlimited journeys for £1.75, made within one hour of touching in. Hopper fare also applies to discounted rate travel. Touch in using the same card or device on all journeys and you get our Hopper fare automatically.

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The buses are a cheaper alternative to other transport in London, because a single fare costs £1.50. The buses also run 24 hours a day, which means that if you miss the last tube or train, you won't be stranded with no way of getting home. Step 1: To go on a bus, you must have a ticket or a card to tap in with.

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Drinking alcohol is banned on many public transport services in the UK. For example, consuming alcohol or carrying an open container of alcohol isn't allowed on: TfL services (buses, trams, tubes and Docklands Light Railway) in London. Scotrail train services in Scotland.

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London's buses are already frequently overcrowded. A quarter of those responding to our passenger survey said their bus was overcrowded and yet TfL has no plans to significantly increase services. Unlike the rest of England, London's buses are regulated.

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