Fleur Anderson Calls for Action on Putney Transport

MP writes to TfL and Network Rail about issues on local buses and tubes

Fleur Anderson at East Putney station

October 18, 2024

Putney’s local MP has called on Transport for London (TfL) to take action on a number of significant public transport issues in her constituency.

Specially, Fleur Anderson is asking it to look at problems emerging on local bus services and the delays on the Wimbledon branch of the District Line.

A recent signal failure near East Putney on the District Line caused widespread disruption for passengers for nearly two weeks. At the same time, she says bus services continue to leave Putney residents waiting too long for transport to areas including Roehampton, Putney Heath and Putney Vale.

She welcomed the announcement from TfL that a faulty signal cable, which had been one of the reasons for the persistent failures, had now been repaired. 

The 14, 93 and several other bus routes have frequently terminated early at Lytton Grove, without prior warning and this has left vulnerable passengers, including the elderly and those with disabilities, in difficult and unsafe situations, forced to walk uphill or find alternative transport. 

Due to the poor bus services for Roehampton, Wandsworth Council has needed to expand its own transport offering by enabling the public to use the Roehampton University bus service.

Ms Andersson said, “We faced a perfect storm of transport issues over the last fortnight and I have heard too many awful accounts from residents on the impact it has had on their lives. Firstly, the signal failures on the Wimbledon branch of the District Line caused chaos – I heard reports of overcrowded platforms, little to no information shared with passengers regarding updates, with particular impacts on schoolchildren, the elderly and disabled. Commuters trying to get into the city for work reported two-hour commutes. This is simply not good enough. 

“I wrote to TfL and Network Rail to express residents' understandable frustration. You can read the letter here on my website. I received responses from TfL and Network Rail and have subsequently asked them for a meeting to cover which measures are in place to ensure this disruption never happens again, fixing the digital signage at Putney stations and improved communication with passengers.” 

TfL confirmed that both its team and Network Rail are implementing a programme of maintenance activities to improve the long-term reliability of the infrastructure and prevent future disruptions.

With regard to buses the MP said, “I launched my bus campaign this summer to improve our bus service. Areas such as Roehampton and Putney Vale are particularly reliant on quality bus services, and it seems that over the last few weeks our buses have gone from poor to extremely poor. I have heard from residents who rely on buses, including those with young schoolchildren, to get home to Putney Vale, Roehampton, and other areas, and who have reported waiting up to 45 minutes for buses, often in poor weather conditions. Other passengers have been stranded at Lytton Grove.  I have asked TfL why Putney Heath has suddenly been designated as 'unsafe' for passengers to get off at, and what measures they are putting in urgently to make it safe again.

“These issues have in part been caused by the ongoing and unacceptable closure of Hammersmith Bridge, which I continue to campaign to be reopened to vehicles. However, even if works on Hammersmith Bridge began tomorrow, it will be years before they are completed. We must adapt to the current situation and plan accordingly. The congestion has also been compounded by roadworks across south west London, including the necessary safety improvement works at the junction by Putney Bridge. 

“TfL are doing their very best to resolve these issues promptly, but I understand that it is a complex and shifting situation. I have written to the head of bus performance at TfL to ask for a meeting to bring together bus contractors, the Council, utility companies who may have works planned and bus drivers to work out how Putney can be prioritised, information shared better on planned works and passenger experience improved.” 

TfL has responded that it is investigating options regarding embarking and disembarking at Putney Heath.

Ms Anderson has proposed that TfL establish a regular monthly meeting with Wandsworth Council, bus contractors, and local stakeholders to ensure that service issues are addressed, and disruptions are communicated more effectively to the public.