Transport for London (TfL) is rerouting the 310 bus between Golders Green and Stamford Hill, a route that connects two Jewish communities, after it recorded a £2.6m annual loss. The route, operated under contract by Stagecoach, costs £3.3m per year to run but generated only £690,000 in fare revenue between April 2025 and March 2026, according to TfL figures.
New route via Holloway aims to speed up journeys
The 310 service, which began operating in September 2024, will now travel via the Nag's Head shopping centre in Holloway and Seven Sisters, a change that TfL says cuts journey times by two minutes. Previously, the bus ran between Golders Green and Stamford Hill via Crouch End, Hornsey and Stroud Green, with the last service ending at 7pm. Operating hours have been extended to midnight to attract more passengers.
The original route was introduced after a 15-year community campaign for a safe, direct link between the two areas, avoiding the need to change buses at Finsbury Park station. TfL made the two-year trial permanent after consulting residents, but then decided to divert the route through Holloway to speed up journeys and increase ridership.
Mixed reaction from passengers
A TfL survey found that 47 per cent of residents believed the changes would affect them negatively, while 37 per cent thought they would be positive. Furthermore, 48 per cent said they would use the 310 less after the rerouting. Some passengers had raised concerns about having to switch buses at Finsbury Park after 7pm, with reports of anti-Semitic attacks at the station.
Despite the financial losses, TfL has defended the decision to continue operating the route. A spokesperson said: “The route 310 provides valuable direct links to the communities it serves and, like many similar routes that serve primarily to provide links rather than meet high-volume demand, does not currently recoup its operating costs. We expect usage to grow following the rerouting via Holloway Nag’s Head and as the route becomes more established.”
Extended hours and future expectations
The extension of operating hours to midnight is intended to help increase fare revenue, particularly for passengers who previously had to change buses at Finsbury Park after 7pm. TfL anticipates that the combination of faster journeys and later services will make the route more attractive, gradually improving its financial performance.
The rerouting took effect on September 5, 2026, and TfL will monitor passenger numbers to assess whether the changes achieve the desired increase in usage and revenue.
