Transport for London (TfL) has proposed withdrawing the Earls Court to Putney section of bus route 74 and removing the entire bus route C3, which runs between Earls Court and Clapham Junction. The public can comment on the proposals until Monday, November 16.
Proposed changes to bus routes 74 and C3
Under the proposals, route 74 would be rerouted from Earls Court down to Clapham Junction, effectively replacing the C3 route. The C3 currently connects Earls Court and Clapham Junction, and its removal would be mitigated by the rerouted 74. The Earls Court to Putney leg of route 74 would be withdrawn, leaving passengers with one less service between those locations. Route 430, which also connects Earls Court to Putney, would remain unaffected.
A TfL spokesperson said: “These proposals would simplify routes in central and inner London, running a smaller number of high frequency, more reliable routes, so customers have an attractive service which is still comprehensive and frequent, but has less duplication and excess capacity.”
Impact on passengers and step-free access
The proposal acknowledges that some customers may need to change buses to complete their journeys. A total of 2,717 trips on route 74 would require interchange between bus services, including 1,774 journeys that would require an extra walk. Passengers travelling towards South Kensington would need to interchange between Warwick Road (Stop R) and Earls Court Square (Stop B), a 180-metre walk. Those travelling towards Putney would need to interchange between Earls Court Road (Stop L) and Redcliffe Gardens (Stop M), a 160-metre walk.
Unlike Earls Court Tube station, South Kensington is not step-free, meaning passengers using route 74 in the Lillie Road and Putney areas would not have a direct link to a step-free London Underground station. However, there are plans to make South Kensington station step-free by 2030.
Stops losing service and next steps
Three stops on route C3 would be left without any direct service: stop E on Warwick Road, stop F on Pembroke Road, and stop H on Cromwell Road. TfL states that all affected routes would still be served by other high-frequency bus services, and there will still be more buses than needed running between South Kensington and Putney.
The public can comment on the proposals until Monday, November 16.
