Forum Topic

94 bus... the future

Just received an email from TfL, with the wonderful news that as of Saturday 24 October, the 94 bus will permanently terminate at Marble Arch, due to the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street. No going round the back streets to Haymarket for us!To compound matters, on the 24th and 25th, there will be no District Line trains running west of Embankment, on 31 October and 1 November the entire Piccadilly Line is closed and on the 7th and 8th, the entire District Line is closed.No longer, it seems, does Chiswick have great access to the West End, and if you're thinking of a weekend trip there anytime soon, I'd probably think again (or take the car)!

Richard Evans ● 15d28 Comments

According to the TfL web site and this site the disruption to the District line is only until 10:30am on November 7. Unless they stop the Piccadilly line at Turnham Green at this time, that will be the only time that Chiswick doesn't have access to the West End via the tube.

While I agree it is sad about the early termination of the 94 — it has to be admitted that Oxford Street was a mess. We should probably wait and see how it turns out before making a judgement but I will the option of taking a leisurely trip home in the evening rather than dealing with the crowds on the tube. It also served well as a way to get visiting elderly relatives back from the West End.

Andrew OSullivan ● 14d

for people who only use buses is bad news. We only have left the 9 from the west end and change in Hammersmith . But sometimes due to traffic and waiting for a second bus at Hammersmith you end up paying twice as the journey can take more than an hour

Isabel Martin ● 14d

It's such a shame the 27 went. You could have nipped off the 9 early on Hammersmith Road in such circumstances. Have you tried submitting feedback through your online Oyster account - they might give discretionary discounts?

Mark Evans ● 14d

And it’s going to get more expensive next month. All fares to go up by 10p so those delays might add a fair bit to your journey costs.

Simon Hayes ● 13d

I didn't know know I could do that , I'll try , thank you

Isabel Martin ● 13d

The wider issue for accessibility is our nearest accessible tube stations are Acton Town and Hammersmith.If you use buses which are often more accessible for wheelchair users or people with prams/buggies. The 94 now stops at Marble Arch, you can’t access Marble Arch or Oxford Circus tube stations so a chunk of Oxford Street becomes inaccessible. How does this improve access for Londoners ?

Tessa Russell ● 13d

Accessibility is way down the list of TfL priorities, or that of local authorities. Budgets that could be spent on making tube and train stations accessible to all. But instead it’s spent on infrastructure for very able bodied cyclists. I wonder why?

Simon Hayes ● 13d

John Hudson ● 11d

If as stated in an early reply  it’s true that the District line won’t operate on Sunday 8 th November It’s obvious that the desk bound bureaucrats at TFL do not realise that this is Rememberance Sunday .. So they really ought to get a grip on the situation

John Hudson ● 11d

Terminating at Marble Arch changes the dynamics of travelling to and particularly from the West End late evening.Who wants to wait for a bus only to have another long wait for the connection bus to and from the west End. Ill thought out. TFL newsletter doesnt even mention the change to service of N94

Robert Glen ● 10d

According to the TfL web site and the travel update on this web site there are no longer any engineering works on the 7-8 November on the District or Piccadilly lines

Andrew OSullivan ● 10d

I had an email from TfL just now, with the subject "Your Weekend Travel Advice".It should have just said "DON'T... just don't!"

Richard Evans ● 8d

Just get the Central Line from the WE and change at Shepherd's Bush. Much quicker.

Peter Hardy ● 7d

Good advice if you’re mobile or don’t have a pram,wheelchair or other needs.Shepherds Bush , Marble Arch and Oxford Circus aren’t accessible.It seems an insignificant change to the 94 route if you ,friend or family member are mobile. But a significant impact if you’re not.Acton Town and Hammersmith are the nearest accessible tube stations but you’ve got to get there first !

Tessa Russell ● 6d

ok if you don't mind paying more for the tube...

Isabel Martin ● 6d

Personally I feel this is a very backward step and very ill thought out. They could have still run the 94 to Piccadilly Circus via Park Lane and Green Park. The constant waiting and having to change buses is a real pain and a far cry from when I moved to Chiswick 40 years ago and the 88 ran all the way to Mitcham and was much faster despite limited bus lanes in the day.

Christopher Hunter ● 5d

Sounds easier to get a cab ha!

Jayne Thorburn ● 5d

• Board the 23 bus at Marble Arch.• Route: It travels down Park Lane, along Piccadilly, and terminates at Aldwych / Drury Lane.• Hours: The service operates 24/7.https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/23/

Hans Lund-Sorensen ● 5d

Not sure what the arrangements are for the termination of the 94 now but if it finishes at stop C — there is quite a walk to get the 23 and you would need to cross Edgware Road. Coming home the walk would be even longer. Not ideal for someone with limited mobility.

Mark Evans ● 4d

I do wonder what the unforseen issues will be with these changes. Overall I think it's positive but will some traders loose out, will street crime fall or increase and will cyclists respect the restrictions?It's too early to tell about trade and crime but if the report in The Standard is anything to go by some peddling plonkers have already ignored the cycling ban.No surprise.

Adrian Irving ● 4d

As well as cyclists, what is the position on mobility scooters? Some are very well built, about the size of Smart Cars and go way faster than any pedestrian.

Richard Evans ● 4d

Hello Mark,Thankfully, the arrangements are much better than that! Under Transport for London's permanent changes, the 94 bus does not finish at Stop C.Heading East (To Piccadilly):• The Reality: The 94 actually terminates at Stop L (right outside the Boots store on Oxford Street).• The Walk: To get the 23 bus, you walk back towards Marble Arch and then turn right up Edgware Road to reach Stop H (located right outside wagamama, next to the Circadian). This flat pavement walk takes only 3 to 4 minutes.• No Road Crossing Required: Both the Boots stop and the wagamama stop are on the exact same side of the street network. You never have to cross the busy Edgware Road or navigate any complicated traffic islands.Heading West (To Acton Green):• The Reality: Coming home, the 23 drops you off at Stop W on Park Lane. This is the exact stop located on the edge of Hyde Park / Speaker's Corner.• The Walk: From there, it is a flat 2 to 3-minute walk. You simply stay at street level and use the signal-controlled pedestrian crossings straight over the Marble Arch island, passing the monument to the top of Oxford Street, to cross back over to Stop P (located right outside the ASICS store on Oxford Street, just around the corner from the Marble Arch Tube Station entrance on Park Lane).TfL deliberately chose these specific stop configurations to keep the walking times under 5 minutes and make the physical transfer as short, flat, and step-free as possible for anyone with limited mobility.

Hans Lund-Sorensen ● 4d

It's good to see some thought has gone into this but I don't think this would work for me. The two types of journey I would take a) not bothered about travel time and just want a leisurely no hassle trip in or out of town b) escorting elderly visitors into the West End to see the sites or catch a show, would now no longer really work.

I can also foresee issues for people who regularly commute and use buses to keep costs down being charged two fares on the way into town if the 94 isn't bang on schedule.

While these changes are personally disappointing, I do understand why something had to be done about Oxford Street. Probably best to reserve judgement for now.

Andrew OSullivan ● 3d

Its extraordinary how much the people of South West London are struggling to get into Central London.  If you live in Southfields or Wimbledon Park you will have probably long given up. the people of Barnes do not have Hammersmith Bridge.  And the both lines to Turnham Green have to contend with constant weekend line closures.  Personally I only take the bus for relatively short journeys - as far as Notting Hill.  What a depressing picture.  My tip, when all else fails,  is to drive to the edge of the congestion zone around Hyde Park - lots of free to park areas at the weekend and get on a bus from there.

Jackie Elton ● 3d

The 94 remains the best way to get into central London if you are not in a rush and have good mobility. Take it to Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park and walk from there to Piccadilly or Westminster.We always used to get the 94 bus back after Christmas shopping but that will have to end. I still think the changes will end up being a success though.

Anita Blake ● 3d

For many years a familiar cry in our family was 'Take the 94 bus all the way!' as we live close to its Chiswick terminus.  No longer, it seems!

Peter Evans ● 3d

I gave TfL’s recommended route, changing at Marble Arch a try on Sunday when travelling to and from the West End. TfL suggested it would take roughly the same time to get to Piccadilly.This certainly wasn’t the case.Waiting for the connecting bus at a crowded Marble Arch bus stop was horrible, with everyone scrambling to get on board. There was also the added pressure of making the connection before the one-hour Hopper fare window expired. I was already 55 minutes into my journey after boarding at Starch Green/Goldhawk Road.The return journey was chaotic too, with a bus traffic jam caused by the closure of Oxford Street.I’ll try again in the New Year when hopefully the problems will have been resolved. It would also help if the 94 terminated further east where people actually want to go.As things stand, I expect passenger numbers on the 94 to fall dramatically because of the inconvenience and the minimum extra 25 minutes added to the journey.Interestingly, journey-planning apps are now advising me to avoid the 94 altogether and instead take a bus to Hammersmith and change to the number 9.

Robert Glen ● 2d

I just came back from Piccadilly but I took the 9 which came first and  then changed at Hammersmith. Same situation, bus and bus stop not only packed but the traffic was really bad all the way from Piccadilly to Kensington, I was looking at my watch too about the hopper LOL .. I was extremely lucky that I boarded the bus at Hammersmith immediately, I had to run,  a couple minutes more and I would have paid twice for the journey :(  

Isabel Martin ● 1d