Lib Dem campaign secures local bus routes

Earlier this year local Liberal Democrats started a campaign calling on Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor to protect the frequencies, route lengths and operating hours of the local bus services (including 80, 93, 151, 154, 163 and 164).

The contracts for these routes had to be re-let because bus company, Go-Ahead (aka London General), handed them back  saying they weren’t financially viable.

Quick reminder of the background
In early 2026 Go-Ahead gave mid-contract notice that several core South London routes were no longer financially sustainable under the prices agreed in 2022. They cited higher operating costs (including the rise in employer National Insurance) and traffic delays. This triggered an emergency re-tender by TfL. You can read the original campaign summary and FAQ on our website and we also produced a detailed local briefing with some updates.

What has now been confirmed
The routes have been retained by Go-Ahead on new contracts starting in late November 2026. "Peak Vehicle Requirements" and daytime peak frequencies have largely been maintained – there has been no schedule loss.

However, the annual cost to TfL has risen significantly. The previous costs that TfL was paying Go-Ahead for these routes was around £26 million a year. The new accepted contract prices (published in the July 2026 tender results) include:

Route 93: £10,108,604
Route 163: £4,348,629
Route 164: £5,208,750
(with the other routes in the group also resetting higher – the total coming to over £35 million)

Full details of the tender awards are available online from the London Bus Routes Wiki

Why this still matters

Bus frequencies are regularly changed, and we witnessed first-hand how worried Labour Council bosses were about the impact of the risks to these routes on their prospects in the election, but it now appears that these particular routes will not be cut or have their frequencies reduced.

That is welcome and reflects the pressure generated by local campaigning, including your petition signatures.

At the same time, the substantial cost increase sits against a backdrop in which TfL has already reduced frequencies on other London routes and continues to face financial pressure. Higher payments for the same service levels mean less headroom elsewhere in the network. We will keep monitoring the situation closely and will continue to press for firm, long-term guarantees that local services remain reliable and frequent.
 

This shows residents can make a difference - without the support from people you signing our petition its likely TfL wouldn't have found the extra money to save our bus services.