Here are all the routes set to be affected by the controversial London bus cuts

No-one really enjoys commuting but, unfortunately, it’s a burden we all have to endure. And the good people at TfL know exactly how to make our lives that little bit more difficult with the revelation that they’re proposing a raft of massive cuts to busy London bus routes.

The website 853London, which revealed the proposed cuts and shortenings, blamed financial problems at Transport for London stemming back to the Conservative government’s funding cuts.

These are all the routes that could be subject to shortenings, cutbacks and cancellations under the early-stage proposals:

- Route 134 (North Finchley – Warren Street)

- Route 11 (Liverpool St – Victoria)

- Route 19 (Finsbury Park – Holborn)

- Route 22 (Putney – Piccadilly Circus)

- Route 3 (Crystal Palace – Whitehall)

- Route 53 (Plumstead – County Hall): Cut back from Whitehall to County Hall

- Route 4 (Archway – Blackfriars)

- Route 172 (Bellingham – Aldwych): Cut back Clerkenwell to Aldwych

- Route 59 (Streatham Hill – Euston)

- Route 476 (Northumberland Park – King’s Cross)

- Route 171 (Bellingham – Holborn): Cut back from Holborn to Elephant & Castle

- Route 67 (Wood Green – Dalston Junction)

- Route 242 (Homerton – Aldgate)

- Route 40 (Dulwich – Clerkenwell Green)

- Route 45 (Clapham Park – Elephant)

- Route 388 (Stratford City – Finsbury Circus)

- Route 48 (Leyton – London Bridge)

Director of public transport service planning Geoff Hobbs told ShortList in a statement: “Buses have a crucial role to play in boosting the number of people walking, cycling and using public transport. As set out in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, we’re currently looking at how we can adjust and reorganise the bus network to ensure it reflects a rapidly changing London, including planning for year-on-year increases in bus kilometres in outer London. We need to modernise and simplify the network and ensure that bus capacity is in the right places at the right times

“We’re currently working closely with London’s boroughs on a potential set of proposals and they are helping shape our plans. These changes will also be subject to full public consultation before they’re put in place so we can hear from customers.”

Let’s hope TfL rethink some of these changes - or that Corbyn finds himself in Number 10 soon so he can start properly funding local governments and transport schemes again. 

And all this bus chatter got us fondly remembering one of the finest examples of bus nerdery ever seen on TV, when a contestant on ITV’s You Bet! flaunted his astounding bus route knowledge. 

It was a simpler time back then: what a hero.

(Images: Getty)