London Bus Route Cuts Proposed for South and West London 2026

Key Points

• Proposed Changes: Major proposed changes to the bus services operating in south and west London have been made by Transport for London (TfL), particularly with respect to routes 74 and C3.
• Changes to Route 74: The Earl’s Court to Putney service of route 74 will be withdrawn to eliminate duplicate services, and the route will be rerouted from Earl’s Court to Clapham Junction.
• Replacement of Route C3: The 74 bus service, once it is rerouted, will replace the entire route C3 bus service that operates from Earl’s Court to Clapham Junction.
• Interchanges: The TfL proposal indicates that thousands of journeys will involve interchanges or extended walks, especially for people going to South Kensington and Putney.
• Public Consultations: Public comments are welcome for the proposed transport system changes until Monday, November 16, 2026.

South and West London (West London Times) October 6, 2026 – Transport for London has unveiled significant network restructuring plans that will see sections of key bus routes in south and west London axed to eliminate service duplication, leaving thousands of regular commuters facing mandatory interchanges, altered walking routes, and modified travel patterns.

Why is Transport for London proposing cuts to bus routes 74 and C3?

As reported by local democracy reporter Katherine Gray of My London, the proposed changes are being driven by a strategic effort to streamline transit operations across the capital. Specifically, a section of the London bus route serving south and west London will be cut to avoid duplication with other active services. Under the current plans, the Earl’s Court to Putney leg of London bus route 74 would be officially withdrawn. This adjustment leaves passengers with one fewer direct service connecting the two locations, although parallel services—such as route number 430, which also connects Earl’s Court to Putney—would remain completely unaffected by the proposed modifications.

To compensate for the removal of the specific leg, route 74 would instead be rerouted downward from Earl’s Court to Clapham Junction. As detailed in the public filings, this specific adjustment is designed to mitigate the complete removal of the entire London bus route C3, which currently operates between Earl’s Court and Clapham Junction. The newly rerouted 74 would effectively absorb and replace the existing C3 corridor.

How has Transport for London justified these network alterations?

Defending the strategy behind the overhaul, a spokesperson for TfL stated that “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.”

Furthermore, outlining the economic and operational drivers behind the scheme, the TfL spokesperson stated that “our proposal has been designed to address excess capacity while simplifying the network and reducing operating costs.”

What inconvenience will commuters face regarding interchanges and walking distances?

While transit officials emphasize operational streamlining, the network adjustments present notable hurdles for everyday commuters. Unlike the nearby Earl’s Court Tube station, South Kensington station is currently not step-free. This structural limitation means that passengers utilising bus route 74 in the Lillie Road and Putney areas would lose their direct link to a step-free London Underground station—though official transit plans note that South Kensington station is targeted to become step-free by 2030.

The official proposal explicitly acknowledges that some customers will be forced to change buses to complete their daily journeys if the changes go ahead. According to network data, a total of 2,717 trips are made on route number 74 that would require an interchange between separate bus services in the future. Within this figure, 1,774 journeys would specifically require an extra walk to successfully complete travel connections.

Breaking down the specific pedestrian adjustments, passengers travelling towards South Kensington would need to interchange between Warwick Road (Stop R) and Earl’s Court Square (Stop B), requiring an additional 180-metre walk. Meanwhile, those travelling in the opposite direction towards Putney would need to interchange between Earl’s Court Road (Stop L) and Redcliffe Gardens (Stop M), necessitating a 160-metre walk. Additionally, three specific stops currently serviced by route C3—Stop E on Warwick Road, Stop F on Pembroke Road, and Stop H on Cromwell Road—would be left entirely without a direct service.

Despite these modifications, TfL maintains that overall service capacity will remain adequate, asserting that there will still be more buses than necessary running between South Kensington and Putney, and noting that all affected locations will continue to be served by other high-frequency bus options.

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Background of the Development

The proposed alterations to London bus routes 74 and C3 are part of an ongoing, city-wide network review by Transport for London. Faced with post-pandemic ridership shifts, financial pressures, and rising operating costs, transport authorities across major metropolitan areas have increasingly scrutinized bus corridors with parallel coverage. By identifying routes with overlapping service miles, TfL aims to reallocate resources toward higher-frequency trunk routes while trimming surplus capacity. However, these adjustments frequently spark localized pushback from residents and regular commuters who rely on direct, single-seat journeys through inner and outer London boroughs.

How This Development Can Affect Commuters and Local Residents

For the everyday commuter travelling across south and west London, this network adjustment will directly increase travel friction and journey times. Passengers who previously relied on direct connections through the Earl’s Court, Putney, and South Kensington corridors will now face the inconvenience of physical interchanges, extended walking distances of up to 180 metres, and the loss of specific neighborhood stops. Vulnerable groups, including elderly commuters and those relying on step-free transit access before the anticipated 2030 upgrades at South Kensington, may find daily travel significantly more challenging. Public engagement remains open until Monday, November 16, 2026, giving affected residents a crucial window to voice their concerns regarding the proposed timetable and route shifts.