Feryal Clark wants faster and cheaper public transport options for residents in Enfield Lock and Ponders End

Enfield North Feryal Clark MP wants TfL to provide better bus connections in eastern Enfield

A local MP is launching a campaign for a new express bus service in eastern Enfield.

Enfield North MP Feryal Clark is calling on Transport for London (TfL) to boost bus connectivity through Enfield Lock and Ponders End – and link them directly to the tube network.

At present, bus users in these areas have to change at Edmonton to get to Tottenham Hale where they can board the Victoria Line. And although the West Anglia Main Line runs through eastern Enfield, trains are infrequent and cost far more.

Clark says a potential Superloop extension starting from Enfield Island Village could use Mollison Avenue and Meridian Way (the A1055) to provide a fast connection, stopping at Ponders End and Meridian Water along the route to Tottenham Hale. There could also be a stop at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex, where a new inland surfing lagoon is due to be built in the next few years.

The Labour MP told the Dispatch: “It is madness that people have to go to Edmonton to get a bus to Tottenham Hale. This [eastern] part of Enfield is very badly connected. People in low-paid work would rather take a bus but it takes so long – as much as an hour.”

Clark said that the idea for a new bus route came from speaking to local residents, particularly in Enfield Island Village which is one of the most isolated parts of the borough. The existing 121 bus service, although pretty regular, often gets held up at the level crossing in Ordnance Road, as well as the traffic-congested Hertford Road, making journeys unreliable.

TfL’s various Superloop services provide much faster bus journeys by skipping most stops along their routes. The initial network was launched two years ago and mainly operates as an orbital route through outer London, although there are some Superloop services offering north-south connections as well. A series of extensions are already being considered.

“The Superloop has been a big success,” said Clark. “We have got to now make the case to TfL [for a route through eastern Enfield]. I am not suggesting it is easy but you have to start somewhere.

“In Enfield Island Village people really want it – it will save them time and money. It would only about a 20-minute journey to Tottenham Hale.

“I want to show them [TfL] there is a demand for this service. It would be incredibly useful. Buses are affordable. People who live along that corridor [in the east] don’t have a direct route for getting to where they need to go. It is a no-brainer.”

Clark claims commuters from Enfield Lock who currently use Greater Anglia rail services could save as much as £40 per week by using a new express bus service instead. A recent survey of Londoners found that almost half would ditch their cars if public transport was cheaper.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan also has a target for 75% of journeys in outer London to be made by sustainable means (public transport or active travel) by 2041.

Clark is launching her petition today (Monday 1^st). TfL was approached for comment but did not respond.

To sign the petition:
Visit feryalclark.org.uk/ExpressBus

Update (1st December):

Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s director of public transport service planning, said: “London’s bus network remains the most popular form of public transport in London, with millions of journeys every day. Our buses allow people to travel in the capital affordably, while making a real difference to public health and air quality.

“We’re determined to improve our services and we continually review the bus network according to customer demand, making buses more attractive and encouraging Londoners to choose sustainable travel options. Feedback is important to us, so we regularly engage with boroughs and other stakeholders across London on their bus network, and would be happy to discuss any bus improvements with local boroughs.”

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