TfL's New On-Demand Buses To Launch In Ealing

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By M@ Last edited 56 months ago
TfL's New On-Demand Buses To Launch In Ealing

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Bus with wheelchair ramp
One of the buses from the Sutton trial. (The Ealing version may look a little different.)

Ealing residents could soon order a bus on demand to whisk them across the borough.

Transport for London has announced a year-long trial of an on-demand bus service for the area. Passengers use an app to request a seat, and the roving minibus will come pick them up. In TfL's own words:

This is a trial service that does not have a fixed route or schedule, but ‘responds’ to the request to be picked up by the customer. It can be booked at the desired time of travel [6am-1am], primarily through an app, and provide real time updates to customers of vehicle arrival time and guarantees a seat for confirmed bookings.

The trial is the second in London, following the launch of a similar scheme in Sutton in May. As with Sutton, Ealing is an area whose population is particularly reliant on cars. It's hoped that the bookable bus will help cut down the number of car journeys in the area.

Map of Ealing on-demand bus coverage
The proposed area of coverage, which may extend into the borough of Brent.

The fleet of 10 minibuses will be operated by RATP, with MOIA as the technology provider. Journeys on the service will be charged at a flat fare of £3.50 (via app, not Oyster), though Freedom passes and concessions are accepted.

Before the trial begins, TfL wants comments and suggestions from the public. If you're local and have thoughts on the matter, have your say on the consultation page.

We have to confess a little scepticism. Are there too many variables and obstacles here? While companies like Uber will take you from your doorstep to more or less anywhere, this scheme can only stop at pre-approved locations within a relatively small geographic area. Sure, that'll be helpful to some, but will it find the groundswell to make it economical?

That's what trials are for, though. We look forward to seeing the first results from the Sutton trial, which TfL tells us are expected in late August. Find full details on the Ealing consultation and trial here, and the Sutton trial here.

Last Updated 19 July 2019