Boris rejects changes to K2, K3 bus routes (From Surrey Comet)

Mayor Boris Johnson rejects changes to K2, K3 bus routes

5:04pm Monday 24th November 2008 in News By David Lindsell

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has rebuffed a campaign to divert a major bus route through a Kingston estate.

A petition with 396 names on was handed to the London Assembly on Wednesday calling for either the K2 or K3 bus to pass by the Cambridge Road estate, Cambridge Gardens and Norbiton.

But the petitioners were told by the Mayor that a diversion would mean increased costs and longer journeys for existing passengers.

Councillor Sheila Griffin, who organised the petition, said: “I don’t think they know the area or really have any understanding of the route.

“There’s no bus that actually goes into the centre of Kingston from any of these three estates. What you have got is a lot of older people who find moving around quite difficult.”

A spokesman for the Mayor said Douglas Road was already served by the K5 and the 131, running every eight to 12 minutes.

“The suggested diversion of route K2 or K3 via these roads would mean longer journeys for existing passengers and increased costs.

“Although not all stops in the vicinity have a direct link to the hospital, given the existing services and the impact on existing passengers, Transport for London does not consider that this diversion could be justified.”

The K2 presently goes from Hook library, with stops at Chessington Industrial Estate, Tolworth station, Surbiton lagoon, Berrylands station, Surbiton station, Eden Street, Cromwell Road bus station and finishes at the Galsworthy Road hospital site.

And the K3 starts in Esher High Street, with stops in Claygate, Hinchley Wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton station, Eden Street, Cromwell Road and Kingston Hospital, before ending its journey at the Roehampton Asda.

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