New operators are beginning to fill the sudden gaps in local bus services that arose following the announcement on Friday by Sullivan Buses that it would cease operating routes under contract to Transport for London (TfL) that same evening. Of the eight routes affected, four run through or very close to Palmers Green: the W9, 299, 298 and 217.
The 298 was one of three routes serving Southgate Station that were operated by Sullivan Buses until Friday 2nd August (photo by Hugh Llewelyn, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)
Sullivan Buses' contracts for some of the routes were already due to expire fairly soon, and TfL have asked the new operators to take over as soon as possible. At least two have already started operation, though in view of the very short notice reduced frequencies or other disruption can be expected. Even where buses are running, they might not show up on Countdown screens or phone apps because of insufficient time to adjust equipment.
On Saturday the assembly member for Enfield and Haringey, Joanne McCartney, posted information about the situation on X (formerly Twitter):
Last week I had a meeting with TfL buses following residents’ complaints about the reliability of the W9 & 299. A recent retender process meant that from February 2025 the 298 will move to Universitybus (Uno) and the 299/389/399 will move to London General (Go-Ahead London).
I have asked TfL for reassurance that services will be back to normal service asap and for an update - this may take a little time but I will continue to chase.
Rosie Trew, TfL’s head of bus service delivery, provided the following statement:
We’re sorry for any disruption caused to people’s journeys due to the withdrawal of the bus operator, Sullivan Buses.
We are working hard to provide alternative travel options for people in the north London area with eight bus routes affected.
We encourage those who are affected to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys and check before they travel using our website or the TfL Go app.”
The secretary of Enfield Transport Users Group emailed an update to group members:
Some of you may already be aware of the news of the operator of bus routes 217, 298, 299, 327, 549 and W9 withdrawing from running TfL Bus services in London, and as a result there will be an impact to these services from Saturday 3 August until further notice.
Sullivan Buses, the operator has issued a press release stating that it will cease operating all its TfL services with effect from 3 August 2024. Other operators have been asked to step in and provide replacement services as follows:
217 Arriva
298 Uno
299 Go-Ahead London
389 Go-Ahead London
399 Go-Ahead London
549 Stagecoach
W9 Stagecoach
No operator so far advised for the 327 or school routes 605 606 617 629 640 (these are not currently operating anyway due to school holidays).
Services on all routes are likely to be severely disrupted for several weeks at least, possibly the case on operating a very limited service and there may be no service at all for the next few days on some services.
It's recommended to continue checking the TfL status website for service updates:
https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/status/?input=102&lineIds=102&&direction=outbound
Routes 298, 299, 389, 399 and 640 had already been awarded to other operators and the 549 was due to cease in September. The 217, 327 and W9 are currently out to tender.
Saturday 3rd August: Staff at Go-Ahead's Northumberland Park garage show off a bus with hurriedly prepared blinds ready to take over service on route 299
On Saturday morning bus operator Go-Ahead London issued a press release stating that they had already begun running the 299:
At Transport for London’s request, we started operating Route 299 (Cockfosters to Muswell Hill) from our Northumberland Park Garage this morning.
Chris McKeown, Engineering Director, added: “We strive to deliver high quality public transport for our communities and thank TfL for asking us to run the 299’s. This has been a big logistical challenge and one that has been achieved thanks to a dedicated team effort. Well done to all involved.
The new operator of the 298, Uno, also published an update on Saturday:
Unfortunately, Sullivan Buses are no longer able to operate the 298 between Potters Bar and Arnos Grove on behalf of Transport for London.
We have been working with Transport for London to put together a skeleton timetable that will be in place from 4th August 2024.
We will supply further information as things develop, we are currently working on arranging for staff to operate the service on Sunday, and for next week.
Please bear with us.
We look forward to being your new 298 operator.
Uno will be publishing temporary timetables for the 298 on its website.
(Uno is owned by the University of Hertfordshire but from the outset has not restricted its passengers to students. For some years it has run a regular service between Cockfosters and the Hatfield Galleria shopping centre.)
No information about the resumption of routes W9 (new operator Stagecoach) and 217 (Arriva) has been available.
"Remuneration for providing TfL's services has not kept pace with increasing costs!
In a press release issued on Friday (see below) Sullivan Buses complained that "the remuneration for providing TfL's services has not kept pace with the increasing costs of service delivery", adding that "In addition, financial penalties as a result of an increase in traffic congestion post Covid, has further impacted on the viability of our TfL contracts."
The company also referred to a debt of more than £130,000 that was owed by TfL at one stage and stated that "Coupled with delays in payments by Tfl, we have decided that we can no longer sustain the further cuts necessary to meet the decreasing income received from TfL."
Performance data for operation of route 299 by Sullivan Buses (published in December 2023 in reponse to an FOI request)
As regards the poor reliability of the 299 mentioned by Joanne McCartney, in their press release Sullivan Buses claim increased traffic congestion to be a cause. However, data provided by TfL in reply to a Freedom of Information request shows that over a 12-month period the two most important factors - both much higher than "traffic lost mileage" - were "staff lost mileage" and "mechanical lost mileage", in other words unavailability of drivers or serviceable vehicles.
Sullivan Buses press release
Press Release
Cessation of TfL services
Following a meeting with Transport for London (TfL) we have reluctantly decided to withdraw from our TfL contracts from Friday night 2nd August.
Pressures on TfL's funding have clearly had a direct impact on our decision. Unfortunately, the remuneration for providing Tfl's services has not kept pace with the increasing costs of service delivery. In addition, financial penalties as a result of an increase in traffic congestion post Covid, has further impacted on the viability of our TfL contracts.
At Sullivan Buses we have a number of contracts due to expire early next year. Under normal circumstances larger businesses would continue to renew contracts throughout the year. Therefore, the increased rates on new services would help to mitigate against any losses experienced on expiring contracts. Nonetheless despite tendering for numerous services, Sullivan Buses has not been successful in renewing our contracts. TfL have also failed to provide us with any meaningful feedback on tenders submitted.
In June we met with Tfl representatives to discuss this and other issues the business was facing. TfL told us that they struggled to incorporate small businesses such as ours within their corporate model. Sullivan Buses is the only small business (SME) operating bus services for TfL in London. At that meeting we were unable to agree a way forward. The meeting ended with TfL requesting a date for our business to hand back all contracts.
At the time of the meeting in June TfL owed our business over £130,000. This is a considerable sum of money for a small business and the lack of these funds have undoubtedly impacted upon our ability to deliver the contracted services. Although the matter was resolved shortly afterwards, but not before TfL asked If they could 'repay in instalments'.
Coupled with delays in payments by Tfl, we have decided that we can no longer sustain the further cuts necessary to meet the decreasing income received from TfL. Any inevitable reduction in funding will lead to a further decline in performance and this is not something we are willing to support.
During our discussion today we have offered TfL a solution that would alleviate travel disruption for many thousands of bus users.
Tfl have assured us they will be working to restore services as quickly as possible.
Our Commercial operations In Hertfordshire are unaffected and will continue to operate as normal. Furthermore, we look forward to once again developing our work outside of the capital.
Dean Sullivan, Managing Director
TfL routes affected 217, 298, 299, 327, 389, 399, W9. 605, 606. 617, 629, & 549.
Sullivan Buses is London's only independent bus operator having supplied bus services and rail replacement services for London since 2002.
Sullivan Buses is the only SME delivering bus services for Transport for London.
In the last three years two other small businesses have left London. Australian owned Tower Transit exited London in 2021 and Community Interest Company, Hackney Community Transport ceased operations in 2022. No new operators have entered London since.
We estimate that the shortfall in income from TfL contracts exceeds £200,000 per month.
The company employs 230 staff either directly or indirectly on TfL services. All are based at our South Mlmms Depot in Hertfordshire.
Our commercial services in Hertfordshire will continue as normal. These include routes. 84, 303, 306, 306A, 330, 331, 354, 355, 356, 358, 397, 398, 832. 833, 9S0 & 951.
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