WIREDGOV

When:   10.30am, Friday 16 May 2008 – please arrive from 10.20am.      
Where:  Crossharbour Asda bus stand (151 East Ferry Road, E14 3BT).    
What:   Photo-call to mark the launch of bus route 135.  John Barry, Head of Network Development, London Buses, will be joined by representatives from Tower Hamlets Council and the Canary Wharf Group.       

Transport for London will introduce a new bus route from the Isle of Dogs to Old Street from 24 May 2008.

Route 135 will provide high-frequency services to Old Street and Liverpool Street Stations and will serve Crossharbour Asda and Moorfields Eye Hospital.  It will be the first direct bus route between the City and Canary Wharf.

The route will be served by 13 brand new double deck buses running every 10 minutes during the day from Monday to Saturday, and every 15 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays.  Services will commence at 4.30am Monday to Saturday (5.45am Sunday) and will run until 1.00am every day of the week.

John Barry, Head of Network Development, London Buses, said: “New route 135 will provide a convenient link between Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf and improve access to other key destinations including Moorfields Eye Hospital.”

Councillor Abdal Ullah, Lead Member for Cleaner Safer Greener, Tower Hamlets Council, said: “We are delighted that this new route will serve people living and working in Tower Hamlets.  The 135 will be a really convenient way for people to travel between the City and Canary Wharf and we are sure it will be of great benefit to residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

From the same date the frequency of route D7 (Poplar, All Saints – Mile End Station) will be increased to every 8 minutes on Monday to Saturday during the day, and every 15 minutes during the evenings and on Sundays.

Notes to editors

• Route 135 will operate from Old Street via Great Eastern Street, Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Commercial Road, Canary Wharf, Westferry Road and East Ferry Road to Crossharbour Asda.
• The D7 runs from Poplar (All Saints Station) to Mile End Station.  Buses currently run every 8 minutes during the morning and afternoon peak, every 12 minutes outside peak times and on Saturdays, and every 20 minutes on Sundays.  From 24 May, the D7 will run every 8 minutes on Monday to Saturday during the day, and every 15 minutes during the evenings and on Sundays.
• London bus services are constantly under review to ensure we continue to provide the best possible service to those who live in, work in, or visit London
• All London buses have in-vehicle CCTV and all except the heritage Routemasters are accessible to wheelchair users.
  
  

David Wilson   
TfL Press Office       
020 7126 1475