Havering Friends of the Earth

Public Transport in Havering

by John Robinson; first published 1-Sep-2023

In 1969, the 86 bus ran from Upminster to Limehouse - Stan Robinson

Havering FoE's two previous articles were about everything in nature being interconnected. If only the same could be said for modes of transport! Recent road-works in my area were well publicised, from a motorist's point of view, but the council gave no guidance as to how the closures would affect bus services. Inevitably, I found people waiting for buses that would never arrive. Surely such disruptions could be planned and announced in a more joined-up way?

If you've reached pensionable age, why not sell the car and get a Freedom Pass? Not only does it give free travel throughout Greater London, it's also valid on the entire Elizabeth Line, from Shenfield to Reading! Better still, it can be used on most local buses throughout England, which often give a nice introduction to the look and feel of an unfamiliar town or village. Within Havering, The Romford-Upminster "Push and Pull" train has enjoyed a renaissance, with modern, walk-through carriages, extended hours (including Sundays), and an impressive 9-minute journey time. For shoppers, the 370 bus goes to Lakeside, and there's an hourly service (X80) from there to Bluewater. Apologies to younger readers turning green with envy - just be patient!

The proposed train ticket office closures are causing great concern, and not just among passengers needing help and advice. I recently spent a day in West Sussex, requiring an extension ticket from the London fare zones boundary (with a discount, as I hold a Senior Railcard). This was provided within a few seconds of my request at Upminster ticket office; perhaps I could have persuaded a machine to issue it, but I shudder to think how long it would have taken!

North-south connections in Havering (especially to and from south Hornchurch and Rainham) are overdue for improvement, and it's encouraging that the council is looking into tram or light-rail options. We're also waiting to hear whether the 497, 347 and 346 buses are to be merged. This could improve the link between Harold Wood and Upminster, but Cranham folk are worried that the friendly local 346, which runs every 15 minutes, could become a 30-minute service "bolted on" to a much longer route. I do hope the "consultation" on this doesn't turn out to be another case of this is what we're going to do, send us your comments and we'll put them away in a safe place.