We have been lobbying Transport for London to increase the length of the number 63 bus route.

The route currently runs from Kings Cross to Forest Hill Road (outside the Forest Hill Tavern). If it carried on another 3 stops, over a steep hill, it would reach Honor Oak Park station, which from June 2010 will be part of the Overground Network.

South London really struggles from a lack of decent transport connections. While long term, we need to be working for new infrastructure projects, in the meantime we need to make the best of what we have, and ensure everything is linked up as efficiently as possible.Caroline Pigeon has asked Boris Johnson about this on our behalf at Major’s Questions, and both he and TfL have come back with the same response – it would cost too much. I’m sceptical as to how much it really costs for a bus to carry on a few more stops before turning around; but accepting their estimates for how much it will cost, I have asked them whether their numbers took account of the fact that Honor Oak will be on the Overground next year. This will make the route more popular for people in Dulwich who work in the City. They haven’t replied to this question…The need for this extension was brought to our attention from knocking on in Peckham Rye. The Southwark News have picked this up and ran a story about it. A facebook group here: http://tiny.cc/63extension has 68 members supporting the campaign, and there are lots of messages of support on The East Dulwich Forum here: http://tiny.cc/HS7AN . So it’s good to know lots of residents support this campaign. We will shortly be carrying out a residents survey in that part of the ward so hopefully we can soon go to TfL and show them the demand for this extra service.