TfL’s bus route cuts stir community backlash over hospital access concerns

Transport for London plans to withdraw the 283 bus route and reroute others, sparking fierce opposition from residents and healthcare providers over fears of reduced access to Hammersmith Hospital, amid broader ongoing route rationalisation.

Transport for London (TfL) has announced the withdrawal of the 283 bus route, which runs between Hammersmith Bus Station and East Acton, with the changes scheduled to take effect from December 13, 2025. Alongside this, routes 72 and N72 will be rerouted to serve the White City Estate, a move TfL says reflects shifting passenger demand and aims to streamline operations. However, despite this, the announcement has sparked significant opposition from local residents, politicians, and organisations, largely concerned about the impact on access to Hammersmith Hospital and the wider community connectivity.

TfL’s consultation over the summer received 709 responses, of which three-quarters were negative, with only 4% expressing support for the plans. The feedback highlighted fears that losing the 283 route would drastically reduce accessibility to Hammersmith Hospital, especially given its distance from any Underground station and the hospital’s limited parking. Local politicians, including Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Realm, Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier, have voiced strong criticism of the decision, warning it risks isolating residents from essential services. Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, also expressed disappointment and indicated he would press TfL to monitor service reliability post-implementation and make necessary improvements.

The Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which operates Hammersmith Hospital, described the withdrawal as “very disappointing,” warning that it could cause difficulties for patients, visitors, and staff reliant on bus services. The Trust emphasised that the hospital is poorly connected by public transport and faced with limited parking options, stressing concerns over reduced access and capacity issues on alternative routes.

TfL maintains that the withdrawal of the 283, along with the rerouting of the 72 and N72, will “simplify” the network and reduce costs while still ensuring that all stops are served. According to Geoff Hobbs, TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning, the changes are necessary to reflect changing passenger usage patterns and that the network will continue to be monitored to maintain a comprehensive public transport offering. The new routing of the 72 and N72 buses is intended to cover the White City Estate following the discontinuation of the 283, although some journey times are expected to increase.

In response to concerns, TfL announced plans to increase the frequency of the 272 route in the evenings and the 72 route in the mornings and on Sundays, aiming to mitigate some of the accessibility issues raised. Nonetheless, community groups and local authorities remain highly sceptical about the effectiveness of these measures.

This decision follows a precedent set last year when TfL cut the 414 bus route between Marble Arch and Putney Bridge despite significant opposition, signalling a broader trend of route rationalisation amid financial constraints. Previous campaigns in the area, including a successful manoeuvre in 2022 to save several key routes after public outcry, underscore the critical importance of bus services for social inclusion and healthcare access in West London.

Overall, while TfL frames the changes as part of necessary service optimisation to align capacity with demand and financial targets, considerable community resistance reflects ongoing tensions between operational efficiency and ensuring equitable public transport access, particularly for vulnerable users travelling to essential services such as hospitals.

📌 Reference Map:

• Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (MyLondon), ^[2] (Hammersmith & Fulham Council)
• Paragraph 2 – ^[1] (MyLondon), ^[2] (Hammersmith & Fulham Council), ^[3] (ShepherdsBushW12.com)
• Paragraph 3 – ^[1] (MyLondon), ^[2] (Hammersmith & Fulham Council)
• Paragraph 4 – ^[1] (MyLondon), ^[5] (Bus Routes in London Fandom), ^[3] (ShepherdsBushW12.com)
• Paragraph 5 – ^[1] (MyLondon)
• Paragraph 6 – ^[1] (MyLondon), ^[7] (Hammersmith & Fulham Council, 2022)
• Paragraph 7 – ^[1] (MyLondon), ^[2] (Hammersmith & Fulham Council)

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release from Transport for London (TfL), dated 31 July 2025, announcing proposed changes to bus routes 283 and 72. ([lbhf.gov.uk](https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/news/2025/07/have-your-say-tfl-proposes-changes-283-and-72-bus-routes?utm_source=openai)) The MyLondon article was published on 1 August 2025, indicating that the content is fresh and not recycled. However, the report includes updated data, such as the implementation date of 13 December 2025, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([shepherdsbushw12.com](https://www.shepherdsbushw12.com/page/shared/common/hfbuses014.htm?utm_source=openai)) The narrative has not appeared elsewhere in the past seven days. The inclusion of updated data may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([shepherdsbushw12.com](https://www.shepherdsbushw12.com/page/shared/common/hfbuses014.htm?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The direct quotes from Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier and Andy Slaughter MP appear to be original, as no identical matches were found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content. However, without access to the original press release, it’s difficult to confirm if these quotes are reused.

Source reliability

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative originates from MyLondon, a local news outlet. While it is not as widely recognised as national media, it is a legitimate source. The report includes references to official statements from TfL and local authorities, enhancing its credibility. However, the reliance on a single outlet for the majority of the content introduces some uncertainty.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The claims about the withdrawal of the 283 bus route and the rerouting of the 72 and N72 routes are plausible and align with TfL’s previous announcements. The concerns raised by local politicians and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust are consistent with the impact such changes would have on the community. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as exact dates for the rerouting of the 72 and N72 routes, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The tone and language used are consistent with typical reporting on public transport changes.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents a plausible account of TfL’s proposed changes to bus routes 283, 72, and N72, supported by official statements and local reactions. The reliance on a single source and the lack of specific factual anchors in some areas introduce uncertainties. Further verification from additional reputable sources is recommended to confirm the details and address potential concerns.