Boris saves Number 13 bus route following campaign

The Number 13 bus route has been saved following an intervention by Boris Johnson, writes Justin Cohen.

Finchley and Golders Green’s Tory and Labour candidates had both called on the mayor to scrap plans to axe the No 13 bus, which goes from Golders Green to Aldwych and which was much-used to reach the JW3 community centre.

And Johnson told Mike Freer, the Conservative hoping to win a second term, that the route would remain.

Following a meeting this morning, Freer said: “I met with TfL when this proposal came to light and I told them that they were wrong and should drop it.

“I was able to raise this directly with Boris when he visited Golders Green. He promised to find out what was going on. I met with Boris this morning and he confirmed that the proposal has been scrapped. The No13 bus is safe. I am obviously delighted that Boris listened and acted as he did on Henly’s Corner.”

Following a review of passenger numbers and changes to people’s travel habits, TfL had proposed scrapping the 13 and instead extending the 24-hour Oxford Circus-bound 139 route to Golders Green. A consultation into into the matter ended last week.