Sullivan Buses dramatically pulled out of its deal with TfL on Friday but new operators have since begun running the affected services

Eight North London bus routes have resumed service today (Monday 5^th) after their operator suddenly withdrew from running them over the weekend.

Sullivan Buses ended its contract with Transport for London (TfL) on Friday (2^nd) following a dispute over rising costs and unpaid debts, leading to the cessation of bus routes 217, 298, 299, 327, 389, 399, 549 and W9 – variously serving Enfield, Barnet and/or Haringey boroughs.

But TfL has confirmed on Monday morning that all of these buses have now resumed service under different operators – albeit with reduced frequency in several cases.

Sullivan Buses, which described itself as the “only independent bus operator in London”, blamed the “increasing costs of service delivery” and “financial penalties as a result of an increase in traffic” among reasons for ending its deal with TfL. The company remains solvent, however, and continues to run its buses in Hertfordshire as normal.

Among its London buses, the 217 and W9 were highlighted earlier this year on a list of the least reliable services in the capital.

Rosie Trew, TfL’s head of bus service delivery, said: “We’re sorry for any disruption caused to people’s journeys due to the late-notice withdrawal of the bus operator, Sullivan Buses.

“We are working hard to provide alternative travel options for people in the North London area with the majority of the eight bus routes expected to run a normal service from today. We encourage those who are affected to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.”

Sullivan claimed the shortfall in income from TfL contracts for its services exceeded £200,000 per month. It had been negotiating to try to find a resolution before the sudden ending of its London services on Friday.

The company also runs four school bus services in North London but because of the summer holidays these were not due to operate this month and should resume as normal, under a new operator, from September.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, managing director Dean Sullivan said: “Following a meeting with TfL we have reluctantly decided to withdraw from our TfL contracts from Friday night.

“Pressures on TfL’s funding have clearly had a direct impact on our decision. Unfortunately, the remuneration for providing TfL’s services has not kept pace with the increasing costs of service delivery. In addition, financial penalties as a result of an increase in traffic congestion post-Covid, has further impacted on the viability of our TfL contracts.

“At Sullivan Buses we have a number of contracts due to expire early next year. Under normal circumstances, larger businesses would continue to renew contracts throughout the year. Therefore, the increased rates on new services would help to mitigate against any losses experienced on expiring contracts.

“Nonetheless, despite tendering for numerous services, Sullivan Buses has not been successful in renewing our contracts. TfL have also failed to provide us with any meaningful feedback on tenders submitted.

“In June we met with TfL representatives to discuss this and other issues the business was facing. TfL told us that they struggled to incorporate small businesses such as ours within their corporate model. Sullivan Buses is the only small business operating bus services for TfL in London.

“At that meeting we were unable to agree a way forward. The meeting ended with TfL requesting a date for our business to hand back all contracts. At the time of the meeting in June, TfL owed our business over £130,000. This is a considerable sum of money for a small business and the lack of these funds have undoubtedly impacted upon our ability to deliver the contracted services.

“The matter was resolved shortly afterwards, but not before TfL asked if they could ‘repay in instalments’. Coupled with delays in payments by TfL, we have decided that we can no longer sustain the further cuts necessary to meet the decreasing income received from TfL. Any inevitable reduction in funding will lead to a further decline in performance and this is not something we are willing to support.”

Bus services affected:

• 217 (Waltham Cross Bus Station–Turnpike Lane Bus Station) operating with 18min frequency instead of usual 12min;
• 298 (Arnos Grove Station–Potters Bar station) operating with 30min frequency instead of usual 20 min;
• 299 (Muswell Hill–Cockfosters Station) operating with 20min frequency instead of usual 15min;
• 327 (Waltham Cross–Elsinge Estate) operating with normal service;
• 389 (Barnet, The Spires–Barnet, Western Way) operating with normal service;
• 399 (Barnet, The Spires–Hadley Wood Station) operating with normal service;
• 549 (South Woodford Station–Loughton Station) operating with normal service;
• W9 (Chase Farm Hospital–Southgate Station) operating with normal service.

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