REGULAR problems are persisting on a bus route regularly used by elderly passengers despite assurances the service would return to normal when Olympics development was completed.

Users of the W14 have complained of journeys often stopping short of their destination, frequent lateness and some buses not turning up at all.

Transport for London previously blamed the problems on the construction of a footbridge for the Olympics in Ruckholt Road, Leyton.

But four months later the service, which runs between Leyton and Woodford Bridge via Wanstead, is still disrupted, with some buses inexplicably stopping at Charlie Brown's roundabout.

Roy Dart, 73, of Maybank Road, South Woodford, uses the W14 almost every day.

He said: "Sometimes I waited over half an hour for a bus during the Olympics.

"They seem to make a complete journey. The controller seems to think that no-one lives between South Woodford and Woodford Bridge.

"When they chuck people off at Charlie Brown's, you just have to sit there and for someone on their own it is quite frightening.

"I think they should get a grip and run a proper service."

Jim Brennan, 65, of Liston Way, Woodford Green, relies on the bus service to do his shopping.

He said: "I don't know why they even bother displaying timetables because they don't stick to them. Last week I waited and waited for an hour for a bus.

"Coming back from Leyton last week the bus stopped at Charlie Brown's roundabout and I said to the driver 'what about the poor people that are stuck up at Woodford Bridge waiting there for you'."

Cllr Gwyneth Deakins of Roding ward has been a victim of the poor service herself after shifts as a Gamesmaker is urging TfL to improve the service immediately.

She said: "I hope TfL can come up with some bloody good answers.

"They seem to have decided between themselves that it is OK for buses not to complete their routes and it is not.

"TfL has had plenty of time to think about the answers, so I am expecting the answers and an improvement in the service."

The issue will be discussed at the council's next meeting of the Public Transport Liaison Group on October 16.

Clare Kavanagh, Director of Performance, TfL London Buses said: "Recent performance of route W14 has been affected by general traffic delays around the Olympic Park.

"This disruption has now ceased.  TfL apologises for any inconvenience to passengers during this time and will be working closely with the operator of the route to ensure that the reliability of route W14 improves as quickly as possible."

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