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603 Bus Campaign
Please join our campaign for an extended 603 bus service between Swiss Cottage and Muswell Hill.
We want a reliable, safe and convenient single mode of transport for our children and our communities.
If you want to help with this campaign email us, post on X or Bluesky about your experience of the 603 bus using #603Watch, and join our Whatsapp group
Complete our survey to show your support for an extended 603 service using the links below:
- Survey link if you live closer to Swiss Cottage
- Survey link if you live closer to Muswell Hill
The Issue
The community of parents who send their children to Hampstead and Highgate schools has been united for over 20 years in saying that public transport between Swiss Cottage/Belsize Park/Highgate and Muswell Hill schools is inadequate. The 603 bus, even when it was introduced in 2004, has never adequately served its purpose, mainly because TFL didn't take into account commuters travelling in both directions.
Green School Runs has been lobbying TFL since early 2022 to increase the frequency and change the timetable of the 603 bus route. Many individuals and groups have been asking for this for 20 years!
Currently, only two services are run in the morning and in the afternoon, starting from Muswell Hill.
Our ask
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Regular services every 8-11 minutes from Muswell Hill AND Swiss Cottage between 6.40am and 8.15am with single decker buses.
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Regular services every 8-11 minutes from Muswell Hill AND Swiss Cottage between 15:15 and 17:15 in the afternoon with single decker buses
603 Bus Campaign in the News
The 603 Bus Campaign has been in the news many times.
Read the document produced by Green School Runs for TFL, which gives more background information on this issue and this campaign:
Green School Runs (GSR) requests TFL to extend the service of the 603 bus
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CAMPAIGN UPDATES
November 2024
Following a deputation to Camden Council, the extension of the 603 bus has been included in the Camden Transport Delivery Strategy.
Camden Council backs increased services on TfL 603 bus route | Ham & High
September 2024
500 surveys completed and London Mayor promises bus route review.
Sadiq Khan 'will look into' 603 bus route extension
June 2024
Milestone of 200 completed surveys.
April 2024
GSR founder Francesca Agostini, 603 campaigner Christina McKenzie and Ward Councillor Linda Chang rode the 603 bus together to get a first-hand experience of the problems associated with timetabling.
February 2024
Launch of the online survey to collect data (see links above).
May 2023
GSR launched a campaign on its Twitter account (@GreenSchoolRuns) using the hashtag #603Watch to draw the attention of TfL and local councillors in particular, to the plight of the 603 bus service. By providing daily updates on the 603 bus, we have highlighted how unreliable this bus service is, which is one of the reasons why so few people use it.
May 2023
GSR co-ordinated a call with Camden and Haringey councillors, London Assembly members, local school Headteachers and parents to co-ordinate next steps.
March 2022
GSR met with TFL transport planners to discuss the 603 bus service. Despite an honest and productive discussion, our request to extend the 603 bus service - or at least change the current timetable - was rejected on the basis of TFL's previous research, which we argue is over 10 years old and therefore out of date. We remain committed to pursuing this issue and building a stronger case for the need to extend the 603 bus service.