Bus journeys are taking up to 11 minutes longer following the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, according to data compiled by the Marylebone Association. The figures, obtained using Bustimes.org, suggests the delays could be much worse than originally predicted by Transport for London (TfL) during the consultation stage of the project, accoding to the London Evening Standard.

The biggest difference is on the eastbound Route 98 during the evening rush hour, where TfL had forecast the changes would add just two to three minutes to the journey.

But residents say the latest timetable suggests the journey now takes 28 minutes, up from 17 – an extra 11 minutes, or a 65 per cent increase.

The Route 98 previously travelled along Oxford Street but has now been diverted through Orchard Street, Wigmore Street and the Cavendish Square area.

Routes 139 and 390 also follow the same diversion, although a like-for-like comparison of their timetables before and after the changes has yet to be established.

Residents say the changes have squeezed even more traffic onto already congested streets, forcing buses, taxis, delivery drivers, tradespeople and local residents to compete for the same road space.

hey warn that the consequences are being felt well beyond the diverted bus routes, with congestion spreading across the wider Marylebone area.

TfL says it uses traffic modelling to assess the impact of the Oxford Street changes, adding it is continuing to monitor conditions and adjust traffic signals to keep vehicles moving.

The transport authority says it anticipated a few extra minutes to bus journey times and has built contingency into revised timetables to allow traffic to settle. Therefore, the revised timings may not reflect the actual journeys being made on the road.

(Picture: Mayor of London)