Revised Local Bus Services Come into Effect

Routes including the 485 and 378 see changes in Putney

A 378 bus. Picture: YouTube/London Connected

August 18, 2026

Putney bus users will have seem several changes over the weekend as Transport for London (TfL) completes the restructuring routes in the Barnes area and adjusts stopping arrangements at Putney Bridge. Although the main focus of the redesign is on Barnes, Castelnau and the Hammersmith Bridge corridor, the effects extend directly into Putney.

Route 378, the main service linking Putney Bridge Station with Mortlake, will continue to run at its usual frequency, but passengers will notice changes to where the bus stops at Putney Bridge. Buses arriving at the station will now set down on Gonville Street rather than at stop FH on the bridge, and the first stop towards Mortlake will move to stop FC directly outside the station entrance. On the bridge itself, the 378 will shift from stop FE to stop FD. These changes alter familiar interchange patterns for passengers switching between bus and tube, and regular users will need to adjust their walking routes around the station.

In Barnes, the 378 will also double-run to the London Wetland Centre during opening hours, replacing route 485’s former service. This does not remove any stops for Putney passengers, but it adds a short diversion that may lengthen journeys slightly at busy times.

Route 485 will undergo a more significant change. Instead of running between Wandsworth and Hammersmith Bridge South Side, it will be rerouted to terminate at Mortlake Bus Station. The new alignment will take it via Barnes High Street, The Terrace, Barnes Bridge Station, Mortlake High Street and Avondale Road. As a result, the 485 will no longer serve Church Road or Castelnau, removing a long-standing connection used by Putney residents travelling into Barnes or towards Hammersmith Bridge. This reduces direct options for passengers who relied on the 485 as a quieter alternative to the 378. TfL made the changes partly in response to Castelnau residents complaining that there were too many routes serving their road.

The withdrawal of route 533, introduced in 2019 after the closure of Hammersmith Bridge, also affects Putney indirectly. The 533 provided a step-free link between Barnes and Hammersmith. Its replacement, a restructured route 209, will not run to Putney Bridge, meaning Putney passengers will rely more heavily on the 378 for connections south of the river and on the District line for onward travel.

Several other routes will also change their stopping arrangements at the northern end of Putney Bridge. Routes 22, 265, N22, N33 and N74 will all move from stop FE to stop FD, consolidating multiple services at a single point. This may simplify interchange for some passengers but could increase crowding at peak times.

The proposed routes are no in effect. Picture: TfL

These changes reflect the long-term reality that Hammersmith Bridge is unlikely to reopen to motor traffic soon. TfL is formalising the temporary network created in 2019, aiming to reduce bus volumes on residential streets , maintain essential links for Barnes residents and simplify routes that became distorted after the bridge closure.