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1 month ago
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With a staggering 19,000 bus stops scattered across London, it's no wonder some of them end up in the most peculiar places. Transport for London (TfL) has always aimed to ensure that 99 per cent of Londoners live within 400 metres of a bus route.
One of the most bizarre situations is on the A102 Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach in Tower Hamlets, known as London's most polluted road.
Here, the bustling 24-hour bus route 108 (Stratford International-Lewisham) merges with the four-lane main road to cross the River Thames to the south.
Before 2016, the route used a longer stretch of the A102, meaning bus stops on the road were the only way for locals in Blackwall to catch the popular route. However, this changed when the 108 swapped routes with the D8, with both now stopping at All Saints Church, just 300 metres away.
Two bus stops for the 108 service have been tucked away in lay-bys at the junction of the A102 and East India Dock Road. The northbound stop is no longer in use due to a re-routing of the 108, but the southbound one remains operational.
However, it's not the most inviting place to wait for a bus. Access to the stop is via an unmarked stairwell that's dark, covered in graffiti and generally unpleasant.
The bus stop itself faces the road, so it's in public view, but the stairwell is hidden away. To add to the eerie atmosphere, the nearby tunnel portal, which can just about be seen from the stop, is rumoured to be haunted.
But there is one small consolation for history enthusiasts waiting in this cloud of nitrogen oxide - a plaque marking the opening of the Blackwall Tunnel is located on the wall next to the southbound bus shelter. It provides a welcome distraction from the lorries as you wait for your bus to Lewisham.
London's multi-lane carriageways present a unique challenge for bus routes, as they must balance the need for resident access with maintaining traffic flow. Bus routes often utilise slip roads to minimise disruption, such as route 112 (North Finchley-Ealing) along the North Circular Road and 265 (Putney Bridge-Tolworth) along the Kingston By-Pass.
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