Residents across Sutton, Wallington, and Carshalton are being left stranded for over an hour at bus stops following a controversial cut to a key local bus service. Transport for London (TfL) reduced the frequency of the S4 route, leading to reports of overcrowded buses, missed journeys, and growing pressure on schools and vulnerable people.
Immediate Impact on Daily Life
The changes, introduced on November 29, 2025, saw the S4 route's weekday and Saturday daytime service slashed from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes, a schedule now applied seven days a week. Operated by Metrobus between Waddon Marsh and Sutton, the route serves vital locations including Belmont Station and the Royal Marsden Hospital.
Since the timetable change, passengers have reported long waits and buses arriving already full. The Local Democracy Reporting Service witnessed the issue first-hand while travelling with West Sutton resident Margaret Reith, who depends on the S4 to visit a friend in a Carshalton care home.
"This would turn you off getting a bus," said Margaret, after a journey of more than ninety minutes to cover less than four miles. On her return trip, she was forced to wait one hour and 15 minutes for the next bus at an exposed hail-and-ride point with no shelter.
Schools and Safety Concerns
The reduced service is having a severe impact on local education. Oaks Park High School, served by the S4, has seen dozens of students left waiting for more than 30 minutes, only for many to be unable to board because buses are at capacity.
"Quite a few kids did not get on the bus because it was already full," explained Head Teacher Amit Amin. He added that some students simply walked home, believing there was no point waiting longer. With around a third of pupils relying on the S4, the capacity cut has forced more parents to drive, worsening local congestion.
Amit also raised significant safety concerns, describing how delays cause crowds of up to 70 students to spill from narrow bus stops into private driveways. "I haven't seen crowds that big before," he stated.
Calls for Restoration and TfL's Defence
The cuts have drawn criticism from local experts and politicians. Bus analyst Nash Travelman, who focuses on the Roundshaw area, called the S4 a vital "shopper hopper bus" and said the reduction makes "little sense" in an era of promoting active travel. He criticised TfL for limited public engagement and a lack of clarity over the decision.
Carshalton and Wallington MP Bobby Dean is now calling for the full service to be restored. "The cuts to the S4 bus are simply not on. School children and local residents need public transport they can depend on," he said, urging residents to sign an open letter to TfL.
In response, TfL stated the changes followed a detailed review of demand. Geoff Hobbs, TfL's Director of Public Transport Service Planning, said the new timetable allows them to "operate the service efficiently, improve reliability and better match capacity to demand." He confirmed that, as with all bus changes, the situation will be kept under review. TfL also noted that bus frequency changes do not require public consultation, but that local stakeholders were notified in advance.
