With the Victoria Line being closed for three weeks at the North East end of the line, Transport for London (TfL) have put on a special bus route, the 'express' 558 from Chingford Mount to Seven Sisters, Monday to Friday.

The route takes the same route as the 158, stopping at all stops until Blackhorse Road Tube, when it then becomes an express and then just stops at Tottenham Hale Tube Station and Seven Sisters Tube Station.  

I propose that TfL keep the 558 route once the tube works are complete.

The 158 cannot cope with the amount of people from Higham Hill, Highams Park and Chingford Mount trying to catch it every day and buses often travel past packed at all hours of the day and night, but most noticeably in the rush hour.

This situation will only get worse as thousands of new residents move into new flats along the route in the coming months, many of whom will invariably want to get to work on the Victoria line.

I propose TfL should:

Keep the 558 route running Monday to Friday, with the following alternative suggestions to be considered:

• Analyse whether Chingford Mount to Blackhorse Road Tube Station or Tottenham Hale Tube Station (and therefore the Stanstead Express) may be more viable than running to Seven Sisters.
• Analyse whether there is a need for this bus route at weekends as well. 
• Analyse whether the route should divert down Higham Hill Road and then down Forest Road to Blackhorse Road Tube Station.
• Make it an actual express route, (like buses in West London) which will stop at every third or fourth bus stop along the route, making it quicker than other local bus routes.