Transport for London (TfL) confirmed the change as part of a series of timetable adjustments taking place across the capital on Saturday (October 11).
The Route 51 bus serves several busy areas including St Mary Cray, Sidcup, Blackfen, Welling, and Plumstead Common.
Under the new temporary schedule, buses will run every 11 minutes during the daytime from Monday to Saturday, instead of the usual frequency. Evening and Sunday services will remain unchanged.
London’s buses provide a vital service for millions of residents, commuters, and visitors every day, linking neighbourhoods across the city and connecting with Tube, rail, and Overground services.
Passengers are advised to check the new timetables and allow extra time for their journeys, as the updates affect both daytime and evening services on multiple routes across the city.
The following changes will take place from Saturday, October 11, 2025:
Route 11 will have a new timetable on all days of the week with the frequency restored to run every 10 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays and every 12 minutes during the evenings and all day on Sundays.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 51 widening the frequency of the service to every 11 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays. No change during the evenings or on Sundays. This timetable will be in place until works on Woolwich Road are complete.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 99 widening the frequency of the service to every 13 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays. No change during the evenings or on Sundays. This timetable will be in place until works on Woolwich Road are complete.
Route 144 will have a new timetable on all days of the week with the frequency reduced to every 10 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays. The frequency during the daytime on Sundays will remain at a bus every 10 minutes with the evening frequency remaining at a bus every 12 minutes on all days of the week. Route 144 will be operated by Go Ahead from this date.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 178 widening the frequency of the service to every 17 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays. No change during the evenings or on Sundays. This timetable will be in place until works on Woolwich Road are complete.
Route 224 will have a new timetable on all days of the week with minor changes to times.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 244 widening the frequency of the service to every 11 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays. No change during the evenings or on Sundays. This timetable will be in place until works on Woolwich Road are complete.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 291 widening the frequency of the service to every 12 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays. No change during the evenings or on Sundays. This timetable will be in place until works on Woolwich Road are complete.
Route 360 will have a new timetable on all days of the week with the frequency restored to run every 12 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays, every 15 minutes during the daytime on Sundays and every 20 minutes during the evening on all days of the week.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 386 widening the frequency of the service to every 16-17 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays. No change during the evenings or on Sundays. This timetable will be in place until works on Woolwich Road are complete.
A temporary timetable will be introduced on route 469 widening the frequency of the service to every 16-17 minutes during the daytime on Monday to Saturdays. No change during the evenings or on Sundays. This timetable will be in place until works on Woolwich Road are complete.
Route H11 will have a new timetable on all days of the week with journey times revised to better reflect current traffic levels.
