Bus dubbed as completely pointless is finally scrapped

A bus which didn't feature on any official timetables - and generally had no passengers on board - has taken its last journey from Ealing.

The 'Ghost Bus' - as it was dubbed - was a once a week rail replacement service which the Department for Transport (DfT) had to introduce four years ago when a rail line between Birmingham and Brighton was scrapped.

It left Ealing Broadway at 9.45am every Tuesday via Kensington Olympia station and arrived at Wandsworth Road in South London seventy minutes later. It then turned around and returned.

It was funded by the DfT, at a cost of £500 per journey, and, when this became public knowledge, was criticised as the most pointless bus ever.

A spokesperson from the DfT said:

'' The previous Government chose to require the operation of a rail replacement bus service between Ealing Broadway and Wandsworth Road rather than going through the full service closure process.

“After a detailed review of the situation, the Department concluded the service did not offer value for money for the taxpayer and has since gone through the necessary consultation process to allow its closure.”

Only a very few people knew about the 'Ghost Bus' and those few made the last journey (with an ITV reporter) on Tuesday (11th June).

See her report here

13th June 2013