Buses in London are getting slower, according to the latest figures produced by Transport for London.

The statistics show a clear trend of reduced speeds for bus services across the capital and there are fears that this trend will continue when the figures for the last quarter are studied later in the month.

London TravelWatch’s Stephen Locke said that the slowing bus speeds remain one of the major concerns of London transport and has been flagged up for several years.

He said that this latest data shows that there are still a significant number of buses getting caught up in the city’s congestion, particularly in the inner London area, while the group has also noted alarming speed reductions on services across the city.

Mr Locke added that this means there will be more buses required just to keep frequencies at their current level, which is an inefficient use of resources.

The latest figures show that the average speed of a London bus has fallen to just nine miles per hour over the past two years.

However, some areas are experiencing slower speeds than others – the average bus speed in Hillingdon is 13 mph, compared with just 6 mph in the City of London.

Professor David Begg compiled a report last week that advocated greener journeys. In his report he pointed out the impact congestion is having on buses and their passengers in the capital.

Mr Locke also said that this is a problem that will affect all Londoners, with time being wasted and passengers becoming frustrated with the slow pace of their journey. Furthermore, it is costing TfL a great amount of its resources.

He added that the new Mayor must address the impact of congestion on London’s roads and its subsequent effect on bus services as one of his main priorities.

Turning this around, he said, will benefit passengers as well as save resources for TfL.