A passenger has died nine months after suffering a serious fall aboard a London bus, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed in a new safety report.
The incident occurred on March 15, 2024, aboard a route 5 bus, which runs between Romford and Canning Town via Barking. The passenger was hospitalised with injuries sustained in the fall and later died in hospital on December 30, nearly nine months after the incident.
Details of the case were disclosed in a report due to be presented to the TfL board next week, which outlines a series of recent fatalities and serious incidents across London’s public transport network.
Series of Fatal Incidents Raise Safety Concerns
The document highlights several other tragic cases in early 2025, including:
- A passenger death following a fall on a Croydon tram on January 14, as it passed Reeves Corner. The individual died in hospital on March 8.
- A woman killed on February 8 when a car collided with a stationary bus on Lea Bridge Road in Clapton.
- A similar collision occurred two weeks later on Bessborough Road, Harrow, when a car struck a stationary bus, fatally injuring pedestrian Chithra Vanmeeganathan, and injuring two others who were taken to hospital.
Environmental Concerns Also Raised
Beyond passenger safety, the report also mentions a diesel spill at Thornton Heath bus garage on February 18, which resulted in fuel entering the River Wandle.
TfL described the incident as a serious environmental concern, stating:
“Any pollution into London’s waterways is completely unacceptable and we will play our part in tackling river pollution both from roads we control and our vehicle fleet.”
TfL Reaffirms Commitment to Safety
TfL reiterated its commitment to safety in the report, referencing its Vision Zero action plan, which aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from London’s transport network by 2041.
A spokesperson said:
“Safety is the priority in everything we do, and it is neither inevitable nor acceptable that anyone should be killed or seriously injured when travelling in London.”
TfL also cited its Bus Action Plan, which sets an ambitious target of ensuring no one is killed on, or by, a London bus by 2030.
The report is expected to prompt further discussion on safety improvements, including better passenger protection onboard buses and further enforcement of road safety measures to prevent accidents involving stationary buses and pedestrians.
