TfL has apologised for disruption after a Hertfordshire bus company pulled out of its contracts with the body.

In a statement yesterday evening (August 2), Sullivan Buses, based in South Mimms, said it was withdrawing from all of its Transport for London contracts from that night on.

As a result, the following routes are currently “subject to journey cancellations”: 217, 298, 299, 327, 389, 399, 549, and the W9. These routes serve various areas in north London and links out to the edges of Hertfordshire and Essex.

All of the company’s commercial operations in Hertfordshire are unaffected and will continue to operate as normal.

Rosie Trew, TfL’s head of bus service delivery, said: “We’re sorry for any disruption caused to people’s journeys due to the withdrawal of the bus operator, Sullivan Buses.

“We are working hard to provide alternative travel options for people in the north London area with eight bus routes affected.

“We encourage those who are affected to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys and check before they travel using our website or the TfL Go app.”

Sullivan Buses said that pressures on TfL’s funding “clearly had an impact” on its decision and said remuneration for TfL’s services has not kept pace with increasing costs, leading to a £200,000 per month shortfall in income from the contracts.

Financial penalties due to increased traffic post-Covid were also highlighted as an issue.

According to the statement, it had “a number of contracts” already due to expire early next year and had not been able to renew them.

Managing director Dean Sullivan said: “In June we met with TfL representatives to discuss this and other issues the business was facing.

“TfL told us that they struggled to incorporate small businesses such as ours within their corporate model.”

Mr Sullivan claims that TfL owed over £130,000 in June and while the issue was soon resolved, he says TfL asked if it could “repay in instalments”.

“Any inevitable reduction in funding will lead to a further decline in performance and this is not something we are willing to support,” he added.