A new bus route providing a direct connection between the Jewish communities of Golders Green and Stamford Hill has been launched, with London Mayor
Sadiq Khan acknowledging the initiative is aimed at “reassuring the Jewish community they are safe.”
The single-decker 310 bus service began operating across north London this week, following a surge in antisemitic incidents after October 7, which prompted the mayor to deem the new route necessary.
Speaking to Jewish News during the official launch on Monday from a 310 bus traveling from Golders Green, Mayor Khan said, “I have listened and heard the concerns of Jewish Londoners, and these concerns are real.”
He highlighted the fear expressed by the Jewish community due to the "massive increase in antisemitism since October 7." He recounted stories of families who, when transferring buses at Finsbury Park while traveling between Golders Green and Stamford Hill, faced abuse and felt unsafe.
“This direct route not only connects congregations and families but also provides reassurance to the Jewish community that they will be safe when they travel,” Khan added.
The launch event was attended by representatives from the London Jewish Forum, Jewish Leadership Council, and Board of Deputies, alongside politicians such as Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman and London Assembly member Councillor Anne Clarke.
The 310 bus will follow the same path as the 210, which connects Brent Cross and Finsbury Park via Golders Green, Highgate Village, and Archway, as well as the 253, which runs between Finsbury Park and Stamford Hill Broadway.
The mayor noted that communal groups had been advocating for a bus route linking these two significant Jewish areas for 16 years. He recalled a lively mayoral election hustings at JW3 earlier this year, where his promise to introduce the 310 route received the loudest applause.
Mayor Khan admitted that Transport for London (TfL) officials initially told him there was “no business case” for the new route, which comes at a cost of £3.2 million. However, he argued that “public transport is a public service,” making the case for subsidizing the 310 route. Photo by U.S. Embassy London, Wikimedia commons.
