A New Routemaster spotted on London Vehicle Finder
The New Routemaster first began operating on Saturday 17th
January 2015, but officially the new contract for Route 55, given to Stagecoach
London, commences on the 28th February 2015.
Recently, London Buses route 137 received New Routemasters which officially
started on 6th December 2014.
·Route 55 starts from Leyton
Green and goes to Oxford Circus via Shoreditch and will be operated by
Stagecoach London from Leyton (T) Garage.
·Route 137 starts from
Streatham Hill going to Oxford Circus via Chelsea Bridge and is operated by
Arriva London from Brixton (BN) Garage.
So far Route 137 and 55 is 'One Man Operation' which means there
will be no conductor on board, so the rear door operates as a normal door. So
don’t get confused if you think that the ‘New Routemaster’ would give
you the freedom to jump on and off between stops. It’s just a double decker
with three doors and two staircases.
Let's just recap here about the New Routemaster project, TFL ordered the extra 200 New Routemasters
which will extend the fleet to 800 New Routemaster buses. TFL have stated on
their board papers that they have no plans to order more New Routemasters
because the manufactures are planning to build their own double decks with ‘NRM
Features’, possible specification will be a 3 door and 2 staircase.
