It has been 10 years since TfL, the London Mayor (now currently Prime Minister) Boris Johnson and Heatherwick Studios unveiled the final design of the most controversial three-door, two-staircase hybrid bus known as the New Routemaster,back in 2010.
We take a look at the press release from TfL when they unveiled the final design of the New Routemaster on 17th May 2010.
From TfL press release
The final design of the New Bus for London, based on the much-loved Routemaster, was today unveiled by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy.
Pioneering design
The bus will use the latest green technology. It will be 15 per cent more fuel efficient than existing hybrid buses, and 40 per cent more efficient than conventional diesel double decks and much quieter on the streets.
The pioneering design makes use of lightweight materials, with glass highlighting key features and producing a light and airy feel inside the bus.
An impressive glass 'swoop' at the rear and offside pick out the two staircases and provide a dramatic visual effect.
An asymmetric design for the front-end completes the futuristic look.
Stylish, swooshing exterior
The open platform is a defining feature, shared with the Routemaster of old, and allows the reinstatement of a hop-on, hop-off service.
Three doors and two staircases will aid speedier and smoother boarding.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'This iconic new part of our transport system is not only beautiful, but also has a green heart beating beneath its stylish, swooshing exterior.
'It will cut emissions, and give Londoners a bus they can be proud of, complete with cutting edge design, and the freedom of an open platform.
Loved by Londoners
'I expect to eventually have hundreds of these on London's roads, and for cities around the globe to be beside themselves with envy for our stunning red emblem of 21st century London.'
Peter Hendy, London's Transport Commissioner, said: 'Designing and building a new bus exclusively for London is an exciting project to be working on and one of which we are all proud.
'This beautifully designed, environmentally friendly vehicle built for the Capital will be loved by Londoners for many years to come.'
Mark Nodder, Group Managing Director of Wrightbus, said: 'This project is not just about evolution, it's about revolution.
Quicker access
'I think the design is genuinely groundbreaking, people are really going to stop and notice these buses on the streets of London.'
Wrightbus and Transport for London (TfL) have been working with Heatherwick Studio as a collaborative design partner taking the lead on the styling of the bus to support Wrightbus in the design and development process.
The bus will feature two staircases, enabling easier and quicker access to and from the upper deck.
There will be two conventional doors and an open rear platform, which has the option to be closed off at quiet times for example during the night.
Wrightbus engineers are working on a static mock-up of the bus to be complete later this year with the first prototype to be delivered late next year, the new buses will enter service from early 2012.
Here are several more press releases from the early stages of the New Routemaster project before full production started, which you can enjoy reading.
Mayor hops on his new bus for London (mock up)
Now for a brief recap from my previous articles
The original purpose of the New Routemaster was to bring back the open platform as part of Boris Johnson’s 2008 Mayoral election pledge. The conductors enabled the open platform operation which only served six routes (9, 10, 11, 24, 38 & 390) and they were withdrawn in September 2016.
There was controversy though with the NRM which had received negative publicity including fare evasion because of three door boarding. There were air cooling problems too which later resulted in window openings and also battery faults causing the NRM to only operate in diesel mode.
The cost of the entire project including design and rollout of 1,000 vehicles cost £346 million from TfL’s budget. They are leased to private bus operators for their contracted routes as the London bus operators pay the lease rental of £1 per NRM bus per year to TfL.
The first New Routemaster entered service on 27th February 2012 on route 38 and the last NRM entered service on route 267 on 19th February 2018.
Routes currently served using New Routemaster buses
Currently, there are 37 London Bus routes and 24 night routes served with New Routemasters.
The routes are: 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 21, 24, 27, 38, 55, 59, 67, 68, 73, 76, 87, 91, 137, 148, 149, 159, 168, 176, 189, 211, 253, 254, 267, 390, 415, 153, EL1, EL2, EL3.
And night routes: N3, N8, N9, N11, 12, N15, N16, N19, 24, N27, N38, N55, N73, 76, N87, 148, 149, 159, 176, 189, N253, 390, 453, EL1.
New Routemaster style buses outside London
The New Routemaster has certainly helped bus manufacturers improve the design of their double deck models by adopting certain designs such as the glazed staircase which is now seen on various services in Britain and elsewhere.
Bristol
Today we launched into service our fleet of 13 new bio-methane fuelled buses onto South Glos Lynx services T1 and Y1. All buses are fitted with USB charging points so you can charge your phone on the go! pic.twitter.com/GIQdliHS7a— First West of England (@FirstBSA) March 18, 2020
The first of Bristol’s new 2020 bio-methane gas buses have hit the roads as part of First West of England’s major investment in improving Bristol’s air quality. 🚌https://t.co/V0oRVdgajo pic.twitter.com/JhyGZoU8Ck— First West of England (@FirstBSA) January 24, 2020
Blackpool
We couldn't let the year-end without doing our #10yearchallenge!
Haven't we aged well😉
Have a great New Year! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/gcr3Pnpgr8— Blackpool Transport (@BPL_Transport) December 31, 2019
A sneak peak at the stairway on the first of our new ADL Enviro 400 buses! pic.twitter.com/JESIlzqmRI— Blackpool Transport (@BPL_Transport) June 13, 2016
Cambridge
Take a closer look at our two new electric buses!💚💙 pic.twitter.com/RFW275TCAg— Stagecoach East (@Stagecoach_East) February 11, 2020
Edinburgh
Our Cruiselink bus services returns next month.
Look our for the X99 from Queensferry and the NEW X50 from Newhaven.https://t.co/rqc7lAz6Cy pic.twitter.com/uNCw4X3pvq— Lothian Buses (@on_lothianbuses) April 5, 2019
ADL presents the new 100-seat Enviro400XLB three-axle double decker, developed in close collaboration with @on_lothianbuses and chassis manufacturer @VolvoBusUK. 42 of these 13.4m high-capacity buses will enter service in Edinburgh from January onwards. https://t.co/v43PjAZJzh pic.twitter.com/L70l0uDqex— Alexander Dennis (@ADLbus) November 8, 2018
Glasgow
Flying from @GLA_Airport on a business trip next week? Take the Glasgow Airport Express from the City Centre for a fast and frequent connection to the airport ➡️ https://t.co/adRPJAttAh pic.twitter.com/Y8Jyruwn3u— First Glasgow (@FirstinGlasgow) November 1, 2019
Manchester
Today is the day where our brand spanking new electric buses meet the public for the first time, you can find them on our 43 and 111 services. pic.twitter.com/SJyR1Aolvy— Stagecoach Manchester & Wigan (@StagecoachGM) March 1, 2020
Nottingham
And we’re happy we’ve been able to step up to the mark and be involved in bringing this bus into existence together with our partners at @ScaniaUK! pic.twitter.com/moBUb3gVjr— Alexander Dennis (@ADLbus) November 16, 2017
Well hello, Yellow! One of our brand new bio-gas buses for the 68 and 69 to #Basford and #Bulwell is attending an industry golf day today, raising money for @MDUK_News pic.twitter.com/LnMjZjlZF5— Nottingham City Transport (@NCT_Buses) September 12, 2019
#ComingSoon the last route to be upgraded from our order of 67 low emission bio-gas double deck buses this year. But they aren’t the last new buses to join the fleet this year 🤐 pic.twitter.com/wzDt9uWdhj— Nottingham City Transport (@NCT_Buses) August 28, 2019
Plymouth
As the nights draw in, bright buses make a welcoming sight for waiting passengers – especially when lit up such as this @plymouthbus Enviro400 during the the city's recent Illuminate Light Festival.
[📸 Nick Rice (https://t.co/I1jTR2obxY), CC BY-ND 2.0 (https://t.co/T2nH8KUCFe)] pic.twitter.com/wreyKnSC7N— Alexander Dennis (@ADLbus) December 9, 2019
Reading
Here's the New Routemaster getting ready for service on purple 17 on Monday! It will be out c.0800-1000 & 1400-1800 pic.twitter.com/BKPnJHyloC— Reading Buses (@reading_buses) August 14, 2015
The test trial of the New Routemaster and Enviro400H City has encouraged Reading Buses to purchase the Enviro400CBG with City bodywork for Purple 17 service.
Amongst all of this afternoon's traffic madness, we're delighted to put the first of our brand new bio-gas buses into service on our purple 17 route. It's just left the depot! Please let us know what you think if you get to travel onboard 👍 pic.twitter.com/MyzWT0OPoo— Reading Buses (@reading_buses) December 22, 2017
Wrexham/Chester
Take a look at our new video on Sapphire Service 1, travelling Wrexham to Chester! ➡ https://t.co/8HPQDGRbF6 #BusIsUs pic.twitter.com/3yYncfbyfV— Arriva Buses Wales (@arrivabuswales) September 24, 2018
Hong Kong
During late 2013, the demonstration of the New Routemaster in Hong Kong encouraged bus operator KMB to adopt the glazed staircase design to their fleet of new buses.
[2019/03/22] KMB Volvo B8L 12m With Wright Gemini 3 Facelift Bodywork
V6B1/WA4799@69X-03
The First Gemini 3 Facelift B8L enters service with another MCV B8L on KMB route 69X.
Wright introduces a Glass Staircase design on its new bodywork, which is first been seen in HK! pic.twitter.com/U6k4Qeb66E— Ka Hung Yue (@Lrt1001Hk) March 22, 2019
16/4
短車退役在即，#九巴 向 ADL 引進11.3 米版本的 Enviro500 MMC Facelift，取代10.6米版本的丹尼士三叉戟及超級富豪奧林比安，亦是繼富豪奧林比安退役後，九巴再次購入 11.3 米的巴士。新巴士今日到土瓜灣驗車中心進行車輛類型評定。
疫症下最新巴士時間表
請瀏覽📲 ➡ https://t.co/mn8RiMwUKu pic.twitter.com/FX9luKHuoW— 魚市場 HKWFM (@HKWholesaleFish) April 16, 2020
Egyptian bus manufacturer, MCV have adopted the glazed staircase to their double deck design for Hong Kong bus operator KMB.
15/4
昨晚運車船 Dione Leader 從埃及運來 #九巴 首部配置 MCV 玻璃樓梯車身的 12.8 米 #富豪B8L，再一次以新塗裝現身香港。巴士車身外漆上九巴近年來所提倡的企業形象品牌ー「#城市脈搏」標誌，玻璃梯下的九巴標誌配有微微的黑色陰影。
疫症下最新巴士時間表
請瀏覽📲 ➡ https://t.co/7z3kdJoID5 pic.twitter.com/jFkLD9cadP— 魚市場 HKWFM (@HKWholesaleFish) April 15, 2020
A couple more cities are set to have double deck buses with the glazed staircase; the cities are Berlin and Singapore.
I personally believe the classic ‘half-cab’ double decker icon for London has evolved to be the double decker bus with glazed staircase and the design can be seen throughout many areas of Britain in different colours.
‘Successor’ to the New Routemaster for London
I think designing a new exclusive bus for London is obsolete now because bus manufacturers have already designed their own double deck models containing design cues from the New Routemaster.
During early 2015, the Mayor and management of TfL held a meeting with bus managers to encourage bus manufacturers to improve their double deck models by adopting New Routemaster styling for the dual door, single staircase buses for London.
During the autumn of 2015, Alexander Dennis (ADL) unveiled the Enviro400H City which takes design cues from the New Routemaster, then in late 2015 they first appeared on route 78 operated by Arriva London. The New Routemaster designer Thomas Heatherwick praised the design as a “back-to-front” compliment.
I’ve detailed the full reason, with evidence, in my previous article on how TfL planned to progress with the bus fleet once the New Routemaster project had ended.
Routes served by two-door, single-staircase New Routemaster style buses
The Alexander Dennis Enviro400H City serve routes: 20, 26, 78, 133, 333, 388 and night routes N26, N133, N550, N551.
The zero emission ADL/BYD Enviro400EV City serve routes: 43, 94, 212 and night route 94.
Upcoming routes to use these buses are: 106, 173, 174, 230, 319, 357 and school route 673
The Wrightbus SRM bodied Volvo B5LH(C) is partially served on routes 37 and 183. You can read more on why the SRM failed to gain sales in my previous article here.
Zero-emission New Routemaster style buses
Now it’s important for bus manufacturers to rollout thousands of zero-emission battery and hydrogen buses in order to reduce air pollution.
We see the fleet of zero-emission Enviro400EV City buses is increasing for London, and bus operators are choosing to use their own interior colour scheme instead of using the New Routemaster style interior. I once suggested in a previous article that TfL should set out a standard interior livery for new buses purchased or leased by the private bus operators.
I do think though that bus manufacturers (Optare and Wrightbus) should build a new double decker bus with design features which go beyond the New Routemaster styling.
I’ve mentioned in a previous article that Jo Bamford proposed that his hydrogen buses will be ‘state-of-the-art’, although the current double deck hydrogens have Gemini 3 bodywork. We’ll have to wait and see what happens once the hydrogen project has progressed further. Also, thanks to Jo Bamford for saving Wrightbus from Administration.
Future three-door, two-staircase buses?
I suggest that bus manufacturers should build a zero-emission variant of the New Routemaster style bus with three doors and two staircases. This will give TfL the option to potentially replace the hybrid New Routemaster bus with a newer zero-emission bus with a similar spec to the New Routemaster.
Currently we are in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic which has forced changes to many things in life. This has caused London buses to use middle-door boarding because of social distancing.
Before the pandemic TfL was trying to convert New Routemaster routes to front-door only boarding to help reduce fare evasion; you can read about it in my previous article here.
I have mentioned that one city in mainland Europe has three-door buses with front door entry only.
NÁSTUP PŘEDNÍMI DVEŘMI V PŘÍMĚSTSKÝCH AUTOBUSECH I Od 20. 4. bude obnoven nástup předními dveřmi v příměstských autobusech na území hlavního města Prahy a Středočeského kraje.
❗️U městských autobusů zůstávají přední dveře pro cestující uzavřené.
➡️https://t.co/DBIZlZym0C pic.twitter.com/tp5GgNqF4E— Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy, akciová společnost (@DPPOficialni) April 17, 2020
It will depend if TfL decides to continue to provide services with the three-door, two-staircase layout buses once the New Routemaster reaches the 14 year life cycle.
I believe the three-door, two-staircase buses are ideal for ‘bus rapid transit’ services to provide faster boarding. There is a bus rapid transit service in London named the East London Transit (routes EL1, EL2 and EL3). They are currently served using New Routemasters and no doubt they will change to front door only boarding once the Coronavirus pandemic ends.
Conclusion
I would prefer London Buses to retain a huge mixture of makes and models for various bus routes; I personally believe it would be boring to have a standardised fleet, therefore bus manufacturers should continue to use different shapes (boxyness or curves) and styles for their bus designs.
The New Routemaster does have a ‘successor’ which has now spread to services throughout Britain and they have certainly helped bus operators make their services more attractive by adopting the glazed staircase to their double-deck models which makes it eye-catching for the public.
The electric taxi manufacturer LEVC uses the iconic design of their taxicab dedicated for London in the rest of Britain and around the world. Bus manufacturers could do the same by standardising their double-deck models with New Routemaster style design for their zero-emission products.
We’ll have to wait and see for updates from the bus manufacturers once the Coronavirus pandemic ends.
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