The case for enhancing cross-boundary bus services for London and the Home Counties to end the postcode lottery

1967 London Transport Board Central Buses Map

This is a follow-up to my article regarding the reinstatement of the London Passenger Transport Area, in which prior to 1970, London Transport served the areas outside the Greater London Council area with green Country Bus services. Then after 1970, they were transferred over to the National Bus Company; these services were fully fragmented after the deregulation of bus services in October 1986. The London Passenger Transport Area also predates the creation of the Greater London Area in 1965.

London Bus Tender Awards: Retentions for First Bus and Stagecoach

In this round of London Bus Tender Awards, Transport for London (TfL) has announced that routes 116 and 117 has been retained by First Bus (London United), and school route 667 has been retained by Stagecoach London, both using existing vehicles.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

New weekend Super Hopper fare for London's buses and trams for the summer

With the local election period over and Sadiq Khan marking 10 years as the Mayor of London, he has released a surprise announcement regarding transport fares.

Press release by the Greater London Authority:

The Postcode Lottery of Free Travel: Why the "London Boundary" remains a Mess

This is a follow up from my previous articles regarding free travel concessions, especially in regards with my research where Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists get free travel on TfL services and National Rail in Greater London. While that is a great benefit for athletes, the general "mess" of validity for disabled and elderly travellers remains a significant issue.

London Bus Tender Awards: School Route 632 to use three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters

With the start of May 2026, Transport for London (TfL) has announced that the bus operating company Metroline has retained routes 140, 182, 186, and 632.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

The Little-Known Free TfL Travel Concession for a Select Group

Athlete's Oyster Photocard

There is a secret free travel scheme which is known only by TfL staff and a selected group of people: the Elite Athlete's Oyster photocard. Holders of this card receive free travel on Transport for London (TfL) services and most railway services from zones 1-9. To be eligible, they must be a highly ranked athlete, such as a gold medalist, as defined by the British Olympic Association (BOA). The purpose of this article is to show the research about this scheme which has not been widely publicised.

London Bus Tender Awards: Electrification for Routes 128 and 359

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that London bus routes 128 and 359 will be using new electric buses, which may enter service at the end of this year (2026).

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

London Bus Tender Awards: First Bus London secures five School Bus Routes; South Yorkshire launches Franchising Procurement; and Bus Éireann takes over Limerick Route 310

This news follows the official reports first released on 14th April 2026. It confirms that First Bus London (operating as London United) has successfully retained four school bus contracts and gained one additional route. These services will continue to be operated using existing diesel and hybrid vehicles that meet Euro VI emissions standards.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

My Thoughts on the New Bus Stop Shelter Trial at Romford Station

A New Bus Stop Shelter trial at Romford Station

As I write this on World Public Transport Day, I’m sharing my review of the new bus shelter design currently being trialled at Romford station.

The stop was quite busy, so I couldn't capture every angle, but the layout feels more premium than the initial designs shown in the press release I reported on previously. While it is a strong start, there is definitely room for improvement.

Transport for London reveals trial locations for new bus stop shelters

TfL Image - New Bus Shelter Design in Southwark

Transport for London (TfL) has revealed the list of bus stops featuring the new shelter design as part of a trial to improve accessibility, safety, and the customer experience.

You can read more about the new bus stop shelter trial in my previous article.

The list was released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and has been published on the TfL website.

Request ID: FOI-4284-2526
Date published: 09 April 2026

New Shelters Trial: