Transport for London finally releases the Big Red Book Sixth Edition!

Big Red Book Sixth Edition
TfL Image

The long-awaited Big Red Book Sixth Edition has finally been published by Transport for London (TfL). Rather than being published through TfL's Freedom of Information disclosure log, it has instead been released directly on the TfL website.

London Bus Tender Awards: More New Electric Buses for Route 307

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that Arriva London has retained route 307 with new electric buses, alongside the existing fleet of Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners that are currently in service.

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

New Contactless PAYG Maximum Fare Trial of £30.40 and TfL's Visitor Centres Stop Selling Magnetic Paper Tickets

As Transport for London's (TfL) Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure log hasn't updated since early July 2026, I've started to keep an eye on the FOI requests on the What Do They Know website. The news is a bit late as a result, but I have decided to report on it in a separate article to raise awareness—especially for users of Contactless Pay As You Go (PAYG).

Singapore Bus Tender Awards: SMRT Buses Wins the Serangoon-Eunos Bus Package

In the London, I mean Singapore, Bus Tender Awards, the Land Transport Authority has awarded routes 11, 22, 53, 58, 59, 60, 63, 64, 90, 94, 101, 103, 105, 109, 134, 137, 140, 141, 146, 148, 150, 154, 158, 315 and 317 to SMRT Buses.

From The LTA press release:

The Secret and Unbuilt Variants of the New Routemaster

Between 2010 and 2018, London's bus network saw the introduction of 1,000 three-door, two-staircase New Routemasters (NRM), alongside a small production run of nine two-door, single-staircase Wright SRMs ("Son of Routemaster").

Several readers noticed in my previous article that I compiled a directory of publicly accessible links regarding the New Routemaster bus. Fascinatingly, a Freedom of Information (FOI) release on the Greater London Authority website has revealed some incredible, little-known details about what could have been for the NRM fleet.

First Bus Essex Unveils Cross-Boundary Extension of Route B1 to Harold Wood Station – Launching Sunday 26 July 2026

Back in May 2026, I published an article making the case for more cross-boundary bus services. I highlighted how areas just outside Greater London suffer from a distinct lack of connectivity, pointing out major gaps like Transport for London's (TfL) route 375 terminating short at Passingford Bridge instead of Ongar, and the missing link between Waltham Abbey and Chingford.

It is incredibly rewarding to see progress being made on this exact issue so quickly.

Does Transport for London Have Too Much Power in Decision-Making?

Public transport forms part of our critical national infrastructure, serving as a vital asset to both the economy and society. With a significant portion of the population unable to drive a car due to factors such as age, financial hardship, disability, underlying health conditions, or legal restrictions like criminal convictions, a well-functioning transport network is a necessity rather than a luxury.

The purpose of this article is not to disparage Transport for London (TfL), but rather to examine whether the current legislative framework provides sufficient accountability for TfL's decision-making. As a major public body, TfL must remain strictly accountable to the public, operating under the Nolan Principles of public life, which mandate objectivity, accountability, and openness.

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses for Routes 28/N28, 191, 260 and 302

As London is experiencing a heatwave, and with a fleet of over 3,000 zero-emission buses, Transport for London (TfL) has announced that more routes will be converted to zero-emission battery-electric buses. These routes are 28/N28, 191, 260 and 302.

The New Routemaster Files: A Directory of Publicly Available Documents

Highlights of publicly available documents concerning the New Routemaster project.

In this article, I have compiled a comprehensive directory of freely available documents and information to make it easier for researchers and enthusiasts to find in-depth, behind-the-scenes information about the New Routemaster (NRM) bus, also known as the New Bus for London (NBfL).

This shows the evolution of the NRM, which was originally envisioned as a half-cab open-platform bus; it launched as a three-door, two-staircase vehicle with an open platform and a second crew member, transitioned into a one-person operation with open boarding, and eventually moved to front-door-only boarding to combat fare evasion.

Transport for London announces over 3,000 zero-emission buses in service!

3,000th zero-emission bus - TfL Image

Transport for London (TfL) have announced in a press release that there are now over 3,000 zero-emission buses in service, marking a major green milestone for the capital.

Highlights of the press release:

The capital’s iconic red buses have hit a major green milestone ahead of Clean Air Day (18 June) with 3,000 zero-emission buses now in operation – around a third of the Transport for London (TfL) fleet.