Late September 2016 London Bus tender awards

New awards with some routes gaining new futuristic buses

Breaking News -huge tender awards from London Buses.

The following TfL contracts have been announced today:

Delays to route 253 conversion to New Routemasters

News update from LOTS:

1) A considerable number of new buses are delivered but not yet running, most awaiting fitment of Oyster readers and/or ticket machine equipment.  As well as LTs at Arriva for the 253, some LTs for Metroline route 189 and at least 16 VWHs for Harrow Weald are all in store.  Numerous new MHVs for Go-Ahead and now some new WHVs have joined them.  However, two of Catford’s three new E40Ds (10348-50) and a few more BYD/ADL electrics have entered service in the past week. 

Magtec to launch hydrogen double-deck bus

A short news update; we are finally seeing a double deck hydrogen bus which is set to enter service on London Buses route 308.

From Route One

Testing as electric bus will be followed by addition of hydrogen range extender by the end of 2016

South Yorkshire-based electric driveline specialist Magtec has announced that it is to create what is believed to be the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell-equipped double-decker.

1-hour hopper fare for London Buses is not unlimited transfers

One Day Bus and Tram Oyster card

I’ve found an article on the London Reconnections website and they have interviewed Shashi Verma (TfL’s Director of Technology and Customer Experience) about unlimited transfers within 1 hour for the hopper fare.

London Bus ridership falls by 3.2%

Some bad news for London Buses; the number of people riding them has fallen according to the latest figures from Department for Transport.

From Route-One

The number of journeys by bus in London fell by 3.6% in 12 months ending 30 June, according to the latest official figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), compared with a 1.8% decrease in the rest of England.

Route 360 to have Electric buses

The very first Hybrid bus route will be replaced by battery electric single deck buses after over 10 years of hybrid service on route 360.

Good news and Bad news for London Buses on 12th September 2016

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first:

Bus services that are operated by Tower Transit are on strike today!

London Mayor launches the new electric buses on Red Arrow routes 507 & 521

So the launch now officially begins for the Alexander Dennis Envrio200 MMC BYD eBus to enter service on Red Arrow Routes 507 and 521.

From Greater London Authority

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London (TfL) have announced that the capital will own Europe’s largest fleet of electric buses, as they revealed the first two all-electric bus routes for central London.

The Mayor announced that routes 507 and 521 will exclusively run a 51-strong fleet of all-electric buses by the end of the year, as part of his ambitious campaign for a dramatic improvement in of air quality in the capital. Combined with 22 all-electric buses already running in outer London, it will take the capital’s entire fleet of electric buses up to 73 – the largest in Europe.

1 hour London Bus hopper fare finally launches on Monday 12 September

Finally, after the long wait, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announces the new London Bus hopper fare to launch on Monday 12^th September 2016 as part of his election promise.

From Greater London Authority

CT Plus gains two bus routes from TFL tender awards

CT Plus operates the stylish Enviro400H City on route 26

I have a short news update: a social enterprise bus company based in Hackney called CT Plus has gained two new London Bus route contracts as well as retaining three of their routes.

Abellio Surrey announces bus cuts

Abellio Surrey have issued a press release on their website announcing cuts to their services in the Surrey area.

Tower Transit wins route 13 (re-numbered from 82) contract!

As we enter Sept we have new tender awards for the London Bus operators and we will see new changes to bus services coming in 2017.