Fare Hikes around the world as TfL freezes fares for 4 years!

Back in February 2015, I published an article about fare rises on various public transport services around the world.

As London Transport fares are frozen for four years, with the exception of Travelcards, Pay-as-You-Go caps and National Rail fares; I have reproduced some articles below covering transport fare rises from around the world - mostly from the United States.

Year in review: roundup of 2016

Today is the 25th December 2016, Christmas day, so I hope you all enjoy it, eat plenty of festive food and enjoy a Christmas tipple to celebrate with your family and friends.

More new bus purchases for December 2016

Another news update - bus companies are purchasing new buses for their services:

Bus Rapid Transit for Sheffield opens - and more news for London

This is going to be a compilation of recent articles that I’ve selected from various sources about Transport in Britain - a mixture of good and bad news.

First off, Sheffield opens up their own Bus Rapid Transit scheme:

Mid December 2016 tender awards

Double deck electric bus manufactured by BYD

I have a short news update for you on the London Buses tender awards.

TfL board papers for 15th December 2016 meeting

As the board papers are out for the final board meeting of this year, I will show you some of the extracts from the selected board papers.

You can view the papers from the board meeting here.

Taking a look at the commissioner’s report.

Slow rollout of New Routemasters for route 21

The rollout of the three-door two-staircase hybrid buses called New Routemasters continues. However, route 21’s conversion is slow, but according to London Vehicle Finder there is usually one New Routemaster in service. Route 21 is operated from New Cross (NX) garage and is contracted to Go Ahead London.

The past week has been one of the slowest for some months for new buses into service In London, still with several of Go-Ahead’s MHVs, WHVs and EHs plus Metroline’s VWHs parked up. However, two months after the contract date, just two LTs have now entered service on Go-Ahead route 21.

Keep an eye on route 21 at the London Vehicle Finder website to see when a New Routemaster enters service, the fleet code starts with ‘LT’.

BYD D9UR Enviro200 MMC Electric Bus

Back in August 2015, I published an article about Go Ahead purchasing BYD eBuses with the Enviro200 MMC bodywork. I also wrote another one back in September 2016 when they were officially launched on the Red Arrow routes – they entered service though back in late August 2016.

The long wait is finally over, and I finally get to ride that lovely new electric bus with its very futuristic style Enviro200 MMC bodywork.

Ride the classic AEC Routemaster on Route 15 – they’re still running!

Not many commuters and tourists are aware that the vintage ‘AEC Routemasters’ are still operating on route 15 between Charing Cross and Tower Hill/Tower of London.

TfL haven’t given much publicity to the AEC Routemasters on route 15, but they do mention them in the last paragraph on the New Routemaster page on their website and also the ‘where can I use contactless’ page.

Looks like Network Rail is going to split

Looking at the recent news reports, it looks like the up-and-coming franchises will integrate rail infrastructure with the train companies; in short, privatising Network Rail.

From Department for Transport

London Bus Oddity – Mixed operators on route 60

This is an update to my original article titled ‘The Oddities of London Buses’. I decided to catalogue the events in separate articles.

I’ll use the sources below to show you the trouble with Route 60 after Capital Logistics won the contract back in 1998.

Hybrids for London Bus route 120

New classic Enviro200 with 'New Routemaster' style interior from Enviro400H City

A quick news update – here are the new London Bus tender awards:

TfL takeover of London suburban rail routes and what is missing?

Firstly, I should say that I’m not as much of a railway enthusiast as I am with buses, but I do want to express my view on this proposal by TFL.

TFL and Wrightbus unveils the hydrogen double deck bus!

This news is hot off the wire from yesterday!!!

From Wrightbus

London’s City Hall was the venue for the launch today (30 November 2016) of the new Wrightbus – zero-emission double deck bus.  The zero-emission vehicle debuts a new hydrogen fuel cell driveline from Wrightbus which will rapidly become available to power both single deck and double deck buses as it becomes fully production ready next year.

The new technology from the Northern Ireland company provides a zero-emission drive system which encompasses a hydrogen fuel cell and a battery pack to power the vehicle. The combination of these two technologies makes the continuous daily operation of the public transport vehicle feasible.