I know I haven’t been posting much lately, but here’s one transport news story from TfL which is worth sharing.
From TfL press release
TfL today announced that it is exploring the potential of using a new 'demand responsive' TfL bus service to enhance London's public transport network in the future.
TfL is approaching a range of businesses - including traditional bus operators and tech companies - to see if the latest innovations in ride-booking technology can be used to create a new TfL bus service that complements the capital's existing bus network.
The services, for nine passengers or more, would not replace any existing TfL services.
Businesses are being asked to express their interest in trialling a new TfL service that would operate flexibly in an area in need of improved public transport.
The partnership with TfL could, for example, be an on-demand minibus ordered through an app, or perhaps a service running on a semi-fixed route that can be diverted to pick up individual passengers.
Affordability
Recent rapid advances in technology have increased the potential of trialling such services in areas where car dependency is high, for example in outer London.
A trial would help TfL better understand and assess how such services could complement the existing extensive bus network.
It will also help TfL to set standards for a potential future TfL service around safety, accessibility, air quality, affordability, the use of concessions (such as the Freedom Pass) and customer service.
It is proposed that the Mayor's 'minimum professional London bus driver wage' and 'Licence for London' would apply to this trial.
The capital's iconic bus network is among the world's most extensive and accessible, and the Mayor is ensuring that London has the greenest fleet in the world.
The Mayor has also made bus travel more affordable and convenient through his Hopper fare, allowing an hour of unlimited bus and tram journeys for the price of just one.
Traditional buses, which currently carry more than three and a half million passengers a day, remain at the heart of transport in London and have a vital role to play in delivering the Mayor's Transport Strategy.
Extensive and accessible
TfL's Director of Transport Innovation, Michael Hurwitz, said: 'We want to understand the potential of new TfL demand responsive services to improve public transport for all Londoners.
'We are currently exploring the feasibility of a small demand responsive transport trial in areas of outer London where car dependency is higher and other forms of public transport are less viable.
'By approaching potential partners, we are engaging the market to establish interest in delivering a trial of a new TfL service.
'Any potential trial would be a new TfL service designed to support the existing local transport network, improve accessibility and London's air quality.'
If the trial goes ahead it would involve a small number of vehicles and would be held in an area of outer London where car dependency is high and other forms of public transport are less viable.
Any trial would run for no longer than 12 months.
This is known as Demand Responsive Transport. It will be interesting to see if TfL will trial the on-demand minibus service as part of their proposals.
TfL provides the Dial-A-Ride service which is a door-to-door transport service for people with a permanent or long term disability or health problem that are unable, or virtually unable to use public transport.
Here are the London Bus tender awards from LOTS:
LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:
| Route | Current Operator | New Operator | PVR | Vehicles |
| 12* | London Central | London Central | 33 | 2015 Euro VI New Routemaster |
| 79 | Metroline | London Sovereign | 11 | New Euro VI hybrid double deck |
| 223 | Metroline West | London Sovereign | TBC | New Euro VI diesel single deck |
| 224 | Metroline West | London United | TBC | New Euro VI diesel single deck |
| 318 | Arriva London North | Arriva London North | 7 | 2008 Euro IV diesel single deck |
| 403 | Arriva London South | Metrobus | 7 | 2011 Euro V diesel double deck |
| 452 | Abellio London | Tower Transit | 21 | 2011 Euro V diesel double deck |
| 453* | London Central | London Central | 36 | 2015 Euro VI New Routemaster |
| H25 | Abellio West London | Abellio West London | 9 | 2013 Euro V diesel single deck |
| S1 | Quality Line | Quality Line | 11 | 2014 Euro VI diesel single deck |
*24 hour route.
All Euro IV and Euro V vehicles will be upgraded to Euro VI emissions standards.
The above contracts will commence on the following dates:
13th October 2018: Routes 223 & 224.
27th October 2018: Route 403.
3rd November 2018: Route 12.
10th November 2018: Route 318.
17th November 2018: Routes 453 & H25.
24th November 2018: Route 79.
1st December 2018: Routes 452 & S1.
Nine Stagecoach London Tridents in the 184** batch are being converted to open-top (some full- and some part- open-top, The first conversion is 18475 named “King Henry VIII”, now fully open-topped and blue with Megasightseeing.com lettering. Sightseeing tours in London should begin during April.
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Image attribution
By Oxyman - Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4955544