Why do I like to see different variants of the BYD-ADL Enviro400EV City, as recently launched on route 63 in London?

It's been over a month since I've posted an article on my website, so I decided to post a review and express my thoughts about it.

On the 20th December 2021, the new BYD-ADL Enviro400EV City launched on route 63 operated by Abellio London from Walworth (WL) garage.

Nearly £71 Million Awarded To Five Local Transport Authorities From ZEBRA Scheme And New Electric Buses For London Bus Routes 226 and 295

The UK Government have announced that five Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) have been awarded almost £71 million to support up to 335 new zero-emission buses as part of the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme initiative for 2021-22.

 

From Department for Transport

 

Fast track

On 27 October 2021, it was announced that funding worth almost £71 million was awarded to the first 5 LTAs selected under the fast-track process. This funding will support up to 335 zero emission buses in:

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

• Kent County Council

• Leicester City Council

• Milton Keynes Borough Council

• Warrington Borough Council 

London Bus Tender Awards: Routes 119 & 264 To Be Served Using New Double-Deck Electric Buses and Arrival Of The New Double-Deck Electric Bus In Hong Kong

It’s been over a month since TfL announced the new London Bus Tender awards. Here are the recent tender awards which will include new double-deck electric buses for routes 119 and 264.

 

The Launch of Two New Zero-Emission Double-Deck Electric Bus Models by Equipmake and Volvo

September 2021 has become a busy time for electric bus manufacturers with Equipmake and Volvo unveiling their new zero-emission double-deck electric bus models aimed at the London market.

 

Let’s take a look at the launch of Equipmake’s double-deck electric bus in collaboration with Beulas for the bodywork:

This bus has been specifically developed for demanding daily usage cycles, Jewel E meets the latest Transport for London (TfL) specifications and requirements for 2024, including enhanced safety features to give the public, drivers and passengers piece of mind.

TfL Now Requires New Buses to be Zero-emission for New Route Contracts

The Mayor of London announced at the Zero-emission Bus Summit which was held on 17 September 2021, that all new bus purchases by operators will be zero-emission as part of their new route contracts.

From Greater London Authority news release

As the UK prepares to host the important COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that all new buses ordered by Transport for London (TfL) for the capital will now be zero-emission, building on its recent achievement of making its entire bus fleet compliant with strict Euro VI emission standards – the same standards as the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

London Underground Northern Line Extends From Kennington To Battersea Power Station! (With Video)

For the first time since 27^th March 2008, the Piccadilly Line has been extended from Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 to Heathrow Terminal 5. The new Northern Line extension from Kennington to Battersea Power Station finally opens to passengers on 20th September 2021.

From TfL Press Release

Transport for London (TfL) today (Monday 20 September) opened the doors to its two new Tube stations making up the Northern Line Extension, at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station. The two step-free Zone 1 stations are set to dramatically improve the connectivity of these vibrant south London neighbourhoods and support the capital's recovery from the pandemic at a vital time.

Major construction on the 3km twin-tunnel railway between Kennington and Battersea Power Station, via Nine Elms, began in 2015. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the construction project stayed on track for an autumn opening.

London Bus Tender Awards: RATP Dev London Retains Route 70 with Existing Single-Deck Electric Buses and Route 135 to be Operated by Tower Transit with Existing Double-Deck Hybrid Buses

London Bus news update: TfL announces the new London Bus tender awards on 5 August 2021.

 

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

London Bus Tender Awards: Route 111 Confirmed To Use New Electric Buses

A recent London Bus tender award has confirmed route 111 (Kingston to Heathrow Airport via Hounslow) will convert to new double-deck electric buses by next year.

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

Ireland's NTA and Bus Éireann Unveils Hydrogen Buses and Orders Electric Buses. Funding to Increase Zero-Emission Buses in Scotland and TfL Launches ‘future Bus Project’

Four news items today in one article on the progress of the zero-emission bus rollout within the British Isles.

Two major cities in the Island of Ireland now have bus services served with double-deck hydrogen fuel cell buses; one in Belfast and now also in Dublin.

From National Transport Authority

The National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Bus Éireann has today unveiled three new hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric double-deck buses that will initially be used on commuter services in the Greater Dublin Area.

London Bus Tender Awards: Route 13 to Continue Using Double Deck Hybrids and Route 204 to Convert to New Double Deck Electrics

The new London Bus Tender Awards have revealed Tower Transit has retained route 13 with existing double deck hybrids and Metroline retained route 204 with new double deck electrics.

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

London Buses Tender Awards: Route 55 to Continue Using Hybrid New Routemasters - Routes 322 & 433 to Use Electric Single Deck Buses

Summary

• Existing hybrid New Routemasters (NRMs) will continue to operate with Stagecoach,
• Routes 322 and 433 will use single deck electric buses with Abellio,
• The rest of the tender awards reveal bus operators will use existing buses for their route contracts,
• BYD & Alexander Dennis jointly announce a new order of 195 electric buses by RATP Dev London.

The recent London Buses tender awards have revealed route 55 will continue to use three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters with Stagecoach London.

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

TfL Release Details of The New Routemaster Midlife Refurbishment Project

Summary
• The refurbishment plan will not include a retrofit of USB charging ports for passengers to charge their device.
• There are no current plans to convert NRMs to zero-emission battery electric vehicles.
• TfL said the refurbishment of the entire NRM fleet will take around five years.
• All New Routemasters are now front-door only boarding.

A Freedom of Information request made to Transport for London (TfL) has revealed details of the midlife refurbishment project of the three-door, two-staircase hybrid bus known as the New Routemaster. The NRM was designed by Heatherwick Studio and manufactured by Wrightbus.

Why TfL Withdrew Heritage AEC Routemasters by Axing Route 15H - Can I Still Ride Them in London?

This is a follow up to my previous article in which Transport for London (TfL) revealed in a Freedom of Information request the withdrawal of the last heritage Route 15H served with AEC Routemasters.

This article shows the Freedom of Information responses by TfL and the Greater London Authority - also the Mayor’s answers on why the last AEC Routemasters have been withdrawn by not renewing the contract for Route 15H last year (2020).

 

Let’s take a look at the Freedom of Information request to TfL and how they responded on 6 May 2021 with regards to the withdrawal of Route 15H.

 

TfL Ref: 0088-2022

06 May 2021

 

Some of your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

 

The following question have been answered under the FOIA -

 

2, How much did TfL pay to refurbish the AEC Routemasters for route 15H?

London Bus Tender Awards: Routes 148 & 415 to Continue Using New Routemasters and Route U5 to Convert to Double-Deck Electrics

The new tender awards have revealed routes 148 and 415 will continue to use three-door, two-staircase hybrid buses known as New Routemasters (NRMs) for their new contracts with RATP London United and Abellio.

LBSL intends to enter into a new contract for the following route with the operator listed below:

UK Government to End Railway Franchising – Unique Identities For London Overground Services

It’s been a while since I’ve posted something railway related on my website. This recent news regarding railways in Britain is huge because the UK Government have drafted plans to end railway franchising and to simplify ticketing, although the operations will remain privatised.

Excerpt from Department for Transport

• Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail to reform Britain’s railways and launch a new era for passengers
• biggest change in 25 years sees creation of new public body Great British Railways – a single, familiar brand with united, accountable leadership
• simpler, modern fares delivered, starting with new flexible season tickets on sale from 21 June and a new Great British Railways website for all tickets and clearer compensation
• reforms support delivery of a financially sustainable railway as country recovers from coronavirus (COVID-19), with new contracts focused on punctuality and improved efficiency, making it easier and cheaper to plan maintenance, renewal and upgrades

Upcoming London Bus Routes to Convert to Electric Buses Throughout 2021 and Early 2022 – and the Latest London Bus Tender Awards

First of all, the long awaited London Bus tender awards have finally been announced with another route converting to electric buses.

Yes I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted on my website, but now I’ve found something interesting to write up.

LBSL intends to enter into a new contract for the following route with the operator listed below:

TfL Confirm The Last AEC Routemasters For Route 15 Withdrawn

A Freedom of Information request revealed TfL have confirmed the withdrawal of AEC Routemasters by not renewing the route 15H contract.

Route 15H was the very last route to be served with AEC Routemasters after the withdrawal of 9H in 2014.

The Coronavirus pandemic affected the route 15H service hence the reason they haven’t appeared on route 15 last year (2020), which quietly led to the withdrawal of the route.

Huge funding for Zero-Emission Vehicles (Including Buses) for Great Britain and Northern Ireland

This week has seen some big news for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK Government have announced an investment of £54 million for projects to create new zero-emission vehicles.

From Gov.UK

• £54 million for projects including motorsport technology in car motors, hydrogen fuel cells for buses, and lightweight structures for electric heavy goods vehicles

• projects in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will secure nearly 10,000 jobs and save 45 million tonnes of CO₂

• investment will help drive energy-saving technology across a wide range of vehicles and propel forward a green economy recovery

London Bus Tender Awards: Go-Ahead London Retains Routes 507 & 521 with Single Deck Electric Buses

This is a quick news update for London Buses.

The new tender awards have revealed that Go-Ahead London General retained their routes 507 & 521 contract with existing electric single-deck buses.

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

List of London Bus Routes Currently Served Using Electric Buses (as of March 2021)

TfL has published a Freedom of Information (FOI) request regarding London Bus Routes serving with zero-emission electric buses.

Request ID: FOI-2431-2021
Date published: 09 March 2021

1. Can you list the routes currently served using electric buses? If possible, can you specify them by operator, make & model including type (double/single deck) of the EV buses?

TfL and Siemens Mobility Unveil Design of the New London Underground Piccadilly Line Trains

It’s been a while since I’ve posted London Underground related content on my website.

Recently, Siemens Mobility and TfL have unveiled the design of the new Tube Trains for the Piccadilly Line, expecting to enter passenger service from 2025.

From Siemens Mobility Press Release

Transport for London (TfL) and Siemens Mobility have today unveiled the detailed design of the new generation Tube trains for the Piccadilly line, which will soon be in production to replace the existing 1970s fleet.

The trains currently running on the line have become increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain and will be 50 years old by the time they are replaced. Despite the devastating impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on its finances, TfL is continuing to replace these assets, meaning that from 2025, new spacious ‘Inspiro London’ trains will serve customers on the Piccadilly line, future-proofed to ensure they are suitable for many years to come.

TfL Updates on Double-Deck Hydrogen Rollout for London Bus Route 7

A few days ago, TfL responded to a Freedom of Information request on the rollout of double-deck hydrogen buses for route 7.

Request ID: FOI-2253-2021
Date published: 26 February 2021

1. Can you confirm the date of delivery and conversion of route 7 to double-deck electric buses?

Alexander Dennis Reveals Double-Deck Hydrogen Bus Project, and New Shorter Enviro400EV Variant - Wrightbus Teams up with Voith for Electrical Drive System

This week has been a busy week for bus manufacturing in the UK, so here’s a brief roundup of articles from UK bus manufacturers.

From Alexander Dennis

Larbert, Scotland, UK – 25th February 2021: (TSX: NFI) Alexander Dennis Limited (“ADL”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that its next generation double deck hydrogen bus will deliver a zero-emission range of up to 300 miles. It will be powered by a Ballard fuel cell power module through the efficient Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS).

British Bus Operator First Bus Confirmed to Trial Arrival’s Single-Deck Electric Bus

I was checking my Twitter feed and a Tweet emerged from Arrival that their single-deck electric bus will be trialled by First Bus.

From Arrival Press Release

LONDON, Feb 22, 2021 — Arrival, the company creating electric vehicles using its radical new technologies, today announced that it will begin trials of its zero-emission Bus with First Bus, one of the UK’s largest transport operators. The trials, which will see Arrival buses navigating existing First Bus routes in the UK, will begin this Autumn. The new partnership comes just seven months after First Bus announced their commitment to purchase no diesel buses after 2022 and to operate a fully zero- emission fleet by 2035.

London Bus Tender News: Routes 125 & 235 to Convert to New Electric Buses and Delays to Route 319 Conversion to Enviro400EV Citys

As part of the new London Bus tender awards, routes 125 and 235 have been awarded to London Sovereign and London United (part of RATP Group) with new electric buses.

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

TfL Proposed Fare Hikes to Start on 1 March 2021 and Huge Retains on London Bus Tender Awards

For the first time in five years, TfL fares are set to rise by 2.6% as part of the government’s requirement for TfL’s funding deal.

From London Mayor news release

• The Mayor has already confirmed fares will rise by RPI+1 (2.6 per cent) overall across all services as a condition of the emergency TfL funding deal made with the Government, but Sadiq has kept some single pay as you go Tube, DLR, London Overground and TfL rail fares unchanged.
• Bus and tram ‘Hopper’ fare - introduced by the Mayor and allowing unlimited journeys within an hour - will increase by just 5p to £1.55, the smallest increase possible and keeping the fare one of the best value in the country.
• This rise –from 1 March 2021 – follows five years of frozen TfL fares set by the Mayor.
• Details announced as TfL publishes plan setting out the level of Government funding required to place its finances on a sustainable footing, after fare income was decimated by the pandemic.

As part of TfL’s funding deal with Government in October 2020, the Mayor was required to increase fares under his control in order to deliver an overall fares rise of 2.6 per cent (RPI+1).

Entire London Bus Fleet Now Meets ULEZ Emission Standards. Also, List of TfL Bus Routes Converting to Zero Emission Buses

Transport for London has announced in a press release that their bus network now runs using Euro VI or zero-emission buses, which meets the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) standards.

From TfL press release

The main bus network now exclusively uses Euro VI or cleaner buses, the same emissions standard as the Mayor of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone.

All buses in TfL's 9,000-strong bus fleet* now meet or exceed the cleanest Euro VI emissions standards. This is a major milestone in tackling toxic air pollution in the capital.

London Bus Tender Awards for January 2020, three door buses for Singapore and ADL-BYD announce EV chassis factory for the UK

First of all, Happy New Year to my readers.

We have the first London Bus tender awards of this year. It has announced the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters will prolong operation on route 313 as part of the new contract awarded to Arriva London.