Monday 1 August 2022

Freedom of Information Requests Published By TfL Show Criticisms Of The New High-Spec Electric Buses Used On Routes 63 & U5, And The Design Of Wrightbus’ Electroliner Demonstrator and Hydroliners

High-spec Alexander Dennis-BYD Enviro400EV City on Route 63

 

First of all, this article is not intended to criticise bus manufacturers, their products, Transport for London (TfL) or bus operators.

 

The purpose of the article is to review and evaluate the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests released to the public and to give my ideas on how to improve the issues raised. I also understand that some people will have their own ideas that may differ from mine.

 

During the week I usually keep an eye on TfL’s Freedom of Information request disclosure log on their website and tweet some of the more interesting FOI requests to my Twitter.

 

Routes 63 and U5 use BYD-Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400EV City buses with high-spec interiors; two FOI requests revealed complaints and issues raised about them.

Request ID: FOI-0194-2223

Date published: 23 May 2022

 

Complaints made against the new electric buses for route 63 as part of Bus Action Plan project

 

Information on the recent improvements on buses operating on route 63 can be found on our website using the following link: https://madeby.tfl.gov.uk/2022/02/11/bus-improvements/.

Since December 2021 to end April 2022 we have received 28 complaints about bus route 63. The list of issues raised based on the comments received are as follows:

 

• No window in stairwell therefore too dark

• No 2nd Stairwell or 3rd door, dislike interior and seat pattern. Seats too high, dark stairwell

• Stair well too dark

• Interior design, no 2nd stairwell or 3rd door

• No glazed staircase

• Interior design, no 2nd stairwell or 3rd door, stairwell to dark, no info screen for Wheelchair users, no hand rails

• Seats too big, stairwell too dark

• Seats too big can't see info screen, stairwell too dark, no 2nd stairwell or 3rd door

• No hand rails or info screen for wheelchair users

• Phone holders waste. Seats too big can't see info screen, stairwell too dark, no 2nd stairwell or 3rd door

• No 3rd door or 2nd stairwell

• No window next to the staircase. Doesn't like the seats. Interior decoration. No second stair well or 3rd door.

• Missing window in stairwell, no info screen for wheelchair users

• Interior design, no 2nd stairwell or 3rd door, stairwell to dark, no info screen for Wheelchair users

• Seats too big, no third door or 2nd stairwell

• Seats too high, dark stairwell, no hand rails

• Head rest too high, lack of handrails, interior decor, too cramped, no 2nd stairwell or 3rd door

• Design not as in publicity photos

• Dark stairwell. No 2nd stairwell or 3 door

• No handrails on upper deck. Doesn't like the seats - too high, flooring too bright, no window in stairwell

• No handrails on upper deck. Doesn't like the seats - too high

 

Unfortunately there is limited scope to change the features of the vehicles already in service on the route, but we are monitoring all feedback (both positive and negative) to include in future engagement and development work as part of the Bus Customer Action Plan.

 

Request ID: FOI-0729-2223
Date published: 14 July 2022

 

Since May 2022 we received 21 complaints concerning the design/layout of bus route U5.  The list of issues raised based on the comments received are as follows:

 

Summary

Sum of Count

Lack of new features like New Routemaster

7

Staircase area is too dark/Prevents from going upstairs

7

Staircase area is too dark/No upper deck handrails/Seats too big

7

 

TfL have also published complaints and issues raised regarding the design of Wrightbus’ Streetdeck Electroliner demonstrator and Hydroliners.

Request ID: FOI-0402-2223

Date published: 16 June 2022

 

Complaints and issues raised involving the new Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner demonstrator (double-deck electric bus) on route 119

 

Please see the following table for the requested information:

 

Issue

Number

Stairs too dark/gloomy

20

Should be like the New Routemaster (Extra doors needed at rear/second stairwell)

20

Too similar in design to other buses

19

Interior dark/dull

4

Too boxy

2

Seats too plastic/uncomfortable

2

Interior Design not matching branding

2

 

Request ID: FOI-0659-2223

Date published: 28 June 2022

 

Complaints and issues raised involving the new Wrightbus StreetDeck Hydroliner (double-deck hydrogen fuel-cell bus) on route 7

 

Please see the following table for the requested information:

 

Issue

Number

Passengers do not approve of the design/layout

26

Design

3

Furniture

2

Gaps in Service/Long Waits

1

Incomplete/Curtailed Journey

1

Late arrival

1

Signage

1

Total

36

 

A follow-up Freedom of Information request reveals the comments about the design of Hydroliners.

 

As there are loads of comments in the attachment of the FOI release, I’ll show you some of the more interesting comments raised.

 

Request ID: FOI-0828-2223
Date published: 15 July 2022

 

Please see attached a document which details a summary of the issues raised in the comments linked to the complaints previously referred to in TfL ref 0659-2223.

 

• Design looks identical to other buses with dirty engines

• Lack of windows next to the stairs make it hard for people with vision impairments to go upstairs

• Disappointed about the design

• “I dislike the design of these because they are too bland and don't have any character to reflect your bus services including the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Your hydrogen buses are missing various aspects as seen from the New Routemaster”

• “Your hydrogen buses are having an identity crisis because the bodywork design is identical to buses on other routes with diesel engines and hybrid drives. I recommend the New Routemaster design”

 

My reaction

 

This is quite interesting to see that passengers have commented on the design of buses on the routes they travel on; some prefer to have the New Routemaster (NRM) design for the zero-emission buses.

 

I believe some people got confused over the new high-spec buses on routes 63 and U5 because the ADL-BYD Enviro400 EV City bus has a body design with similarities to the New Routemaster.

 

Although TfL still specify bus manufacturers to build three-door, two-staircase buses when requested.

 

Bus Vehicle Specification 2.1

 

4.5.7 Door Safety

 

Front, entrance to be inward glider type, flush fitting to the body side when closed and one-piece full depth glass in each door leaf for maximum driver view of kerb side.

 

Centre or rear, entrance or exit doors to be outward slider type, flush fitting to the body side when closed and one-piece full depth glass in each door leaf for maximum view of kerb side.

 

6.3 Minimising dwell time

 

The choice of the number of doors fitted to a bus shall be informed by an analysis of the effect of dwell time at typical bus stops on the route intended for. London Buses generally operate a two door system with the entrance door forward of the front axle and the exit door between front and rear axle. When single or three door buses are requested, the front door remains unchanged, the centre door is deleted or duplicated at a specified area of the bus.

 

Reinstating open boarding on New Routemasters is controversial because it will lead to increased revenue loss to fare evasion, this includes reintroducing bendy buses to the London Bus network which also had open boarding when they were in service between the years 2001 - 2011.

 

I’ve already said in a previous article that the average dwell times of the three-door, two-staircase New Routemaster is 2 seconds longer than the two-door double deck bus. Different bus types tend to have competitive dwell times, especially when the service is busy. I can see why some people prefer buses with three-doors and two-staircases for their bus services to allow them to exit the bus with ease.

 

I believe Wrightbus had chosen to continue using the Streetdeck Gemini 3 bodywork for their zero-emission battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses; it’s important for them to roll out new zero-emission technology so they can move forward to improving their double-deck designs for their zero-emission products. I presume it could be a new eye-catching double-deck design with NRM styling to compete with Alexander Dennis’ Enviro400 City. So far we are still waiting for an official update from Wrightbus on their potential new launches which they expect to happen by next year (2023).

 

With regards to the interior designs, TfL could set a requirement for private bus operating companies to adopt a standardised interior design including seat moquette, panels and other colours to reflect the branding of London Bus services to the bus fleet. Instead, private bus operators continue to use their own interior colour scheme for their company branding. The advantage in having different interiors is you can easily identify the bus company operating the London Bus route by the colour of the handrails and seat moquette.

 

On the topic of bus interiors, on 11 July 2022, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority published images of the high-spec interiors for the Enviro400FCEV City.

 

From Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

The first images of the interior of the new, zero-emission hydrogen bus fleet coming to the Liverpool City Region have been released.

 

The CGI visuals give a sneak peek at the hi-spec interiors and features which passengers on the new vehicles will be able to experience when they come into service.

 

Designed especially for the city region, the buses will feature larger and more comfortable seats with unique pattern designs, just as on the new trains for the Merseyrail network.

 

The interior of the bus will also be decorated with a skyline frieze featuring some of the most iconic landmarks in the Liverpool City Region, including the Liver Building, the Dream in St Helens and Anthony Gormley’s Another Place in Sefton.

 

The vehicles will also carry a range of special features passengers said that they wanted to see onboard – these include wireless and USB phone charging, internet access and reading lights above seats. The buses will also be some of the most accessible in the country, with increased capacity for wheelchair users and passengers with prams or buggies.

 

Other new features of the hydrogen buses include camera wing mirrors to improve safety, as well as audio and visual announcements for next stops – with high definition onboard screens to update passengers on journey progress in real time.

 

Screens will also display information about onward connections as the vehicles approach train and bus stations, allowing passengers to more easily transfer between different modes of travel – an important part of Mayor Rotheram’s plans for an integrated London-style transport network for the Liverpool City Region.

 

The 20-strong, state-of-the-art hydrogen bus fleet will be directly purchased through the Liverpool City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund, and, like the new trains for the Merseyrail network, will be owned by the people of the city region.

Read more

 

My idea to make London’s Buses more attractive

 

The New Routemaster has been in service for 10 years now and I’m not advocating for TfL to revive the New Routemaster project. As I’ve previously said, it’s obsolete because times have progressed and the New Routemaster design had encouraged bus manufacturers to improve their own double-deck designs. You can read more about it in my previous article published in January 2020.

 

I’ve also suggested in my previous articles that Alexander Dennis, in collaboration with BYD, should design and develop a three-door, two-staircase Enviro400EV City and Enviro400FCEV City.

 

I disagree with having a completely standardised double-deck fleet for London Buses because it would be unfair for competing bus manufacturers. And in my personal opinion, it would be boring for bus enthusiasts to see the same make and model of bus operating on different routes in various parts of Greater London. 

 

Different types of buses in their own shapes and various designs could help bus users to identify their bus service from a distance; this also includes different variants of ADL-BYD’s Enviro400EV City, as stated in my previous article.

 

The UK Government has already encouraged Local Transport Authorities and Passenger Transport Executives to introduce a branded network which includes standardised liveries, typefaces etc. to give bus services in the local area or region their own identity which London Buses already have.

I believe there should be reform to the bus procurement process by allowing the general public, in collaboration with TfL, bus operators and bus manufacturers to be more creative on how the fleet of buses should be designed to make it more attractive and exciting to the London Bus routes serving their local area. This includes using a wide range of various bus types used in service such as three-door, two-staircase, custom interiors, seat moquette and exterior designs etc. while retaining the important bus specifications including wheelchair accessibility and bus safety standards.

 

Bear in mind, I’m not advocating for deregulation of the London Bus network. The regulation of London Bus services are protected by legislations Part II of Transport Act 1985 and Part IV, Chapter V of the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

 

Branded bus services for London?

 

Here are some London bus service brands during late 1980s and 1990s which were used to attract people to use the bus.

Buses in different colourful exterior liveries including route branding were used to help identify bus services from a distance; here are some examples that I’ve tweeted.

I’d like to see a creation of localised bus networks within the London Bus network, this includes new livery (while retaining the overall red), route branding and high-spec interior designs (including a wide range of stylish seat moquettes) to make them like lounges on wheels.

 

I would also like to point out that various Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) features such as bus lanes and priority measures are seen on London Buses which could create more ‘BRT’ services by introducing new branding, rebranding various routes and using different bus types.

The East London Transit is a localised brand and classified as a BRT service for routes serving Barking Riverside, Barking, Ilford, King George Hospital and Becontree Heath. They are also allocated using three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters.

Recently, bus operator Go-Ahead London unveiled photos of their new single-deck electric ‘trambus’ which will soon enter service on route 358.

I would like to see route 358 branding applied to trambuses to make the service more attractive and to give them a stronger identity.

 

Bus operator Uno improved route 383 service by applying route branding and improved interiors to the single-deck bus fleet to increase customer experience and awareness of the bus service.

The rest of my suggestions to improve the London Bus network, including my response to TfL’s Bus Action Plan, can be read in my previous article.

 

I wholeheartedly believe that my suggestions could inspire TfL to improve bus services in Greater London and if it does, then I’m glad to have taken the time to write this article.

 

To wrap up the article, I would like to pay my respects to the founder of Wrightbus, Sir William Wright who sadly passed away on Sunday 24 July 2022.

RIP Sir William Thompson Wright CBE 1927 - 2002

 

I invite you to follow me on Twitter by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my Twitter page here.

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