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| Extract from TfL's bus graphic standard |
This is a follow-up to my previous article about London bus route 28 awarded to Metroline with existing diesel double-deck buses from the London Bus Tender Awards.
It has been revealed in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made to Transport for London (TfL) to find a reason why route 28 is reverting to diesel double-deck buses as part of the new contract won by Metroline.
I have noticed that the link to my article about the London Bus Tender Awards has been sent to TfL as part of the FOI request for reference.
We'll take a look at the text from the FOI release:
Request ID: FOI-3836-2324
Date published: 09 February 2024
London Bus route 28 reverting from zero-emission electric buses back to diesel buses
Question 1: Can you provide details on why you have awarded route 28 with existing diesel double-deck buses and not new electric double-deck buses with the new operator Metroline West?
Answer: This is not a request from recorded information under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. That said, colleagues in our buses team have provided the following explanation. TfL plans to convert the entire bus fleet to zero-emission by the end of 2034, but with additional government funding this target could be achieved by 2030. All other buses in the TfL Fleet meet the Euro VI Ultra Low Emission Standard.
The cost of deployment of zero emission vehicles in lieu of Euro VI conventional vehicles varies significantly by route – and in order to be able to afford the continuing transition to a Zero Emission Fleet TfL continues to deploy the vehicles across the network where most cost effective to do so.
The current RATP associated contract for route 28 was awarded on the basis of the Euro VI Hybrid buses; and the use of some electric buses on the route in the last year or so has only been a temporary solution following the release of some electric vehicles from other routes.
The costs received at the recent re-tendering of Route 28 demonstrated that the cost of electric operation on this route was disproportionately high compared to many other routes; and the most economically advantageous outcome was for the temporary use of Electric Vehicles on this route to cease – and the route to move to Metroline West using Euro VI Diesel vehicles. We expect the released electric vehicles to remain in London.
Question 2: Can you publish the tender specifications for route 28 for the current (RATP Dev London Transit) and upcoming new contract (Metroline West)?
Answer: Please see the attached documents.
Question 3: Do TFL plan to revert more routes from electric buses back to diesel buses?
Answer: As described above, TfL’s plan is to migrate the entire London Bus Network to Zero Emission operation by the end of 2034. As such, significant numbers of zero emission buses continue to be introduced onto the London Bus Network at a proactive rate – with over 1,300 vehicles now in use and rising. These will continue to be deployed in the most economic way, and this may mean that on some limited occasions some routes lose their current or temporary zero emissions allocations in favour of other routes.
Question 4: What is TFL doing to tackle the climate change crisis?
Answer: This is not a request for specific, recorded information under the Freedom of Information Act. That said, you may be interested in our ‘Corporate Environment Plan’ and our ‘Sustainability Report’, both of which are available on our website here:
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/sustainability
Going back to my previous article from 2021, I quoted the Mayor's answer on why TfL has no plans on purchasing new electric buses to help increase the zero-emission bus fleet.
Reference: 2021/3429
Answered By: The Mayor
Date: Friday, 17th September 2021
The default position – where the bus operators and lease companies invest in buses meeting London’s requirements – has been demonstrated to be a particularly cost-effective and efficient way to continually upgrade the fleet. This model has enabled the introduction of nearly 600 zero-emission buses comprising many makes and models, with more in the pipeline. There is currently no need for Transport for London (TfL) to make direct purchases and, if there was, this would entail significant capital expenditure which TfL does not have available through its temporary funding deal with Government.
TfL’s previous direct purchases were limited to vehicles designed exclusively for London use such as the New Routemaster (NRM). The bespoke nature of these buses made them highly unlikely to find extended service lives outside of the capital and therefore buying them directly was more economic.
Direct purchase was deemed appropriate in the case of the 20 double-deck hydrogen fuel cell buses being deployed on routes 7 and 245 through the JIVE (Joint Initiative for Hydrogen Vehicles across Europe) project because this involved a much smaller number of vehicles, a unique grant funding arrangement with the European Union and the Office for Low-Emission Vehicles, a technology very much in its infancy where operators were unable to justify taking on the risk of purchase and lease companies unable to offer competitive terms.
Demand for electric buses now extends well beyond London with a significant UK and worldwide market for many makes and models. This means that electric buses are readily available for purchasing or leasing at competitive prices and their use is not limited to London. TfL’s funding position is also now markedly less healthy, making large capital purchases unaffordable for the foreseeable future without external support.
Here is another recent FOI request about the electric buses.
Request ID: FOI-3688-2324
Date published: 07 February 2024
There are currently 1,291 electric buses in the London bus fleet. These buses operate across London.
The following routes operate fully with electric buses:
• 23, 40, 43, 46, 49, 63, 69, 70, 93, 94
• 100, 106, 108, 111, 113, 119, 125, 132, 134, 142, 153, 154, 160, 164, 173, 174, 183, 185, 199
• 200, 204, 212, 213, 214, 230, 235, 264, 265, 290, 295
• 317, 319, 322, 323, 339, 353, 357, 359, 360, 366, 371, 398,
• 413, 417, 444, 450, 484
• 642, 654, 660, 673, 674, 699,
• B13, C1, C3, C10, D3, H9/H10, P5, SL9, SL10, U5
The cost of the electric buses and infrastructure is embedded within the bus route contracts, we do not hold a separate figure for their cost.
Thanks for reading my article; hopefully you enjoy seeing an insight into the zero-emission bus rollout in London.
Update 28 February 2024
London Mayor Sadiq Khan (or his communications team) has provided an answer to the Mayor's Question Time about route 28.
Meeting: MQT on 22 February 2024
Reference: 2024/0463
Question by: Caroline Pidgeon
Question
Bus Route 28
Bus Route 28 currently uses zero-emission electric buses, but I understand that the latest London bus tender awards show that route 28 has been awarded to Metroline with existing diesel double deck buses. Are you de-converting this bus route from zero-emission electric back to diesel buses?
Answer
Date: Tuesday 27 February 2024
The current RATP associated contract for route 28 was awarded on the basis of conventional Euro VI Internal Combustion Engine buses. The use of some electric buses on the route in the last year or so has only been temporary resource following the release of some electric vehicles from other routes.
The cost of deployment of zero emission vehicles in lieu of Euro VI vehicles varies significantly by route. The costs received at the recent re-tendering of route 28 demonstrated that the cost of full electric operation on this route over the new contract term was disproportionately high compared to most other routes. It also showed that the most economical outcome was for the temporary use of electric vehicles on this route to cease – and the route to move to Metroline West using Euro VI ICE vehicles. The released electric vehicles will remain in London and should be redeployed elsewhere in due course.
TfL now has over 1,350 Zero Emission buses in its fleet (which is the largest in Western Europe) and this number continues to rise rapidly.
I invite you to follow me on Twitter/X by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my Twitter/X page here. I'm also on BlueSky and Mastodon.
Further reading
My Suggestions To Help Create The Most Accessible Zero-Emission Bus For London And Elsewhere!
Transport for London’s 2023 Consultation Reports for Bus Service Changes Reveal Popularity for the New Routemaster and Tram Buses
