A Freedom of Information made to Transport for London (TfL) has published information about the use of vintage buses for heritage running days.
It has been revealed that TfL discourages the use of buses built after 1973 that do not comply with the ULEZ emission standards for use during heritage running days on London Bus routes.
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL) that manages nearly all of the bus services in London. It was formed following the Greater London Authority Act 1999 that transferred control of London Regional Transport bus services to TfL, controlled by the Mayor of London. On that basis, the bus routes are regulated by TfL while the buses are operated under contract by a number of registered bus operating companies. Therefore, these buses have to conform to the latest standards - which includes those that govern accessibility, safety and emissions. It is for these reasons that anyone wishing to operate a preserved vehicle on one of London's bus routes is required to obtain permission from TfL. In respect of emissions, you may be aware that the Mayor of London introduced an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in April 2019 which was extended across Greater London in August 2023.
Poor air quality impacts the health of Londoners and is mainly caused by polluting vehicles. The latest data shows that, although improvements are being made, road transport is the single biggest contributor of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter emissions in Greater London. Londoners are developing life-changing illnesses such as cancer, asthma and lung disease, and recent reports have shown a link between air pollution and an increased risk of developing dementia. Air pollution even contributes to the premature death of thousands of Londoners every year.
It is for these reasons that, as the regulator of London's bus services and reporting to the Mayor of London, we believe it is right to discourage the use of vehicles built after 1973 that do not comply with ULEZ emission standards by not offering an exemption for these buses to operate on a running day within London. This, therefore, includes DMS and Leyland National buses onwards.
In reply to your specific questions:
1. Which types of heritage buses are allowed on your routes as part of running day events? Why are heritage doored buses banned, as stated in the quoted text above?
Answered, as above.
2. Can you publish the rules and regulations in full about running days with heritage buses?
In addition to what we have said above, we would expect buses to be properly taxed and roadworthy - in line with legal requirements - and bus crews to be dressed appropriately in smart dress.
3. Do running day events require approval from Transport for London?
Yes, as explained above.
4. Are they allowed to use bus lanes, priority roads, and bus stations?
Once the special operation has been registered, we would allow the use of bus stands and bus stations where space allows this.
5. Are they allowed to use the "London Transport" name and roundel on their heritage buses?
Yes. As a historical vehicle, we allow the use of the London Transport name and roundel, in keeping with the authenticity of the original livery.
6. Are there plans to ban running days with the use of heritage vehicles on your existing routes?
No, subject to the requirements mentioned.
Then I found further information about the heritage running days from last year (2023). TfL has stated that the use of vintage buses for railway replacement services (Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR and Trams) is not acceptable.
Request ID: FOI-2555-2223
Date published: 24 January 2023
Question 1. Do heritage bus firms and organisations require permission from Transport for London to operate a vintage bus on an existing London bus route?
Answer: Owners of vintage vehicles have the right to use them on the public highway provided all legal requirements are met, and TfL as a Highway Authority has a duty to facilitate this. A voluntary code of practice for the operation of vintage buses in London not operated under contract to TfL or under the London Service Permit system exists to ensure that TfL is kept informed of heritage running days, that the operation of existing bus and coach services is not compromised, and that we have the ability to communicate with vehicles on free services if co-ordinating a response to an incident.
Question 2. Can you publish the rules and procedures for heritage bus firms and organisations providing a vintage running day bus service?
Answer: The voluntary code of practice states that
• The vehicles to be used are in a mechanically sound and safe condition for operation in service
• The vehicles are insured for operation of free bus services
• No fares or donations will be taken
• All drivers on routes available to the public hold a PCV licence of the relevant category
• A notice with the following wording will be displayed at the vehicle passenger entrance “Passengers please note – this free service is not operated by Transport for London or London Buses. Passengers travel at their own risk and at the discretion of the crew”
• All advance publicity, and any programme for the day will make clear that the services are not part of the TfL bus network
• Emergency contract details will be supplied
• Free bus services will so far as practicable keep out of the way of TfL bus services
• The use of certain bus priority measures such as bus lanes and bus only streets may not be permitted, as some of these are only for local bus services. This will depend on the relevant traffic order. Similarly some bus stops are only available to local bus services.
• TfL bus stations and other off-highway facilities such as bus stands may not normally be used except with express permission from local TfL management.
Question 3. Despite most of these vintage buses are not wheelchair accessible, why do you allow vintage running day services?
Answer: Part II, Section 4 of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 allows for an exemption from the regulations for ‘a vehicle in respect of which twenty years have elapsed since the date of its first use on a road and which is not used to provide a local service or a scheduled service for more than 20 days in any calendar year.’ Accordingly, while we appreciate that heritage vehicles are broadly not wheelchair accessible, provided that services are operated legally, TfL has no powers to limit their access to the highway. The voluntary code of practice works to ensure that the operation of vintage running days does not compromise the operation of existing accessible bus and coach services in London. In future we will work with operators through the voluntary code of practice to establish if any adjustments can be made to services to achieve greater accessibility.
Question 4. Do heritage bus firms and organisations have to pay Low Emission (LEZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) charges to operate a running day service on an existing London bus route?
Answer: All vehicles constructed before 1973 are exempt from LEZ and ULEZ, regardless of use.
Question 5. Are they allowed to charge their own fares separate to the London Buses fares?
Answer: The code of practice for vehicles operating on running days outside of the London Service Permit (LSP) system specifies that no fares or donations should be solicited. If a proposed vintage bus service will charge separate fares and carry passengers for less than 15 miles then it is a Local Bus Service under the Transport Act 1985. The operator would therefore need to apply for a LSP, whether the service is to be operated on a ‘one off’ or regular basis. As a commercial bus service, it would not be required to be operated consistently with the London Bus fare structure. The services operated by EnsignBus in December 2022 (X21, X54, X55, X81) were operated under LSPs.
Question 6. Will TFL continue to allow heritage running day services once London achieves their carbon neutral target (including full zero-emission bus fleet) by around 2030?
Answer: This will be kept under review alongside the ongoing development of LEZ/ULEZ policy and national PSVAR regulations.
Question 7. Do TFL and National Rail/Train Operating Companies allow use of vintage buses to be used on railway replacement services and strike extras on existing London bus routes?
Answer: All buses procured by TfL on London Underground, Overground, DLR, Trams and Elizabeth Line rail replacement bus services must be PSV-AR compliant. Vintage buses are not acceptable.
If anyone disagrees with the current policy by TfL on their vintage running days, you can raise an issue with the London Assembly member; you can also request them to submit a question to the Mayor for the upcoming session.
There's a list of upcoming vintage running day events in London and elsewhere in Great Britain on the London Omnibus Traction Society (news page) and the Classic Buses website.
Poor air quality impacts the health of Londoners and is mainly caused by polluting vehicles. The latest data shows that, although improvements are being made, road transport is the single biggest contributor of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter emissions in Greater London. Londoners are developing life-changing illnesses such as cancer, asthma and lung disease, and recent reports have shown a link between air pollution and an increased risk of developing dementia. Air pollution even contributes to the premature death of thousands of Londoners every year.
It is for these reasons that, as the regulator of London's bus services and reporting to the Mayor of London, we believe it is right to discourage the use of vehicles built after 1973 that do not comply with ULEZ emission standards by not offering an exemption for these buses to operate on a running day within London. This, therefore, includes DMS and Leyland National buses onwards.
In reply to your specific questions:
1. Which types of heritage buses are allowed on your routes as part of running day events? Why are heritage doored buses banned, as stated in the quoted text above?
Answered, as above.
2. Can you publish the rules and regulations in full about running days with heritage buses?
In addition to what we have said above, we would expect buses to be properly taxed and roadworthy - in line with legal requirements - and bus crews to be dressed appropriately in smart dress.
3. Do running day events require approval from Transport for London?
Yes, as explained above.
4. Are they allowed to use bus lanes, priority roads, and bus stations?
Once the special operation has been registered, we would allow the use of bus stands and bus stations where space allows this.
5. Are they allowed to use the "London Transport" name and roundel on their heritage buses?
Yes. As a historical vehicle, we allow the use of the London Transport name and roundel, in keeping with the authenticity of the original livery.
6. Are there plans to ban running days with the use of heritage vehicles on your existing routes?
No, subject to the requirements mentioned.
Then I found further information about the heritage running days from last year (2023). TfL has stated that the use of vintage buses for railway replacement services (Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR and Trams) is not acceptable.
Request ID: FOI-2555-2223
Date published: 24 January 2023
Question 1. Do heritage bus firms and organisations require permission from Transport for London to operate a vintage bus on an existing London bus route?
Answer: Owners of vintage vehicles have the right to use them on the public highway provided all legal requirements are met, and TfL as a Highway Authority has a duty to facilitate this. A voluntary code of practice for the operation of vintage buses in London not operated under contract to TfL or under the London Service Permit system exists to ensure that TfL is kept informed of heritage running days, that the operation of existing bus and coach services is not compromised, and that we have the ability to communicate with vehicles on free services if co-ordinating a response to an incident.
Question 2. Can you publish the rules and procedures for heritage bus firms and organisations providing a vintage running day bus service?
Answer: The voluntary code of practice states that
• The vehicles to be used are in a mechanically sound and safe condition for operation in service
• The vehicles are insured for operation of free bus services
• No fares or donations will be taken
• All drivers on routes available to the public hold a PCV licence of the relevant category
• A notice with the following wording will be displayed at the vehicle passenger entrance “Passengers please note – this free service is not operated by Transport for London or London Buses. Passengers travel at their own risk and at the discretion of the crew”
• All advance publicity, and any programme for the day will make clear that the services are not part of the TfL bus network
• Emergency contract details will be supplied
• Free bus services will so far as practicable keep out of the way of TfL bus services
• The use of certain bus priority measures such as bus lanes and bus only streets may not be permitted, as some of these are only for local bus services. This will depend on the relevant traffic order. Similarly some bus stops are only available to local bus services.
• TfL bus stations and other off-highway facilities such as bus stands may not normally be used except with express permission from local TfL management.
Question 3. Despite most of these vintage buses are not wheelchair accessible, why do you allow vintage running day services?
Answer: Part II, Section 4 of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 allows for an exemption from the regulations for ‘a vehicle in respect of which twenty years have elapsed since the date of its first use on a road and which is not used to provide a local service or a scheduled service for more than 20 days in any calendar year.’ Accordingly, while we appreciate that heritage vehicles are broadly not wheelchair accessible, provided that services are operated legally, TfL has no powers to limit their access to the highway. The voluntary code of practice works to ensure that the operation of vintage running days does not compromise the operation of existing accessible bus and coach services in London. In future we will work with operators through the voluntary code of practice to establish if any adjustments can be made to services to achieve greater accessibility.
Question 4. Do heritage bus firms and organisations have to pay Low Emission (LEZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) charges to operate a running day service on an existing London bus route?
Answer: All vehicles constructed before 1973 are exempt from LEZ and ULEZ, regardless of use.
Question 5. Are they allowed to charge their own fares separate to the London Buses fares?
Answer: The code of practice for vehicles operating on running days outside of the London Service Permit (LSP) system specifies that no fares or donations should be solicited. If a proposed vintage bus service will charge separate fares and carry passengers for less than 15 miles then it is a Local Bus Service under the Transport Act 1985. The operator would therefore need to apply for a LSP, whether the service is to be operated on a ‘one off’ or regular basis. As a commercial bus service, it would not be required to be operated consistently with the London Bus fare structure. The services operated by EnsignBus in December 2022 (X21, X54, X55, X81) were operated under LSPs.
Question 6. Will TFL continue to allow heritage running day services once London achieves their carbon neutral target (including full zero-emission bus fleet) by around 2030?
Answer: This will be kept under review alongside the ongoing development of LEZ/ULEZ policy and national PSVAR regulations.
Question 7. Do TFL and National Rail/Train Operating Companies allow use of vintage buses to be used on railway replacement services and strike extras on existing London bus routes?
Answer: All buses procured by TfL on London Underground, Overground, DLR, Trams and Elizabeth Line rail replacement bus services must be PSV-AR compliant. Vintage buses are not acceptable.
If anyone disagrees with the current policy by TfL on their vintage running days, you can raise an issue with the London Assembly member; you can also request them to submit a question to the Mayor for the upcoming session.
There's a list of upcoming vintage running day events in London and elsewhere in Great Britain on the London Omnibus Traction Society (news page) and the Classic Buses website.
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Image attribution
By Au Morandarte from London, Middlesex, England - IMG_6119, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34229492