 |
| Silhouette of the New Routemaster and Irizar ie tram |
This is a follow-up to my previous article from last year, where I gathered information from Transport for London’s consultation reports and highlighted the requests for zero-emission New Routemaster (NRM) and tram-style buses.
Let’s take a look at the 2024 consultation reports I have researched:
From C51 Cunningham Place consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new routemasters/zero-emission buses
Number of comments: 3
Holland Park Roundabout
From consultation report:
Out of scope - Suggestion about type of buses used on TfL services
Number of comments: 79
A21 Sevenoaks Road safety improvement scheme
From consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new Routemasters zero-emission buses
Number of comments: 87
273 bus route - proposed changes between Lee and Grove Park, and a section of Manor Park
From consultation report:
Suggestion the London bus service be improved with the introduction/more use of ‘New Routemaster’ buses, or with a ‘tram-bus’, electric vehicles
Number of comments: 90
Route N518 – creation of a new night bus service between Central London and Ruislip
From N518 consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new Routemasters zero-emission buses
Number of comments: 118
Woolwich Ferry to Plumstead walking and cycling changes
From Woolwich Ferry to Plumstead walking and cycling changes report:
Suggestion for use of new Routemaster buses
Number of comments: 83
Extending the Docklands Light Railway to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead
A Freedom of Information request reveals 65 comments for NRMs and tram buses.
241 bus route - proposed extension to Here East
From route 241 consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new Routemasters zero-emission buses
Number of comments: 105
6.1 Campaign organised in support of using ‘New Routemaster’ buses in TfL consultation materials and being used on the TfL bus network
We have classified 102 responses we received as being part of an organised campaign. We applied this classification due to their submission pattern and the similarity in their comments.
While each response was slightly different, they shared a sentiment of wanting images of the ‘New Routemaster’ style of bus to be used in TfL bus consultation materials. They also shared the sentiment of this type of bus being superior to other types of buses that operate on the TfL bus network and should be procured in the future to operate on the TfL bus network.
Each individual response has been read and analysed. Given the high volume of responses associated with the campaign, we need to demonstrate their impact on the final consultation results in our analysis.
To do this we have reported our analysis data with and without these organised responses. Any themes raised that are in scope have been responded to in our Response to Issues Raised.
Brentford to Syon Park walking and cycling improvements
From Brentford to Syon Park walking and cycling improvements consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type (e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new routemasters/zero-emission buses)
Number of comments: 24
4.4 Campaigns
We identified an organised campaign through 24 responses to the online survey on our Have Your Say portal. These called for the addition of Routemaster buses/ tramstyle/double decker electric /zero-emission to our bus fleet. This was out of scope for this consultation, as we do not consult on bus vehicle types.
We classified this as an organised campaign due to the submission pattern and the similarity in their response. While each response was slightly different, they all called for the introduction of Routemaster buses. Some of the responses also made a number of other comments which are in scope of the consultation. These have been analysed and themes responded to in our response to issues raised.
For the purpose of the analysis, we have reported this as an organised response campaign. Each individual response has been read and analysed.
St Helier Avenue
From St Helier Avenue consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type (e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new routemasters/zero-emission buses)
Number of comments: 120
5.1. Organised campaign
We have classified 120 responses we received as being part of an organised campaign. We applied this classification due to their submission pattern and the similarity in their comments.
While each response was slightly different, they shared a recommendation that new Routemaster buses are used and commented that the new bus designs are poor and inaccessible. Respondents also expressed support for bus lanes in their comments.
Each has been read and analysed. We have reported our analysis data with and without these organised responses. Any themes raised that are in scope have been responded to in our Response to Issues Raised.
Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels user charge consultation
From TfL board paper
From consultation report:
Suggest improvements to public transport in terms of new vehicle type (e.g. tram-style/doubledecker electric/new routemasters/zero-emission buses)
Number of comments: 99
5.11.5 Routemaster buses campaign
We identified an organised campaign through responses to the online survey on our Have Your Say portal. These called for the addition of Routemaster buses to operate through the tunnels. This was out of scope for this consultation, as we did not consult on bus vehicle types.3 Other comments made which are in scope of the consultation have been analysed and themes responded to in our response to issues raised.
We classified this as an organised campaign due to the submission pattern and the similarity in their response. While each response was slightly different, they all called for the introduction of Routemaster buses.
For the purpose of the analysis, we have reported this as an organised response campaign. Each individual response has been read and analysed and comments coded accordingly.
Cycleway 50 - Finsbury Park to Nag's Head
From consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new routemasters/zero-emission buses
Number of comments: 48
Campaign – bus design
We received a number of (48 responses) similarly worded responses making comments about bus vehicle type. As the consultation was not concerned with this issue these are considered as ‘out of scope’ comments.
Lee High Road Bus Priority scheme
From consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new routemasters/zero-emission buses
Number of comments: 58
The first campaign supported the expansion of bus lanes and called for the use of new Routemaster buses on our services: we identified 58 responses in this campaign and we refer to it as ‘Campaign advocating use of a certain bus vehicle type (CBVT)’ in this report.
5.1. Organised campaigns
We received 58 responses which suggested that new Routemaster buses should operate along Lee High Road, with additional comments that the new bus designs are poor and inaccessible. We classified this as the ‘CBVT ’ campaign.
14 and 414 - proposed changes between Putney and central London
From routes 14 & 414 consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type (e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new Routemasters/zero-emission buses)
Number of comments: 89
These included a potential campaign not directly relating to the proposals suggesting the use of New Routemaster buses on TfL services which raised 89 responses. Comments that are out of scope have not been included in this top 10.
Bus routes 45, 59 and 118 - proposed changes in south London
From consultation report:
Suggestion about vehicle type e.g. tramstyle/double decker electric/new Routemasters zero-emission buses
Number of comments: 89
Aldgate – changes to bus routes
From consultation report:
Bus vehicle type campaign responses - 128
Suggestion about vehicle type e.g. tram-style/double decker electric/new routemasters/zero-emission buses/vehicle accessibility
Then, I researched through the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on the TfL website and found one request.
Comments about the new Volvo BZL double-deck electric bus on route 58
Request ID: FOI-1189-2425
Date published: 14 August 2024
The comments in the document show 24 complaints about the design of the Volvo BZL and express a preference for the New Routemaster design.
It’s interesting to see that TfL have recognised these comments as part of a so-called unidentified campaign organisation, as there have been numerous requests for more New Routemaster buses.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not advocating for the relaunch of the New Routemaster project. For TfL to create a new integral double-deck bus would be too expensive and controversial. I have published research explaining why the New Routemaster was designed as a three-door, two-staircase bus instead of a half-cab with an open platform, as many had expected years ago. Thankfully, the NRM was designed as a three-door, two-staircase bus to enable one-person operation, which is why conductors no longer collected fares, due to the use of Oyster and contactless payment cards. Conductors were withdrawn in September 2016 and served only six routes.
Also, last year, I mentioned that TfL had fulfilled the request by respondents for the Superloop Route SL3 consultation to use New Routemaster buses. This year (2025), they are expected to be replaced with the new Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV (new generation) electric buses.
My priority in improving bus design is accessibility, which is why I have published research on double-deck buses with two wheelchair spaces.
For this reason, I have slightly altered my suggestions from previous years. In my previous article, I suggested improvements to bus services in London and beyond. This includes different types of buses, particularly in terms of the number of doors, to improve accessibility, convenience, and to create more of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service. This also includes reinstating bendy buses as a new zero-emission bus for routes with larger roads and extensive bus priority measures. As for the Superloop Express bus services, my suggestion includes expanding bus priority measures and experimenting with the use of bendy buses to make it more of a BRT-style express bus service. This includes my suggestion to reinstate the Speedbus proposal from 1974 and the Transit Schemes proposal from the 2000s.
A new chapter is needed because bus services in London require creativity, especially in branding, to make bus services more attractive and to make journey planning easier.
I still stand by my suggestion for a new zero-emission double-deck bus with improved accessibility features, including two wheelchair spaces, three doors, and two staircases. I also recommend using Eink technology for the exterior of the bus, allowing liveries to be changed rapidly without the need for repainting.
My suggestions are part of a common bus specification for London, franchised bus areas (such as the Bee Network in Greater Manchester), and beyond.
Of course, I mentioned that some bus manufacturers have already adopted certain design features of the New Routemaster for their double-deck buses, which are now seen in many cities across the UK and around the world.
Attractive bus designs help manufacturers stand out in a competitive market by showcasing innovation, sustainability, and quality. They can improve passenger comfort, reduce maintenance costs, and contribute to a positive image of public transport, benefiting both operators and passengers.
It’s not just about bus types – I’ve also suggested that bus lanes and priority measures could be converted into tram lines to help increase capacity and support industries, such as the steel industry, in manufacturing new rails.
Looking back, TfL should consider improving various bus services, such as trunk routes, city centre routes, satellite routes, principal suburban routes, and cross-boundary routes. These services need improvements through new bus priority measures and different types of buses to enhance accessibility, particularly for wheelchair users with two wheelchair spaces, and to improve loading and exiting flows at bus stops. Some services could reinstate open boarding, but this risks increasing fare evasion, which is why greater revenue protection would be necessary. In addition, bus priority measures help emergency services improve their response times as they are often held up in heavy traffic.
I would also like to reinstate the Red Arrow bus services, especially Route 521, which used the Strand underpass to bypass Aldwych (towards Holborn) and avoid heavy traffic.
Although TfL, including the Mayor, may not wish to relaunch the New Routemaster project, my suggestions will certainly help improve bus services for London and beyond, aligning with TfL’s Bus Action Plan, which was unveiled in March 2022.
New buses for London have been specified with USB charging ports for passengers to charge their phones, high-backed seats to reduce whiplash injuries in the event of an accident, and new double-deck buses feature a sunroof (window on the roof). This is similar to how the recent London Taxis have been designed to enhance the passenger experience.
I would like to extend an invite for you to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) for transport-related updates. You can find me by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my X page here. I am also present on BlueSky and Mastodon. I look forward to connecting with you on these platforms. Thank you for your support.
