Monday, 28 April 2025

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses for Routes 184, 217, 484, and 496

Transport for London (TfL) has announced the latest bus contract details, with a focus on the introduction of electric buses. Routes 184, 217, 484, and 496 will transition to electric buses, featuring a combination of new and existing electric single and double-deck vehicles.

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

Route 184
Retained by: Go-Ahead London General
Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR): 18
Vehicles: New and existing electric single deck
Contract Start Date: 7th February 2026
Contract End Date: 4th February 2033

Route 217
Current Operator: Go-Ahead London General
New Operator: Arriva London North
PVR: 12
Vehicles: New electric double deck
Contract Start Date: 15th November 2025
Contract End Date: 12th November 2032

Route 296
Retained by: Stagecoach East London
PVR: 8
Vehicles: Existing diesel single deck
Contract Start Date: 18th October 2025
Contract End Date: 20th October 2028

Route 484
Retained by: Go-Ahead London Central
PVR: 10
Vehicles: Existing electric single deck
Contract Start Date: 21st March 2026
Contract End Date: 18th March 2033

Route 496
Retained by: Stagecoach East London
PVR: 8
Vehicles: New electric double deck
Contract Start Date: 18th October 2025
Contract End Date: 15th October 2032

Route 633
Retained by: Go-Ahead Metrobus
PVR: 2
Vehicles: Existing hybrid double deck
Contract Start Date: 4th April 2026
Contract End Date: 6th April 2029

Route 969
Retained by: Transport UK West London
PVR: 0*
Vehicles: Existing diesel single deck
Contract Start Date: 15th November 2025
Contract End Date: 17th November 2028

* Vehicle for route 969 is sourced from other routes.

New electric vehicles may enter service after the contract start date, dependent on infrastructure and/ or vehicle delivery timescales.

The diesel and hybrid vehicles detailed above will meet Euro VI emissions standards.


As another bus route in the London Borough of Havering (Route 496) transitions to zero-emission electric, my aspiration is to see a 100% zero-emission London bus fleet by 2028, coinciding with the next London Mayoral election.

The previous bus routes in Havering that were awarded new zero-emission electric buses include Routes 165, 174/674, 252, 256, and 365.

Here are the highlights of my posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) and BlueSky. If you have an account on X and BlueSky, you are welcome to like and retweet my posts.

#Southeastern has launched its first refreshed Class 376 train with a new blue livery and LED lighting. Part of a wider fleet upgrade, all 36 trains will get refurbished seating and at-seat power by year-end to enhance passenger comfort. newsroom.southeasternrailway.co.uk/news/southea...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) April 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM

The National #Travel Survey mid-year estimates for 2024 show a 1% rise in trips compared to 2023, with increased private #transport use and a 7% rise in walking. Commuting decreased by 5%. #London had the highest use of active and public transport, while the Midlands favoured private transport.

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 2:42 PM

#Somerset has launched 25 new electric buses, part of a £14.7m project with First Bus and Somerset Council. Each double decker costs £400,000. By summer, over 40% of the fleet will be electric, offering cleaner air and improved accessibility. news.firstbus.co.uk/news/charged...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 12:21 PM

#Transport for #London has opened a new #accessible toilet at White Hart Lane, with more planned across the network as part of a £15m investment to improve access. Facilities will also be added or upgraded at key stations and bus stations. tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/tfl-ope...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) April 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM

TfL’s Priority Seating Week introduces a new high-contrast seat design to make priority seating easier to spot. Passengers are urged to be aware of others, especially those with non-visible conditions, and offer seats to those who need them. tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/tfl-unv...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) April 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM

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.

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