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| Repowered New Routemaster LT11 |
This is a follow-up to my article from last year regarding the New Routemasters being phased out in favour of new zero-emission buses in the near future.
I suggest that Transport for London (TfL) sell the New Routemasters, once they reach their 14-year service life, to companies that convert vehicles to fully electric. This should include refurbishment and the installation of a new HVAC system, as the New Routemaster faced controversy over its air-cooling issues.
In November 2022, Equipmake borrowed a New Routemaster (LT11) from TfL and repowered it as a fully electric bus at no cost to TfL. You can read more about the contract between TfL and Equipmake in TfL's Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure log.
Unfortunately, another FOI release stated that there are no results to publish from the electric repower trial of the New Routemaster undertaken with Equipmake, as the vehicle has not been in operation long enough to draw any conclusions.
Last year (2024), Wrightbus launched NewPower, specialising in the conversion of mid-life diesel buses by replacing their engines with zero-emission electric powertrains, giving operators an instant sustainability switch.
According to NewPower, all variants of the New Routemaster are eligible for repowering as electric vehicles.
Two other companies, KleanDrive and Magtec Technologies, also repower buses as fully electric vehicles.
With the concept of three doors and two staircases, I suggest that retrofitted and refurbished New Routemasters could be used for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services in areas of the UK and beyond—specifically in countries where people drive on the left, such as Japan and Australia.
My suggestion is similar to Vivarail, a company that converted retired London Underground D78 Stock trains into diesel, battery, and electric units. Unfortunately, the company went into administration in December 2022, but its assets were purchased by the train operating company GWR. GWR acquired intellectual property, rolling stock and equipment related to the development of high-performance battery and Fast Charge technology, with the intention to continue Vivarail's work in these areas.
After the New Routemaster leaves London service
According to a FOI response from TfL, there are currently no plans to launch bendy buses, such as those seen in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Brisbane, Australia, where the driver's compartment is separated from the main saloon.
This suggests that TfL should consider proposing BRT services using bendy buses. This could include tram-style buses with the driver’s compartment separated from the saloon.
Recently, Liverpool City Region has road tested an 18-metre articulated Irizar ie tram with a passenger capacity of up to 120, with the expectation of full operational service by 2028.
Bendy buses are not new to London: TfL’s predecessors London Transport and London Regional Transport evaluated these vehicles in 1977 and 1992. In addition, a small number of routes used bendy buses in the 2000s, with route 207 reverting to double-deck buses in late 2011.
In July 1977, Leyland demonstrated an 18m articulated bus in London after two weeks of trials in South Yorkshire. Built to carry 150 passengers, it needed a permit as UK limits were 12.2m. London Transport saw limited potential but considered it for Red Arrow routes. https://t.co/BDJCJnm0Te pic.twitter.com/WYyRwqka9b
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) July 23, 2025
#London #Transport (LT) News (No. 405, April 30 1992) clipping: Prior to the establishment of #TfL in 2000, a London Buses Limited subsidiary, Selkent, demonstrated a bendy bus on route 180, which was on hire from South Yorkshire Transport. Video footage: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hq_...
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 11:20 AM
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I suggest that TfL should consider reviving the Speedbus proposal from the 1970s and use it to create new BRT services, particularly reviving all-door, open-boarding bendy buses with enhanced revenue protection.
I have made similar suggestions in the Bakerloop BL1 and Superloop route SL11 consultations regarding the use of bendy buses.
My response to the Bakerloop (Express Route BL1) consultation:
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) February 23, 2025
• Cantium Retail Park lacks a stop; I suggest adding one.
• Expand bus priority measures on the BL1 route.
• Propose zero-emission bendy buses for BL1.
• Review the 1970s Speedbus proposal for Superloop 2. https://t.co/1G1AAQ5SX0 pic.twitter.com/GN7vKBYla1
My response to the consultation on the proposed Superloop route SL11.
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) March 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
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As for bus design, I have previously suggested a new zero-emission bus with three doors and two staircases in my earlier articles. These also include a common bus specification and a suggestion to TfL to trial different bus layouts used in other areas to improve accessibility. I have also reviewed version 2.6 of TfL’s New Bus Specification.
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.
Further reading
Let's Discuss the Rear Open Platform of a Bus
Image attribution
By Buttons0603 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124860848
