Thursday, 18 December 2025

London Bus Tender Awards: Route 21 to Continue Using New Routemasters, and Route 126 to Use New Electric Single-Deck Buses

As the year 2025 draws to a close, Transport for London (TfL) has announced the latest London bus tender awards. Under the new contracts, the three-door, two-staircase New Routemasters will continue operating on route 21 for a further two years, while route 126 will be worked by new electric single-deck buses.

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

21/N21
Retained by: Go-Ahead London Central
Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR): 25
Vehicles: Existing New Routemaster
Contract Start Date: 10th October 2026
Contract End Date: 6th October 2028

126
Retained by: Go-Ahead London Central
PVR: 11
Vehicles: New electric single deck
Contract Start Date: 20th March 2027
Contract End Date: 17th March 2034

313
Current Operator: Arriva London North
New Operator: Metroline
PVR: 8
Vehicles: Existing electric double deck
Contract Start Date: 7th November 2026
Contract End Date: 4th November 2033

New electric vehicles may enter service after the contract start date, dependent on infrastructure and/ or vehicle delivery timescales.
The hybrid vehicles detailed above will meet Euro VI emissions standards.

As discussed in my previous article, TfL should work with bus manufacturers to design and build a three-door, two-staircase electric double-deck bus. Recently, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority awarded six contracts for 660 new electric buses, comprising 360 single-deck and 300 double-deck vehicles, the latter featuring three doors and two staircases. This presents an opportunity for TfL to trial the Singapore bus specification in London and gather feedback on improved accessibility, including the provision of two wheelchair spaces, as well as other features currently in use in Singapore. These include a third door and a second staircase, both of which are familiar from the New Routemaster. While such vehicles may not be suitable for all London routes due to constraints such as narrow roads, this approach would help TfL deliver the Equity in Motion objectives and the Bus Action Plan, both of which form part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

Singapore’s LTA will deploy 660 new electric buses from end-2026, including double-deck models with three doors and two staircases. They will replace ageing diesel buses and feature improved range, safety systems, and real-time passenger info, supporting a fully cleaner-energy fleet by 2040.

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 15, 2025 at 11:54 AM

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.

Greater Manchester Mayor @andyburnham.bsky.social has set out plans to bring rail into the Bee Network from December 2026, starting with lines to Glossop and Stalybridge, featuring upgraded stations, contactless fares, step-free access, new multi-modal tickets, and transport-led regeneration.

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM

Transport for London Freedom of Information release: TfL cannot locate requested 2015-2016 Holborn escalator study documents but released the 1 April 2016 Escalator Passenger Safety Strategy Trial Report with personal data redacted. tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 11, 2025 at 6:42 PM

MAN Truck & Bus has won Deutsche Bahn’s largest-ever bus contract in Germany, supplying more than 3,000 city and intercity buses from 2027–2032. Many will be electric, extending a partnership that has delivered almost 5,000 buses nationwide since 2010. press.mantruckandbus.com/corporate/la...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 13, 2025 at 9:49 PM

Transport for London’s consultation report shows strong public support for extending the DLR to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead. Feedback will inform plans, with further consultation in 2026 before seeking construction approval. haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/dlr-extensio...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 15, 2025 at 12:21 PM

Ministers in Ireland and Northern Ireland have welcomed the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy, outlining short-term rail upgrades and longer-term electrification and line reopenings to deliver faster, more frequent and sustainable services. www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 15, 2025 at 6:30 PM

A December 2025 report says #BusConnects #Dublin, #Ireland, has advanced, with all 12 core bus corridors approved, seven network redesign phases delivered, 124 electric #buses in service and strong growth in passenger numbers and reliability. busconnects.ie/8328/

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 17, 2025 at 12:03 PM

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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