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| 3D images of the New Bus for London - 2010 © Transport for London |
Firstly, a very happy Easter to all my readers and followers across my social media platforms.
It has been revealed that Transport for London (TfL) has provided an update via the Freedom of Information (FOI) section of their website. It is expected that some of the New Routemasters (NRMs) are due to move to routes 27, H32, and others yet to be allocated.
Request ID: FOI-4696-2526
Date published: 01 April 2026
a) what plans TfL has at present for their future, including deployment beyond the 15 year average lifespan, as they've become quite iconic and a key fabric of what tourists/visitors see when they visit London.
The NRM buses have been an important part of London’s fleet since the first buses entered service in 2012. Where new electric buses are being introduced on routes that have NRMs, we are currently contracting them to other suitable routes, while considering next steps ahead of them reaching the end of their life over the next few years.
b) What the status is regarding the Electric New Routemaster (LT11) currently being trialed with Metroline and when it will re-enter into testing, and if TfL is considering implementing/is aware of Wrightbus' NewPower repower option to further extend their lifespan in London: https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/new-power
There is an existing trial of a converted electric NRM, which was developed by Equipmake. Ahead of the trial, Equipmake had developed a potential design that would allow the NRMs to be converted and approached TfL to see if it would be possible to trial it in practice at no cost to TfL. Since the trial initially began, there have been technological advancements and battery improvements, so Equipmake have evolved the converted model to incorporate these ahead of further testing. LT11 is expected to re-enter into service for testing over the next few months.
Currently, TfL is not exploring the Wrightbus repower for the NRM buses.
c) What the plan is with New Routemasters to be removed from Routes 16, 313 and 267. I am aware Route 8's New Routemasters will be redirected to the 56.
The NRMs from route 267 will be moving to Route 27. Some of the Route 16 vehicles are being deployed to Route H32, while the others – along with those on Route 313 – are yet to be allocated to other routes.
d) if the cost/benefit ratio to repowering is cheaper for TfL than outright purchasing new buses.
TfL currently does not have any comparable repower data to make an assessment.
Despite the popularity of the New Routemaster bus, which I researched through cosnultation reports and FOI requests, there is still debate on their future. To recap, I suggested that they should be retrofitted to be fully electric with "deep refurbishment" technology—including improved air-cooling systems—and then sold for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services throughout the UK and beyond (where vehicles drive on the left).
I have provided more thoughts about the NRM in my previous article, including my suggestion for a new three-door, two-staircase electric bus by multiple manufacturers, and documentation surfaced by FOI requests in relation to the NRM. Furthermore, I recapped the proposed "New Bus for West Yorkshire" by posting the executive summary of their consultation, which was held over 10 years ago.
The New Routemaster might have been a controversial bus, but it has helped various manufacturers to improve their designs. We are now at the point where technology has evolved enough that we are progressing towards a fully-electric bus fleet, both for London and elsewhere in the UK. The legislative foundations have been set to enable local and transport authorities to issue permits for Automated Passenger Services (APS); you can read the guidance on the UK government website.
The New Routemaster may reduce in numbers in the years to come, but the three-door layout remains ideal for BRT and high-frequency services to improve boarding times. This is something the Land Transport Authority in Singapore has been doing to improve accessibility. The concept of a three-door bus is even mentioned in TfL's own New Bus Specification as a way to improve "dwell times" at bus stops.
Whatever manufacturers and authorities have ongoing behind the scenes, I do hope something interesting and exciting is revealed in the near future.
A Note from the 2018 Mayor's Transport Strategy
It is worth highlighting a section from the 2018 Mayor's Transport Strategy regarding accessibility:
Making bus services more accessible and inclusive
Buses are typically the most common form of public transport used by older people, disabled people and those travelling with children, often with prams or buggies. Buses are a relatively accessible form of public transport – all London buses meet strict accessibility requirements, and 95 per cent of bus stops are now wheelchair accessible. Specific training on helping those users with accessibility needs is being delivered to bus drivers, and TfL works with bus operators to ensure this training is put into practice in daily service provision. Nevertheless, on-board crowding, competition for the designated wheelchair space and the internal layout of the vehicle can negatively impact the experience of using buses. There is therefore a real need to further improve bus accessibility through future bus design.
Proposal 54
The Mayor, through TfL and the boroughs, will improve bus accessibility by:
a) Continuing to provide improved accessibility training to all bus drivers and working with operators to ensure they are meeting their requirements for the level of service that their drivers provide.
b) Reviewing existing bus design, including opportunities for increasing wheelchair space and internal layout to ease movement and improve safety.
c) Ensuring that new buses provide better accessibility for all users, including more on-board space for wheelchair users, improved boarding ramps, induction loops and consistent signage and messages regarding priority seating.
Moving forward, I hope to see a newly updated Transport Strategy for London. The UK government has already set out a national vision for bus services that are comprehensive, convenient, reliable, safe, quick, inclusive, affordable, and environmentally friendly. This vision places a strong emphasis on empowering, expecting, and funding local leaders to deliver better services as part of a joined-up transport network. You can read more about the government’s approach and delivery vision here.
And by the way, the Bus & Coach Expo is on 21 - 23 April 2026 at the NEC Birmingham. You can book a free pass on their website.
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.
