Tuesday, 8 September 2026

London Bus Tender Awards: New Routemasters to Continue on Routes 59 and 137/N137, With More New Electric Buses for Route 265

As we are now in September 2026, with the summer over and the new school term beginning, Transport for London has announced that the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters will continue to operate on routes 59 and 137/N137 as part of the new contracts retained by Arriva London. Meanwhile, route 265 will receive further new electric single-deck buses as part of the new contract awarded to Go-Ahead London.

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

Route 59
Retained by: Arriva London South
Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR): 21
Vehicles: Existing New Routemaster
Contract Start Date: 30th January 2027
Contract End Date: 1st February 2030

Route 137/N137
Retained by: Arriva London South
PVR: 22
Vehicles: Existing New Routemaster
Contract Start Date: 23rd January 2027
Contract End Date: 25th January 2030

Route 265
Retained by: Go-Ahead London General
PVR: 16
Vehicles: New & existing electric single deck
Contract Start Date: 26th June 2027
Contract End Date: 23rd June 2034

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.

My Thoughts

I didn't expect routes 59 and 137/N137 to continue using New Routemasters, as TfL is pursuing its ambition to make its fleet 100% zero-emission by 2030, as originally planned.

I previously wrote about why the New Routemaster was being withdrawn, which is due to its 14-year lifespan in passenger service. I have suggested that they should instead be retrofitted to become fully electric using new technologies, such as retrofitted air conditioning, which the BYD BD11 already features. They could then be sold for use on Bus Rapid Transit services and high-frequency routes, with enhanced bus priority measures to improve loading and unloading times at bus stops throughout the United Kingdom and beyond.

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.

🆕🚆🟣⦵ The first of ten new Derby-built Class 345 Aventra trains has entered service on London’s Elizabeth line. The extra trains, funded by the UK Government, will help meet rising demand and support future services at HS2’s Old Oak Common station when it opens, improving capacity for passengers.

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 1, 2026 at 1:32 PM

🚍🚏 Liverpool City Region buses begin returning to public control on 6 September, starting in St Helens. Passengers will get more frequent services, longer timetables, new low-emission buses and a direct X3 link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/news/histori...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM

First Bus will operate services in Huddersfield and parts of Leeds under West Yorkshire’s new Weaver Network. Services are due to begin in spring 2027 as bus franchising is phased in across the region. news.firstbus.co.uk/news/first-b...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 1, 2026 at 8:24 PM

Transport for London Freedom of Information release: TfL released Tripartite minutes from 2 Apr 2025 to 9 Jul 2026, covering driver welfare, toilet provision, safety, heat, pay and vehicles. Facilities meetings covered toilets. No heatwave Taskforce minutes were held. tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 1, 2026 at 9:27 PM

Transport for London Freedom of Information release: TfL has confirmed it holds the latest bus display standards, covering digital destination and next-stop displays, typography, sizing, colours, layouts, hardware and accessibility requirements. tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 3, 2026 at 1:37 PM

🇮🇪 Ireland’s public transport fares will rise from January 2027, with adult fares increasing by 15% on average. Free travel for children under nine and people over 66, along with the 50% Young Adult and Student Discount, will remain. www.nationaltransport.ie/news/changes...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 3, 2026 at 1:54 PM

🐝 Five new Bee Network night buses launch across Greater Manchester, giving every borough a 24-hour weekend service. The routes connect Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, Salford and Trafford with Manchester city centre, supporting safer, cheaper late-night travel. news.tfgm.com/press-releas...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 3, 2026 at 11:32 PM

Updated Cambridgeshire and Peterborough bus plans follow 1,182 consultation responses. Changes aim to improve reliability, frequency and connectivity, with revised routes across the region. Subject to approval, changes may begin in February 2027. cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/news/residen...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 4, 2026 at 8:18 PM

Transport for London Have Your Say: 🚲 TfL is consulting on a 3km Cycleway 9 extension between Syon Park and Hounslow town centre, including safer crossings, segregated cycle tracks and wider footways. Feedback closes 19 October 2026. haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/cycleway-9-w...

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— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) September 7, 2026 at 3:55 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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