Transport for London finally releases the Big Red Book Sixth Edition!

Big Red Book Sixth Edition
TfL Image

The long-awaited Big Red Book Sixth Edition has finally been published by Transport for London (TfL). Rather than being published through TfL's Freedom of Information disclosure log, it has instead been released directly on the TfL website.

The Secret and Unbuilt Variants of the New Routemaster

Between 2010 and 2018, London's bus network saw the introduction of 1,000 three-door, two-staircase New Routemasters (NRM), alongside a small production run of nine two-door, single-staircase Wright SRMs ("Son of Routemaster").

Several readers noticed in my previous article that I compiled a directory of publicly accessible links regarding the New Routemaster bus. Fascinatingly, a Freedom of Information (FOI) release on the Greater London Authority website has revealed some incredible, little-known details about what could have been for the NRM fleet.

Does Transport for London Have Too Much Power in Decision-Making?

Public transport forms part of our critical national infrastructure, serving as a vital asset to both the economy and society. With a significant portion of the population unable to drive a car due to factors such as age, financial hardship, disability, underlying health conditions, or legal restrictions like criminal convictions, a well-functioning transport network is a necessity rather than a luxury.

The purpose of this article is not to disparage Transport for London (TfL), but rather to examine whether the current legislative framework provides sufficient accountability for TfL's decision-making. As a major public body, TfL must remain strictly accountable to the public, operating under the Nolan Principles of public life, which mandate objectivity, accountability, and openness.

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses for Routes 28/N28, 191, 260 and 302

As London is experiencing a heatwave, and with a fleet of over 3,000 zero-emission buses, Transport for London (TfL) has announced that more routes will be converted to zero-emission battery-electric buses. These routes are 28/N28, 191, 260 and 302.

The New Routemaster Files: A Directory of Publicly Available Documents

Highlights of publicly available documents concerning the New Routemaster project.

In this article, I have compiled a comprehensive directory of freely available documents and information to make it easier for researchers and enthusiasts to find in-depth, behind-the-scenes information about the New Routemaster (NRM) bus, also known as the New Bus for London (NBfL).

This shows the evolution of the NRM, which was originally envisioned as a half-cab open-platform bus; it launched as a three-door, two-staircase vehicle with an open platform and a second crew member, transitioned into a one-person operation with open boarding, and eventually moved to front-door-only boarding to combat fare evasion.

Transport for London announces over 3,000 zero-emission buses in service!

3,000th zero-emission bus - TfL Image

Transport for London (TfL) have announced in a press release that there are now over 3,000 zero-emission buses in service, marking a major green milestone for the capital.

Highlights of the press release:

The capital’s iconic red buses have hit a major green milestone ahead of Clean Air Day (18 June) with 3,000 zero-emission buses now in operation – around a third of the Transport for London (TfL) fleet.

Reviewing Transport for London’s New Bus Specification v2.7: New Phase of Bus Safety Standards and the Ban on Skylights for New Electric Buses

Stagecoach London Wrightbus Electroliner with skylights

Transport for London has published version 2.7 of the New Bus Vehicle Specification, following a freedom of information (FOI) request made by a member of the public.

A quick scan of the documents reveals that certain information regarding CCTV and Bus Runaway has been redacted under Sections 24 and 38(1)(b) of the FOI Act. This is because public disclosure could compromise network security, facilitate a potential attack, and endanger Transport for London staff and the public.

However, a particular section immediately catches the eye:

Transport for London quietly increases the cost of a new Oyster card to £10.50

This is quite a surprise to some people that Transport for London (TfL) has quietly increased the cost of a new Oyster card to £10.50 without a refundable deposit.

Here's the freedom of information (FOI) response to a member of the public on the TfL website about the Oyster card price increase.

Why is it important for TfL to preserve its digital history and retain documents for researchers to access?

I have come across a freedom of information (FOI) response on the Transport for London (TfL) website where they have started to remove pages and older documents from their website, which brings disappointment.

Here's what it states:

Request ID: FOI-0442-2627
Date published: 05 June 2026

The case for enhancing cross-boundary bus services for London and the Home Counties to end the postcode lottery

1967 London Transport Board Central Buses Map

This is a follow-up to my article regarding the reinstatement of the London Passenger Transport Area, in which prior to 1970, London Transport served the areas outside the Greater London Council area with green Country Bus services. Then after 1970, they were transferred over to the National Bus Company; these services were fully fragmented after the deregulation of bus services in October 1986. The London Passenger Transport Area also predates the creation of the Greater London Area in 1965.

New weekend Super Hopper fare for London's buses and trams for the summer

With the local election period over and Sadiq Khan marking 10 years as the Mayor of London, he has released a surprise announcement regarding transport fares.

Press release by the Greater London Authority:

The Postcode Lottery of Free Travel: Why the "London Boundary" remains a Mess

This is a follow up from my previous articles regarding free travel concessions, especially in regards with my research where Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists get free travel on TfL services and National Rail in Greater London. While that is a great benefit for athletes, the general "mess" of validity for disabled and elderly travellers remains a significant issue.

The Little-Known Free TfL Travel Concession for a Select Group

Athlete's Oyster Photocard

There is a secret free travel scheme which is known only by TfL staff and a selected group of people: the Elite Athlete's Oyster photocard. Holders of this card receive free travel on Transport for London (TfL) services and most railway services from zones 1-9. To be eligible, they must be a highly ranked athlete, such as a gold medalist, as defined by the British Olympic Association (BOA). The purpose of this article is to show the research about this scheme which has not been widely publicised.

My Thoughts on the New Bus Stop Shelter Trial at Romford Station

A New Bus Stop Shelter trial at Romford Station

As I write this on World Public Transport Day, I’m sharing my review of the new bus shelter design currently being trialled at Romford station.

The stop was quite busy, so I couldn't capture every angle, but the layout feels more premium than the initial designs shown in the press release I reported on previously. While it is a strong start, there is definitely room for improvement.

Transport for London reveals trial locations for new bus stop shelters

TfL Image - New Bus Shelter Design in Southwark

Transport for London (TfL) has revealed the list of bus stops featuring the new shelter design as part of a trial to improve accessibility, safety, and the customer experience.

You can read more about the new bus stop shelter trial in my previous article.

The list was released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and has been published on the TfL website.

Request ID: FOI-4284-2526
Date published: 09 April 2026

New Shelters Trial:

Transport for London Updates on the Future of the New Routemaster with Retrofitted Electric LT11 Set for Service Return

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

Mike Harris to cease production of printed Greater London Bus Maps

It is disappointing to see that Mike Harris has ceased the production of his printed bus maps. These maps provide comprehensive coverage of the Greater London bus network, including commercial routes that cross the Greater London boundary.

Here is the statement from his website:

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses for Routes 127 and Superloop SL14

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that routes 127 and SL14 will use new double-deck electric buses, and the SL14 is expected to enter passenger service on 1st May 2027 with Stagecoach London.

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

Public transport is now more essential in this current geopolitical situation

From LT News

I do not usually wish to get involved with politics or geopolitics. My purpose is not to scaremonger; this is a suggestion to help avoid catastrophic situations by proposing a "Plan B" involving public transport. I genuinely hope we do not reach that situation. Overall, it remains essential to tackle climate change by encouraging more public transport usage and increasing the electric vehicle (EV) rollout.

Bear in mind that I am not an expert in this field. However, an old article by London Transport News from 1974 may be of interest, as they tackled the oil crisis at that time. I have included the full text of that article at the end of this post for those who are unable to read the text within the images.

Transport for London publishes Preliminary market engagement notice for the Bakerloo line upgrade

I’ve been scrolling through the UK Government’s Find a Tender website. It caught my eye that Transport for London (TfL) has published a preliminary market engagement (PME) notice for the Bakerloo Line upgrade.

Text from UK Government Find a Tender: