Consultation to Expand ULEZ to Greater London

TfL have announced a consultation on their proposal to expand ULEZ to most of Greater London to help reduce emissions and improve air quality.

From TfL press release

 

Proposals to improve air quality across the capital and significantly reduce the number of vehicles not meeting pollution standards

 

A consultation on plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover almost the whole of the capital from 29 August 2023 has been launched. 

 

The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have delivered a range of schemes to tackle the capital's toxic air crisis, the climate emergency and traffic congestion, but further bold action across the city is required. Around 4,000 premature deaths in 2019 were attributed to filthy air, with the greatest number in outer London. Bromley, Barnet, Havering and Croydon were the boroughs with the highest number of early deaths, showing that poor air quality is not just a central London problem. More extreme weather events are predicted if the world fails to act to reduce carbon emissions, with London already seeing these in the form of flash floods in 2021.

London Bus Tender News: Routes 125 & 235 to Convert to New Electric Buses and Delays to Route 319 Conversion to Enviro400EV Citys

As part of the new London Bus tender awards, routes 125 and 235 have been awarded to London Sovereign and London United (part of RATP Group) with new electric buses.

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

Entire London Bus Fleet Now Meets ULEZ Emission Standards. Also, List of TfL Bus Routes Converting to Zero Emission Buses

Transport for London has announced in a press release that their bus network now runs using Euro VI or zero-emission buses, which meets the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) standards.

From TfL press release

The main bus network now exclusively uses Euro VI or cleaner buses, the same emissions standard as the Mayor of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone.

All buses in TfL's 9,000-strong bus fleet* now meet or exceed the cleanest Euro VI emissions standards. This is a major milestone in tackling toxic air pollution in the capital.

Comparing the two double-deck EV’s for London: BYD/ADL Enviro400EV and Optare Metrodecker EV

Enviro400EV City

There are two double-deck electric buses currently operating on routes 43 and 134 operated by Metroline for London Buses.

Upcoming new London electric bus routes for 2020

It has been revealed that London will be getting more electric buses during 2020.

Taking a look at a recent Freedom of information (FOI) request submitted to Tfl; they have released some interesting information regarding the electric bus project for London. TfL stated under a Freedom of Information request:

We are currently converting routes 43 and 134 to double deck electric buses – and all buses will be in service by the end of the year. These double decks are made by two manufacturers – Optare and a partnership with BYD/ADL.

2019 London Buses fleet list and Big Red Book

Transport for London has released the bus fleet audit report and the London Bus fleet list on their website.

A brief mention from the London Bus Fleet Audit report:

Three new Low Emission Bus Zones for London

TfL and the London Mayor have announced new Low Emission Bus Zones for three areas of London.

Extracts from TFL press release

Just two weeks after the launch of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London, the Mayor and TfL have taken further measures to reduce toxic air in the capital's most polluted areas by introducing three new Low Emission Bus Zones (LEBZ).

Route 153 converts to zero emission electric buses

Alexander Dennis and BYD have announced the conversion of London Buses route 153 to zero-emission single deck buses - which happened on Saturday 3^rd February 2018.

From Alexander Dennis

Well before dawn on Saturday 3 February another fleet of BYD ADL pure electric buses took over operation of a fourth London bus route.

Eminox upgrades over 400 London buses to Euro VI standards - also London Bus tender awards

Eminox has announced over 400 London buses will be upgraded to Euro VI standards in preparation for the new Low Emission Bus Zones.

From Eminox

Lincolnshire based emissions reduction specialists Eminox has been key to upgrading over 400 buses ready for the introduction of the new Low Emission Bus Zones (LBEZ) across London for Arriva, Go Ahead Group and Tower Transit.

TfL and the Mayor announces consultation to expand the Ultra-Low Emission Zone

Here is a quick news update:

TfL and the Mayor have announced a consultation on 30^th November 2017 to expand the Ultra-Low Emission Zone to the North and South Circular in order to help reduce emissions in London.

From TfL press release

· Mayor proposes ULEZ standards would also apply Londonwide to buses, coaches and lorries from 26 October 2020
· Mayor wants public's views on these actions to lower toxic polluting emissions

The Mayor of London today launched a new public consultation on the next phase of his hard-hitting plans to tackle London's toxic air, reduce filthy emissions and protect the public from harmful pollution by expanding the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Irizar electric buses for London Bus routes W13 and 153

Recently, Irizar demonstrated their range of buses at the Coach & Bus 2017 exhibition in Birmingham. One of the electric buses is set to be trialled on London Bus routes W13 and 153.

From Irizar press release

A new generation of sustainable and luxurious coaches and buses with Irizar’s leading-edge technology

Most polluting London buses to be upgraded to ultra low emission standards

TfL will be retrofitting 5,000 buses with a new exhaust system to cut emissions as part of the £86.1 million programme to “clean up” London’s most polluting buses.

From TfL press release

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that the most polluting buses in the capital are going to be cleaned up, with their harmful emissions cut by up to 95 per cent.

UK debut for Euro 6 bendy buses and end of June 2017 transport news roundup

Just to wrap up the end of the month, here’s some transport news relayed from other sites.

First off, Gatwick and Bristol Airports are now operating the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro artic with Euro 6 engines.

From Route-One:

The UK’s first Euro 6 articulated buses are now running, thanks to orders from two airport operators.

Right-hand drive versions of the latest 18m Citaro G model are now in operation at Gatwick and Bristol airports. Internally, they have luggage racks, along with the trademark floor-to-ceiling ‘wardrobe’ on the rear nearside interior, housing the engine bay.

TfL board papers for 29th March 2017 meeting

It’s that time of the month again and TfL have released their board papers for the 29^th March 2017 board meeting.

In this article I will show you some parts of the TfL board paper - like the budget and proposals.

First off, we’ll look at the 2017/18 budget board paper. This board paper contains some interesting infographics which you can see below.

Optare MetroDecker EV comes to London Bus route 36

LOTS have published their usual weekend London Bus news and they’ve given us another update on the electric bus project for London.

From LOTS:

1) The all-electric Optare MetroDecker-EV is due to be trialled with Go-Ahead on route 36 during April.  New Cross Garage’s limited charging facilities are being upgraded to allow for this and the two Irizars (EI 1 and 2) to enable a more long-lasting overnight charging. Trustybus has a Citaro-K demonstrator (BT66 TZE) for the next two weeks, usually to be found on route 410 Harlow – Waltham Cross.

10 Low Emission Bus Zones and minimum wage for London Bus drivers

I’ve combined various ‘London Bus related’ news items in to this article.

First up we have the news that the London Mayor has announced 10 Low Emission Bus Zones for London.

From London Mayor press release

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today announced plans for 10 more Low Emission Bus Zones deploying the greenest buses on the capital’s most polluted routes to cut harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

The buses are part of the Mayor’s hard-hitting measures to tackle London’s filthy air – responsible for the premature deaths of more than 9,000 Londoners every year – with major plans set to be implemented in 2017 to tackle the dirtiest vehicles.

BYD D9UR Enviro200 MMC Electric Bus

Back in August 2015, I published an article about Go Ahead purchasing BYD eBuses with the Enviro200 MMC bodywork. I also wrote another one back in September 2016 when they were officially launched on the Red Arrow routes – they entered service though back in late August 2016.

The long wait is finally over, and I finally get to ride that lovely new electric bus with its very futuristic style Enviro200 MMC bodywork.

Route 360 to have Electric buses

The very first Hybrid bus route will be replaced by battery electric single deck buses after over 10 years of hybrid service on route 360.

London Mayor launches the new electric buses on Red Arrow routes 507 & 521

So the launch now officially begins for the Alexander Dennis Envrio200 MMC BYD eBus to enter service on Red Arrow Routes 507 and 521.

From Greater London Authority

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London (TfL) have announced that the capital will own Europe’s largest fleet of electric buses, as they revealed the first two all-electric bus routes for central London.

The Mayor announced that routes 507 and 521 will exclusively run a 51-strong fleet of all-electric buses by the end of the year, as part of his ambitious campaign for a dramatic improvement in of air quality in the capital. Combined with 22 all-electric buses already running in outer London, it will take the capital’s entire fleet of electric buses up to 73 – the largest in Europe.

London Mayor announces plans to clean up London’s toxic air

The new London Mayor has announced plans to combat diesel emissions in London, while Volvo announces their 1,000th Hybrid bus sale.