Why TfL Withdrew Heritage AEC Routemasters by Axing Route 15H - Can I Still Ride Them in London?

This is a follow up to my previous article in which Transport for London (TfL) revealed in a Freedom of Information request the withdrawal of the last heritage Route 15H served with AEC Routemasters.

This article shows the Freedom of Information responses by TfL and the Greater London Authority - also the Mayor’s answers on why the last AEC Routemasters have been withdrawn by not renewing the contract for Route 15H last year (2020).

 

Let’s take a look at the Freedom of Information request to TfL and how they responded on 6 May 2021 with regards to the withdrawal of Route 15H.

 

TfL Ref: 0088-2022

06 May 2021

 

Some of your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

 

The following question have been answered under the FOIA -

 

2, How much did TfL pay to refurbish the AEC Routemasters for route 15H?

2017 London tour bus prices

This is an update to my previous article titled ‘2016 London Tour Bus Prices’.

The purpose of this article is to compare the prices of open top tour bus companies which serve Central London - so here’s the table below.

Ride the classic AEC Routemaster on Route 15 – they’re still running!

Not many commuters and tourists are aware that the vintage ‘AEC Routemasters’ are still operating on route 15 between Charing Cross and Tower Hill/Tower of London.

TfL haven’t given much publicity to the AEC Routemasters on route 15, but they do mention them in the last paragraph on the New Routemaster page on their website and also the ‘where can I use contactless’ page.

2016 London Tour bus prices

As we are now in the summer, I've published the chart below showing you the 2016 update of the comparison of the Tour bus companies operating in London.

Bus routes served with New Routemaster buses

The 8 prototypes

Below I've compiled a list of London Bus routes served with a 3 door 2 staircase hybrid bus called the New Routemaster (NRM).

2015 London Tour bus prices (Big Bus Tour, The Original Tour, City Tour London & Golden Tours)

This is a follow up to my previous article which was titled ‘2015 prices for tour buses in London.’

I decided to write another article on this subject because in the last article I left a tour bus out, which was the ‘City Tour London.’

2015 prices for tour buses in London

NOTE: Please read the latest article where I forgot to mention about the prices for 'City Tour London.'

This is a follow up to my previous article which I wrote in April, 2014.

I am writing this to show the comparative prices of various sightseeing tour operations between different private companies. I am also comparing them to London Transport Bus services', because not everyone can afford to use the open top bus services.

You can see the table below

RATP Dev acquires Arriva's The Original Tour London Sightseeing

RATP Dev just acquired one of Arriva's bus operations which is The Original Tour London Sightseeing.

The Original Tour Sightseeing London is one of the tour operators in Central London which operates 6 routes with local (cash) fares included in their services. All Tour bus services in Central London operates on a London Service Permit, therefore the services are not contracted by Transport for London.

The Original Tour was founded in by June 1951 by the London Transport Executive at the time of The Festival of Britain. In 1986 it was privatised, being sold to London Coaches / Blue Triangle. In December 1997 it was sold to Arriva. After 17 years, RATP Dev purchased The Original Tour.

RATP Dev Issued the statement from their website.

RATP Dev announces the acquisition of “The Original London Sightseeing Tour”, a pioneer and major operator in the sightseeing sector in London, thereby confirming expansion in this field and in the United Kingdom.

Tour Buses or London Transport Buses for sightseeing?

Well if you’re travelling to London for a short stay or a day trip, you would encourage yourself to ride on the double decker buses to see the sights of Central London.  But I help you on comparing the differences between the open top tour buses and normal commuting London Buses.

Prices on sightseeing tour buses and London Buses

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