EIR - Routemasters [Apr 2026]

See attached the full TfL Annual Report, including Statement of Accounts and Remuneration Report. The Statement of Accounts were approved at the Audit and Assurance Committee last Tuesday. TfL are sharing this for information but if we do have any factual errors to flag these need to be returned by CoP today.

TfL will be publishing the report on their website on Friday 26 September at Annual Report - Transport for London The statutory deadline is Saturday 27th.

NB Reference is in an email attachment (in above link)

Please find attached the draft minutes from the LBC working group meeting on 18 September. Let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Content from Minutes relevant to request:

SD noted that the New Routemasters may not be desirable as they are not ZE and don’t have the latest safety and customer features.

NB Reference is in the email attachment 'Proposed Changes to the Congestion Charging scheme - Report to the Mayor on the consultation', which is published below:

Congestion Charge proposals | Have Your Say Transport for London

Dear Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

CC: Seb Dance (Deputy Mayor for Transport), Andy Lord (TfL Commissioner), Claire Mann, Lorna Murphy I am writing to you in response to your recent comments in the Evening Standard regarding the New Routemaster bus, in which you stated, "If that means getting rid of the legacy of the mess made by the previous mayor, so be it."

'Boris bus' axed from routes across London as Sadiq Khan 'cleans up previous mayor's messy legacy' | The Standard

This position appears inconsistent with your previous statements. In 2015, during your campaign, you spoke of a moratorium on purchases of the New Routemaster.

How the New Routemaster came full circle: back to a regular old London bus | Cities | The Guardian

However, by 2024, you signaled a shift, suggesting that "Some [New Routemasters] may need to be retro-fitted."

Mayor signals the end of London’s Boris Bus in new mission to clean-up the capital’s air | ITV News London

It is vital that you acknowledge the substantial evidence proving that there is a huge demand for more New Routemasters, specifically in fully electric form. This support is clearly documented in numerous consultation reports and customer feedback responses to TfL. A blogger has gathered this extensive information on a single post, along with data from previous years, and while they may not advocate for the relaunch of the project, the data they present is undeniable.

CLondoner92: Transport for London’s 2025 Consultation Reports on Bus Service Changes Reveal Ongoing Demand for the New Routemaster and Tram Buses

The context of these reports is summarised as follows. In the consultation for the BL1 express bus route between Waterloo and Lewisham, there were 341 comments specifically regarding vehicle type, advocating for tram-style or New Routemaster buses. Similarly, the consultation for the SL11 express service received 128 responses from a suspected campaign advocating for New Routemasters. This pattern is repeated across the capital. The 452 bus route consultation saw 92 online responses classified as a campaign due to their submission pattern and similar sentiment, all calling for New Routemasters. The consultation for the 673 bus route withdrawal saw 12 responses from a potential campaign suggesting the use of New Routemasters.

The demand extends to specific infrastructure projects as well. The Rosendale Road junction consultation and the Shoreditch High Street junction consultation both received campaign responses specifically supporting the New Routemaster. The SL14 consultation received 109 responses from a suspected campaign, and the Oxford Street proposals saw 224 responses expressing support for new Routemaster zero emission buses. The Congestion Charge consultation report noted that a total of 152 responses were received advocating for Routemaster buses, highlighting that this has been a trend for more than 12 months.

Crucially, this feedback is not just organised campaigning but genuine customer dissatisfaction with alternative vehicles. Freedom of Information requests reveal a surge in complaints regarding the replacement of New Routemasters with other electric models. For instance, regarding the new BYD BD11 electric buses on routes 101, 320, and 473, 30 formal complaints were received, with 23 specifically stating disapproval of the design and layout. Respondents criticised the "boxy" exterior, the lack of a three-door and two-staircase layout, and the "dark" staircase area. Similarly, feedback on Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV buses on route SL3 unanimously highlighted a perceived decline in quality compared to the New Routemaster, citing the loss of the glazed staircase and reduced accessibility.

This pattern continues with the BYD BD11 and Enviro400EV on routes 129, SL4, and SL6, where 19 submissions recorded disapproval of the vehicle design, focusing on the "boxy" exterior and absence of glazed staircases. On route 196, 20 submissions described the new Enviro400EV buses as "bland" or "boxy," noting a lack of iconic character and mismatched interiors. Most telling is the reaction to the potential withdrawal of New Routemasters from routes 8 and 16, which drew 81 complaints to TfL and a further 54 to the GLA. Complainants argued that the replacement two-door, single-staircase buses create bottlenecks and increase dwell times, whereas the NRM is praised as a cultural icon and the network's most accessible vehicle.

Further evidence from the 2024 consultation reports confirms this trend.

CLondoner92: Transport for London’s 2024 Consultation Reports on Bus Service Changes Reveal Ongoing Demand for the New Routemaster and Tram Buses

The proposal for the SL5 Superloop route received 265 comments suggesting the use of New Routemasters, while the SL2 and SL3 consultations received 259 and 261 comments respectively. The Catford Town Centre consultation saw 242 comments suggesting zero-emission New Routemasters, and the Brent Cross bus changes consultation had 152 comments to the same effect. Even going back to 2022 and 2023, the Central London bus changes consultation had 475 suggestions to keep or introduce Routemaster services, and route 111 received 119 comments complaining about the new electric double-decker that replaced the New Routemaster.

CLondoner92: Transport for London’s 2023 Consultation Reports for Bus Service Changes Reveal Popularity for the New Routemaster and Tram Buses

All of this data shows that the New Routemaster is not a mess, but a very popular bus. It is widely admired as an ultimate icon for London. It is a very joyful bus due to its unique aesthetics, which make bus travel more attractive. There is undeniably a strong demand for more of them in fully electric form.

Furthermore, the design of the New Routemaster is exceptionally friendly for the disabled, especially neurodivergent people, thanks to the unique aesthetics created by Heatherwick Studio. The glazed staircases and open platform design offer a level of comfort and spatial awareness that standard "boxy" buses lack.

The political ties to the New Routemaster are no longer with the former Mayor and Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The bus has transcended its origins to become a standalone symbol of the city. It is time to amend your policy to get TfL to capitalise on the New Routemaster design. You should instruct bus manufacturers to use this design for their new electric buses. There is also a significant opportunity to work with companies on merchandise, toys, and more, which would help TfL increase its revenue sources by enhancing its brand. This is a revenue-generating strategy that the Mayor should have pursued since 2016.

The New Routemaster has been featured in numerous movies and television series including anime, bringing a strong reputation to London and proving that it is not a mess, but a success.

IMCDb.org: Wright New Routemaster in movies and TV series

The New Routemaster is vital to meet TfL's goals on diversity and inclusion, Equity in Motion, and the Bus Action Plan. It is an essential component of your Reimagining London's Bus Network, as mentioned in your Business Plan to 2029/30.

I also wish to highlight the ongoing social media trend of "Londonmaxxing," where the aesthetic appeal of the city is celebrated. In this context, the New Routemaster plays an important role as a photogenic and recognisable symbol of the capital.

We request that the Mayor of London acknowledge that the New Routemaster is a very popular bus. It is an icon not just for London, but also for the LGBTQ community, who see it as a symbol of progress and social justice. As such, we request that you relaunch the New Routemaster project as a new zero-emission bus with the latest technology, as soon as possible

NB Reference is in the email attachment:

TfL owns almost 1000 New Routemaster (NRM) buses. However, these are all currently used under agreement with the private operators on existing bus routes, so are not available for other operations without those agreements being broken (and alternatives found).

Relevant part of email: 

All New Routemaster buses have been retrofitted with opening windows, which has helped to mitigate some of the highest temperatures that were experienced on this fleet when it was first introduced, though we know this fleet does still experience relatively high temperatures. Similarly, all other older buses have opening windows.