Request ID: FOI-0038-2223 Date published: 09 May 2022
You asked
Dear Transport for London
Would you be able to provide information about the average dwell times (boarding/alighting or loading/unloading) at bus stops for different type of buses used in London?
They are:
• New Routemaster with (three door & two staircases) open boarding before 2019.
• New Routemaster with front door only boarding (started since 2019 to reduce fare evasion).
• Standard double deck bus with two doors.
• Standard double deck bus with single door only, used on route X26.
• Single deck bus with two doors and open boarding only on routes 507 & 521.
• Single deck bus with two doors and front door only boarding.
• Single deck bus with single door.
I'd be grateful if you can release this information.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0038-2223
Thank you for your request received by us on 11 April 2022 and following clarification, 16 April 2022, asking for information about average dwell times of various bus services.
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 some of the information you require. You asked for:
Average dwell times (boarding/alighting) at bus stops for routes using three door New Routemaster, two door standard double deck bus, two door and single door single deck buses:.
• New Routemaster with (three door & two staircases) open boarding before 2019.
• New Routemaster with front door only boarding (started since 2019 to reduce fare evasion).
• Standard double deck bus with two doors.
• Standard double deck bus with single door only, used on route X26.
• Single deck bus with two doors and open boarding only on routes 507 & 521.
• Single deck bus with two doors and front door only boarding.
• Single deck bus with single door.
The date range for my request starts from 1 January 2022 to present day – 19 April.
Please see the summary table below for the requested information, providing average dwell times in seconds for the above vehicle types from 2 January 2022 to 14 April 2022 inclusive.
Please also note that the ‘Other – LU Rail Replacement Services’ category refers to routes where buses operate as rail replacement services during closures on the London Underground/National Rail networks. Since each route uses a mixed fleet, it is not possible to attribute dwell times for these routes to a specific vehicle type and door configuration.
Finally, the New Routemaster Bus with all-door boarding ceased operation in mid-2020. Consequently, data for this particular vehicle type and door configuration is not available for the date range requested.
Vehicle Type and Door Configuration
Average Dwell Time in Seconds
New Routemaster with (three door & two staircases) open boarding before 2019.
Not operational in this time period
New Routemaster with front door only boarding (started since 2019 to reduce fare evasion).
14.5
Standard double deck bus with two doors
12.1
Standard double deck bus with single door only, used on route X26
40.2
Single deck bus with two doors and open boarding only on routes 507 & 521
14.4
Single deck bus with two doors and front door only boarding
10.5
Single deck bus with single door
10.2
Other – London Underground/National Rail Replacement Services (Mixed fleet)
23.7
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
