FOI request detail

Bus Specifications

Request ID: FOI-0372-1819
Date published: 23 May 2018

You asked

I would like to know details under the FOI act on what exactly are the vehicle specifications the bus operators must follows when they operate TFL bus contracts? For example i have noticed that all TFL buses seem to have the following: • Painted fully red (i think a certain percentage has to be red?). • Two doors. • Electric wheelchair ramp (rather than a manual one). • Wheelchair ramp at rear door (rather than at front door). • Wind up blinds (instead of LED blinds). • Security screens on the drivers cab. • Ibus announcements. So i would like to know if these are requirements? If so can i have a document showing details of all other requirements as well. Also i have noticed that there are some allover advertisement liveries on buses which have no red at all. So i would also like to know what is the policy regarding advertisement liveries? And does the advertisement livery revenue go to TFL or to the bus operator? And could a bus operator paint a bus in their own livery if they claimed it was an advertisement livery? Or are there rules that would not allow this?

We answered

Our Ref:          FOI-0372-1819

Thank you for your request received on 11 May 2018 asking for information about bus specifications and advertisement liveries.

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

I would like to know details under the FOI act on what exactly are the vehicle specifications the bus operators must follows when they operate TFL bus contracts?

For example i have noticed that all TFL buses seem to have the following:
• Painted fully red (i think a certain percentage has to be red?).
• Two doors.
• Electric wheelchair ramp (rather than a manual one).
• Wheelchair ramp at rear door (rather than at front door).
• Wind up blinds (instead of LED blinds).
• Security screens on the drivers cab.
• Ibus announcements.

So i would like to know if these are requirements? If so can i have a document showing details of all other requirements as well.

We do not have a specific percentage of buses that need to be painted fully red. The roof of the bus must be white and stickers and/or adverts/advertising are not permitted on the windows/glazing.

Other exterior design features that by default dictate the amount of red are:-

• the dimensions of front/back/side glazing for destination displays
• number of doors
• permitted advertising panels on each side, and back of the bus (subject to window design), and
• advert panels must be framed and in red

Any area outside of those mentioned above must be in red (a few exceptions, some small areas are black). Any request to run an advertising campaign that deviates from the above specification needs prior approval.

Our vehicle specifications for new buses (i.e. not retrospectively applied) require:-

a) All handrails and stanchions to be between 30mm and 35mm diameter smooth tube with powder coating (matt crackle finish) or nylon dipped (matt crackle finish). Coloured, yellow (RAL 1028), green (RAL 6018) or orange (RAL 2028). Any alternative colours will require the prior approval
b) Staircase handrails should be of identical cross section to the main saloon handrails
c) A longitudinal waist height handrail is required, to provide a continuous passenger waist height hand grip support from the entrance / cab area to the beginning of the seated area or staircase steps
d) Door or door partition handrails positioned to assist boarding and alighting must be fitted at all entrance and exit points
e) Exposed butt ends to handrails are not acceptable anywhere on the bus. End of rails should be in a closed position or curved to provide a safe introduction to the rail
f) Seat-back to ceiling handrails (with bell push) are required at all forward facing seats on lower saloon and alternate seats on upper saloon
g) Where horizontal hand rails are fitted in standing areas, bell pushes must be placed in a position so as to limit the risk of accidental activation by passengers leaning on them.
h) Horizontal rails above wheel chair and / or standing area to be fitted with hanging grab hand holds of the flexible type. These grab hand holds should only be used in the low floor area and must not be placed in entrance / exit doorway areas.

Please note that the materials used for the hand poles would be determined by bodies such as the Drivers & Vehicles Licensing Agency.

The accessibility features on buses are required under legislation (the Equality Act, and its predecessor the Disability Discrimination Act) to make them low-floor wheelchair-accessible (with automated ramps, a wheelchair bay, able to kneel). All public carriage vehicles that charge passengers fares must provide these.

As London can have narrower roads, particularly in outlying residential areas, we have a mix of buses in the fleet to serve these areas. Some are one-door shorter single deck buses, in the busier, wider corridors, where more passengers need to travel, these are two door double deckers. The New Routemasters are three door which can help to clear busy bus stops quicker. On one-door buses, the bay and the wheelchair ramp is near that door, on two-door buses it is normally opposite the centre door to ease of access. The electronic ramp enables quicker boarding for the wheelchair user as the driver does not need to leave the cab to deploy a manual ramp.

Currently, we require manual blinds on buses but we are looking into tablet technology to see if this might offer an alternative. There is a CCTV monitor in the driver’s cab to enable them to see the wheelchair user come on and off the bus, and switches off when the vehicle is in motion. All buses expect the classic Routemasters have iBus so that passengers can hear and see next stop announcements, and we arrange for this to be fitted to buses as they come into service.

Also i have noticed that there are some allover advertisement liveries on buses which have no red at all. So i would also like to know what is the policy regarding advertisement liveries? And does the advertisement livery revenue go to TFL or to the bus operator? And could a bus operator paint a bus in their own livery if they claimed it was an advertisement livery? Or are there rules that would not allow this?

In terms of livery, there has been no change to the requirement that virtually all buses in the fleet must have the iconic red livery – a popular symbol of London and its bus network. However, TfL does allow around 150 of its 9,000-vehicle fleet, to be wrapped (have a full body advert) through our advertising agent Exterion and this helps us offset the cost of operating bus routes. As summers can have hot spells, we also require buses to have white roofs to help reflect the heat.

If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]

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