Freedom of Information request - Air conditioned bus routes in London
Request ID: FOI-1064-2223 Date published: 26 August 2022
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
please provide
(1) the average temperature measured inside buses without air conditioning, month by month, in the last available year,
(2) the average temperature measured inside air-conditioned buses, month by month, in the last available year,
(3) the new bus routes on which air conditioning will be available in the foreseeable future,
(4) the size of the air-conditioned fleet in 2020, 2021, and 2022 and the forecast for 2023 and 2024, including as a percentage of the total number of vehicles,
(5) whether you have a policy specifying what maximum temperature bus passengers and drivers should be subjected to, and what this temperature is,
(6) what measures you are taking to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers in the context of rising temperatures.
We answered
TfL Ref: 1064-2223
Thank you for your request received by us on 1 August 2022 asking for information about air conditioning on London Buses.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
You asked for:
(1) the average temperature measured inside buses without air conditioning, month by month, in the last available year, Such data is not recorded and therefore Transport for London does not hold this information. (2) the average temperature measured inside air-conditioned buses, month by month, in the last available year,
Such data is not recorded and therefore Transport for London does not hold this information. (3) the new bus routes on which air conditioning will be available in the foreseeable future, See answer to Question 4.
(4) the size of the air-conditioned fleet in 2020, 2021, and 2022 and the forecast for 2023 and 2024, including as a percentage of the total number of vehicles, While air conditioning is available in all bus driver cabs, it is not currently provided in the passenger saloon on London buses. Air cooling is available on the top floor of double deck buses and is not currently available on single deck vehicles. This has been the case in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and will remain so until a new specification is introduced in 2024, which will require air cooling to be available on all single deck buses and on both decks of double deck vehicles.
(5) whether you have a policy specifying what maximum temperature bus passengers and drivers should be subjected to, and what this temperature is,
Although no maximum temperature is stipulated, air cooling on the top floor of double deck buses is tested to reduce air temperatures by five degrees centigrade from 35C.
From 2024, the future specification in place for the London Buses fleet will require air cooling to be able to reduce the temperature onboard from 35C to 26C. (6) what measures you are taking to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers in the context of rising temperatures.
We have been working with bus operators to improve the maintenance of the air conditioning and air cooling systems on buses. In instances when extremely hot weather is forecasted, TfL contacts all bus operators instructing them to perform air-conditioning and air-cooling checks on all their buses and to flag any concerns to us.
Passengers making essential journeys are advised to check before they travel, to carry water with them and not to board TfL services if they feel unwell. If passengers do feel unwell, we advise getting off at the next stop or speaking to the bus driver. During the recent heatwave we advised that where possible, if journeys are essential, to retime their journey and travel at quieter times.We also recommend following advice from the UK Heath Security Agency. Our services also have clearly marked priority seats for anyone who needs them.
TfL has additionally conducted an extensive study, in partnership with University College London, to understand the thermal comfort on buses in a controlled climatic test chamber with a number of passengers on board. From the analysis of the study, several measures have been added to TfL’s Bus Vehicle Specification for new buses. This includes automatic interior temperature control based on ambient/outside temperatures, monitoring CO2 levels onboard, and open/close vents for fresh air circulation.
Furthermore, TfL has been working with suppliers of drivers’ air conditioning systems. This has resulted in an improved Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning(HVAC) specification, which has been incorporated into the latest Bus Vehicle Specification and will significantly improve thermal comfort for drivers.
While the bus operators are responsible for maintaining ventilation and cooling systems on buses, TfL does, from time to time, undertake additional checks for air conditioning output and a conditional assessment of the pump/drive belts as additional assurance.
Bus driver welfare is a top priority for TfL as set out in the Bus Action Plan at: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-action-plan.pdf. As mentioned in the Plan, London’s buses already include several measures to reduce the impacts of high summer temperatures, such as white roofs to deflect heat, tinted windows and engine insulation. Further improvements are underway to improve the ventilation, cooling and heating of buses while minimising the energy used, to ensure customers are comfortable throughout the year.
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
