CO2 and NOx Emmisions generated by buses held to regulate the bus service
Request ID: FOI-1109-2223 Date published: 17 August 2022
You asked
Dear TFL,
In the matters of public interest, I would like to be provided information about the total amount of CO2 and NOx emissions released into the atmosphere for the financial year 2021/2022, caused due to buses being held at bus stops to regulate the bus service.
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-1109-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 4th August 2022 asking for information about CO2 and NOx emissions generated by buses held to regulate the service.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“In the matters of public interest, I would like to be provided information about the total amount of CO2 and NOx emissions released into the atmosphere for the financial year 2021/2022, caused due to buses being held at bus stops to regulate the bus service.”
I am afraid that TfL does not hold the requested information. In order to calculate such figures we would need to know when and for how long buses are held at stops to regulate the service; whether the engine was switched on or off; which particular vehicle was in operation; and what the CO2 and NOx emissions are for those vehicles when left stationary with the engine running. As we do not hold data on when buses are waiting at a stop to regulate the service we do not hold the necessary information to make the calculation.
Note that more general information about buses - including the action being taken to make our fleet cleaner and greener - can be found on our website here:
Lastly, please also note that the ‘Big Red Book’ (which is issued to all bus drivers and provides guidance on various operational activities) includes the request that engines must be switched off at bus stands and bus stations:
