Future Buses Project Trial for route 63 and their specification
Request ID: FOI-1780-2122 Date published: 06 December 2021
You asked
Hello
I wish to submit a Freedom of Information Act request in relation to the Future Bus Project trial for route 63 and their specification.
1) Ongoing to the previous FOIA requests FOI-0773-2122 & FOI-0898-2122 found on your disclosure log which are rejected. Are you currently able to disclose more information including Bus Vehicle Specification for the 'Future Bus Project'?
2) A photo emerged on Twitter of a BYD-Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400EV City procured by bus operator Abellio London. Is this vehicle part of the Future Bus Scheme and will the specification apply to rest of the fleet allocated to route 63?
https://twitter.com/HoKitLam/status/1456592632935768065
3) Can you list the design changes and new features made to the BYD-ADL Enviro400EV City for the Future Bus project? Are they selected by TfL and/or bus operator Abellio?
4) Can you confirm the BYD-ADL Enviro400EV City with enhanced interior including high back seats, stop button & USB charging ports on back of headrest, wood effect flooring, sunroof at the upper deck etc will become part of the new London Bus Vehicle Specifications (BVS) (in relation to previous FOIA request FOI-2180-2021)?
5) Is the sunroof at the upper deck selected by TfL or bus operator Abellio?
6) Is the interior colour scheme and seat moquette for the bus selected by TfL or bus operator Abellio?
7) Do TfL plan to have a standardised interior colour scheme and seat moquette for all new buses, which TfL already done with the New Routemaster buses? If not, why TfL prefer bus operators to select their own interior colour scheme and seat moquette?
I will be looking forward to seeing the response to the FOIA request.
Thanks
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1780-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8th November 2021 asking for information about the Future Buses Project Trial.
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. Your questions are answered in turn below.
Question 1) Ongoing to the previous FOIA requests FOI-0773-2122 & FOI-0898-2122 found on your disclosure log which are rejected. Are you currently able to disclose more information including Bus Vehicle Specification for the 'Future Bus Project'?
Answer: There is no ‘Bus Vehicle Specification’ for the ‘Future Bus Project’. From time to time we trial enhanced customer features on new vehicles such as on route 63 and we also look at upgrading bus shelters and improving customer information. We will be conducting before and after customer research on the new features being trialled. The trial forms part of the ‘Bus Customer Action Plan’ which is part of our Surface Investment Programme. Note that we no longer use the term ‘Future Bus Project’.
Question 2) A photo emerged on Twitter of a BYD-Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400EV City procured by bus operator Abellio London. Is this vehicle part of the Future Bus Scheme and will the specification apply to rest of the fleet allocated to route 63?
Answer: The vehicle is one of the fleet of vehicles procured by Abellio for the new route 63 contract. We will be trialling and researching the new customer features.
Question 3) Can you list the design changes and new features made to the BYD-ADL Enviro400EV City for the Future Bus project? Are they selected by TfL and/or bus operator Abellio?
Answer: The new customer features have been selected in partnership with TfL and Abellio. There is no formal specification of the design changes. The new features include high back seats, wood-effect flooring, integrated seat-back USB charger/phone holder/stop button, driver/customer intercom, priority seat moquette, sun roof, digital screens replacing the standard on-bus next stop screens, and removal of grab-poles upstairs replaced by seat-back rails.
Question 4) Can you confirm the BYD-ADL Enviro400EV City with enhanced interior including high back seats, stop button & USB charging ports on back of headrest, wood effect flooring, sunroof at the upper deck etc will become part of the new London Bus Vehicle Specifications (BVS) (in relation to previous FOIA request FOI-2180-2021)?
Answer: We will be researching the customer impact of the new features. Any decision on what is included in a future bus specification will take place after the outcome of the customer research.
Question 5) Is the sunroof at the upper deck selected by TfL or bus operator Abellio?
Answer: See answer to question 3 above.
Question 6) Is the interior colour scheme and seat moquette for the bus selected by TfL or bus operator Abellio?
Answer: See answer to question 3 above.
Question 7) Do TfL plan to have a standardised interior colour scheme and seat moquette for all new buses, which TfL already done with the New Routemaster buses? If not, why TfL prefer bus operators to select their own interior colour scheme and seat moquette?
Answer: See answer to question 4 above.
If this is not the information you are looking for 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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
