Dear Transport for London Freedom of Information team I have a Freedom of Information request in relation to route 7 converting to double-deck hydrogen buses. 1. Can you confirm the date of delivery and conversion of route 7 to double-deck electric buses? 2. Why have the rollout of double-deck hydrogen buses been delayed, can you specify the reason and impacts? 3. Are they owned by TfL or Metroline? Will a further number of these vehicles considered to be owned by TfL or bus operators? 4. What is the cost of a single double-deck hydrogen bus from Wrightbus/Bamford Bus Company? 5. What is the total cost of the double-deck hydrogen rollout project? 6. Which routes have been considered to convert to hydrogen and electric (single-deck and double-deck) buses? 7. When will TfL replace the New Routemaster buses with pure electric and hydrogen buses? 8. Can you reveal the current and future plans including negotiations with Wrightbus/Bamford Bus Company?

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TfL Ref 2253-2021

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 5 February 2021 asking for information about Route 7 double-deck hydrogen buses.

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 and our replies are as follows:

1. Can you confirm the date of delivery and conversion of route 7 to double-deck electric buses?
We do not have a single delivery date as the buses will be delivered to the operator as and when they come off the production line and are certified for use. The final vehicles are expected to be available to the operator from summer 2021.

2. Why have the rollout of double-deck hydrogen buses been delayed, can you specify the reason and impacts?
Many bus manufacturers like Wrightbus have been impacted by the pandemic and the need to bring in new COVID-safe working practices to protect their staff. Many also furloughed staff which vastly reduced their capacity to build and test vehicles. The construction of the hydrogen refuelling station has also been impacted by the pandemic and the need to bring in new COVID-safe working practices to protect construction staff, and in the ability of specialist staff from Denmark being able to travel to the UK to complete the commissioning process.

3. Are they owned by TfL or Metroline? Will a further number of these vehicles considered to be owned by TfL or bus operators?
TfL will own the buses and lease them to Metroline.

4. What is the cost of a single double-deck hydrogen bus from Wrightbus/Bamford Bus Company? And 5. What is the total cost of the double-deck hydrogen rollout project?

The total contract price for the 20 vehicles was £10.85m which equates to £543k per bus. Grant funding of £1.41m was provided by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, and €5.22m from the Fuels Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (a European Union funded research organisation) which reduced the net cost of the vehicles to TfL to £238k per bus.

The contract is published on the Government contracts finder website here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/63f8fc28-0124-4552-9d2a-01e8a423cc7b?origin=SearchResults&p=1)

6. Which routes have been considered to convert to hydrogen and electric (single-deck and double-deck) buses?
In the case of hydrogen buses, we have chosen route 7 because it is operated by Metroline and can be easily supported by a new refuelling depot in Perivale. In terms of electric buses, we do not have a schedule of routes to convert as we want to use our cost-efficient route tendering process to attract bids from operators. These bids help inform the choices of routes where we might deploy these buses, sometimes in combinations with other vehicles to maximise overall numbers cost efficiently.

7. When will TfL replace the New Routemaster buses with pure electric and hydrogen buses?
See question 6.

8. Can you reveal the current and future plans including negotiations with Wrightbus/Bamford Bus Company?
While we do not have plans for further hydrogen fuel-cell buses at this time, we are seeking Government funding to continue the roll out of zero-emission vehicles to assist with improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions. Subject to this funding being available, we will continue to liaise with bus manufacturers over our objectives to help them plan their commercial strategies. As the vast majority of buses joining the fleet are purchased or leased by our operators, they would engage directly with suppliers over the procurement of these vehicles. Our aim is to try to bring in increasing numbers so that we can make the fleet entirely zero-emission by 2037 or earlier, subject to the investment required becoming available.

If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.

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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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