Request ID: FOI-2399-2122 Date published: 03 February 2022
You asked
Following articles it is rumoured that all New Routemaster for London vehicles will be removed from service, is this feasible and possible?
As there are 1000 of the vehicles, what would the routes allocated be replaced with?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2399-2122
Thank you for your request of 20th January 2022 asking for information about New Routemaster buses.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Following articles it is rumoured that all New Routemaster for London vehicles will be removed from service, is this feasible and possible?
As there are 1000 of the vehicles, what would the routes allocated be replaced with?”
The simple answer is that yes, it is possible, and that in such an event the applicable routes would be serviced by the remainder of the fleet. To add some more context, the new Routemasters are now between 4 and 9 years old and have a design life of 14 years, based on a mid-life refurbishment to keep them in a serviceable condition. The refurbishment of the full fleet of Routemasters is at risk due to uncertainty on TfL’s future funding. Discussions on our funding are continuing with Government following agreement to an extension to our current support through to 4th February (see here for more information https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2021/december/tfl-funding-statement---17-december). Without the refurbishment the condition of the buses will progressively deteriorate over time to a point where they will not be able to continue in service. TfL has also laid out further consequences of a poor funding settlement, with significant reductions in the size of the bus network a possibility. Bringing those two factors together, withdrawing some or all of the Routemasters from service could well be the result of a scenario where funding is cut, with other buses already in the fleet and in better condition able to cover those routes currently operated by Routemasters.
If this is not the information you are looking forplease 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
