TfL Ref: 2456-1920

Thank you for your request received by us on 13 November 2019 asking for information about New Routemaster (NRM) 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 the information you require. You asked:

1. Which routes operated by NRM busses currently (13/11/2019) allow boarding by the middle and rear doors?
2. Which NRM bus routes are undergoing a 'pilot' programme to trial front-door-only boarding (e.g. route number 8)?

All of these routes apart from bus routes 8 and N8 are currently operating with all-door boarding and alighting.

3. What is the success/failure criteria for the pilot programme of front-door-only boarding to be implemented permanently vs. to allow middle/rear-door boarding again?

The main reason for the change is to reduce fare evasion, which is higher on NRM routes, and to make boarding and alighting more consistent across the London bus fleet. Success includes lower levels of fare evasion, and that customers understand the change.

4. For the number 8 bus route, what is the financial impact for the business case of moving to front-door-only boarding vs. allowing middle/rear door boarding (i.e. what are the cost savings or revenue improvements expected to justify running the pilot)?

5. How much does it cost to install and have a card reader active at the middle and rear doors on a NRM bus?

Whilst we expect revenue benefits to quickly outweigh the costs involved for moving to front-door-only boarding, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the financial information in response to Questions 4 and 5. Information for the latter is contained within our wider revenue collection systems contract with Cubic and both questions are subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2).

In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied as disclosure would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests, as well as those of the companies concerned. Disclosing this information would be prejudicial to the contractors’ ability to compete for tendering opportunities with TfL and other companies in the future, as their competitive edge would inevitably be prejudiced by disclosure of a detailed cost breakdown.

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that TfL is able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our contractual agreements and processes.

6. How many middle and rear door card readers are currently active across the NRM bus route fleet?

With the exception of bus routes 8 and the N8, all card readers are active in the NRM fleet.

7. How many disabled middle and rear door card readers are currently present across the active NRM bus route fleet (e.g. the readers on the number 8 route busses are inactive at present)?

There are approximately 30 buses that are part of the trial, which have their centre and rear car readers deactivated.

8. Are there plans to deactivate any current middle or rear door card readers on further NRM busses?

If we go ahead with front-door boarding across the NRM fleet, the other card readers will be deactivated and removed.

9. Are there plans to deploy NRM busses in the future which will not have active middle/rear door readers (either deactivated or not installed)?

The NRM fleet is moved from time to time based on service changes, and if appropriate we would ensure that buses in different configurations are not mixed on the same route.

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
Information Governance
Transport For London