Request ID: FOI-2735-2223 Date published: 07 February 2023
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
On the 232 bus route today the driver was asked why the heating wasn't on and was told by the bus driver that they have been told to no longer use the heaters to save money.
1) Can you please confirm if that is indeed the case. If so does this apply across all bus routes or just specific bus routes, and if the latter does it affect all buses or just specific types such as hybrid, diesel or electric?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2735-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 25th January 2023 asking for information about heating on 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:
“On the 232 bus route today the driver was asked why the heating wasn't on and was told by the bus driver that they have been told to no longer use the heaters to save money.
1) Can you please confirm if that is indeed the case. If so does this apply across all bus routes or just specific bus routes, and if the latter does it affect all buses or just specific types such as hybrid, diesel or electric?”
Buses in London are operated by private companies under contract with TfL. I can confirm that no instructions have been given by TfL to the operators to disable any bus heating systems. Furthermore, the heating on buses is automatic with the thermostat set at 15 degrees, independent of any driver input. However, with doors opening and closing this temperature may not always be constant.
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
