FOI request detail

Use of Yutong City Master, HESS AG lighTram and self-driving/autonomous buses for London's Buses

Request ID: FOI-2953-2425
Date published: 07 January 2025

You asked

Dear Transport for London I would like to submit a Freedom of Information (FOI) request regarding the potential use of different bus types in London. 1. Are you aware of the Yutong City Master bus model, which is currently in operation in Skopje, Macedonia, and certain cities in China? Would TfL consider allowing the use of half-cab style buses (with a door and not an open platform at the rear) like the Yutong City Master in London, provided these buses are equipped with the latest zero-emission technology? Do you believe this model would meet TfL’s specifications for use in London, particularly in terms of the driver being fully separated from the passenger saloon? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yutong_City_Master https://clondoner92.blogspot.com/2024/12/investigating-why-new-routemaster-isnt.html 2. Are you aware of the tram-styled bendy buses, specifically the Van Hool ExquiCity (currently used in Belfast, Northern Ireland for their Glider service) and the HESS AG lighTram (currently in use in Brisbane, Australia and several European towns and cities)? As part of TfL's upcoming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services, as outlined in the Bus Action Plan, would these buses be considered for use in London? Do you believe these buses would meet TfL’s specifications, particularly in terms of the driver being fully separated from the passenger saloon, as is already the case with TfL’s Tram services? https://www.hess-ag.ch/services/buses/lightram.html?L=2 3. Does TfL have any plans to introduce self-driving/autonomous buses to its fleet, similar to the autonomous buses currently in operation in Oxfordshire and Scotland (where one travels over the Forth Road Bridge)? If so, could you provide any details on when these might be expected to operate within London? https://www.mi-link.uk https://news.firstbus.co.uk/news/uks-first-zero-emission-autonomous-bus-service-gets-underway https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east-scotland/autonomous-bus https://www.alexander-dennis.com/cavforth-autonomous-bus-service-launches-in-scotland-with-alexander-dennis-enviro200av-fleet/ 4. Does TfL have any plans to reinstate all-door open boarding, similar to the system used by the bendy buses, New Routemasters, and single-deck buses on the Red Arrow routes? If so, could you provide details on when this might be considered or implemented for your upcoming BRT services? I would appreciate it if you could provide responses to these questions. Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your response. Kind regards

We answered

TfL Ref: FOI-2953-2425

 

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 13th December 2024 asking for information about London buses.

 

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. 

 

Please note, the Freedom of Information Act covers the provision of specific, recorded information only. It does not cover the provision of opinion, explanation or more general questions such as whether TfL is “aware of” different bus models in use in different cities across the world. With this in mind, your questions 1 and 2 do not fall within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. 

 

In regard to Questions 3 and 4, currently TfL does not have plans to introduce self-driving/autonomous buses to the fleet, nor do we have plans to reinstate all-door open boarding.

 

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

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