London Bus route 28 reverting from zero-emission electric buses back to diesel buses
Request ID: FOI-3836-2324 Date published: 09 February 2024
You asked
Dear TFL
According to the recent London Bus tender awards, it has been announced that you have awarded route 28 to Metroline West with existing polluting diesel buses and not new zero-emission electric buses. This is not appropriate during the climate change crisis!
https://clondoner92.blogspot.com/2024/01/london-bus-tender-awards-route-17-to.html
Therefore, I have a Freedom of Information and an Environmental Information request.
Can you provide details on why you have awarded route 28 with existing diesel double-deck buses and not new electric double-deck buses with the new operator Metroline West?
Can you publish the tender specifications for route 28 for the current (RATP Dev London Transit) and upcoming new contract (Metroline West)?
Do TFL plan to revert more routes from electric buses back to diesel buses?
What is TFL doing to tackle the climate change crisis?
Regards
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3836-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 24th January 2024 asking for information about London bus route 28. 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. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1: Can you provide details on why you have awarded route 28 with existing diesel double-deck buses and not new electric double-deck buses with the new operator Metroline West?
Answer:This is not a request from recorded information under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. That said, colleagues in our buses team have provided the following explanation. TfL plans to convert the entire bus fleet to zero-emission by the end of 2034, but with additional government funding this target could be achieved by 2030. All other buses in the TfL Fleet meet the Euro VI Ultra Low Emission Standard.
The cost of deployment of zero emission vehicles in lieu of Euro VI conventional vehicles varies significantly by route – and in order to be able to afford the continuing transition to a Zero Emission Fleet TfL continues to deploy the vehicles across the network where most cost effective to do so.
The current RATP associated contract for route 28 was awarded on the basis of the Euro VI Hybrid buses; and the use of some electric buses on the route in the last year or so has only been a temporary solution following the release of some electric vehicles from other routes.
The costs received at the recent re-tendering of Route 28 demonstrated that the cost of electric operation on this route was disproportionately high compared to many other routes; and the most economically advantageous outcome was for the temporary use of Electric Vehicles on this route to cease – and the route to move to Metroline West using Euro VI Diesel vehicles. We expect the released electric vehicles to remain in London.
Question 2: Can you publish the tender specifications for route 28 for the current (RATP Dev London Transit) and upcoming new contract (Metroline West)?
Answer: Please see the attached documents.
Question 3: Do TFL plan to revert more routes from electric buses back to diesel buses?
Answer: As described above, TfL’s plan is to migrate the entire London Bus Network to Zero Emission operation by the end of 2034. As such, significant numbers of zero emission buses continue to be introduced onto the London Bus Network at a proactive rate – with over 1,300 vehicles now in use and rising. These will continue to be deployed in the most economic way, and this may mean that on some limited occasions some routes lose their current or temporary zero emissions allocations in favour of other routes.
Question 4: What is TFL doing to tackle the climate change crisis?
Answer: This is not a request for specific, recorded information under the Freedom of Information Act. That said, you may be interested in our ‘Corporate Environment Plan’ and our ‘Sustainability Report’, both of which are available on our website here:
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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
