the Dairy Mail wrote:



Return of the Routemaster! 21st century version of famous hop-on, hop-off bus unveiled by London Mayor Boris Johnson

By Richard Hartley-parkinson and Claire Bates

Last updated at 5:57 PM on 16th December 2011


After nearly half a century of transporting Londoners across the capital, the Routemaster reached its final destination six years ago.

But today it made a spectacular return to the streets of the capital as Boris Johnson unveiled the first in a new wave of buses.

The London Mayor took a trip of one of the hop-on, hop-off buses to Trafalgar Square today, two months before their return to regular service in the capital.



The last Routemaster was withdrawn from service in December 2005, and all but a handful that run along tourist routes were taken off the road.

It is the first bus designed specifically for the streets of London out of 50 years and will see the return of conductors at the back of the vehicles.

Mr Johnson said today: 'Christmas has arrived early in the form of this revolutionary new bus whose gleaming coat of red paint and sinuous curves will brighten the day of all who see it humming along our great city's streets.

'It is the latest, greatest masterpiece of British engineering and design, and I am certain it will become a much loved and iconic vehicle akin to the legendary Routemaster from which it draws so much inspiration.'




The Mayor of London also promised a return for a new 'green' successor to the Routemaster along with vowing to get rid of the ultra-long bendy buses which have now been returned.




The first of the new buses will be operated by transport company Arriva, entering passenger service on February 20 on route 38 running from Victoria station to Hackney in east London.

In total, eight of the new buses will enter passenger service in the first half of 2012 - a reserved figure compared to the original Routemaster buses when 800 were ordered in the first wave.

They have been built by Northern Ireland company Wrightbus, while London-based designers Heatherwick Studio have provided the exterior and interior design.

TfL Commissioner Peter Hendy said: 'It is a phenomenal achievement to get a bus of this calibre from the drawing board to the streets of London in just two years and my congratulations goes to all who have worked tirelessly to make this happen.

'This bus has been designed from the wheels up with the complex needs of Londoners in mind; it truly is a 21st century bus.

'It’s stylish and comfortable, and will ensure a smooth ride for all on board as well as an eye-catching spectacle for those who will see it glide through the streets of London.'

The final design of the bus was unveiled in 2010 reinstating the classic hop-on, hop-off platform that has been missed by many rushing commuters who want to disembark when the bus is stuck in traffic.

There are three doors on the bus - one at the front, in the middle and the open door at the back.

Inside there will be two staircases and enough room for 87 passengers with 62 seated and the rest standing.

Wheelchair users and people with pushchairs will be able to board the bus using the middle door, which will fold out a ramp like conventional buses.

The latest Routemaster is believed to be the most environmentally friendly bus of its kind. Tests show that it emits 640 grams of carbon dioxide every kilometre - less than half the amount of CO2 that the current diesel double deckers spew out.

It also has better fuel efficiency and is better than twice that of a standard diesel bus at 11.6mpg.

Critics have questioned whether the new Routemasters, costing £7.8 million for five, provide value for money.

However Transport for London said the initial cost included design and development, covering all research, prototypes and testing.

If more buses are commissioned, the outlay will be reduced. A conventional double decker costs £190,000 to build.

The buses are made of lightweight materials with a glass 'swoop' at the rear and on the side where the stairways will be in order to give the bus an airy feel.


When he took office in 2008, Mr Johnson vowed to bring back a 'greener' version of the Routemaster, which was first introduced in London in the mid-1950s.

The Routemaster was withdrawn from regular service in December 2005 by Mr Johnson's predecessor Ken Livingstone because he said they were inaccessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Some classic Routemasters still run on a limited basis on two tourist routes in London where they complement the full-time service

I am utterly pissed because no one respects the patrimony anymore. They could have reproduced the same Bus, packed with driving gadgets, but they had to fuck up.

Take luxury yachts or Rolls Royce's. All builders strive to perpetuate the classic style, not just for the interior design. Some do modern, and it always look fuckin' cheap.




It's like killing us before we are dead, by taking away our dear memories. Shame shame shame.

I just think of next time I go to London and shall have to endure that. Same with London cabs, they did the modern version, yuck.

Perhaps we should launch a petition ?