Go-Ahead London marks 10 years of electric buses
Go-Ahead London has celebrated the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the capital’s first current-generation battery-electric bus.
Exactly a decade on from the start of a trial of a pair of BYD K9Es in London, school children and other guests were invited to the event in Camberwell, where a bus-shaped birthday cake was cut.
The operator now runs 520 zero-emission buses for Transport for London (TfL) and plans to take this into to four figures by 2026. Across the UK, the Go-Ahead Group operates 670 zero-emission buses.
As noted by TfL in September, more than 1,100 battery-electric bus are in operation in London, representing 13% of the entire fleet.
Go-Ahead London says its fleet has led to a saving of 40,000 tonnes of cardon dioxide emissions over the last 10 years, the equivalent to taking 24,000 cars off the road.
David Cutts, Managing Director of Go-Ahead London, says: “It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since our first electric bus hit the road. The technology has developed at a rapid pace and electric buses are rapidly become the norm, rather than the exception, on London’s streets.
“We’re proud to work in partnership with Transport for London to deliver cleaner air and quieter journeys for Londoners. The Go-Ahead Group as a whole has been able to take experience from London and apply it to the roll-out of zero emission buses across the UK.”
Tom Cunnington, TfL’s Head of Buses Business Development, adds: “London’s red buses are iconic and are some of the greenest in the world, with the lower CO2 emissions per passenger kilometres compared to other global cities like New York, Paris and Vancouver.
“With more than 1,300 zero emission buses on our roads, our programme of decarbonising the fleet is playing a crucial role in the journey to net-zero. Zero-emission buses help Londoners breathe cleaner air and reduce the impact of road transport on our environment.
“We’re really proud to be celebrating this milestone with Go-Ahead London who are marking 10 years of their emission-free electric bus services on our roads.
“We are working closely with capital’s bus operators to convert the whole fleet and remain on track to be a fully zero-emission fleet by 2034, which could be accelerated to 2030 with further Government funding.”
Freedom passes legally have to be accepted on local bus services under LSPs. London Council provides the appropriate reimbursement. Eg routes into Kingston and Heathrow also accept Freedom passes.By chance I've learned that some TfL tickets/passes* are valid on the non-TfL 477, albeit for journeys within Greater London only (Orpington - Crouch Farm).
That provision doesn't apply to other London Service Permit routes, so what's special about that particular route?
[* Travelcards, Bus & Tram Passes, Freedom Passes and 11-15 Zip / Veteran / 60+ London Oyster photocards]
By chance I've learned that some TfL tickets/passes* are valid on the non-TfL 477, albeit for journeys within Greater London only (Orpington - Crouch Farm).
That provision doesn't apply to other London Service Permit routes, so what's special about that particular route?
[* Travelcards, Bus & Tram Passes, Freedom Passes and 11-15 Zip / Veteran / 60+ London Oyster photocards]
Acceptance of those products is listed in Appendix 1 of the TfL Conditions of Carriage (page 27 onwards).As for the others, do you have reference to a fare chart? I know there are some concessions within Greater London but don't recall the acceptance being quite so broad as you've listed.
No reimbursement? Can't say I was expecting that.The 477 used to be under a London local service agreement where Arriva were required to charge TfL fares in Greater London, but they pulled out of this some years ago. Since then they've habitually had limited acceptance of TfL fares/passes, but get no reimbursement for this.
TfL doesn't seek acceptance. There's no legal mechanism to do so and neither is there such a mechanism for reimbursing Arriva (s187(3) of the GLA act prohibits any conditions regarding fares being attached to an LSP).No reimbursement? Can't say I was expecting that.
Hypothetically speaking, in the event of TfL seeking acceptance of Z1-8 travelcards on the whole route (for the benefit of Swanley and Dartford), I imagine Arriva would want reimbursement.
It also used to apply to non-TfL 402 in much the same area and with the same operator until it was withdrawn from Greater London.By chance I've learned that some TfL tickets/passes* are valid on the non-TfL 477, albeit for journeys within Greater London only (Orpington - Crouch Farm).
That provision doesn't apply to other London Service Permit routes, so what's special about that particular route?
[* Travelcards, Bus & Tram Passes, Freedom Passes and 11-15 Zip / Veteran / 60+ London Oyster photocards]
Yes indeed. I'm actually a bit surprised the 477 still exists in Greater London.It also used to apply to non-TfL 402 in much the same area and with the same operator until it was withdrawn from Greater London.
The 84 route was another with 'special status' dating back into the mists of time, and has been the subject of learned articles in specialist publications.
Orpington, just inside the boundary, is probably seen as an important traffic objective with the station and shops. It probably generates traffic from outside the boundary for those who would not otherwise catch this bus.Yes indeed. I'm actually a bit surprised the 477 still exists in Greater London.
Route | Current Operator | New Operator | PVR | Vehicles |
411 | London United | London United | 5 | Existing diesel single deck |
465 | London United | Abellio West London | 7 | Existing diesel single deck |
Route | Contract Start Date | Contract End Date |
411 | 28th September 2024 | 27th September 2030 |
465 | 29th June 2024 | 28th June 2030 |
I briefly owned and worked in a shop in Orpington when the Roundabout stand-alone operation started in 1986, the forerunner of the current R routes, and was surprised that the section of the 477 within Greater London wasn't incorporated into it. My understanding was that London Country South East wouldn't play ball (Swanley Garage, which operated the 477, had just gained the contract to run the 51, so they may have had big ambitions.) In the event, putting a bunch of clapped out ex-Glasgow Atlanteans on the 51 impressed no-one, especially as they hadn't recruited enough drivers (or mechanics!)Yes indeed. I'm actually a bit surprised the 477 still exists in Greater London.
Sticking with cross-boundary routes, I see Abellio have taken the deep-into-Surrey 465 from RATP. From LOTS:
Friday 22 December
LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:
Route Current Operator New Operator PVRVehicles 411 London United London United 5Existing diesel single deck 465 London United Abellio West London 7Existing diesel single deck
The diesel vehicles detailed above will meet Euro VI emissions standards.
The start and end dates for the above contracts are detailed in the following table:
Route Contract Start Date Contract End Date411 28th September 2024 27th September 2030465 29th June 2024 28th June 2030
TGM was part of Arriva, surely, and National Express before that?The 465 has been operated by Abellio previously (or certainly its predecessor TGM)
Apart from a stint in Midland Fox ownership (a complete shambles!) TGM operated London contracts as an independent, having being bought back by Steve Telling in 1993. It was sold to Arriva in 2007.TGM was part of Arriva, surely, and National Express before that?
TGM London operations (and Byfleet ops in Surrey) sold to National Express in 2005 as part of Travel London, including the then 465 contract. That then became Abellio on sale in 2009.TGM was part of Arriva, surely, and National Express before that?
Some of the older electric buses are quite horrible reliability wise; it's a lottery what bus is going to turn up. Sometimes an electric Optare, sometimes a double decker or single decker diesel.There have been electric buses in Go Ahead London’s fleet for 10 years now!
Now, that doesn’t feel that long ago…
Go-Ahead London marks 10 years of electric buses
Go-Ahead London has celebrated the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the capital's first current-generation battery-electric bus.www.route-one.net
If you Google "LC63CYA" that's shown in the article, sad photos show that this BYD K-9 vehicle is no longer on the road today. But of course this vehicle was a demonstrator. I wonder how the 'production series' BYD D9UR vehicles from routes 507/521 are doing these days - do they still have their original batteries?There have been electric buses in Go Ahead London’s fleet for 10 years now!
Now, that doesn’t feel that long ago…
Go-Ahead London marks 10 years of electric buses
Go-Ahead London has celebrated the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the capital's first current-generation battery-electric bus.www.route-one.net
I believe so.I wonder how the 'production series' BYD D9UR vehicles from routes 507/521 are doing these days - do they still have their original batteries?
Sounds like you're talking about the Metrocities on the 312.Some of the older electric buses are quite horrible reliability wise; it's a lottery what bus is going to turn up. Sometimes an electric Optare, sometimes a double decker or single decker diesel.
Looks like they’re gonna be in trouble, since double deckers can’t substitute for the Metrocities after the extension due to a low bridge at Old Lodge LaneSounds like you're talking about the Metrocities on the 312.
Going by Tangytango chatter it appears they're still on their original batteries after 8/9 years of service. New batteries would surely help - especially with a route extension planned for March 2024 - but they likely won't come cheap, and Arriva's 312 contract has less than 2 years left as things stand.
And these are old technology now, so they've lasted pretty well if they haven't had a battery change yet.Sounds like you're talking about the Metrocities on the 312.
Creative accountancy, most likelyThe argument applies to public services. Incidentally, such trade-offs can happen even in unpleasant regimes - average life expectancy in Cuba is higher than for poorer people in the USA.
How does competitive tendering magically make things cheaper? Other than by pushing down wages of the staff of course. There's little else that can be varied. I've obviously read different history...
Revealed: London's busiest bus routes with some services operating at 96% occupancy at peak times... where's the most packed section of YOUR route?
London's most packed buses have an average peak occupancy of up to 96 per cent, MailOnline can reveal as the full list of the busiest section of all routes was released.
Transport for London (TfL) has made internal data public on peak bus occupancy levels based on the busiest section of each route by location, time and direction.
The busiest section of any route is the 482 from Southall to Heathrow, at the Great West Road stop in Hounslow, with an average peak capacity of 96 per cent at 5am.
This is thought to be due to large numbers of workers and passengers heading to Britain's busiest airport before the first Piccadilly line train runs on the same route.
The second busiest route is the N18 night bus from Harrow to Whitehall, which has a 92 per cent average capacity at 5am at the Wyld Way bus stop in Stonebridge Park.
The busiest section of any London bus route is the 482 from Southall to Heathrow, at the Great West Road stop in Hounslow (pictured), with an average peak capacity of 96 per cent at 5am
In third place is the Superloop SL9 - previously known as the X140 - from Harrow to Heathrow - with a 91 per cent capacity at 7am at White Hart Roundabout in Yeading.
The six busiest sections of London bus routes
1) 482 Southall to Heathrow
2) N18 Harrow to Whitehall
- Stop - Great West Rd / Basildene Rd
- Peak: 96% capacity at 5am
3) SL9 [X140] Heathrow to Harrow
- Stop - Wyld Way
- Peak: 92% capacity at 5am
4) 265 Tolworth to Putney
- Stop - Yeading / White Hart R'about
- Peak: 91% capacity at 7am
5) 487 Harrow to Willesden
- Stop - Fairacres
- Peak: 89% capacity at 4pm
6) W6 Edmonton to Southgate
- Stop - Cleveley Crescent
- Peak: 88% capacity at 5.45am
- Stop - North Middlesex Hospital
- Peak: 88% capacity at 7.45am
The 265 from Tolworth to Putney comes in fourth with an 89 per cent capacity at 4pm at Fairacres bus stop in Barnes.
Following closely behind are two routes both at 88 per cent capacity - the 487 from Harrow to Willesden at 5.45am at Cleveley Crescent stop; and the W6 from Edmonton to Southgate at 7.45am at North Middlesex Hospital.
TfL released data for every bus route in London following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made in October 2023 for the average peak bus occupancy of capacity provided on the busiest section of each route.
The figures come from TfL's 'Busto' dataset giving a snapshot of bus demand in November 2022, which is usually the network's busiest period of the year.
It calculated an average from several weekdays during that month and is used to represent an average weekday.
The bus occupancy was given as the total load divided by the total capacity in each hour, with the peak being the highest and the associated hour termed the busiest.
The direction and location of where that peak occupancy occurs was also given. TfL uses quarter hour intervals - so, for example, 7.30am represents the 60-minute interval from 7.30am to 8.30am.
Calculations from the data also revealed there are 608 different bus routes in London, and the average peak hourly bus occupancy on all routes is 56 per cent.
Separate data from TfL previously revealed that the busiest bus stop in London is Marble Arch stop R, where 7,500 people board on a typical weekday.
This is followed by Wood Green station stop H, Stratford bus station stop A, Elephant and Castle station stop R, Woolwich Arsenal station stop N and Harrow bus station stop B.
The second busiest route is the N18 night bus from Harrow to Whitehall, which has a 92 per cent average capacity at 5am at the Wyld Way bus stop (pictured) in Stonebridge Park
Other TfL data shows the busiest bus route in London is the 18 between Sudbury and Euston which carried 12.6million passengers in the 2022/23 recording period.
This was followed by the 149 route from Edmonton to London Bridge which carried 12million, and the 29 from Turnpike Lane to Trafalgar Square which had 11.3million.
A TfL spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Buses play a vital role in enabling people across the capital to travel affordably and sustainably and we're working hard to improve services, including through the launch of the new Superloop network which will transform travel for millions of Londoners.
'Data such as this is hugely important to us when planning the capital's bus services and enables us to run services which benefit everyone.'
Busiest: | |||||||
Rank | Route | PVR | Length | PVR per Mile | |||
1 | W7 | 17 | 3 | 5.667 | |||
2 | 38 | 36 | 7 | 5.143 | |||
3 | 73 | 29 | 6 | 4.833 | |||
4 | 29 | 31 | 7 | 4.429 | |||
5 | 18 | 35 | 9 | 3.889 | |||
6= | EL1 | 19 | 5 | 3.800 | |||
6= | 41 | 19 | 5 | 3.800 | |||
8 | 55 | 34 | 9 | 3.778 | |||
9 | 453 | 30 | 8 | 3.750 | |||
10= | 63 | 26 | 7 | 3.714 | |||
10= | 109 | 26 | 7 | 3.714 | |||
Least busy: | |||||||
Rank | Route | PVR | Length | PVR per Mile | |||
1 | 347 | 1 | 12 | 0.083 | |||
2= | 375 | 1 | 8 | 0.125 | |||
2= | R5/R10 | 1 | 8 | 0.125 | |||
2= | R8 | 1 | 8 | 0.125 | |||
5= | H3 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | |||
5= | 146 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | |||
5= | U10 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | |||
8= | 549 | 1 | 5 | 0.200 | |||
8= | 242 | 2 | 10 | 0.200 | |||
10 | 246 | 4 | 15 | 0.267 |
Needs saving by TW.
Quite easily I'd say, I could probably do it.I can’t believe this has even happened, DW424 fell into a pit at a garage…
https://x.com/thatoptarelover/status/1743020150465442018?s=46&t=NwCcaynuPR-k7xjMa0OtGQ
I can’t believe this has even happened, DW424 fell into a pit at a garage…
https://x.com/thatoptarelover/status/1743020150465442018?s=46&t=NwCcaynuPR-k7xjMa0OtGQ
Tunbridge Wells arriva depot, has a reputation for saving the unsaveable of busesOuch! What is TW by the way?
And then operating them locallyTunbridge Wells arriva depot, has a reputation for saving the unsaveable of buses