As I have said previously, I can certainly understand why TfL have withdrawn the 15H. Especially with the financial issues they are having. It should be operated by a specialist company, or in association with a museum/enthusiasts organisation.
However, I still feel they wasted the resources they put in to it. Funding a service using two staff per bus, and with the maintainence costs involved with using heritage vehicles (Dart engines probably helped, but of course there’s the bodywork and everything else to think about). All of that, and it was never properly advertised. No posters at bus stops, no online advertising, no leaflets. Just a very small footnote at the bottom of the ordinary 15 timetable. It’s no wonder it was lightly used.
I’m not saying TfL should be funding such services, but as they did it anyway they should have done it properly as it was a waste otherwise.
I know some tourists just want a red double-decker even if it’s modern, but I think many more would have seeked this service if they knew about it (especially if they found out it was part of the TfL ticketing, rather than an expensive tour operator fare) I often saw groups of tourists using the service, and heard them talking really enthusiastically about the old buses and I often heard ‘Routemaster’ being mentioned. I doubt they would be so enthusiastic on a modern vehicle. There is a difference.
There are many European cities which have vintage buses or trams in public service. I’ve seen it in most cities I’ve visited. Either operated directly by the municipal operator, or in association with the local transport museum or enthusiast organisation. And the vehicles they use are probably no where near as famous as the Routemaster.