Successor to cherished Routemaster London bus revealed

The Mayor of London has revealed the design of the successor to the Routemaster double decker bus. Its futuristic exterior design encompasses two staircases, three doors and an open platform.

Boris unveils iconic design for London’s new bus

London Mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled the final design of the New Bus for London, based on the sadly-missed Routemaster. The hybrid bus will be 40 per cent more fuel efficient than conventional double deckers and 15 per cent more fuel efficient than existing hybrid buses. The new buses will enter service from early 2012.

The pioneering design makes use of lightweight materials, with glass highlighting key features and producing a light and airy feel inside the bus. An impressive glass ‘swoop’ at the rear and offside reveals the two staircases providing a dramatic visual effect. An asymmetric design for the front-end completes the futuristic look.

The open platform, shared with the Routemaster, is a defining feature allowing the reinstatement of a hop-on, hop-off service. It has the option to be closed off at quiet times, at night for example. Three doors and two staircases will aid speedier and smoother boarding.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: ’This iconic new part of our transport system is not only beautiful, but also has a green heart beating beneath its stylish, swooshing exterior. It will cut emissions and give Londoners a bus they can be proud of, complete with cutting edge design and the freedom of an open platform. I expect to eventually have hundreds of these on London’s roads, and for cities around the globe to be beside themselves with envy for our stunning red emblem of 21st century London.’

Mark Nodder, Group Managing Director of bus manufacturers Wrightbus, said: ‘This project is not just about evolution, it’s about revolution. I think the design is genuinely groundbreaking, people are really going to stop and notice these buses on the streets of London.’

Prototype set for 2011

Wrightbus and Transport for London have been working with Heatherwick Studio as a collaborative design partner taking the lead on the styling of the bus to support Wrightbus in the design and development process. Wrightbus engineers are working on a static mock up of the bus to be complete later this year with the first prototype to be delivered in late 2011.

In 2012, the New Bus for London will join a fleet of diesel-electric hybrid buses currently 56 strong – to be supplemented by a further 50 later this year. From 2012 every new bus entering service will be equipped with an advanced, alternative fuel system to the current conventional diesel.