‘Boris bus’ axed from routes across London as Sadiq Khan ‘cleans up previous mayor’s messy legacy’

The diesel-hybrid double-decker buses known as “Boris buses” will be withdrawn from several London routes as part of the city’s transition to cleaner transport.

The buses will be removed from route 8 in June, route 16 in October, route 313 in November, and route 267 next year. They are also scheduled to be taken off route 21 in October 2028. More routes may follow as Transport for London (TfL) introduces battery-electric buses.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said he supports removing the buses, describing them as part of the “messy legacy” of former mayor Boris Johnson.

The buses, officially called the New Routemaster, were introduced in 2012 after being commissioned by Johnson at a cost of £350 million. They were designed to resemble the classic London Routemaster buses, famous for their open rear platform and conductors.

About 1,000 buses were built by the Northern Irish manufacturer Wrightbus and purchased by Transport for London, which then leased them to private bus operators.

However, the buses have been criticized for being expensive and poorly designed. Early versions had windows that could not open and air-conditioning that did not work properly, forcing TfL to spend about £3 million modifying them. The buses also experienced higher levels of fare evasion because passengers could initially board through three doors instead of only the front.

When Khan became mayor in 2016, he cancelled further orders and removed conductors from the buses.

Despite criticism, some bus enthusiasts are disappointed to see them go. Broadcaster and transport fan Edward Adoo said the buses brought back a nostalgic feeling of the classic Routemasters, especially with their upper-deck seating layout and multiple doors that helped passengers board quickly.

TfL is now focusing on expanding London’s zero-emission bus fleet. As of 3 January, the city had 2,738 zero-emission buses, about 30% of the fleet.

Originally, TfL planned to convert all 8,500 buses in London to zero-emission vehicles quickly. However, due to limited government funding, it now expects around 6,000 electric buses by 2030, with the full transition likely completed around 2034.

Some of the Boris buses will continue operating on the SL11 Superloop route for the next 18 to 24 months before being phased out.