TfL’s new electric buses take to the streets

Zero emission route 63 buses include features such as phone charging

A fleet of new all-electric buses are being introduced on a key London bus route as part of moves to encourage more people back on to public transport as the city recovers from the pandemic.

Transport for London (TfL) is introducing new buses to the north-south route 63 that have a range of innovative features aimed at making them an even more attractive, green alternative to the car. In development over the last couple of years, the first buses came into service in December, with the whole route transformed in the coming weeks. It comes as ridership between on the route, between King’s Cross and Honor Oak, has returned to close to pre-pandemic levels.

The new route 63 buses were manufactured by ADL in Scarborough.

The new buses feature USB chargers and mobile phone holders in the seats so that passengers can work or relax more easily as they travel. They have a more open feel – with a skylight on the upper deck, larger rear window, and handles on the backs of seats rather than vertical poles for an unobstructed view. With high back seats throughout journeys will be more comfortable and a wood-effect floor adds to the cutting-edge design.

New covers for the priority seats, with a contrasting colour scheme, help differentiate them from other seats for passengers who are less able to stand. The vehicles also have a larger wheelchair and buggy area, designed to improve accessibility and help parents getting around town. CCTV cameras have also been upgraded to provide higher-definition footage, making travel even more safe and secure.

As customers now expect to have up-to-the-second information about their journey to make instant decisions on the move, new digital signage on board the buses shares a wider range of real-time information, including the time to the next stop, disruptions, and service updates for Tube and Overground services.
Later in the year, the route will not only have next bus information at most bus shelters but also new real time information screens at many bus stops.  

A new bus lane on New Kent Road complements a route that is already high frequency, with a bus every 5-8 minutes in the morning peak.

Louise Cheeseman, TfL’s director of buses, said: “We have made significant progress in developing zero-emission buses and with bus safety over the last few years, leading the way for the rest of the UK. Ultimately any evolution of the bus in the capital is focused on the customer. These brand new buses on route 63 show our ambition to enhance the customer offer, bringing together for the first time a suite of new features that improve everything from comfort to journey speeds, and make buses the obvious choice over the car.”

The buses join an expanding fleet of zero-emission buses across London, currently standing at more than 650. It follows the Mayoral commitment for all new buses in the city to be zero-emission, with TfL aiming to convert the whole fleet by 2034. TfL said with sustained UK Government funding, this could be brought forward to 2030.

Seb Dance, deputy mayor for transport, said: “It’s great to see the introduction of this cleaner, safer and 100% electric bus fleet on route 63. As ridership levels on the route return close to pre-pandemic levels, these new buses will play a significant role in encouraging Londoners back onto our bus network. Unfortunately, we will not see more of these buses if TfL goes into managed decline due to lack of funding.  

“Investing in these new buses and the wider network is now more important than ever – to both encourage sustainable travel and to support the capital’s recovery from the pandemic. The reality is that without a long-term funding deal, innovation like this on our buses and across the capital’s entire transport network is at risk of stalling; disrupting services, putting jobs at risk and stifling the economic recovery of London and the country.”

Jon Eardley, managing director, Abellio London Bus, said: “We’re very proud of the quality and comfort that these new zero emission buses offer, and will continue to work in partnership with TfL to champion the adoption of innovative, customer centred features to create a safe, attractive and accessible green travel experience for Londoners.

“Abellio believes that continued and sustained investment in the capital’s zero emission fleet is essential to attract more people to use public transport, which in turn promotes other modes of active travel. Encouraging more people to use the bus by improving the offer to our customers is a catalyst for the decarbonisation of the network and helping to deliver the Mayor’s zero emission network and active travel targets.”