Transport for London has celebrated its 2,000th electric or hydrogen fuel cell bus delivered in nine years, with a special vinyl wrap to mark the occasion
Transport for London (TfL) is celebrating reaching over 2,000 zero-emission buses on its streets, which combined make up the largest such fleet in Western Europe. Representing around two in every nine of London’s red buses, the number is up from 30 vehicles in 2016, and TfL’s target is to make its entire bus fleet zero-emission by 2030. It estimates that making all of its buses zero-emission could save an estimated five million tonnes of carbon over the next two decades. TfL says that London’s bus fleet is already one of the greenest in the world, with lower CO˜ emissions per passenger kilometre than cities like New York and Vancouver. Since 2021, all new vehicles have been zero-emission, and all of TfL’s other buses meet or exceed Euro VI emission standards.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “It’s fantastic London is leading the charge with more than 2,000 zero-emission buses in the capital, the largest zero-emission bus fleet in Western Europe. I’m proud we’ve taken London’s bus network from strength to strength since I became Mayor in 2016, increasing the size of the network, making transport greener and improving bus safety and customer experience. The number of London’s world-famous red buses that have now gone green has increased from just 30 in 2016 to more than 2,000 today. This is helping to clean up London’s toxic air, protect the environment and the health of Londoners.”
Ongoing commitment
“I will continue to do everything I can to ensure buses remain the most accessible, affordable and sustainable form of transport as we continue to build a greener, fairer London for everyone,” he concluded. TfL’s Director of Buses Lorna Murphy added: “Not only do our buses play a vital role in enabling Londoners to travel from A to B affordably and accessibly, but they also ensure each customer they carry is making their journey in the most sustainable and eco-friendly way possible. We are on a mission to transition to a fully zero-emission bus fleet. Our investment in our operators and supply chain partners ensures continuous market growth and security, while supporting the national economy through the green and manufacturing jobs. Decarbonising the public transport network is essential to the Mayor’s mission for London to achieve net zero carbon by 2030.”
UK suppliers
The latest batch of electric buses is for route 337, which runs between Clapham Junction and Richmond and is operated by Transport UK. It uses a fleet of 12 new Wrightbus Electroliners, including one which has been vinyl wrapped to commemorate the capital’s 2,000-bus green milestone. Managing Director of Transport UK London Bus David Cutts said: “Having more than 2,000 zero-emission buses in London’s fleet is a momentous milestone and I am delighted that the Mayor commemorated it by visiting south-west London. Working with Transport for London and our supply chain, Transport UK is showcasing world-class public transport, in the process improving air quality and helping to secure UK-based employment. As a result of this partnership, all six of our garages run zero-emission services and with sustained investment over the next few years, we will collectively achieve decarbonisation of the entire red bus network.”
CEO of Wrightbus Jean-Marc Gales added: “This is a landmark moment for London and for Wrightbus and one we’re proud to be a part of. Public transport is leading the way in the zero-emission transition, and we are delighted to support Mayor Sadiq Khan’s tireless efforts to improve air quality, reduce carbon and support UK manufacturing.
“We’re also pleased to announce our exclusive five-year partnership with Transport UK, which will see its fleet bolstered by 75 additional Wrightbus zero-emission vehicles in 2025 alone. Every Wrightbus in service on the streets of London thanks to this partnership helps to support good, green skilled jobs and the wider manufacturing sector across the UK.” Complementing the target to transition to a fully zero-emission fleet, TfL has committed to initiatives such as introducing 25km of new bus lanes by the end of this year and better interchanges which it says will help to deliver a faster and more efficient bus network, as well as improved customer information and upgraded bus stops to enable a more inclusive passenger experience.
