AEC Routemaster

For the 2011 bus inspired by the Routemaster, see New Routemaster.
AEC Routemaster

Arriva London Routemasters at Victoria bus station in March 2004

RM1414 lower deck in October 2006
Overview
Manufacturer Associated Equipment Company
Body and chassis
Doors 0 doors, 1 permanently-open entrance at the back
Floor type Step-entrance
Chassis Integral, with front and rear subframes
Powertrain
Engine AEC AV590 9.6 L or
AEC AV690 11.3 L or
Leyland O.600 9.8 L
6-cylinder diesel
Retrofits:
Cummins ISC/ISBe
DAF
Iveco
Scania
Capacity 57–72 seated
Power output 115 hp (86 kW) (AEC AV590)
Transmission AEC 4-speed automatic/semi-automatic
Dimensions
Length 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
Width 8 ft (2.44 m)
Height 14 ft 4 1⁄2 in (4.38 m)
Curb weight 7.35 long tons (7.47 t; 8.23 short tons)
Chronology
Predecessor AEC Regent III RT
Successor New Routemaster

The AEC Routemaster is a front-engined double-decker bus designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and Park Royal Vehicles. The first prototype was completed in September 1954 and the last one was delivered in 1968. The layout of the vehicle was traditional for the time, with a half-cab, front-mounted engine and open rear platform, although the coach version was fitted with rear platform doors. Forward entrance vehicles with platform doors were also produced as was a unique front-entrance prototype with the engine mounted transversely at the rear.

The first Routemasters entered service with London Transport in February 1956 and the last were withdrawn from regular service in December 2005, although one heritage route is still operated by Routemasters in central London. The first London bus route to be operated by the Routemaster was route 2, on 8 February 1956, with RM1. The same bus, with a revised front end, appeared at the Lord Mayor's Show in November 1956.[1]

Most Routemasters were built for London Transport, although small numbers were built for British European Airways and the Northern General Transport Company. A total of 2,876 Routemasters were built, of which 1,280 are still in existence.[2]

A pioneering design, the Routemaster outlasted several of its replacement types in London, survived the privatisation of the former London Transport bus operators and was used by other operators around the UK. In modern UK public transport bus operation, the old-fashioned features of the standard Routemaster were both praised and criticised. The open platform, while exposed to the elements, allowed boarding and alighting in places other than official stops; and the presence of a conductor allowed minimal boarding time and optimal security, but with greater labour costs.

Despite the retirement of the original version, the Routemaster has retained iconic status, and is considered a British cultural icon.[3] In 2006, the Routemaster was voted one of Britain's top 10 design icons which included Concorde, Mini, Supermarine Spitfire, London tube map, World Wide Web and the K2 telephone box.[4][5] In the late 2000s work began on a New Routemaster bus inspired by the Routemaster's traditional design. It entered service in February 2012.[6]

Design

Driver's cab of RML2551

The Routemaster was developed between 1947 and 1956 by a team directed by AAM Durrant and Colin Curtis, with vehicle styling by Douglas Scott.[7][8] The design brief was to produce a vehicle that was lighter (hence more fuel-efficient), easier to operate and that could be maintained by the existing maintenance practices at the recently opened Aldenham Works, but with easier and lower-cost servicing procedures. The resulting vehicle seated 64 passengers, despite being three-quarters of a ton lighter than buses in the RT family, which seated 56.

The first task on delivery to service was to replace London's trolleybuses, which had themselves replaced trams, and to begin to replace the older types of diesel bus. The Routemaster was designed by London Transport and constructed at Park Royal Vehicles, with the running units provided by its sister company AEC. Both companies were owned by Associated Commercial Vehicles, which was taken over by Leyland Motors in 1962.[9]

Rear platform of a Routemaster, with updated hand-rails for Heritage Route operation

It was an innovative design and used lightweight aluminium along with techniques developed in aircraft production during World War II.[10] As well as a novel, weight-saving integral design, it also introduced for the first time on a bus independent front suspension, power steering, a fully automatic gearbox and power-hydraulic braking.[2] This surprised some early drivers, who found the chassis unexpectedly light and nimble compared with older designs, especially as depicted on film on tests at the Chiswick Works skid pan. Footage of RM200 undergoing the skid test at Chiswick was included in the 1971 film On the Buses.[11]

The Routemaster was a departure from the traditional chassis/body construction method. It was one of the first "integral" buses,[2] with a combination of an "A" steel sub-frame (including engine, steering and front suspension) and a rear "B" steel sub-frame (carrying rear axle and suspension), connected by an aluminium body. The gearbox was mounted on the underside of the body structure with shafts to the engine and back axle. Later pre-war London trolleybuses, however, had previously adopted chassisless construction.

As part of the Transported by Design programme of activities, in 15 October 2015, after two months of public voting, the original Routemaster bus was elected by Londoners as one of the 10 favourite transport design icons.[12][13]

Prototypes

Last built RML2760 with prototypes RM1, RM2 & RML3 at Acton in March 2002

London Transport placed four prototype Routemasters in service between 1956 and 1958.[14] The first two were built at the London Transport works at Chiswick, the third by Weymann at Addlestone and the fourth, an experimental Green Line coach, at Eastern Coach Works at Lowestoft. The third and fourth had Leyland engines.[2] The Routemaster was first exhibited at the Earl's Court Commercial Motor Show in 1954.[10][15]

In 1961, 24 longer RMLs (30 ft compared with the standard 27 ft 6in) were built as a test, going into production from 1965. In 1962, the front entrance RMF concept was tried, with RMF1254 based on the trial RMLs. This was exhibited and toured, leading to the production of a small number of RMF and RMA buses.

In 1964, just before commencement of mainstream production of the RML, the final front-engined Routemasters, AEC started work on a front-entrance, rear-engined prototype, FRM1.[16] Completed in 1966, it saw regular London service, then on London Coaches tour operations, before being withdrawn in 1983. It was nicknamed the Fruitmaster.

Production

Arriva London RMLs on routes 19 & 38 at the intersection of Tottenham Court Road & Shaftesbury Avenue in August 2004

Production of mechanical components was undertaken chiefly at AEC's Southall site (though a significant number had Leyland engines) with body construction and final assembly at Park Royal Vehicles.[9]

The majority of production examples were 27 feet 6 inches (8.38 metres) long, within maximum length regulations. The regulations were later relaxed and 29 feet 11 inches (9.12 metres) "long" types were produced, although these were delayed by union resistance to the extra work for conductors.[17]

ClassTypeLengthNumberNotes
RMstandard bus27.5 feet (8.4 m)2,123
RMLlong bus29.91 feet (9.12 m)524
RMCcoach27.5 feet (8.4 m)69
RCLlong coach29.91 feet (9.12 m)43
RMFfront-entrance bus29.91 feet (9.12 m)51all except one for Northern General Transport Company
RMAfront-entrance bus27.5 feet (8.4 m)65for British European Airways
FRMfront-entrance bus31.3 feet (9.5 m)1rear engined

RM & RML class

London Transport took delivery of 2,123 RMs and 524 RMLs. The RML was a standard RM with a distinctive and seemingly out of place half-window section added in the middle giving eight extra seats. This was not a dramatic change, as it took advantage of the modular design approach of the Routemaster that would be copied by other manufacturers.[17] The RML code was originally used to identify the "Routemaster Leyland", with what became the RML originally designated the ER (Extended Routemaster).[17] The RM and RML had an area beneath the rear staircase where, when not collecting fares, the conductor could stand without obstructing boarding/alighting passengers. Seating was provided for 64 passengers on RMs (72 on RMLs).

RMC & RCL class

Preserved RCL2233 in London Transport Green Line livery

The RMC was a coach version for Green Line routes. RMCs had modified suspension and interiors to allow a longer range and more comfortable running, an electrically operated door instead of an open platform, and a semi-automatic gearbox with higher gear ratios.[18][19] The RCL was a long version of the RMC with a larger engine and similar coach-style features.[20] Seating was provided for 57 on RMCs and 65 on RCLs.[21]

RMF & RMA class

The RMF and RMA class were production versions of the front entrance Routemaster, primarily for non-London and airline use.[22] Like the RMC/RCL they had an electrically operated door, but at the front of the bus, along with the staircase. After being exhibited and demonstrated to other operators, the RMF attracted little interest, apart from an order from Northern General Transport Company (RMF) and, in a short version, from British European Airways (RMA).

Northern General

Preserved Northern General Transport Company RMF2105 in livery as delivered

The British Electric Traction subsidiary Northern General Transport Company introduced the RMF in 1964/65, with an initial batch of 18, followed by another 32 and later joined by the prototype RMF1254.[22][23] This order created considerable interest and raised eyebrows within the bus industry, as Northern had been one of the biggest investors in the new rear-engined Leyland Atlanteans.

However, Northern shared many routes with the United Automobile Services, which operated the Bristol Lodekka, and the Atlantean did not match their performance and passenger satisfaction, so Northern brought in the RMFs as a better match. They were fitted with Leyland engines and a higher-ratio rear axle for operation on longer trunk routes.[24] Other notable differences were a standard, single-panel front destination blind, sliding windows and a one-piece driver's windscreen.

Preserved Northern General Transport Company RMF2099 in two-tone red and cream pre National Bus Company livery
Modified Northern General Transport Company RMF2771
(Beatrix – EYY 776B)
Currently owned and being upgraded by the'London to Japan in a Routemaster Bus' project.

They operated in various Northern red and cream liveries[25][26] receiving the poppy red corporate livery and NBC Northern fleetnames in the National Bus Company era. The RMF fleet wore the long-standing adverts characteristic of buses in the north-east of England, "Shop at Binns". Northern Routemasters were well liked by their crews: the high axle ratio meant a good turn of speed on long-distance routes such as Newcastle to Darlington, and power steering was well appreciated on busy urban services in Gateshead and Sunderland. Their service in the north also produced the odd sight of a Routemaster with a rollsign "X1 Scandinavia", connecting with the DFDS ferry from North Shields to Scandinavia.[27]

However, throughout the 1970s it became increasingly uneconomic to have conductors on inter-urban services. Despite driver and customer satisfaction, Northern had little option but to replace them. Northern placed a large order for Bristol VRs with Eastern Coach Works and Willowbrook bodywork in 1977 to replace them. Withdrawals began in May 1977 with the last withdrawn in October 1980. Most were scrapped although 14 were sold to London Transport. Only one entered service, as an open-top with London Coaches.[28]

British European Airways

British European Airways purchased 65 RMAs built to the shorter length (with trailers) in 1966/67 for use on its airport bus service between the West London Air Terminal (above the London Underground triangle between High Street Kensington, Gloucester Road and Earl's Court stations) and Heathrow Airport.[29] They were geared for 70 mph running on the M4 Motorway.[30] Withdrawals started in January 1975 with British Airways discontinuing the service in March 1979. All 65 RMAs were eventually sold to London Transport.[28][31]

Safety

The open platform is potentially dangerous, as passengers can board, alight, and stand on the platform at any time, even with the bus travelling at speed. The presence of a conductor to regulate access to the platform helps, but the conductor also has to collect fares throughout the bus, and even if on the platform cannot prevent all incidents. Former London mayor Ken Livingstone said in 2013 that the Routemasters were too dangerous, with around twelve people per year losing their lives after falling from them during his mayoralty.[32]

Colour schemes

RM6 on route 159 in December 2005 in Golden Jubilee colours

With the Routemaster's longevity, examples were painted to celebrate both the Queen's Silver and Golden Jubilees. In 1977, 25 Routemasters were painted silver and temporarily renumbered SRM1 to SRM25 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee and, in 2002, 50 buses were painted gold including three RMs and 12 RMLs.[28][33]

Kentish Bus RML2574 in July 1993

During privatisation in London from 1986, several private operators won contracts to operate services, including Routemaster-operated routes. Before an 80% red rule for liveries was introduced in 1997 by London Transport, the contract tendering authority, some of these new entrants ran Routemasters in non-red liveries, most notably Kentish Bus on route 19 and Borehamwood Travel Services on route 13.

The iconic nature of the Routemaster appealed to the many new operators outside London that appeared post-1986 in the UK following bus deregulation. Several traditional operators purchased second-hand Routemasters as a cheap way of expanding their fleets in response to competition from new operators after deregulation,[34] and new operators also chose it as a distinctive-looking bus. Painted in a variety of colours, they were used in regular service in Bedford, Blackpool,[35] Burnley,[36] Carlisle, Corby, Doncaster,[37] Dundee, Glasgow,[38] Hull,[39] Manchester,[40] Perth,[41] Rotherham.[42] Scarborough,[43] Southampton and Southend-on-Sea.

One of the earliest examples, if not the earliest, of deregulated use of Routemasters was early in the history of the Stagecoach Group, by 2014 one of the largest operators in the UK. Stagecoach used vintage Routemasters in its new corporate livery of all-over white with red, orange and blue stripes, to start one of its first operations, Magic Bus, in Glasgow in the late 1980s.

Clydeside Scottish RM720 in Johnstone in April 1989

In the mid 1980s Clydeside Scottish purchased 114 Routemasters for use in Glasgow, with many repainted at Aldenham Works. Most were withdrawn in 1990.

Preserved Reading Mainline RM1859 and RM999 in July 2008

Towards the end of this period, in July 1994 in Reading, new operator Reading Mainline built up a 45-strong Routemaster fleet to compete with the established operator, Reading Buses, in the process becoming the largest operator of Routemasters outside London. They used conductors to compete on speed in the town centre and, in the outskirts, took advantage of the rear platform to operate hail and ride sections of route. In 1998 Reading Mainline was sold to Reading Buses; some Routemasters continued in use until July 2000.[44]

With the costs of running elderly two-person buses, and with a general reduction in the number of operators, buses, and services in the years following deregulation as competitors merged or closed, use of Routemasters outside London declined through the 1990s. Many of these buses found their way back to London to assist with the refurbishment programme, as spares donors or to increase fleet size.

Withdrawal from mainstream London service saw another resurgence in the use of Routemasters outside London,[34] but on a smaller scale than immediately after deregulation. After 2000 Routemasters were mostly used on small novelty or seasonal routes.

Green livery

Preserved RMC1476 coach with rear folding doors, in NBC Green livery of London Country Bus Services, lighter than London Transport Country green

The first green Routemasters, apart from prototype CRL4, now RMC4, were 69 RMCs (Routemaster Coach) for Green Line work. These were the same length as the RMs but had luxury seating, luggage racks, strip lights and platform doors.[45][46] The later 43 RCLs (Routemaster Coach Lengethened) were the same length as the RMLs but again with coach seating and platform doors.

One hundred Green Routemasters, based on the RMLs were delivered in 1965/66 for Country area bus work. Prior to this around fifty RM's were delivered to LT Country Bus Services and painted in green. Three of these were transferred to the Central (Red) fleet in 1969 in exchange for three XA Leyland Atlanteans.

On 1 January 1970 these green Routemasters were transferred to the newly formed London Country Bus Services, a National Bus Company subsidiary formed to take over London Transports Country Area. London Country announced that it intended to convert all its services to one man operation, which it achieved by 1981, making all the Routemasters redundant. Many were sold back to London Transport, the RMCs becoming trainers along with most of the RCLs.

Most of the ex Country RMLs that were sold back to LT in the late 1970s lasted longer as red buses than they did in green! (Most did 14 years as green buses but over 20 as red buses) Some RCLs had the platform doors removed and entered service as red buses. RMC4 (ex CRL4) was kept by London Country but was later sold when the NBC was sold off.

Rise and decline

Heyday at London Transport

The heyday of the Routemaster was in its first 25 years of operation, until September 1982, when the type started to be withdrawn and transferred to training fleets, due to service reductions.

The RM class entered service from 1959 to replace trolleybuses, which finished in May 1962. Subsequent Routemasters, the last 500 of which were RMLs, began replacing the previous generation of buses, the AEC Regent RT and Leyland Titan RTL and RTW. RMLs also displaced RMs on central routes to cope with higher loadings.[17] The last Routemaster entered service in March 1968.

The original concept included the routine overhaul and refurbishment of the fleet at LT's Aldenham Works, usually every five years. The buses were completely stripped down and rebuilt, and left the works almost as new. As the number of Routemasters declined, financial cutbacks and newer buses not suited to this practice were introduced, the overhaul routine was abandoned and Aldenham Works closed in November 1986.[28] The thoroughness of the Aldenham system was the primary reason why the Routemaster and its predecessors have lasted so long in London service.

Decline in London

Daimler Fleetline DMS1 and RM1737 at the London Transport Museum in January 2008

Many routes were converted to One-man operation (OMO) in the 1970s, to reduce operating costs and in response to staff shortages. There was also for a time a parts shortage for Routemasters, aggravated by the closure of AEC.[47] With the introduction of single-deck Red Arrow services and successful conversion to modern, rear-engined OMO buses around the country, London Transport considered replacing Routemasters with modern buses.

The operation of the Routemaster gradually contracted to central areas only, with RMLs replacing RMs, where it was felt that the Routemaster still provided an efficient means of transporting large enough numbers of people to justify the economics of two-person operation.[48] The rapid acceleration and rugged construction of the Routemaster proved to be more suited to urban conditions than some more modern designs.[48]

The fleet remained largely intact for around 15 years after production ended in 1968, with withdrawals mainly due to fires. Following the defeat of the Greater London Council in the House of Lords over its subsidised fare scheme, major service reductions followed in September 1982. Consequently, the first withdrawals commenced, with many of these early disposals being for scrap. The continued practice of route conversion to one-person operation resulted in a steady trickle of withdrawals. This practice had largely halted by 1988, with comparatively few withdrawn up to 1992.

In 1986 some of the Routemasters purchased from British European Airways, London Country and Northern General, which had doors rather than an open platform, were overhauled at Aldenham Works and put in service on London Transport's revived sightseeing operation The Original London Sightseeing Tour, alongside RCLs (some converted to open top buses),[49] RMFs[22] and RMAs.[31][50]

Privatisation of London Buses

RML2724 and RML2680 wearing First London and London General post-privatisation paint schemes

In April 1989, in preparation for the privatisation of London bus services, London Buses was divided into 11 arm's-length business units based on different garages. Eight units inherited Routemasters: CentreWest, East London, Leaside, London Central, London General, London Northern, London United and South London.[51] During this time, following the failure and premature withdrawal of heralded replacement vehicle classes such as the Daimler Fleetlines, the Routemasters that had not yet been disposed of saw their lives extended for use until privatisation. Where new route tenders called for Routemaster operation, these were leased from London Buses.[51]

Between September and November 1994, all of the business units were sold. In the new London route tendering process, all but one of the Routemaster-operated routes (139) retained their now privately owned Routemasters[2] for the five-year contract period and further refurbishments resulted.

Life extensions

First London Marshall Bus refurbished RM1640 on Heritage route 9 in July 2006

Following the ending of production at AEC Southall, and the later closure of the Aldenham Works, new options for extending the life of the Routemaster became necessary if they were to continue to run. This made sense as, even by 1987, when some buses looked decidedly worn out, inspections by London Buses revealed the basic structure of the buses was still sound,[47] requiring only replacement of engines and interior/exterior renewal.

From 1992 to 1994, all but two of the RMLs were refurbished for ten years' further service. This work, which included updating the interior to modern tastes and substituting Cummins or Iveco engines, was carried out by Mainline, TB Precision, Nottingham Truck & Bus and by one of the new London Buses business units, Leaside Buses. One hundred RMs were also re-engined.[2] Post-privatisation, in 1996, London Central's RMs on route 36, Stagecoach London's RMLs for routes 8 and 15, and Arriva London's RMs for route 159 received new Scania engines.[2]

In 2001/02, under new Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Transport for London purchased 50 RMs from a variety of sources, including Reading Mainline and two from Italy. Of these, 43 were refurbished by Marshall Bus between May 2001 and August 2002, receiving Cummins engines coupled to an Allison automatic gearbox. They also received a full body overhaul including new hopper windows. The first 22 were leased to London Sovereign for use on route 13 with ten going to Arriva London for use on route 38 and others to First London, London Central and London United. After Marshall Bus went into administration, Arriva London completed a further six, albeit without the heavy body overhauls and retaining the quarter-drop windows.[28]

Withdrawal from London

Arriva London's RML2574 on route 159 in December 2005 with its replacements, a modern double decker and an articulated bus
Arriva London's RM2217 arrives at Brixton garage with the last scheduled Routemaster service on 9 December 2005
Arriva London's RM54 on Whitehall on 9 December 2005

At the beginning of the 2000s, there was debate concerning the issue of whether to replace or retain the Routemaster in London service. Supporters cited its continued mechanical fitness, speed of boarding and tourist potential, while opponents pointed to the economics of running increasingly elderly buses when newer, larger and more modern designs were now on the market following a resurgence in the bus manufacturing industry after recession in the 1990s.

Opponents also pointed specifically to the lack of accessibility of the Routemaster in light of impending relevant legislation, which meant all new buses now entering service in London would be required to have a low-floor design. The emergence of off-bus ticketing technology also reduced the argument for better dwell times, whereby the Oyster card and off-bus ticket machines would reduce the time it took passengers to board the bus.

With Transport for London purchasing fifty Routemasters and having them thoroughly rebuilt in 2001/02, it appeared that the Routemasters would be around for some time to come. In February 2003, route 10 was split, with the Kings Cross to Hammersmith section converted to OMO operation and the Archway to Marble Arch section remaining Routemaster-operated as route 390. In the same month route 36 was curtailed between Lewisham and New Cross and duplicated by route 436 between New Cross and Paddington, operated by Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated buses.[28]

In March 2003, Transport for London managing director Peter Hendy advised that accessibility was a higher priority than retaining conductors, and in August 2003, as the existing contracts became due for renewal, the remaining Routemaster services were replaced, either by low-floor double-decker buses or articulated buses. Government legislation required full accessibility on 22 October 2014 under the Disability Discrimination Act; however, Transport for London was aiming to be compliant far earlier. As a consequence, the last Routemasters were withdrawn from general service on 9 December 2005, although two heritage routes were introduced.[28] This was reduced to one on 25 July 2014.[52]

Withdrawals began on the dates below as the five-year contracts expired.

RouteCeasedOperatorReplaced by
1529 August 2003East Londondouble-deckers
1131 October 2003London Generaldouble-deckers
2314 November 2003First Londondouble-deckers
9423 January 2004Transdev London Uniteddouble-deckers
626 March 2004Metrolinedouble-deckers
9826 March 2004Metrolinedouble-deckers
84 June 2004East Londondouble-deckers
72 July 2004First Londondouble-deckers
1379 July 2004Arriva Londondouble-deckers
93 September 2004Transdev London Uniteddouble-deckers
733 September 2004Arriva Londonarticulated buses
3903 September 2004Metrolinedouble-deckers
125 November 2004London Centralarticulated buses
3628 January 2005London Centraldouble-deckers
191 April 2005Arriva Londondouble-deckers
1422 July 2005London Generaldouble-deckers
2222 July 2005London Generaldouble-deckers
1321 October 2005Transdev London Sovereigndouble-deckers
3828 October 2005Arriva Londonarticulated buses
1599 December 2005Arriva Londondouble-deckers

On 9 December 2005, the last Routemasters ran on route 159.[53] On 8 December 2005, 24 special buses, including preserved RMs and RMLs and their predecessors from the AEC Regent III RT bus family made guest appearances on route 159.[54]

On the last day, on police advice, instead of doing a normal shift, with crews working until around 23:00, the last Routemaster services ran in the middle of the day. RM2217 operated the final departure from Marble Arch at 12:08. Heavily delayed, it took 10 minutes to turn the final corner into Brixton garage arriving at 14:06.

Around the time of the last runs to the garage, crowds blocked the four-lane road, bringing all traffic to a standstill.

After 2005

London heritage routes

East London Routemaster on Heritage route 15 on Ludgate Hill in June 2008

In November 2005 heritage routes 9 and 15 were introduced, operating daily until 18:30, duplicating short sections of two regular London bus routes.[55] Route 9 was withdrawn on 25 July 2014.[52]

The two operators, First London and Stagecoach London, each operated ten buses selected from the batch overhauled by Marshall Bus in 2001/02.[56]

Stagecoach East London are currently refurbishing their Routemaster's for route 15H with some of the modern features added during the Marshall refurbishments replaced by replicas of the original equipment. This is being done by Hants & Dorset Trim, and involves a full overhaul and repaint inside and out, the return of gold lettering, black registration plates and fitting of modern LED indicators on the front and LED indicators and lights on the rear. These have been made to appear similar to the round lights that were originally fitted. The refurbishment also sees the removal of the yellow hand rails, and the return of steel with white coating rails, also a nod to the original design. The first of was delivered back to Stagecoach East London in January 2016.

Tour and charter use

Open top RCL2241 on a Mac's Tours service in Edinburgh in August 2010

Aside from the London heritage route, the last major operation of Routemasters is in Edinburgh, where Lothian Buses' tour operation, Mac Tours,[57] uses closed and open-top Routemasters on regular tours.[56]

Many Routemasters remain in service as charter buses, both with the companies that operated them in London and with niche charter operators.[56]

Routemasters have also been exported, with some seeing further service in Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, the Falkland Islands, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the United States.[58] A number of Stagecoach Routemasters have been exported to Montreal in Canada, where Stagecoach provides a tourist service around the city.[59]

Uses in Popular Culture

In December 2014, the PepsiCo brand 7 Up worked with the inventor of yarn bombing, Magda Sayeg, to completely knit an original Routemaster bus. The "Number 7up" as it was called, took to London's streets for 2 days in December 2014.[60]

New Routemaster

Main article: New Routemaster
Metroline New Routemaster on route 24 in Camden Town in June 2013

Such was the popularity of the Routemaster that many calls continued to be made for a new version of the vehicle to be produced. On 3 September 2007, Conservative mayoral candidate Boris Johnson announced that he was contemplating introducing a modern-day version of the Routemaster (and scrapping articulated bus operation). In December 2007, UK magazine Autocar commissioned leading bus designer Capoco, designer of the innovative Optare Solo, to come up with detailed proposals for a new-generation Routemaster.[61]

Johnson backed the Capoco design in principle and suggested that he would hold a formal design competition to develop a new Routemaster if he became London mayor in 2008. After he was elected, this competition was held for general ideas and detailed designs, with cash prizes for the winning entries. The results of the competition were published on 19 December 2008, with the winning and other good proposals being passed to bus manufacturers to draw up a final design. The winners included two joint "whole bus" designs, one submitted by Capoco and one submitted by Aston Martin and Foster and Partners.[62]

Initially named the New Bus for London and later the New Routemaster, eight prototypes entered service on route 38 in February 2012, with route 24 being the first route fully converted in June 2013.[63] By 2016 the fleet will number 600.

Skopje City Master

Main article: Yutong City Master

In 2010, the government of the Republic of Macedonia ordered 202 double-decker buses from the Chinese manufacturer Yutong, two of which were cabriolet buses with removable roofs to be used by tourists, and the remaining 200 as city buses for the capital city of Skopje. The buses were to be in a "retro" style, similar to Routemasters. Former London double-deckers were used in Skopje until the 1963 Skopje earthquake in which 75%–80% of the city's infrastructure was destroyed.

The prototype bus appeared on the streets of Skopje on 1 March 2011.[64] The first cabriolet buses (with removable roofs) and 65 city buses entered service on 6 September 2011, all under the name City Master.[65] The rest of the buses, as well as another 15 cabriolet buses ordered in late 2011, were due to arrive by the end of 2013.

Preservation

Driver's cab of RM2217 with some controls labelled

Ensign

Bus dealer Ensignbus handled disposals of the Routemasters, as it had long done for other London buses. In December 2004, Ensignbus held a raffle for 32 Routemasters, available for £2,000 to those who could prove they had the finances to store and care for them.[66][67]

50th and 60th anniversary

On 25 July 2004, 98 Routemasters were lined up in Finsbury Park, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of RM1.[68][69] A repeat event occurred in July 2014 for the 60th anniversary and a record breaking 136 Routemasters attended.[70] Both events were organised by the Routemaster Association.

Notable examples

Routemasters at Alton bus rally in June 2006
RM339 on display in Erfurt, Germany in January 2008
The solitary rear-engined Routemaster, now in preservation

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marshall, Prince (1972). Wheels of London. The Sunday Times Magazine ISBN 0-7230-0068-9. p. 108.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 History Routemaster Association
  3. ↑ "Bacon butties, roast dinners and a cuppa: 50 things we love best about Britain show we're a nation of food lovers". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 9 November 2012
  4. ↑ "Long list unveiled for national vote on public's favourite example of Great British Design". BBC. 18 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Concorde voted the UK's top icon". BBC. 18 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "New Routemaster bus starts running on London roads". BBC. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  7. ↑ Swan song for the Big Red Bus The Independent (London) 22 September 1994
  8. ↑ Colin Curtis obituary The Daily Telegraph (London) 5 October 2012
  9. 1 2 About AEC AEC Southhall
  10. 1 2 "The Bus We Loved book description 12 September 2006". Londonbooks.co.uk.
  11. ↑ On the Buses (1972, Reg Varney) Buses on Screen
  12. ↑ https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/press-and-media/news/595-london-s-transport-design-icons-announced
  13. ↑ http://www.timeout.com/london/blog/transported-by-design-vote-for-your-favourite-part-of-london-transport-080415
  14. ↑ Routemaster in Service After Severe Tests Commercial Motor 10 February 1956
  15. ↑ "Prototype Bus for London Transport" Railway Gazette 24 SEptember 1954 page 354
  16. 1 2 The Front Entrance Routemaster Country Bus
  17. 1 2 3 4 The Long Buses Part 1 Country Bus
  18. ↑ The Coach RMs Country Bus
  19. ↑ Routemaster Double-deck Coaches for Green Line Routes Commercial Motor 29 June 1962
  20. ↑ The Long Coaches Country Bus
  21. ↑ Larger Routemaster Coaches for Green Line Commercial Motor 30 October 1964
  22. 1 2 3 The Forward Entrance Routemaster Country Bus
  23. ↑ LTB Sells RM1254 Commercial Motor 2 December 1966
  24. ↑ Northern Routemasters Northern Routemasters
  25. ↑ "Image of Northern General 2115 (FPT 585C) in Northern livery". Myweb.tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  26. ↑ "Image of Northern General 2116 (FPT 586C) in Northern livery". Myweb.tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  27. ↑ "Northern General 3105 (FPT 591C) with destination blinds for service X1 to Scandinavia". Myweb.tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Blacker, Ken (2007). Routemaster Volume Two 1970–2005. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport. ISBN 978-185414-303-7.
  29. ↑ BEA Orders 65 Trailer-towing Routemasters Commercial Motors 2 April 1965
  30. ↑ The BEA Routemasters Part 1 Country Bus
  31. 1 2 The BEA Routemasters Part 2 Country Bus
  32. ↑ ITV London – Ken Livingstone: too many people died on Routemasters, 5 October 2013
  33. ↑ The Long Buses Part 6 Country Bus
  34. 1 2 Routemasters outside London AEC Bus Site
  35. ↑ Blackpool battles on Commercial Motor 19 July 1990
  36. ↑ Eastenders soft soap Burnley Commercial Motor 7 April 1988
  37. ↑ South Yorkshire counter attacks Commercial Motor 2 August 1990
  38. ↑ SBG builds up Commercial Motor 11 January 1986
  39. ↑ Routemasters for East Yorkshire Commercial Motor 2 June 1988
  40. ↑ End of Commercial Motor 31 May 1990
  41. ↑ Waterworth gives warning to Magicbus Commercial Motor 5 April 1990
  42. ↑ Terrier Challenges SYT Commercial Motor 21 June 1990
  43. ↑ Primrose joins battle for Scarborough town Commercial Motor 14 December 1989
  44. ↑ Reading Mainline Buszone
  45. ↑ "Double-deck Routemaster Green Line coaches" Railway Gazette 29 June 1962 page 757
  46. ↑ "LTE brings coaches into service" Railway Gazette 24 August 1962 page 263
  47. 1 2 The Long Buses Part 3 Country Bus
  48. 1 2 The Long Buses 2 Country Bus
  49. ↑ The Long Coaches Country Bus
  50. ↑ London Buses steps up sightseeing Commercial Motor 17 May 1986
  51. 1 2 The Long Buses Part 4 Country Bus
  52. 1 2 Bus service proposal: Route 9 Transport for London
  53. ↑ Routemaster makes final journey BBC News 9 December 2005
  54. ↑ The Routemaster in 2005 – The End Classic Irish Buses
  55. ↑ Touring Routemasters hit the road BBC News 14 November 2005
  56. 1 2 3 AECs in service AEC Bus Site
  57. ↑ Mac Tours Edinburgh Tours
  58. ↑ The Gallery Showbus
  59. ↑ Routemasters newly arrived in Canada Focus Transport 31 December 2012
  60. ↑ http://www.designboom.com/art/knitted-double-decker-bus-london-7up-campaign-12-04-2014/
  61. ↑ Times Online Blueprint for "son of Routemaster", 19 December 2007, retrieved 15 April 2008
  62. ↑ Routemaster, London, Fosters + Partners, retrieved 14 September 2009
  63. ↑ "New Routemaster bus starts running on London roads". BBC News. 27 February 2012.
  64. ↑ Double decker buses for Skopje Times of Malta 2 March 2011
  65. ↑ Spirit of the Routemaster lives on in the heart of Macedonia London Evening Standard 5 November 2010
  66. ↑ The Long Bus Part 7 Country Bus
  67. ↑ The great bus sale BBC News 10 December 2004
  68. ↑ Routemaster celebrates 50 years BBC News 24 July 2004
  69. 1 2 "Routemaster 50 – 25th July 2004". AEC Southhall. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  70. ↑ Routemaster Celebrating a London icon in Finsbury Park Bus & Coach Buyer 22 July 2014
  71. ↑ "Double-decker tour buses exit Charlottetown", CBC News Retrieved 29 April 2010
  72. ↑ Routemaster Vol 1Ken Blacker Capital Transport ISBN 1-85414-131-7 pub 1981 pp42-43 & Routemaster Vol2 Ken Blacker Capital Transport ISBN 1-85414-142-2 pub 1992 pp20
  73. ↑ "The 1000th Routemaster bus" Railway Gazette 27 October 1961 page 495
  74. ↑ AEC Southall Enthusiast page RM1000 details
  75. ↑ The Last Routemaster Built Retires Stagecoach April 2013
  76. ↑ 1968 AEC Routemaster bus – RML2760 London Bus Museum
  77. ↑ Big Red Bus Festivals page RM1000 details

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