And they’re off

Finally, some action from Boris on a new Routemaster for London. No designs to see yet, but an official launch of the anticipated competition with a list of must haves for London’s new bus.

“I made a commitment during the election campaign to hold a competition to design a brand new bus for London, based on the much-missed Routemaster.  This competition is the first step in making that commitment a reality.”

The contest has been opened to two groups of entrants, ‘professional designers’ who will conceive an entire vehicle, to or the man, woman or child on the street who ‘uses buses every day’ and may have thoughts on specific festures for the new double decker. Successful participants can win anything from a £25 voucher for London’s Transport Museum to £25,000.

The contest has been opened to two groups of entrants, ‘professional designers’ who will conceive an entire vehicle, to or the man, woman or child on the street who ‘uses buses every day’ and may have thoughts on specific festures for the new double decker. Successful participants can win anything from a £25 voucher for London’s Transport Museum to £25,000.

Boris says the Routemaster ranks alongside ‘Nelson’s Column, Tower Bridge, The London Eye and our city’s ubiquitous black cabs” as an icon for the capital. The rules of entry also give us some concrete must haves for the new bus. These include the some familiar features:

• The design must be for a red double-decker bus with at least one internal staircase.
• An open platform at the rear near side corner.
• The bus must be operate with a second crew member.

 

Plus some new additions not present in the original:

• At least one other entrance/exit with closing double doors.
• Low floor.
• Wheelchair ramp.

 

There’s also a list of numerical specifications:

• Maximum length = 13.5m (original was 8.4m to 9.1m)
• Maximum width = 2.55m (2.44m)
• Maximum height = 4.42m (4.36m)
• Maximum number of axles = 3 (2)
• Minimum passenger capacity = 72 (72)

 

The deadline for designs is 12:00 noon British Summer Time (BST) on 19 September.

First stop, Beijing

Despite Boris rephrasing his policy on a new Routemaster for London, from a commitment to an ambition, a grandstand appearance has already been arranged for the iconic bus.

Alongside the likes of David Beckham, Leona Lewis and our blond bombshell mayor, a Routemaster will be the star of the show in Beijing, as the Chinese city hands over the Olympic baton to London in this summer’s closing ceremony. Unfortunately, the bus seen by 90,000 fans in the ‘Bird’s Nest’ stadium, will be a trusty old AEC Routemaster on loan from Transport of London. 

The Games arrive in London in 1,500 days - but will a new bus?

Wither our dear bus already?

Less than a month in and already doubts have been cast over the likelihood of London seeing a new Routemaster.

We all remember the Mayor’s pre-election promises to start the process of creating a new bus on ’day one, act one, scene one‘ of his term in power. Boris himself said these plans were not ‘beyond the wit of man’, but now his director of transport policy, Kulveer Ranger, has taken the most tentative of steps to suggest that the double decker is not a certainty.

Ranger is an ex-DJ, former Tory parliamentary candidate, management consultant and Spurs supporter, who has in the past warned of Conservative leader, David Cameron’s “aristocratic tinge”. In his new role as part of Johnson’s City Hall team he added a list of caveats to the introduction of the Routemaster II.

After repeating earlier announcements that a competition would be held to find a new design, he went on to state that the policy would be reconsidered if no bid appeared good enough. In addition he failed to narrow down the cost of the project, which currently stands somewhere between £8 million and over £100 million. Finally, he prevaricated on the question of whether conductors would be present on the new vehicles, despite Boris’ previous promises.

Perhaps it might turn out to be beyond the wit of man - or at least one man - after all.

Day 5 - A new Routemaster already?

The design director of a bus manufacturer has said a replacement for London’s famous Routemaster bus could be on the road in three years.

Alan Ponsford of Capoco says their new hybrid-powered vehicle would cost £200,000 each (compared to £150,000 for standard double-deckers). The project itself would have a price tag somewhere in the big gap that sits between £5m and £10m. The vehicles would cater for the disabled with a side door and ramp in addition to the open back corner.

Capoco have made their design study available online, as well as more images it also includes:

• Specifications (PDF)
• 3D movie (Quicktime)