Was it inevitable that London Mayor Sadiq Khan would settle, as he announced last October, for an early date for the start of the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)?
Cynics would say ‘yes’; observing that the one-sided, simple questions in the short consultation would deliver overwhelming public support.
While lobbying in freight and passenger continues, most operators will be resigned to the fact that they will either have pay £300 per day to take a coach into the heart of London, or use a Euro 6 compliant vehicle.
There’s small comfort that when the ULEZ (then for 2020) was announced by Boris Johnson in February 2013, it apparently exempted the Transport for London (TfL) bus fleet, including the Euro 5 versions of his ‘Borismaster’ – which he trumpeted as being in line with Euro 6.
It’s noteworthy that Mr Khan has rowed back on this, and now confirmed that TfL will ensure compliance of all its fleet “especially the New Routemaster.”
Interestingly, TfL’s heritage Routemasters are likely to continue, having already body-severed around PSVAR. In a trial, Sir Peter Hendy’s preserved Euro 6 RM is to go into service on route 15 shortly. But this is a side issue.
Those with an eye to the future started planning for the ULEZ in 2013.
If you haven’t started planning, now’s the time to do so. Retrofit solutions, costing up to £20,000, are available now, and given that the measure affects freight too, it’s wise not to leave it too late.
