Transport for London (TfL) has announced that several more bus routes are to be converted to largely zero-emission operation in 2021 after new contracts to operate them are issued. They include at least four that utilise double-deckers and that have a combined peak vehicle requirement (PVR) of 82.
Of those, routes 65/N65 and 201, both retained by London United, have a PVR of 28 and 20, respectively. Route 183, retained by London Sovereign, has a PVR of 24. Service X140, gained by London Sovereign from Metroline, has a PVR of 10. Route 371, retained by London United, has a PVR of 13 and it will retain a mix of double- and single-deck vehicles after conversion to zero-emission operation.
All of the above will see “certain journeys” operated by either diesel-electric hybrid double-deckers or diesel single-deckers alongside zero-emission buses, TfL says.
Three all-single-deck services will also transition to zero-emission operation after contracts change. Route 290 will move from Abellio West London to London United with a PVR of seven and service 398 will transfer from London United to London Sovereign with a PVR of three. The H9/H10 group is retained by London Sovereign and has a PVR of 16.
Routes 290 will see certain journeys continue to be operated by diesel-powered buses, TfL says.
In addition to the above awards, routes 7/N7 – retained by Metroline – will be operated with a PVR of 18 double-deckers of a type that is to be confirmed. TfL had previously said that the two routes would be among those served by 20 hydrogen fuel cell-electric Wrightbus StreetDeck FCEV double-deckers when they are delivered.
Additionally, route 328 – which will move from Tower Transit to Metroline – will be operated by double-deckers of a type that is to be confirmed. Its PVR is 19.
