Operating on route 38 between Victoria and Hackney the 'New Bus for London', the first bus designed specifically for the capital's streets for more than 50 years, picked up its first fare-paying passengers on February 27. Like the Routemaster, on which it is based, the new bus has a platform at the rear, but includes innovations such as three doors and two staircases. The bus also makes use of the latest green technology, meaning that air quality emissions will be reduced by up to 40 per cent when compared with conventional diesel buses. The first bus will be joined by a further seven prototypes at a rate of one every couple of weeks as they roll off the Wrightbus production line. By the end of May, eight buses will be in service.
For Time Out's review of the bus go to http://www.timeout.com/new-routemaster/