First London AEC Routemaster, RML 2473 (JJD 473D), on route 7 approaching Ladbroke Grove tube station in April 2002.

The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was unveiled in 1954. It was introduced in London on 8 February 1956 and has become one of the famous icons of London. It is still in service on two routes in central London, albeit billed by Transport for London as a heritage service. This image has been (or is hereby) released into the public domain by its creator, KF. This applies worldwide. ... This image has been (or is hereby) released into the public domain by its creator, KF. This applies worldwide. ... First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. ... The UK Underground movement in the UK was focussed around the Ladbroke Grove/Notting Hill area of London, which Mick Farren commented was an enclave of freaks, immigrants and bohemians long before the hippies got there (1). ... Ladbroke Grove is a London Underground station on the Hammersmith and City Line, between Latimer Road and Westbourne Park stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2. ... 2002 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for April, 2002. ... AEC was a United Kingdom based vehicle manufacturer which built buses and trucks from 1912 until 1979. ... A London AEC Routemaster, RML 2473 (JJD 473D), on route 7 approaching Ladbroke Grove tube station in April 2002. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England and is the most populous city in the European Union. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Transport for London (TfL) is a government body responsible for the transport system in the City of London, the capital city of the United Kingdom. ...

History

Design

A row of Routemaster buses at Acton Depot.

The bus was developed during the period 1947-1956 by a team led by Douglas Scott. The brief being to replace the trolleybuses, which had themselves replaced trams. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (900x600, 151 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Routemaster Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (900x600, 151 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Routemaster Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Trolleybus public transfer in Bratislava, Slovakia A trolleybus (also known as electric bus, trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram or simply trolley) is a bus powered by two overhead electric wires, from which it draws electricity using two trolley poles. ... TW2000 car in Hanover Volkswagen Cargo-Tram in Dresden on a section of grassed track. ...

Production examples, at first to the 27 foot 6 inches (8.4 meters) length then permitted, were placed in service from 1959 to replace trolleybuses, this process being completed in May 1962. Subsequent Routemasters, the last 500 of which were 30 foot (9.1 meters) long RML types, began the process of replacing the previous generation of RT-type AEC Regent buses (commemorated by Flanders & Swann's A Transport Of Delight) and their similar Leyland Titan RTL and RTW counterparts. The last Routemaster, RML 2760, was put into service in March 1968. 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Trolleybus public transfer in Bratislava, Slovakia A trolleybus (also known as electric bus, trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram or simply trolley) is a bus powered by two overhead electric wires, from which it draws electricity using two trolley poles. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... Flanders and Swann were British actor and singer Michael Flanders and composer and linguist Donald Swann who joined forces to write and perform comic songs in the two-man revues At The Drop Of A Hat and At The Drop Of Another Hat. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

The design proved very popular with Londoners and tourists alike. Its two main advantages were the open platform at the rear, and the presence of a conductor to collect fares, required by the isolated driver's cab. The platform allowed large volumes of passengers to alight and board quickly at stops, and indeed at traffic lights and slow speeds. The conductor collected fares whilst the bus was travelling, which considerably reduced waiting time at stops. The guard, conductor, captain, or foreman (depending upon country of origin, or railway system) is the senior railway official responsible for the safe operation of a train, whether it is a passenger or freight train. ...

There were some shortcomings in the Routemaster series. Both the standing headroom of the lower floor and the walking headroom on the upper floor (standing is not allowed on the upper deck of London buses) were problematic. Another shortcoming was inadequate seated passenger leg room. Also, due to the lack of a door at the rear entrance, passengers were not well protected from cold or windy weather.

Withdrawal

A Routemaster on Route 14 crossing Piccadilly Circus.

Many of London's bus routes switched to modern "one-person operation" (OPO) in the 1970s, out of a desire to reduce operating costs and address staff shortages. However, it has been found that the increased boarding time while each passenger pays the driver slows down busy routes, and leads to "bunching" of buses and poor service. In an attempt to solve this, in central London bus tickets are now bought from street-side machines before boarding. The Oyster card has also made an impact in this regard. Download high resolution version (1253x768, 264 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1253x768, 264 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Piccadilly Circus is a famous traffic intersection and public space of Londons West End in the City of Westminster. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1971 to 1980, inclusive. ... The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing designed for use on Transport for London and National Rail services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. ...

Withdrawal of Routemasters commenced in 1982 but was largely halted by 1988, with comparatively few withdrawn between then and 1992, when a programme was instituted to refurbish 500 of the RML type for ten years' further service. This work, which included updating the interior to modern tastes and re-engining, was carried out by Mainline, TBP and Leaside Buses, and was completed in 1994, in time for the privatisation of London Buses Limited's subsidiaries. This saw the Routemaster fleet divided between nine new companies. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated like the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal. // Events January Bill Clinton January 1 : North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect. ... Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or — especially in India — disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership. ...

In spite of an earlier public promise to retain the Routemaster, Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, later announced the phasing out of the type in order to provide a bus service in the Capital fully accessible to wheelchair users. Government legislation requires full accessibility by 2017 under the Disability Discrimination Act. As a consequence the Routemaster was officially withdrawn from service on 9 December 2005, although in fact it remains in regular service on two heritage routes (see below). Ken Livingstone Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born June 17, 1945), is a British politician who has been the Mayor of London since the creation of the post in 2000. ... 2017 (MMXVII) will be a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, a number of countries have passed laws aimed at reducing unfair discrimination against disabled people. ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Timetable

London Central AEC Routemaster RM 758 (re-registered 209 UXJ) on route 36 at Vauxhall bus station, 6 January 2005.

London Sovereign AEC Routemaster RM 1204 (204 CLT) on route 13 outside Golders Green tube station, 17 October 2005.

Withdrawals commenced on the dates below as the routes' five-year contracts expired. Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 440 KB)London Central AEC Routemaster RM 758 (209 UXJ) on route 36 at Vauxhall bus station, 6 January 2005. ... Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 440 KB)London Central AEC Routemaster RM 758 (209 UXJ) on route 36 at Vauxhall bus station, 6 January 2005. ... London Central is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by Go-Ahead Group. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 348 KB) London Sovereign AEC Routemaster RM 1204 (204 CLT) outside Golders Green tube station, London. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 348 KB) London Sovereign AEC Routemaster RM 1204 (204 CLT) outside Golders Green tube station, London. ... London Soverign is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by Transdev Group of France (same operator of London United. ... Golders Green tube station is a station of the London Underground on the Northern Line. ... October 17 is the 290th (in leap years the 291st) day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Route 15: 29 August 2003
• Route 11: 31 October 2003
• Route 23: 14 November 2003
• Route 94: 23 January 2004
• Route 6: 26 March 2004
• Route 98: 26 March 2004
• Route 8: 4 June 2004
• Route 7: 2 July 2004
• Route 137: 9 July 2004
• Route 9: 3 September 2004
• Route 390: 3 September 2004
• Route 73: 3 September 2004, replaced by bendy buses
• Route 12: 5 November 2004, replaced by bendy buses
• Route 36: 28 January 2005
• Route 19: 1 April 2005
• Route 14: 22 July 2005
• Route 22: 22 July 2005
• Route 13: 21 October 2005
• Route 38: 28 October 2005, replaced by bendy buses
• Route 159: 9 December 2005, departed Marble Arch at 12:10

The 159 route was the final one to be withdrawn, with the exception of the heritage routes. London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... August 29 is the 241st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (242nd in leap years), with 124 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The London Buses route 11 starts at the bus station of Liverpool Street station in the north eastern corner of the City of London and terminates at Fulham Broadway travelling via the West End and some of Londons most famous landmarks. ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... London Buses route 6 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... London Buses route 8 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... London Buses route 7 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Volvo articulated bus in contract service for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, operated by Virginia Overland Transportation in 2003 Articulated buses, also known as bendy buses (UK, Australia), accordion buses or jointed buses, have an increased passenger capacity. ... // History The route was re-structured at the time the new articulated bus contract began. ... November 5 is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 56 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Volvo articulated bus in contract service for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, operated by Virginia Overland Transportation in 2003 Articulated buses, also known as bendy buses (UK, Australia), accordion buses or jointed buses, have an increased passenger capacity. ... London Buses route 36 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... London Buses route 13 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Volvo articulated bus in contract service for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, operated by Virginia Overland Transportation in 2003 Articulated buses, also known as bendy buses (UK, Australia), accordion buses or jointed buses, have an increased passenger capacity. ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

RM2217 freshly painted, Arrives at the Garage in Streatham on the 159 for the last time, as thousands of people bring the four lane road to a stand still, Police try to make way, just so it can make the last few yards for the last time. John Hyde, December 9, 2005

The last three routemasters RM5 (Right), RM6 (Gold/Centre), RM2217 lined up at Brixton Garage minutes after the last run. John Hyde, December 9, 2005

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (922x692, 116 KB) Summary RM2217 freshly painted, Arrives at the Garage in Streatham on the 159 for the last time, as thousands of people bring the four lane road to a stand still, Police try to make way, just so it... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (922x692, 116 KB) Summary RM2217 freshly painted, Arrives at the Garage in Streatham on the 159 for the last time, as thousands of people bring the four lane road to a stand still, Police try to make way, just so it... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (927x771, 126 KB) Summary The last three routemasters RM5 (Right), RM6 (Gold/Centre), RM2217 lined up at Brixton Garage minutes after the last run. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (927x771, 126 KB) Summary The last three routemasters RM5 (Right), RM6 (Gold/Centre), RM2217 lined up at Brixton Garage minutes after the last run. ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The last day

Despite the fact that Routemaste buses are still in regular service on two routes in central London, these services are billed as heritage services and TfL chose to treat the removal of the Routemaster from service 159 on 9 December 2005 as marking the withdrawal of the type from regular service. December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Thursday December 8, 2005 was designated the "official" day for commemorating the end of normal scheduled Routemaster operation in London. A large number of preserved RMs and RMLs, plus a number of their predecessors from the "RT" family, made guest appearances on route 159. A huge number of people, not just enthusiasts, took the opportunity to take a ride on one of the buses to say farewell to these famous vehicles. December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

December 9 started as any other, with Routemasters on the road as normal. From 10am, though, they were replaced at the garage one for one as they arrived back. However around 11.45 more then a dozen routemasters could be counted around Marble Arch. Many were already preserved, with enthusiasts joining the occasion with their own immaculate examples (including RM1000, 2278, 2613, 2715, 2741. 2755 and more). Ominously around noon, there were none. At 12.10 RM54 reached the Marble Arch bus stop and departed, and at 12.18 RM5, gleaming in 1960's style, arrived and went to the bus stop. At this point Oxford St stopped and the police had to contain the crowd. RM6 followed but had to wait nearly 10 minutes for RM5 and the traffic to move. RM6 departed at 12.31 leaving just RM2217 preceded by an open top bus for the press. Meanwhile at 12.49 RM6 was in Piccadilly, and RM5 and RM54 caught up and were swamped by the public on Westminster Bridge, taking 15 minutes to cross. RM6, catching public attention in Golden Jubilee GOLD colours, sailed through Westminster Bridge overtaking RM54 and RM5 to pass school children, thousands in the crowd, and regular people who waved one last time. When RM6 arrived at Streatham Hill at 13.48, thousands of people blocked the four lane road, bringing all traffic to a stand. As the passengers left the bus, police cleared the roads, and photographers dodged the bus as it slowly moved to the depot. Minutes later the scene was repeated as RM54 arrived, the informed shouting that this actually wasn't the last one. Preserved Routemasters also passed by adding to the excitement. RM5 came to view complete with a British Flag in the drivers window, the crowd photographing the bus, the bus driver photographing the crowd. A member of the crowd leaped out and gave flowers to the bus driver as RM5 slid into the depot, as if carried by the crowd. Finally, RM2217, shining like new, dropped her passengers, the crowd shouting to stop. RM2217 took 10 minutes to turn the corner into the depot, as crowds ran behind chasing the bus to the very limits of the garage. The bus left the public highway at 14.07. The crowd took over an hour to leave. RM54, meanwhile, arrived at the former Streatham Garage and, after having discharged all of its passengers, the clock read 14.09. As it ran out of service to storage at Norwood Garage, it had, through late running, unintentionally become the last in service on route 159 and so the last Routemaster on a 'mainstream' working in London. December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

After a short time, RM5 and RM6 slid from the southern exit of the garage and down the street to the LCC Brixton tramways depot, followed a few minutes later by RM2217. The lucky few, and the lucky passersby, were granted an extra chance at a photograph as RM5, RM6 and RM2217 were lined side by side for the press in the quieter surroundings of the old tramways depot, which still had tramlines on the ground. Finally the door was closed and the crowd took the regular less distinctive normal buses back home, leaving the last three alone.

RM54 was purchased from TfL in April 2006 for preservation.

Heritage operation

A Heritage Routemaster on The Strand, November 2005.

For many people, Routemaster buses evoke nostalgic feelings, and the announcement spawned a campaign to save the bus. Two heritage routes have been introduced to keep the Routemaster alive in London. These use the most recently refurbished Routemaster vehicles and operate on the central London sections of existing regular routes as follows: Image File history File links Heritage_Routemaster. ... Image File history File links Heritage_Routemaster. ... Strand is a famous road in London, linking Trafalgar Square to Fleet Street and the City of London. ... One may feel nostalgic for the familiar routine of school, conveniently forgetting the painful experiences such as bullying. ...

• Heritage route 9: Royal Albert Hall — Hyde Park Corner — Piccadilly Circus — Trafalgar Square — Strand — Aldwych. Operated by First Group, this is a short working of existing route 9.

• Heritage route 15: Trafalgar Square — Strand — Aldwych — Fleet Street — Cannon Street — Monument — Tower Hill. Operated by Stagecoach, this is a short working of existing route 15.

Both routes operate every 15 minutes from 0930 to 1830. They are operated under contract to TfL and accept standard Travelcards, Oystercards or cash fares. London Buses route 9 (Heritage) is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom operated only by Routemaster buses. ... First Group PLC (LSE: FGP) is a British transport company operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America, with headquarters in Aberdeen, Scotland. ... London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... London Buses route 15 (Heritage) is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom operated only by Routemaster buses. ... A Stagecoach West Scotland vehicle in the UK Bus corporate livery. ... London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. ... Front and back of an Oyster card. ...

See also

• London Buses route 15 (Heritage)
• London Buses route 9 (Heritage)
• category:London buses
• category:London bus routes

London Buses route 15 (Heritage) is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom operated only by Routemaster buses. ... London Buses route 9 (Heritage) is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom operated only by Routemaster buses. ...

External links

• Save the Routemaster
• Routemaster Operators and Owners Association
• The London Bus Page
• Routemaster Bus Tribute Bring back the Routemaster.
• The AEC Society
• AEC Southall
• The London Routemaster Heritage Routes
• Short article on the demise of the Routemaster in London
• The Ensignbus Vintage Bus Museum at Purfleet, Essex
• Replacing the Routemaster: 'How to undo Ken Livingstone’s destruction of London’s best-ever bus' (Think Tank article with contributions from Simon Jenkins, Andrew Gilligan, Zac Goldsmith, Kate Hoey MP and others)

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Category:Routemaster vehicles