After a false start last week, the all-new Routemaster finally made its long awaited return to the streets of the capital as it officially entered service today.
Scout London doesn’t normally get excited about buses, but we will confess that the anticipation has got the better of us this time.
Like black cabs, the Routemaster is instantly identifiable with the capital. Its classic design recognises and overcomes a London problem: the city’s old streets, which were never designed with the car in mind, are narrow and crowded. Just like in building design, if a limited footprint means you can’t build out, you build up.
Seeing it in the flesh the new double-decker is very much a twenty first century design, but still manages to capture the distinctive look of the iconic original – and this makes us very happy. How often does a finished product end up looking so similar to the original concept?
TfL say the lone bus will run on route 38 between Victoria station and Hackney, before being joined by seven more in time for the Olympics.
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(2) Readers Comments
GrundyS
This is kind of nitpicky – but this isn’t called a Routemaster. It’s official title is the New Bus for London. Routemaster is only used as a comparison point.
Scout London
We went back and forth on this. New Bus for London doesn’t sound right, and Routemasters were loved so it seems natural to continue with that name. But you are correct – they have no link to the old Routemasters in terms of design heritage, manufacture, etc.