Boris accused of “frittering away” cash on New Routemaster buses

Boris Johnson has been accused of “frittering away public money” on his New Routemaster after failing to secure both government subsidy for the vehicles and overseas sales.

Information compiled by London Assembly member Darren Johnson confirms there have been no orders placed for the buses outside London despite them featuring in a year-long global trade mission.

In addition, the way the buses were bought direct from the manufacturer means they didn’t qualify for funding from the Government’s green bus fund, designed to speed up the introduction of new, cleaner vehicles.

Instead London fare payers will pay £212m for 600 vehicles while also having to subsidise the employment of health and safety staff to supervise use of their open rear platform.

Transport for London has received hundreds of complaints about the temperature of the vehicles which lack opening windows and rely on an electric cooling system to regulate temperatures.

According to information provided by TfL to Assembly Member Johnson, 160 complaints were received in June and July of this year alone.

TfL has repeatedly dismissed complaints, insisting the air cooling system is working correctly.

Mr Johnson said: “Delve into the finances of this bus, and the extent to which the Mayor has been frittering away public money on it becomes clear.

“He has promoted the New Bus as the future of London transport, but the reality will be years of sweltering passengers as London’s summers get warmer.”
 
“I have no doubt that the next Mayor will cancel this entirely wasteful project, but Londoners will still be stuck with 600 of these buses for the next 14 years as TfL have nobody to sell them to.”