• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

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

September 5, 2014 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

new_bus_900Boris 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.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards

New road layout comes into effect at Old Street roundabout

TfL funding enables creation of 2,000 new cycle parking spaces




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.