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TFL ACTION PLAN AIMS TO BOOST BUS USE A wide-ranging strategy to encourage people to use buses has been launched by Transport for London. This includes plans to make journeys 10% quicker than they were in 2015, introduce 25km of improved bus lanes by 2025 and switch to a totally zero emission bus fleet by 2030 A long-term Bus Action Plan for London will see the modern bus network attract more customers and help the capital become net zero by 2030, said Transport for London (TfL). It says that the wide-ranging plan will create a network that allows “spontaneous, independent travel, including improved customer information and bus station refurbishment, with actions including upgrading more existing bus stops to meet the wheelchair accessible standard”. TfL has pledged to make journeys 10% quicker than they were in 2015 and introduce 25km of improved bus lanes by 2025.
l Assessing ongoing hydrogen fuel cell pilot scheme for consumption, reliability and efficiency for five years from 2021, and seeking opportunities to generate the hydrogen used in the pilot from renewable sources from 2024 l A charging pilot scheme with target delivery dates of 2022 for charging infrastructure and 2022/23 for buses, with their phased introduction into service during 2023 l Assessing the long-term potential of hydrogen, opportunity charging and garage-based battery electric buses on a yearly basis.
Zero-emission fleet Journey times The shift to a zero emission fleet will happen more quickly, with TfL seeking to have a totally zeroemission bus fleet by 2030, ahead of the previous target date of 2034. But this will depend on additional Government funding, and support from manufacturers and operators, it points out. TfL will explore how to deliver a zero-emission fleet for longer routes beyond the range of a single battery charge by:
Improving journey times will require “more agile schedules” that respond better to the variability of traffic conditions throughout the year, using improved technology and a review of contracts, states the plan. The benefits of the plan can already be seen on route 63 from King’s Cross to Honor Oak, where higher specification all-electric buses are now
