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Boris bus to be removed from select routes

Fahad Redha

March 9, 2026
3 min read

Boris bus to be removed from select routes

Boris bus Routemasters are set to be removed from select routes in London to be replaced with battery-electric buses. The buses will be withdrawn from route 8 in June, 16 in October, 313 in November, and 267 in the coming year. In October 2028, they will be removed from service from route 21, with additional changes “imminent,” according to The Evening Standard, as the routes are set to see the introduction of electric powered buses.

“If that means getting rid of the legacy of the mess made by the previous mayor, so be it,” Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said.

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The Boris bus Routemasters were ordered by former mayor Boris Johnson for £350 million, beginning service in 2012. Johnson wanted an iconic design that nods to the original Routemaster that was once a common sight across the capital.

A thousand of the Boris bus powered by diesel hybrid powertrains were purchased by TfL from manufacturer Wrightbus in Northern Ireland. They were leased to private firms that run London’s various bus routes.

But future orders were cancelled by Khan when he became mayor in 2016. The Boris bus, known officially as the New Bus for London and later New Routemaster, were “incredibly expensive,” and were criticised for various flaws including windows that did not open. Because passengers were able to board from three sets of doors and not just the front, they saw unusually higher rates of fare dodging, according to The Evening Standard.

TfL bought the buses outright rather than leasing. This made it responsible for maintaining and refurbishing them. It had to spend £3 million to install windows that can open and make it so that passengers can only board from the front door.

TfL now requires that bus companies that operate in London buy or lease their own vehicles.

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