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Route 6 to Lead the Way as TfL Unveils 'Buses for London'

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Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled 'Buses for London', a new publicly owned bus company for the capital, and named route 6 as the first service it will run.  Tom Harrison (Bus Ambassador) The company is due to launch in late 2027, with Park Royal Depot in west London as its first operational base. A further four routes will be announced over the coming year and are due to transfer from 2028. TfL says the company will let it test new approaches to reliability, safety, decarbonisation, customer experience and driver welfare. It also means any profits can be reinvested in the transport network. How London's Buses Work Today For readers outside the capital, London's bus system works differently from most of Britain. London was not part of bus deregulation in 1986. Instead, TfL plans the routes, sets fares and timetables, and pays private companies to run the buses. Operators bid for each route. Contracts generally run for seven years and pay the operator a set income ...
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First Bus Signs for 17 Next-gen Alexander Dennis Electrics for Bath

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Alexander Dennis has secured a firm order from First Bus for 17 of its next-generation zero-emission single-deckers to operate in Bath from 2026. The deal covers 12 Enviro200EV and five Enviro100EV, supported by funding from the Department for Transport’s Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme through the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

A blue Enviro200EV is parked inside a brightly lit industrial garage with blue walls and ceiling. The bus features Zero emission and Enviro200EV text on its side.
Alexander Dennis

The new fleet forms part of a wider First Bus investment in electric buses and charging infrastructure for the West of England.

Each of the 12 Enviro200EV will be 10.9 metres long and offer 33 fixed passenger seats plus five tip-ups when the wheelchair and buggy bays are free. With short overhangs and a narrow 2.47-metre width, the model is well suited to Bath’s historic streets.

A modern electric city bus with Enviro100EV displayed on its front. The bus is blue and green with Zero emissions, 100% electric written on its side, parked indoors against a blue background.
Alexander Dennis

Manoeuvrability is even more central to the five Enviro100EV, which at just 8.5 metres long and 2.35 metres wide carry 26 seats including six tip-ups, delivering full accessibility and comfort in a compact footprint.

Both models use the Voith Electrical Drive System, proven in Zemo Partnership testing with 97% grid-to-wheel efficiency.

Rob Pymm, Commercial Director, First Bus Wales & West, said,

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming these new electric buses to Bath. They’ll bring quiet, clean and comfortable journeys for our customers, while helping to improve air quality and support the city’s sustainability ambitions. This investment marks another important step in our journey to a zero-emission bus fleet.”

Marie Connell, National Account Manager, Alexander Dennis, said,

“We are grateful for the confidence placed in us with this first order from First Bus for our next-generation Alexander Dennis electric buses. It follows the successful and ongoing field trial of an Enviro400EV double decker which is being tested by First Bus operating companies across the country.

“With the new Alexander Dennis electric buses, customers in Bath will enjoy a step change in their travel experience with smoother, quieter and cleaner journeys beginning next year.”

This latest order strengthens Bath’s role in the West of England’s zero-emission transformation. Backed by ZEBRA funding and a wider First Bus investment that will see more than 250 electric buses across the region and multiple depots electrified by 2026, the new fleet is more than a fleet upgrade.

It is a cornerstone in the area’s plan to reach a 100% zero-emission bus network by 2035, cut noise and emissions in Bath’s narrow historic streets and help the city meet its clean air targets.

With high-efficiency drivetrains and government support behind it, this project shows how national policy and local ambition can come together to deliver cleaner air and quieter, more reliable public transport for passengers and residents alike. 

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