Winners for 21st Century London bus contest include... Aston Martin?
Click above to enlarge the winning designs for a 21st Century Routemaster bus
The New Bus for London competition has come to an end. Two proposals were chosen from the large group of entrants by a series of judges, and the winners have just been announced by London Mayor Boris Johnson. The Freight*Bus concept we took a look is nowhere to be found, but that's just fine. The two winners are excellent, and one of them comes from a familiar but unexpected source: Aston Martin. The mind reels with the infinite possibilities of an Aston Martin-designed London double-decker bus. With an all-glass roof complete with solar panels, the enviro-cred is present and accounted for, and the wooden floors and hop-on, hop-off accessibility add flair and practicality in equal doses.
The other winner comes via Capoco Design from Salisbury, UK. It's a more traditional design that keeps many of the old Routemaster's best bits but adds an eco-friendly drivetrain package. Both designs will now be submitted to bus manufacturers for review.
[Source: Transport for London]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 4:06PM (12/19/2008)
The Routemaster was removed (well, mostly removed) because it required a 2nd person at the back of the bus to take tickets. The newer double decker buses have the passengers board by the driver so he can take the tickets.
Both of these have the same problem as the Routemaster. Would Transport For London really select either of them?
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LJKelley 7:42PM (12/19/2008)
They were retired because they were old and wearing down. And I guess some people complained they were unsafe as the door was open all the time as opposed to the new busses.
However the ticket issue shouldn't be a problem since most people in London now have Oyster Cards and just swipe electronically when they come on. I know buses in Norway for example have the ability to enter in the rear doors (especially if you have a baby carriage or on wheel chairs) and the bus driver just listens to the beep of your card as you swipe it. I also do know you can't buy tickets on central London busses any longer but must prepay at kiosks by bus stops or have an Oyster Card.
why not the LS2LS7? 9:29PM (12/19/2008)
First, they were not retired. I saw one operating on Fleet Street a few months ago.
Second, they were removed from most routes because they required a 2nd operator, a conductor.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3071104.ece
'Transport for London (TfL) said that the design was still likely to be too expensive because it would have to reintroduce conductors to monitor the open platforms. '
I do agree an oyster card (er, now that they work right) does work for payment. But the reason for the conductor is not for the people that pay, those would be taken care of by an honor system. It's for the people that try to not pay. And listening for beeps won't fix that. The driver would still have to go to the back of the bus to correct the problem if someone attempts to not pay, by accident or on purpose.
jeff 9:51AM (12/20/2008)
This isn't a problem anymore. Yes it was costly to have two employees per bus, and TfL has said they won't be going back to having a conductor at the back like on the Routemaster. But with Oyster cards, the second employee isn't necessary, and this is already proven on the bendy buses. The bendy buses have three doors, two of which are far away from the driver. It's not the honour system, cause, as with many other transit situations, while your ticket doesn't get checked every time, there is the threat of an occasional spot check by TfL police who can hit you with a nasty fine if your oyster card hasn't been validated.
Can you guys specify which bus is the Aston, the 19 or the 137?
annoyed 1:18PM (12/20/2008)
@ Why not....
Why don't you listen to other people you pompous ass. You're not always right!
Every time I see you posting on here your always arguing with someone or making out like you know it all. Why don't you shut up because most times you're wrong.
vtiman 8:03PM (12/20/2008)
Yeah Health and safety rules would not allow an open door but I have never heard of anyone falling out of one. In heavy traffic it meant that people could just get on and off when the bus was stopped..
In london a conductor is an advantage. I stood and watched a modern double decker with only one door and no conductor and in the time it took to load and unload about 5 routemasters loaded and unloaded !
Finally, they should add a patograph / trolley pole and put up electric wires along the busiest routes which could be used to charge the hybrid batteries and mean that the diesel angine and fuel would not be needed.
fobunited 4:22PM (12/19/2008)
James Bond's new ride!
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elpepe 4:31PM (12/19/2008)
roof mounted solar panels?! on a london bus? ... well that'll come in handy, two or three times a year.....
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MacroEQ 5:01PM (12/19/2008)
The current (Mercedes made) "bendy-busses" catch fire all the time and are dangerous.
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arriva_London_MA90.JPG
Londoners and tourists want to see Routemasters and not single-decker articulated busses.
I like the winning designs and being a Londoner, adult, tax payer who uses publc transport, they're a million times better than those awful Ken Livingstone incarnations.
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Mobius_1 11:26AM (12/20/2008)
Damn, I've not heard about this before... I guess I'll stay away from the rear then...
Rob 10:23AM (12/22/2008)
"With an all-glass roof complete with solar panels, the enviro-cred is present and accounted for"
No it isn't.
1. You can't have a glass roof AND solar panels... light needs to be absorbed by the panels to make energy
2. The roof's area is too small to make much energy at all. Like... almost nothing.
3. Definitely nothing. London is rarely sunny.
What you have is stupid hippie cred, not anything actually worthwhile.
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