Do the famous red double-decker buses still exist? Thought I’d read they were being phased out - a shame if so.
Yes. You probably saw that the Routemaster was phased out. There are other types still in service, and a new type was just introduced last year.
Yes, double decker buses are the standard in London and in other cities around the country, as they are effective at moving a lot of people around our old narrow streets.
The Routemaster was fazed out a while ago - this was the bus that allowed passengers to jump on the open platform at the back. They required a bus conductor. Our current mayor has re introduced an updated version of the routemaster at vast expense. A nice little vanity job for him.
But other double deckers, without the open platform at the back, have never gone away. London streets are full of the trademark red bus. The buses are run by an number of private companies, but Transport for London stipulates that they must all be red. In other parts of the country, buses tend to be in the brand colours of whichever company runs the buses.
Lots of red double-decker buses in London still! There are several variants, and while the old Routemasters have been withdrawn from service (except for a couple on “heritage” routes like the 15), they are being replaced with a shiny new bus, based on a similar design.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/15493.aspx
I’m not totally convinced by the new bus design, but it’s going ahead anyway - they didn’t take my opinion into account, for reasons I cannot fathom!
Well, first of all, they have the doors on the wrong side of the bus!
Oh - wait - nevermind.
Just a footnote:
Double decker buses are also quite common and popular in Berlin - and even Las Vegas bought a few of those double decker buses (from Berlin I believe) for use here. However, these buses are a more boring light brown color. Still - it is fun to go up and sit in the first row on the top level and feel as if you are driving the bus!
Double decker buses have even made their way to the Seattle area, where these buses are used on some express routes.
My friend’s uncles boss (got that?) bought one years ago and had it shipped to America. It came into port in Florida. Uncle Phil had to drive it to New York all the way up I 95. Not only was the steering wheel on the wrong side but the shift lever was to his left. I think he still is having nightmare of that 2 day trip.
There are still classic Routemasters operating on routes 9 and 15 as a ‘heritage’ service.
Love the Routemasters the times that I rode them. I’m glad double-decker buses are still in use, though.
Thanks everyone, appreciated. Yes it was the Routemaster I was thinking of.
I always sit up front and top when it’s available. The best view, and the most fun! It’s a great way to watch the city going past (when you’re not in a hurry, that is…).
I think it’s the swooping lines and the asymmetry of the new design that I don’t like; it looks more like a sort of artistic “concept” bus that should run on anti-matter and have glowing blue LEDs inside than anything I’d take to work. Look at those headlights! It looks like it’s frowning crookedly at you. It’s wrong, I tell you. Just wrong!
Glad to see that Unitrans in Davis is still running Routemasters with apparently a couple modern ones added to the mix. It always warmed my heart to ride those. I think the doors must have still been on the wrong side, cause they came from London.
GO Transit in the Toronto area runs double-deckers on some routes, and does OC Transpo in Ottawa. Megabus uses them as well. These are built for the North American market, with the doors on the right side and all.