Transport for London (TfL) has announced a new publicly-owned bus company – Buses for London – which is due to launch in late 2027.
Route 6, which runs between Willesden and Victoria station, will be the first publicly-owned service to operate under the ‘Buses for London’ name. Four additional routes (not yet announced) will transfer into public ownership in 2028.
There are currently almost 700 bus routes in London, all of which are tendered out to eight privately-owned operating companies. Contracts awarded in this way tend to run for seven years and pay the bus operators based on performance.
Buses for London’s first operational base will be at Park Royal Depot in West London. It will support around 100 zero-emission buses in the first instance. TfL is working with Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) to develop the site, which is being leased until 2033. TfL and OPDC will work to find a permanent location for the depot before the lease expires.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:I'm excited to announce 'Buses for London', a publicly owned London bus company. TfL and OPDC will join forces in this innovative new partnership to establish the capital's first publicly owned bus operating company. London's iconic red buses are a vital lifeline for many people, which I'm committed to supporting - and sometimes that means taking bold new approaches, so that our world-leading transport network can deliver even more for all those who rely on it. This is an opportunity to really reimagine our bus network so that it provides better value for money, supports our climate goals, makes our roads safer, and overall just works better for passengers and drivers alike. I look forward to seeing Buses for London build on the success of our world-leading bus network as we continue to create a greener, fairer, more prosperous city for everyone.
Plans for a publicly-owned company were first put forward in TfL’s 2026 Business Plan in early 2026.
Unite, the union representing bus workers in the capital, has welcomed the plans.
