Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled Buses for London, the city’s brand-new publicly owned bus company, as well as extensive plans for its first route and operational base at Park Royal Depot in west London.
The announcement marks the first milestone in TfL’s plans to establish a publicly owner bus operator for the capital, which will seek to improve services for both drivers and passengers whilst supporting further innovation, affordability and sustainability.
Thus far; TfL has confirmed that route 6, which runs between Willesden and Victoria station, will be the first service to operate under the new name once Buses for London launches in late 2027, with a further four routes set to be announced over the coming year. These will enter operation from 2028.
Buses for London forms part of the Mayor and TfL’s work to reimagine the capital’s bus network as a whole, and is expected to enable TfL to test new approaches to innovation, operational efficiency, safety, decarbonisation, customer experience and driver welfare.
Currently, TfL contracts its bus services to eight privately-owned operators across the city’s near 700 bus routes. The establishment of a publicly owned bus company will allow TfL more control over how services are run, as well as to potentially boost reliability and safety whilst reinvesting profits to improve the capital’s transport network.
The proposal has been developed following engagement and collaboration with Unite the Union.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said:Unite has long been calling for London's bus services to be returned to public ownership. Outsourcing to private companies hasn’t worked well for workers or passengers.
For too long bus workers have been subjected to intolerable working conditions and passengers have experienced worsening services while bus firms and their shareholders rake in huge profits. Today's news is a positive step, Unite will now be doing everything possible to ensure that Buses for London provides well-paid, unionised jobs with excellent conditions.
Once fully established, Park Royal Depot will be named as the first operational site for Buses for London, and will initially support roughly 100 zero-emission buses. TfL has begun working with the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) in order to develop the site, which will support both sustainable growth and improved transport connections across west and central London.
The site is being leased until 2033, ahead of regeneration in line with the Old Oak Masterplan Framework, when TfL and OPDC will work together to identify a permanent location for the depot ahead of the lease expiry.
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.
