‘Major milestone’: TfL to launch new public bus operator in London
News Source
•Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:04:56 GMT
📰 What Happened
Transport for London will set up a publicly owned bus company called Buses for London. It is due to start running routes next year, taking over from private firms. TfL called the launch a 'major milestone' for improving buses.
The company will run a few of London's nearly 700 bus routes from late 2027. Route 6, between Willesden and Victoria, is first. Four more routes will be announced for 2028. TfL says public control will make buses safer and more reliable. It also wants to reinvest profits into the network.
🔍 The Backstory
Right now TfL contracts bus services to eight private operators. London buses have been getting slower and losing passengers for a decade, as traffic and road space squeeze them. The new company will have a depot in the Old Oak area for zero-emission buses.
Unions welcomed the news. Unite's Sharon Graham said outsourcing had failed workers and passengers. But the Confederation of Passenger Transport said a new operator will not fix anything. Its chief, Graham Vidler, said buses travel at just 9 mph in London, slower than the average cyclist.
🎯 Why It Matters
Buses matter most to people who have no car. Who runs them shapes fares, reliability and how safe the journey feels.
Transport for London will set up a publicly owned bus company called Buses for London. It is due to start running routes next year, taking over from private firms. TfL called the launch a 'major milestone' for improving buses.
The company will run a few of London's nearly 700 bus routes from late 2027. Route 6, between Willesden and Victoria, is first. Four more routes will be announced for 2028. TfL says public control will make buses safer and more reliable. It also wants to reinvest profits into the network.
Right now TfL contracts bus services to eight private operators. London buses have been getting slower and losing passengers for a decade, as traffic and road space squeeze them. The new company will have a depot in the Old Oak area for zero-emission buses.
Unions welcomed the news. Unite's Sharon Graham said outsourcing had failed workers and passengers. But the Confederation of Passenger Transport said a new operator will not fix anything. Its chief, Graham Vidler, said buses travel at just 9 mph in London, slower than the average cyclist.
Buses matter most to people who have no car. Who runs them shapes fares, reliability and how safe the journey feels.