Lewisham Council to back new public bus operator 'Buses for London'

Lewisham Council to back new public bus operator 'Buses for London'

Lewisham Council is set to back a new public bus operator, 'Buses for London', which will launch in late 2027.

Transport for London (TfL) announced the creation of the new publicly owned bus operator, with plans for 'Buses for London' to begin operating on Route 6 from Willesden to Victoria in late 2027, with four additional routes expected to follow in 2028.

A depot in Park Royal, West London, has been identified to support up to 100 zero-emission buses for the new operator. This move is part of TfL's broader strategy to increase the number of electric buses in London, with approximately one-third of the current bus fleet already being zero-emission.

Councillor Corinne Ashwell raised questions about the infrastructure and logistics required for electric buses, particularly the charging times compared to refuelling diesel buses. Go Ahead, a bus operating company, welcomed any support from the borough council in this transition, highlighting the need for faster chargers and additional cabling at bus garages.