The Length Of London's Iconic Double-Decker Bus Explored

London's iconic double-decker buses are a convenient, cheap, and popular way to get around the city. The AEC Routemaster, designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company, was the first modern front-engined double-decker bus. The Routemaster entered service in February 1956 and the last were withdrawn from regular service in December 2005. The Routemaster was 27 ft 6 inches (8.38 m) long, although a longer version, the RML, was also produced, measuring 30 ft (9.14 m). The Routemaster was voted one of Britain's top 10 design icons and selected by the Royal Mail for their British Design Classics stamp issue in 2009.

The AEC Routemaster was designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company

The AEC Routemaster is a front-engined double-decker bus that was designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and Park Royal Vehicles. The first prototype was completed in September 1954 and mass production began in 1958. The AEC was designed to be lighter and more fuel-efficient than its predecessor, the Regent III RT, and was easier to build, maintain and operate.

The Routemaster was developed by AEC in partnership with London Transport, which was the customer for nearly all new Routemasters. The bus was designed to replace London's trolleybuses, which had replaced the city's trams. The Routemaster was constructed at the AEC Works in Southall, Middlesex, with assembly at bodybuilder Park Royal Vehicles, a subsidiary company of AEC.

The Routemaster was an innovative design, using lightweight aluminium and techniques developed in aircraft production during World War II. It was one of the first "integral" buses, with a combination of an "A" steel sub-frame (including engine, steering and front suspension) and a rear "B" steel sub-frame (carrying rear axle and suspension), connected by the aluminium body. The gearbox was mounted on the underside of the body structure with shafts to the engine and back axle.

London Transport's four prototype Routemasters were placed in service between 1956 and 1958. The first two were built at the London Transport works at Chiswick, the third at Addlestone by Weymann and the fourth, an experimental Green Line coach, at Eastern Coach Works at Lowestoft. The third and fourth had Leyland engines. The Routemaster was first exhibited at the Earl's Court Commercial Motor Show in 1954.

A total of 2,876 Routemasters were manufactured by AEC between 1954 and 1968, with approximately 1,000 still in existence. The majority of these were the standard RM model, featuring a front-mounted engine and rear entry. The Routemaster was introduced by London Transport in 1956 and saw continuous service in London until 2005, remaining on two heritage routes in central London until 2019.

The Routemaster was a pioneering design, outlasting several of its replacement types in London and surviving the privatisation of London bus services. It became one of London's most famous symbols, with much tourist paraphernalia continuing to bear Routemaster imagery. Despite its fame, the earlier and more numerous London bus classes that the Routemaster replaced are often mistaken for Routemasters by the public and media.

The Routemaster was voted one of Britain's top 10 design icons

The AEC Routemaster is a front-engined double-decker bus designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and Park Royal Vehicles. The first prototype was completed in September 1954, with the last one delivered in 1968. The first Routemasters entered service with London Transport in February 1956, and the last were withdrawn from regular service in December 2005. However, Routemasters continued to operate on two TfL heritage routes in central London until 2019.

The Routemaster was a pioneering design, outlasting several of its replacement types in London and surviving the privatisation of London Transport bus operators. It was used by other operators around the UK, showcasing its versatility and longevity. While some of its old-fashioned features were criticised, such as the high floor design that posed challenges for passengers with heavy luggage or pushchairs, the Routemaster offered unique advantages. The open rear platform allowed boarding and alighting at unofficial stops, and the presence of a conductor ensured minimal boarding time and enhanced security.

In recognition of its iconic status and innovative design, the Routemaster was voted one of Britain's top 10 design icons in 2006. It stood alongside other renowned icons such as Concorde, Mini, Supermarine Spitfire, London tube map, World Wide Web, and the K2 telephone box. The Royal Mail further solidified its status by including the Routemaster in its "British Design Classics" commemorative postage stamp issue in 2009.

The Routemaster's enduring appeal inspired the development of the New Routemaster bus in the late 2000s, which entered service in February 2012. This modern iteration paid homage to the traditional design while incorporating contemporary features. The Routemaster's impact extended beyond the UK, with former London double-deckers finding new life in countries like Australia, Canada, China, and the United States.

The Routemaster's legacy is a testament to its design, functionality, and cultural significance. Its recognition as one of Britain's top design icons underscores its enduring place in the nation's history and its influence on public transport.

The Routemaster was used in Glasgow by Stagecoach to start one of its first operations, Magic Bus

The Routemaster is a front-engined double-decker bus designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and Park Royal Vehicles. The first prototype was completed in September 1954, and the last one was delivered in 1968. The Routemaster was used in Glasgow by Stagecoach to start one of its first operations, Magic Bus. This took place in the late 1980s, when Stagecoach was still in its early years and would go on to become one of the UK's largest operators.

The Routemaster was developed by AEC in partnership with London Transport, which was the primary customer. However, small numbers were also delivered to British European Airways and the Northern General Transport Company. The Routemaster was designed to be lighter and more fuel-efficient than its predecessor, the RT, and it successfully seated 64 passengers despite being three-quarters of a ton lighter. The first London bus route operated by the Routemaster was Route 2, on February 8, 1956.

The Routemaster featured an open rear platform, which allowed boarding and alighting away from official stops. This, along with the presence of a conductor, resulted in minimal boarding time and optimal security. However, the open platform also posed safety risks, as passengers could fall and injure themselves. The presence of a conductor helped regulate access, but they also had to collect fares throughout the bus, making it challenging to prevent all incidents.

The Routemaster's high floor design was also criticised for being inaccessible to disabled individuals and those with heavy luggage or pushchairs. Despite these criticisms, the Routemaster was a pioneering design that outlasted several of its replacement types in London. It survived the privatisation of London Transport bus operators and was used by other operators around the UK.

The Routemaster has become one of the famous features of London, with its iconic red colour and unique design. Its longevity led to examples being painted to celebrate the Queen's Silver and Golden Jubilees. The Routemaster was voted one of Britain's top 10 design icons in 2006 and was selected by the Royal Mail for their "British Design Classics" commemorative postage stamp issue in 2009.

The Routemaster is 27 feet 6 inches long

The Routemaster, a front-engined double-decker bus, measures 27 feet 6 inches in length. This length is notable as it was achieved through an innovative design that utilised lightweight aluminium and construction techniques developed during World War II aircraft production. This design not only reduced weight but also introduced novel features such as independent front suspension, power steering, and a fully automatic gearbox.

The Routemaster's length of 27 feet 6 inches is also significant in the context of bus regulations at the time. While the regulations permitted double-decker buses up to 30 feet in length, the majority of Routemasters adhered to the 27 feet 6-inch length due to union resistance to the additional work that longer buses would have entailed for conductors.

The length of the Routemaster played a crucial role in its capacity and seating arrangement. With its length and innovative design, the bus could accommodate 64 passengers, an increase from the 56 passengers seated in the previous RT family buses. This additional seating capacity was achieved despite the Routemaster being significantly lighter than its predecessors.

The 27 feet 6-inch length of the Routemaster also contributed to its manoeuvrability and performance. The relatively compact length, combined with its lightweight construction, resulted in a bus that was unexpectedly nimble and agile, as noted by early drivers. This agility was particularly evident in urban areas, where the Routemaster's rapid acceleration and rugged construction made it well-suited to city driving conditions.

The Routemaster's length also played a role in its longevity and impact on bus design. The length, combined with its other design features, contributed to the bus's durability and long service life. The Routemaster's influence extended beyond its length, as it inspired the design of subsequent buses, including the New Routemaster, which entered service in 2012.

The Routemaster was withdrawn from London in 2005

The AEC Routemaster is a pioneering front-engined double-decker bus designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and Park Royal Vehicles. The first prototype was completed in September 1954, and the last one was delivered in 1968. The first Routemasters entered service with London Transport in February 1956, and the last were withdrawn from regular service in December 2005.

The Routemaster was a conventional design for its time, with a half-cab, front-mounted engine, and open rear platform. It was also innovative, using lightweight aluminium and techniques developed in aircraft production during World War II. It was one of the first "integral" buses, with a combination of an "A" steel sub-frame and a rear "B" steel sub-frame connected by an aluminium body.

The Routemaster was developed between 1947 and 1956 by a team directed by AAM Durrant and Colin Curtis, with vehicle styling by Douglas Scott. The design brief was to produce a vehicle that was lighter and more fuel-efficient, easier to operate, and maintained with lower costs. The resulting vehicle seated 64 passengers, despite being lighter than previous buses, which only seated 56.

The Routemaster was designed to replace London's trolleybuses and older types of diesel buses. It was used to replace the AEC Regent RT and Leyland Titan RTL and RTW buses. The last Routemaster entered service in March 1968.

The Routemaster was unique for its time, with a rear open platform and crewed by both a driver and a conductor. The presence of a conductor allowed for minimal boarding time and optimal security. However, this also resulted in greater labour costs. The open platform allowed boarding and alighting outside of official stops but was exposed to the elements and could be dangerous, with a risk of passengers falling and injuring themselves.

In the late 2000s, work began on a New Routemaster bus inspired by the traditional Routemaster design. The New Routemaster entered service in February 2012 and featured a ""hop-on hop-off" rear open platform similar to the original Routemaster but with a door that could be closed.

The withdrawal of the Routemaster in 2005 was influenced by several factors. One factor was the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which mandated that all new buses delivered in the UK had to be wheelchair-accessible. The Routemaster was not wheelchair-accessible due to its high floor design, which also made boarding with heavy luggage or pushchairs challenging. There was also a campaign by disabled rights groups for accessible buses, and a realisation that newer, larger, and accessible buses were available.

Additionally, there were safety concerns associated with the Routemaster, with a significant number of people injured or dying from falling off the open rear platform. There were also cost considerations, as the presence of a conductor increased labour costs, and modern buses offered more comfort to passengers.

The withdrawal of the Routemaster became a political issue during the 2008 London mayoral election, with Boris Johnson elected on a pledge to introduce a new Routemaster. However, the last Routemasters were withdrawn from regular service in December 2005, with two TfL heritage routes operated by Routemasters until 2019.

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