Acton station! New London 'Routemaster' gears for launch

A mock up of the New Bus for London is unveiled to the press in Acton, west London. The new bus design mimics some of the features of the old red London Routemaster bus and is scheduled to come into service in 2012. The original Routemaster was introduced in 1956, with some still in use on heritage routes in London, after their withdrawal from general service in 2005 Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

The London mayor, Boris Johnson, stands on the back stairs of the New Bus Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Seat upholstery inside the New Bus Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

The front of the New Bus. The design boasts 40% less carbon dioxideemissions than a regular diesel double decker and 15% less than the current breed of hybrid buses Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

Stairs inside the New Bus from the top deck Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

The interior of the New Bus for London Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Mayor Boris Johnson unveils a lifesize mock-up of the New Bus. Some critics have damned the £10m development costs and called it a 'vanity project'. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

The New Bus for London in Acton Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images