Passengers are to be banned from boarding through the middle and rear doors of the “Boris bus” to prevent fare-dodging.
The updated Routemasters were introduced by former London mayor Boris Johnson in a throwback to the classic bus of the 1960s and 1970s. More than 1,000 operate on around 30 routes.
Fare evasion costs Transport for London £3.6 million a year, double that on routes with front-door boarding.
Today TfL confirmed all Boris buses will become front-door boarding after a trial on route 8 saw Oyster card readers at the middle and back doors switched off and signs placed on the doors advising passengers not to board. Indications are that this halved fare-dodging.
Passengers with mobility issues and parents with prams will still be able to board via the doors.
The aim of allowing boarding through three sets of doors had been to reduce the time buses spend at bus stops. The trial found restricting boarding made little difference.
It is the latest blow to the reputation of the buses, built in Northern Ireland at a cost of £355,000 each.
Mayor Sadiq Khan refused to buy more of the diesel-electric buses because of their lack of “green” credentials.
He axed conductors from the buses to save £10 million a year, and shut their rear doors while the bus is moving — removing the “hop on, hop off” facility.
Routes 55 and 267 will be the first to be converted, on January 25.
Claire Mann, TfL’s Director of Bus Operations, said: “Fare dodging is criminal and unfair, and it deprives London’s transport of the investment it needs.
“Our successful pilot on the route 8 has shown that boarding using the front door only doesn’t delay the service and reduces fare evasion.”
