The iconic Routemaster bus will run only at weekends after Transport for London rejected pleas to maintain a seven-day service.
From March 2 the 15H “heritage” service between Tower Hill and Trafalgar Square will operate only on weekends during the summer and on bank holidays. This will save £800,000 but will mean the 12 drivers and 12 conductors become part-time.
The changes are part of Sadiq Khan’s reduction in central London bus routes. Route 15H currently costs £1.2 million to run. The 60-year-old buses breach the Mayor’s accessibility rules. As heritage vehicles, they are exempt from the forthcoming ultra-low emission zone, but TfL believes it should set an example and ensure that all its services meet the tougher pollution rules.
TfL said: “While this is a less frequent service, heritage buses on route 15 will remain a visible icon on our roads when they are most used by customers.”
Two heritage routes were launched in 2005 when Routemasters were phased out after 50 years of service. One, the H9, was axed in 2014.
TfL recently spent £200,000 refurbishing four of the buses.
