'Boris Buses' Converted to Front Door Entrance to Cut Fare Dodging
New Routemasters to have exit only middle and rear doors from 25 January
The middle and rear doors on New Routemaster buses are to be made exit only from 25 January to cut down on fare evasion.
TfL says that boarding using the middle and rear doors on all New Routemasters will be phased out, starting this month with the routes 55 and 267.
Buses on over 20 other routes, including the 148 running from Shepherd's Bush to Camberwell, will follow.
The move to convert the buses to make the doors exit only follows a successful pilot on the route 8 which suggest that fare evasion was cut by more than half without affecting the reliability of the route.
The New Routemasters currently allow boarding through all doors, but this has seen fare evaders deprive London's transport network of millions of pounds of vital revenue.
Fare evasion on New Routemasters is more than double the rate of other buses, with TfL estimating that more than £3.6m is lost each year on New Routemasters. The current system also means that customers with accessibility needs cannot always board buses first.
The New Routemasters have been nicknamed 'Boris Buses' as they were introduced by the now Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was London Mayor and modelled on traditional London buses.
They previously faced criticism when the lack of air-conditioning or opening windows subjected passengers to sweltering temperatures of 30°C and higher. Transport for London has since retrofitted opening windows, at a cost of £2 million.
Tfl says customers will be advised of the changes to boarding with emails and on-board announcements. Signage will also be changed on buses.
The changes will also make using buses in London simpler for all, as boarding arrangements for New Routemasters will now be the same as on other London buses.
Customers with wheelchairs and pushchairs will continue to be able to board through middle doors.
All drivers have undergone training to improve their customers' experience, and by boarding at the front, it will be easier for passengers to interact with drivers.
TfL says its team of more than 450 revenue inspectors operate across the whole network day and night, using new technology and intelligence to identify anyone travelling without a ticket.
Fare evasion is a serious criminal offence that could lead to prosecution, a criminal record and a fine of up to £1,000. The changes being made to New Routemasters are part of a wider programme of activity designed to drive down fare evasion across the whole TfL network.
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, so we will change all other New Routemasters to follow suit.
"Customers with wheelchairs and pushchairs will still be able to board using the middle doors and will find it easier to access the priority space on buses as - like on other buses - they will be able to use the middle doors to board without having other customers doing so at the same time."
January 13, 2020
