• Mayor unveils winning designs for Routemaster
• What passengers think

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So, TFL has just admitted there won't be conductors collecting fares on the new "routemaster", the extra person will be there to "ensure the safe boarding and alighting of passengers using the open platform, as well as providing information and assistance", but they won't collect fares.

I presume these staff will also stop people boarding or alighting between stops (just like the old conductors did if they had the chance).

The design specification also now states there must be a door on the platform that can be closed at certain times, optomistically it states "such as at night" but it's highly likey this will end up being "when the bus is moving".

- Prj45, London

How does needlessly replacing one bus with another take London "towards a civilised, democratic and distinctive public realm"; My definition of civilised would be to report stories on fact, my definition of public would be a service that everyone can use in it's entirety. i.e a single floor multi door bus.

How does Gillingham know that the route master was the most efficient? Have studies been done? I would assume that its quicker getting off and on a single floored vehicle with several doors than having to climb down stairs and queue at one door.

If entrants to the 'design a bus competition' where all so happy with the routemaster, why not send in drawings of it as it was? In fact as the prize was £25000 can you even claim the reason for entry was based on a love of a certain type of bus, or a love of £25k?

"There will be full access for the disabled." Are they installing a lift??

"But prigs and killjoys no longer run London" WHo are these people? I don't even know what a Prig is? Is this cryptic journalism??

"The three-year prototyping and manufacturing process offers them ample scope to water it down." Or to get it right, not just implement a misguided election promise. It'll still be done before the next mayoral election anyway Andrew so don't worry too much

- Peter, London, UK

Hurrah! Now Livingston has been replaced by a 'brain' allied to a 'character' (Johnson), we can look forward to the demise of the loathed 'bendy-buses'. Three cheers too for Andrew Gilligan for promising to 'keep an eye' on Hendy the Commissar!

- David Davies, London

Blue Baby, London you should check The Telegraph website (where Boris works) for entry re Routemaster on number 10 route and Crimewatch in 1999!

- Melvyn, Canvey Island, Essex

I've seen people take some really heavy falls from Routemaster platforms over the years, I particularly recall about 10 years ago a girl falling off a No. 8 swinging round the corner by Green Park station and someone falling off a 14 in the Fulham Road. That was in a less litigious age. In spite of exhortations from conductor about remaining on the bus until it comes to a halt, I foresee a clutch of personal injury cases arising.

The reintroduction of the Routemaster is Mr Johnson's vanity project and a waste of money.

- Blue Baby, London

Dr Sandro has it right - the benefits of hopping on and off far outweigh the risks. Besides, I don't see many commentators regularly outraged by the heavy goods vehicles which occupy cyclist and junction boxes at red lights - contributing to low visibility in precisely the areas which are the true accident hotspots.

I can't wait for the end of the "free bus". Fortunately I have alternatives on the existing route, for which I always wait. I am not paying to get onto a bus to be jostled by freeloaders who (used to) take the opportunity to spill alcohol, and look with reproach at anyone that appears to be employed. Well done Boris.

Not impressed with the 2 second traffic phasing adjustments, however, as they were not accompanied by zero tolerance for motorists shooting reds and sitting in cyclist boxes. Even TfL Buses do this, at transport flagship interchange Waterloo. Please take care of this - Conservatives should know that pedestrian quality of life is not a middle class conceit.

- Reg, London

Commenting from the provinces the Routemaster was in fact the last of generations of similar styled buses that ran all over the Country.
It is perhaps significant that when competition was first allowed in the bus industry in the late eighties many large and small operators bought second-hand London Routemasters as competitive or defensive battle buses - the value of the conductor was rediscovered.
I would welcome the return of this icon, somehow those bendy buses are just not London.

- Mark, Bournemouth England

Drawing competitions to design a new bus and airports in the Thames? Is Boris an over excited 11 year old schoolboy with an over active imagination and a copy of the Eagle annual or a proper politian in charge of a world city? I think he needs to decide!

- Nj, London

Boris Johnson Should of think before srapping on london public transport.

Why wasting on money on a ugly routemaster if that money could of gone on london transport.

The bendy buses could gone on longer routes.and the double deckers on the shorter route.

- Andy, london

I write as a Londoner in exile and ex-A&E surgeon. The routemaster is a symbol of London like its black cabs. They were a functional, practical and relativlely safe medium for generations. Bendy may have it's place, but the possibility to hop onto and off a moving bus has far greater benefits for Londoners than risks, especially now that we have the privilege of funding the firm that set up the congestion charge zones while the unchanged levels of congestion keep London's petrol vendors happy...

- Dr. Sandro De Rosa, Padua, Italy

I just hope this new routemaster project collapse at the last minute this routemaster is not worth it, even some of the existing double deckers will not even last five years due to this competitive tender process, just how many years can the new routemaster last? or in other words what about its afterlife? There is nothing wrong with the existing bendy buses because they work. I use the bendy buses and yes they may not be pleasent buses around but I find them superior, they are great crowd movers something that double decks struggle to do and I would rather squash myself in these bendy buses in sardine condition than wait 3-5 double deck buses later to get on I want to get to my destination quickly and efficiently as possible and that what matters never mind trying to get a seat!

- Phat Effort, london

Those winning designs look so long they'd surely benefit from a bendy section in the middle so they can get round corners.

Note the HUGE overhang on the back, how far is that going to swing out?

Also note the huge hole in the back, from which pedestrains will launch themselves into the path of the following car motorbike or bicycle having to deal with about 10mph or 20mph of forward momentum.

It's a safety nightmare for all concerned.

- Prj45, London

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with our current buses: The newer double decker buses are comfortable and the bendy-buses efficient on the routes they operate.

If our mayor truly had a vision for London's transport network he would not be wasting effort and money while he harks back to some rose-tinted, bygone era. He should be concentrating on areas where it is actually needed.

Instead he has shelved or scrapped half a dozen important projects such as the cross-river tram, which would have provided links to areas in desperate need of investment and better transport.

The routemaster is not a long-term vision for improving out transport network. It is simply a bizarre obsession.

- A Casual Observer, London, UK

Well, this comment section is the most negative one I've seen so far!

I did not see this comment section when the "Bendy Bus" was proposed, then again, I couild nave missed it!

All I have read about them so far is they are condusive to fare dodging, dangerous for cyclists, and on certain routes have no option but to mount kerbs due to their design!.......... oh yes, and on the odd ocassion they burst into flames!

I suppose we will have to suck it and see where these new buses are concerned!

As an ex-bus driver from years back, (still got my old P.S.V Licence, as it was then) the standard of driving by todays drivers is appallingly aggressive, and downright dangerous. When I took my P.S.V Test, you were tested by guys from Scotland Yard!

No matter what type of public transport is proposed, you will not please everyone, it's the nature of the beast!

On a personal level, I used to like the old Trolley Bus, quiet and no clouds of black choking diesel fumes!

As for accidents occurring with the old Routemaster, there were/are more accidents in the nations kitchens than with the old Routemaster!

The reintroduction of Conductors is a somewhat dubious move. I suppose it will shift the focus of the violent/drunk/drugged/psychopathic persons from the public to a uniformed person.

They had better make the new conductors uniform is bullet/stab/flame proof!


- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX

Thank God that idiotic bendy bus is finally on it's way out.Thay are just not built for London Roads, they are built for european Cities that have much wider straighter streets. Having nearly been crushed into a roundabout by one I know.They are downright dangerous for other road users including cyclists, the drivers cannot see the entire length of the bus and I'm not even sure they care anyway!Providing the new bus is reliable and designed properly and hopefully built in Britain it can only be a change for the better.

- Geoff, south london

I think they are going to have great difficulty turning these two bizarre cartoonish designs into reality. It looks like it would have to be made of thin plastic sheeting, to conform to the design. And that wheelchair flap will be a dangerous thing. Four foot of steel crashing down, or sliding out to cut your feet off..
Maybe they should have asked the Apple designer to have a go...

- Alex Mckenna, Manchester

The problem is that quite a lot of people are "round the bend." Just give me a bus.

- Frederick, London UK

I find it deeply sad that TfL and Boris want to get rid of the bendy bus. As an actual user of public transport, including buses, rather than a fat cat mayor or commentator, I feel much safer using the bendy bus than the double decker, especially late at night. One can see the entire bus as one enters a bendy-bus, as opposed to that dreaded climb up the stairs of a double decker to find who knows what gang waiting. Plus, if one is travelling to a less known location, one does not need to be bogged down with the double decker worry of "when do I need to make for the stairs" as one fears one will miss one's stop. The bendy, despite its less than London appearance, makes for a much less stressful journey!

- James, London, England

"much-loved, most efficient bus"

These buses have less capacity than a bendy bus. How are they going to be more efficient? To make up the slack, we're going to have to have more of them on the roads, which means more money, and more traffic. Cheers Boris!

- Nick Ould, Peterborough, U.K.

Really nice design, however it's back to the days of being late for work after 3 buses have gone by full.
These buses will have half the capacity of Bendy Buses. Think Boris's smug smile may disappear if they come into service before the next Mayoral Election!

- Simon Adams, Stoke Newington

In the early 1990s, 10+ people a year died from falling off the back of Routemasters. These are the "prigs and killjoys" I'm guessing. Coming from someone who was claiming that bendy buses were a dangerous menace to cyclists (causing a massive zero deaths) that's some statement to make.

I suspect that 'Elf and Safety will put paid to the open-backed platform, so maybe that's not something to worry about (and a new outrage for certain people to get worked up about next year).

I'm also not sure about the extra door. Surely that's bad design - the bendy bus has been much criticised by you for this in the past!

But congratulations Mr Gilligan - victory over those cursed bendies. Do you use buses by the way? Or do you just like to look at them and get a warm 1950s postcard view of London?

- The Grim Reaper, London

In your dreams Andrew (and Boris)for at last we have some REAL stats to go on and while your kept moaning about the number of Artics on the 38 (currently PVR 47) creeping up to the 50 Routemasters required. We now know that 72 buses will be required for this route and these are modern double-deckers.

So how many modern routemasters would this be given that buses with conductors were limited to 6 standing so the conductor had room to could collect fares?

Assuming route 73 also required 70+ buses to replace the current Artics your talking about a load of buses at the Angel, Islington High Street before you add those on the 4,19,30,43,56,341 and 476 together with the 153,205,214 and 394 which cross at the Angel to/from City Road.

Wonder how much conductors would cost on the the double deck routes above given the fact that as Del-Boy would say "We dont pay using cash any more" well apart from middle class fools who then go on about £2 bus fares.

This "Boris Peter" competition gave away over £80,000 in prize money I wonder how many bus stops could have had RTM's (Roadside Ticket Machines) installed thus reducing further the need for cash. And the danger handling cash has for bus staff.

As for the end of Artics well sorry but they are in fact the future after all how long will this open platform buses last once someone is killed either accidently or as a result of a crime?

Only trams and Light Rail provide an alternative!! And Boris has killed these off!

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex

I have ridden a bendy bus it did not excite me at all,. But as a kid I did like riding our double deckers upstairs looking down on the world "great". PLus as I travel the world and see our London Icons in use, Niagra fall, Singapore, Even in Arizona as a shuttle. Plus I saw one in MEXICO once. Bendy buses are common not iconic. Good One Boris

- Ebin Donk, yo1

Excellent that we've bought back the icon of london - England.
But what do we do with the BENDY BUSES?
Scrap them
Thats a waste of public money!
No they should be used on routes tht suite them ie straight runs.Paddington to Oldstreet; Hyde Park Cnr to Barnet; Hyde Pk Cnr to Edgware; etc
That'swhat the contintal bendy buses are used for 'STRAIGHT RUNS' with smooth cornered-bends. Natiional Express short local journeys,etc.

- A. Winsley, London

Obviously all those who don.t like bendy buses, have either never driven one or travelled on one. The Routemaster was the worst bus ever built!I know which I would prefer to drive.the Bendy Buses anytime.Come on London get in line with the rest of Europe

- Ramon Courtman, SEAFORD england

PLease please can we have it built in England rather than pay for other jobs to be created in Japan (or China?)
A good opportunity to start to get UK manufacturing back together again too!

- John Whitby, Peterborough, Cambs

Mark, "misery guts" please. Do we have unlimited amounts of money to spend on this.

We have buses already, where they don't work change them. Train the drivers to recognise the highway code, to see that a flashing pedestrian light means wait until it is safe to cross, not run the pedestrians over, this would be money better spent.

- Keith, London

Mark Lee is griping about what will conductors do? The surprising thing is that they are very effective at reducing crime levels and stopping the riots that occur when e.g. school kids travel all together on public routes. He won't necessarily know that the driver-less DLR trains now have 'staff' dealing with all the issues he raises. The DLR became a very unpleasant route prior to this because of the abuse made of the lack of staff. Conductors on buses, park wardens in parks, we should have more of them. They do a very worthwhile job.

- Nora, London,UK

I can't help wondering whether all these people who hate bendy buses are people who never take public transport. I find their multiple entrances and exits make them much easier to use than other types of bus. Also, aren't they better for the environment as a lot more people can travel on one bendy bus than on a route master?

- Nigel, London WC1

As apposed to the two misery guts who have just made their contributions I shall make mine a positive one. The new Rotemaster will bring the following obvious benefits:

1. Allow faster/healthier travel within the centre of London, by allowing passengers to alight in the case of traffic jams and proceed by foot.

2. Cut pollution by having cleaner engines.

3. Bring some style back to a town that has creaked under the onslaught of spurious character destroying regulation.

4. Provide employment for the charming conductors who did so much to bring some cheer to the morning commute.

5. Cut back on the army of fare dodgers who routinely embark via the rear door and free load at the expense of the rest of us.

6. Provide an opportunity for manufacturers to raise their game at a time when they are in the doldrums.

- Mark, London

"baby step back towards a civilised, democratic and distinctive public realm"

What are you talking about, usual rubbish.

The whole episode is a waste of money, bendy buses and the new buses. Is it really democratic that we hold a drawing competition, did a five year old win ? or was it cosmetic.

Just a thought why is the bus/taxi lane on the M4 overpass only for these limited groupd why not let tradesmens vans and lorries use that lane ?

- Keith, London

Mr Gilligan - of course people will complain about the cost - however they are fully justified in doing so. The replacement cost of the vehicles may well be higher (as if we have a 'London only' bus, manufacturers will achieve poorer economies of scale), but this aside, there is the small matter of the £100 million a year that Boris has said it will cost to put conductors on the buses.

What exactly will conductors do that normal double decker drivers don't do now? If someone doesn't pay their fare, and the conductor asks them to and they refuse, what are they going to be able to do? Nothing. Maybe call the police - but people can run off the bus long before the police arrive. Drivers of double deckers at the moment simply turn off their engine and refuse to drive until the miscreant has paid their fare.

What if someone is vandalising the top deck of the bus by etching the windows? What is the conductor going to do then? Do you really think they will put their safety at risk and intervene? Again, all they can do is stop the bus and call the police, which is exactly what drivers do now.

Bus fares are already going up by 11% in January. And they will presumably have to go up again to fund all of these conductors. Personally I think it's an unnecessary expense that adds no value whatsoever.

- Mark Lee, Vauxhall

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