The capital’s iconic red buses have hit a major green milestone ahead of Clean Air Day (18 June) with 3,000 zero-emission buses now in operation – around a third of the Transport for London (TfL) fleet.
Already recognised as having the largest zero-emission bus fleet in Western Europe, London has seen a rapid 100-fold increase over the past decade, from just 30 electric buses in 2016. TfL is accelerating the delivery of its zero-emission fleet, which is set to double in under five years.
As transport accounts for a significant proportion of London’s greenhouse gas emissions, it’s vital that TfL continues to lead the green transition to tackle the climate emergency, cut toxic pollution, and protect public health and the environment. Making the bus fleet zero-emission at the tailpipe could save an estimated five million tonnes of carbon over the next two decades, while operating around 3,000 electric buses over the course of a year alone is estimated to save more than 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions*. This equates to more than 118,900 flights between London and New York City**.
TfL Image – 3000th zero-emission bus alongside a bus shelter at Trafalgar Square
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London’s buses are among the greenest in the world, with lower CO₂ emissions per passenger kilometre than cities such as New York and Vancouver***. Since 2021, all new buses have been zero-emission at the tailpipe, and the rest meet or exceed Euro VI standards. Buses also play a crucial role in reducing congestion, carrying up to 80 times as many passengers as a car while using only around three times as much road space.
The Mayor and TfL are making the bus network greener in more ways than one, having also converted all the lighting at its bus shelters to Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting. Around 12,000 bus shelters across the capital now have more energy-efficient, luminous and longer-lasting lights, making the shelters both greener and more welcoming for customers. The new lighting will use less than half as much energy and brighten up bus shelters by 10 per cent.
Londoners will be able to spot the 3,000th zero-emission bus, which has been specially wrapped to commemorate the milestone, on route 165 travelling between Romford and Rainham. The 3000th zero-emission bus will operate from Stagecoach’s Rainham bus depot. It is part of a wider order of more than 120 zero-emission buses from Ballymena-based Wrightbus, supporting the UK’s zero-emission bus industry, green jobs and wider economic growth.
TfL Image – Bus Shelter at Night
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With Rainham depot routes 174/674, 165 and 287 already zero-emission, this order will enable a further six routes at the depot to become zero-emission within the next year – including the new SL12, which will serve customers between Rainham and Gants Hill. The depot is currently being upgraded to support the switch to zero-emission buses, with work including installation of new high-level chargers mounted on overhead steel gantries to power the buses. The steel for these has been ordered from a local company, Rainham Steel, based only a few miles away from the bus depot itself.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m proud that London is leading the charge in sustainable transport with 3,000 of our iconic red buses now going green – which is a hundred times more than when I took office in 2016, and one of the largest zero-emission bus fleets in Europe.
“Over the last decade as Mayor, I’ve worked with TfL to take our bus network from strength to strength – creating new services, such as the game-changing Superloop, and boosting our zero- and low-emission buses to help clean up our air and support our climate goals.
“I remain committed to doing everything in my power to ensure that buses remain the most accessible, affordable and sustainable form of transport in the capital as we continue building a greener, fairer, better London for everyone.”