Boris Johnson today reignited the row over the cost of London’s new Routemaster-style buses, as he claimed they could turn out cheaper than the current hybrid vehicles.
The Mayor said tests of the diesel-electric “Boris bus” showed huge potential savings on fuel. He spoke weeks before the No 24, between Victoria and Hampstead, becomes the first bus route to be entirely operated using vehicles from the new fleet. A total of 600 buses are on order.
Mr Johnson said: “If the new bus fulfils the promise shown in tests, we will be able to save so much on fuel it will actually come out cheaper than our current hybrid buses.” The vehicles cost £354,000 each and need “conductors” on the rear platform, who critics have called “glorified health and safety inspectors” at an estimated annual cost of £60,000 each.
Liberal Democrat Caroline Pidgeon, deputy chairman of the London Assembly transport committee, accused the Mayor of breaking manifesto promises by paying £5O,OOO more for each new London bus than hybrids cost.
