Routemaster - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:45, 3 March 2021

2021-03-03T07:45:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:45, 3 March 2021
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	* Types of road and street.		* Types of road and street.

−	[[Category:~~Projects_and_case_studies~~]] [[Category:~~DCN_Project_Knowledge~~]] [[Category:~~Design~~]] [[Category:~~Products_/_components~~]] [[Category:~~DCN_Product_Knowledge~~]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]] [[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]

Designing Buildings: moved New Routemaster - a building on wheels to Routemaster

2019-12-12T17:37:01Z

moved New Routemaster - a building on wheels to Routemaster

← Older revision

Revision as of 17:37, 12 December 2019

Designing Buildings at 17:36, 12 December 2019

2019-12-12T17:36:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:36, 12 December 2019
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	{\|		{\|
−	\| [[File:~~New routemaster TfL Flickr~~.jpg]]	+	\| [[File:New_routemaster_TfL_Flickr.jpg\|link=File:New_routemaster_TfL_Flickr.jpg]]
	\|-		\|-
	\| The New Routemaster. (All images courtesy of Transport for London)		\| The New Routemaster. (All images courtesy of Transport for London)
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	In July 2008, two months after becoming Mayor of London, Boris Johnson launched a public competition for the design of a new 21st century Routemaster bus. This followed his highly critical yet well-publicised views on the ‘bendy bus’ – the articulated, single-decker vehicle which at 18m-long, was seen by many as unsuitable for the streets of London.		In July 2008, two months after becoming Mayor of London, Boris Johnson launched a public competition for the design of a new 21st century Routemaster bus. This followed his highly critical yet well-publicised views on the ‘bendy bus’ – the articulated, single-decker vehicle which at 18m-long, was seen by many as unsuitable for the streets of London.

−	The Mercedes-Benz Citaro (2002) proved unpopular with cyclists (as well as with many other Londoners) and became loved by fare dodgers. It had been introduced when the Routemaster bus had been withdrawn ~~on account of~~ it ~~being too~~ old, expensive to run and inadequate in terms of disabled access. Although the Citaro proved to be an efficient replacement, its unpopularity, heightened by the backlash generated by Johnson and a willing press, proved to be its undoing.	+	The Mercedes-Benz Citaro (2002) proved unpopular with cyclists (as well as with many other Londoners) and became loved by fare dodgers. It had been introduced when the Routemaster bus had been withdrawn as it was old, expensive to run and inadequate in terms of disabled access. Although the Citaro proved to be an efficient replacement, its unpopularity, heightened by the backlash generated by Johnson and a willing press, proved to be its undoing.

	The competition launched by Johnson had a single aim – to get rid of the bendy bus. “It’s not beyond the wit of man to design a new Routemaster that will stand as an icon of this city,” he proclaimed.		The competition launched by Johnson had a single aim – to get rid of the bendy bus. “It’s not beyond the wit of man to design a new Routemaster that will stand as an icon of this city,” he proclaimed.
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	However, during the tendering process, TfL made bidders aware that it wanted the power to nominate a design consultant to join the project, if necessary. The designer chosen was London-based Heatherwick Studio which hitherto had had no vehicle design experience. Along with Wrightbus, it would be responsible for shaping the New Routemaster.		However, during the tendering process, TfL made bidders aware that it wanted the power to nominate a design consultant to join the project, if necessary. The designer chosen was London-based Heatherwick Studio which hitherto had had no vehicle design experience. Along with Wrightbus, it would be responsible for shaping the New Routemaster.

−	[[File:~~New routemaster Tower Br TfL Flickr~~.jpg]]	+	[[File:New_routemaster_Tower_Br_TfL_Flickr.jpg\|link=File:New_routemaster_Tower_Br_TfL_Flickr.jpg]]

	Heatherwick’s team approached the design as a piece of architecture, a slow-moving building. Its design is notable for its		Heatherwick’s team approached the design as a piece of architecture, a slow-moving building. Its design is notable for its
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	* Mixed interior lighting		* Mixed interior lighting
	* Diagonally-glazed staircase		* Diagonally-glazed staircase
−	* Rounded front and rear ends – these help ~~reduced~~ the visual mass of the New Routemaster which at 11m is longer than the original version.	+	* Rounded front and rear ends – these help reduce the visual mass of the New Routemaster which at 11m is longer than the original version.
	* Two staircases		* Two staircases
	* Rear stairs with individually-shaped treads – inspired by grand staircases.		* Rear stairs with individually-shaped treads – inspired by grand staircases.
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	= Finally =		= Finally =

−	TfL paid £11.3m towards the research and development costs of the New Routemaster. The cost of each bus turned out to be around £354,000 at 2016 prices, although this would reduce with the increasing number of units ordered. Having placed an initial order for 600 buses, TfL entered the first New Routemaster into passenger service in London on 27 February 2012. It was route No 38, Clapton Pond to Victoria Bust Station~~. The old Routemaster was withdrawn from service starting from 2005~~.	+	TfL paid £11.3m towards the research and development costs of the New Routemaster. The cost of each bus turned out to be around £354,000 at 2016 prices, although this would reduce with the increasing number of units ordered. Having placed an initial order for 600 buses, TfL entered the first New Routemaster into passenger service in London on 27 February 2012. It was route No 38, Clapton Pond to Victoria Bust Station.

−	[[File:~~Routemaster bus Transport for London copyright~~.jpg]]	+	[[File:Routemaster_bus_Transport_for_London_copyright.jpg\|link=File:Routemaster_bus_Transport_for_London_copyright.jpg]]

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
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	* Types of road and street.		* Types of road and street.

−	[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]	+	[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:DCN_Project_Knowledge]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Products_/_components]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]]

Editor: Created page with "{| | File:New routemaster TfL Flickr.jpg |- | The New Routemaster. (All images courtesy of Transport for London) |} = Introduction = In July 2008, two months after becoming..."

2019-11-28T17:29:21Z

Created page with "{| | File:New routemaster TfL Flickr.jpg |- | The New Routemaster. (All images courtesy of Transport for London) |} = Introduction = In July 2008, two months after becoming..."

New page

{|
| [[File:New routemaster TfL Flickr.jpg]]
|-
| The New Routemaster. (All images courtesy of Transport for London)
|}

= Introduction =

In July 2008, two months after becoming Mayor of London, Boris Johnson launched a public competition for the design of a new 21st century Routemaster bus. This followed his highly critical yet well-publicised views on the ‘bendy bus’ – the articulated, single-decker vehicle which at 18m-long, was seen by many as unsuitable for the streets of London.

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro (2002) proved unpopular with cyclists (as well as with many other Londoners) and became loved by fare dodgers. It had been introduced when the Routemaster bus had been withdrawn on account of it being too old, expensive to run and inadequate in terms of disabled access. Although the Citaro proved to be an efficient replacement, its unpopularity, heightened by the backlash generated by Johnson and a willing press, proved to be its undoing.

The competition launched by Johnson had a single aim – to get rid of the bendy bus. “It’s not beyond the wit of man to design a new Routemaster that will stand as an icon of this city,” he proclaimed.

So, a public competition was launched at the London Transport Museum in July 2008, divided into two contests: amateurs and professionals. Despite the small amount of promotion undertaken, the competition nevertheless drew in 700 entries from all over the world including India, China and the US. The judging panel comprised executives from TfL and the mayor’s office; they announced their deliberations on 1 December 2008.

= Winners and losers =

Entries came from architects and designers, as well as children and their schools. Two entries were declared joint winners – one from truck design company Capoco and the other from a partnership between Foster + Partners and car-maker Aston Martin. Both entries won £25,000 in cash. Although both designs were in many ways different, they both continued the Routemaster tradition of an open rear platform allowing people to hop on and off at will. The Foster+Partners/Aston Martin design featured a glass roof to the upper deck which was to be the Achilles heel of the design, deemed too open to solar gain.

With the competition winners established, bus and rail operator Transport for London (TfL) embarked on drawing up the specifications for the public procurement process which would establish the design, development and manufacturer of the bus. In February 2009, it announced the invitation to tender in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

TfL’s brief to tenderers required, among other things:

* An iconic design
* Three doors to optimise boarding speed
* Twin staircases
* Maximum headroom of 1.8m
* An open rear platform
* Wheelchair bay, flat floor and level access
* Red colour.

The firm which, through its engineering submission, won the tender to make the bus was Ballymena-based Wrightbus. However, its own design was deemed too traditional while the two competition-winning concept designs were deemed to be either too difficult to build (Foster+Partners/Aston Martin) or too cumbersome and unconvincing (Capoco).

However, during the tendering process, TfL made bidders aware that it wanted the power to nominate a design consultant to join the project, if necessary. The designer chosen was London-based Heatherwick Studio which hitherto had had no vehicle design experience. Along with Wrightbus, it would be responsible for shaping the New Routemaster.

[[File:New routemaster Tower Br TfL Flickr.jpg]]

Heatherwick’s team approached the design as a piece of architecture, a slow-moving building. Its design is notable for its

* Large glazed windscreen,
* Shallow upper windows to minimise solar gain,
* Mixed interior lighting
* Diagonally-glazed staircase
* Rounded front and rear ends – these help reduced the visual mass of the New Routemaster which at 11m is longer than the original version.
* Two staircases
* Rear stairs with individually-shaped treads – inspired by grand staircases.
* Two-part rear platform door.

= Finally =

TfL paid £11.3m towards the research and development costs of the New Routemaster. The cost of each bus turned out to be around £354,000 at 2016 prices, although this would reduce with the increasing number of units ordered. Having placed an initial order for 600 buses, TfL entered the first New Routemaster into passenger service in London on 27 February 2012. It was route No 38, Clapton Pond to Victoria Bust Station. The old Routemaster was withdrawn from service starting from 2005.

[[File:Routemaster bus Transport for London copyright.jpg]]

= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

* CarTube.
* Cycling and walking plan.
* Engineering smart cities.
* Highways in England and Wales.
* Hyperloop One.
* Infrastructure.
* Road construction.
* Road traffic management.
* Sustainable transport.
* Transport assessment.
* Types of road and street.

[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]