Transport for London to launch publicly owned bus operator

Transport for London (TfL) has announced the launch of ‘Buses for London’, a new publicly owned bus operating company. Scheduled to begin services in late 2027, the move marks the first time in 17 years that TfL will directly operate bus routes in the capital.

The first service to be operated by the new company will be Route 6, running between Willesden and Victoria Station. TfL plans to transfer an additional four routes to the operator starting in 2028, with further announcements expected within the next year. Currently, TfL contracts nearly 700 bus routes to eight private operators.

The new operator aims to drive innovation, improve service quality, and reinvest profits back into the public transport network. It will also support decarbonization goals, with the first operational site located at the Park Royal Depot in west London. This depot, developed in partnership with the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), is expected to support approximately 100 zero-emission buses.