Last day of the Routemaster bus in London 

Thanks very much for this video. I was in London in June of 2004 and rode on a routemaster while I was there. It was a good ride.

What i liked about the Routemasters is they were so much faster then todays buses. Please bring them back!

Coming to London and no longer seeing this icon is sad. When you saw it you knew that it was London. Can you imagine going to New York and not seeing a 'big yellow'? At the end of the day its only a bus but it was part of London's identity. What makes countries from all over the world interesting to visit are things that are unique to that country or a city within it. I have no interest in buses - but this was more than a bus....it was part of London's soul.

Fabulous video matched to great music,very London.Thanks for the post.

They still run and Jeremy was out of order, I grew up with these lovely AEC vehicles and they have had their revenge. Long live you routemaster you are loved and us Londeners will always luv ya.

Routemaster buses were the best buses ever made. They were comfortable and actually fun to ride on. I am 45 years old now and as a kid i remember going on bus rides with a few mates just so that i could go on a routemaster. I also remember the old RT buses before the routemasters. When i was older, going upstairs for a smoke. Paying my fare to the conductor. Todays buses are horrible bone shaking things that i only use when i really have to. I say make more Routemasters and bring them back.

I was out and about on the last day 9/12/05, a great send off and a very sad day. R.I.P Routemaster

Great little film. Thank you. I love the fading into black and white, very appropriate...

London public transportation is an tourist attraction in it's own right.

There was actually a farewell ceremony for the last of the RMLs on the heritage routes a couple of years ago, so it is just RMs now....unless they have reinstated some since.

I live in London and am really pleased that in 2012 they will return. (Modern Version)

As the advertisement says, one can still enjoy a ride on the Routemaster on routes 9 and 15, but it really will be the end in 2017 when the demands for disabled access on all buses in London are fully implemented.

fab footage n great sounds!

Excellent - as good as the BTF stuff on the last tram in London. Beautifully caught

True. In addition London Transport had successfully run these buses for 40 odd years, their workshops were equipped to carry out any repair on the routemasters. they had all been overhauled many times before, resulting in what was effecively a brand new bus. there was no reason this could not have continued. hard to find parts were simply cannibalised from RM's in poor condition. With the cummins B series, up to 14 mpg was possible, nowhere near this with the bendies. sheer stupidity.

I totally agree !!

Hi, thanks for this lovely video. I've also liked your comment too. I do agree and London is a unique place to live. My son of 22mths is fascineted for buses, and actually your video is replacing any cartoon from CBBs.Thanks

This is not the case with Routemasters. All still in London service had received new Cummins, Iveco or Scania engines. Around 2001, a significant number were refurbished and fitted with Cummins B series engines and Allison automatic gearboxes. This ensured parts commonality with new buses and provided a smoother ride.

RML2760 is at WH (West Ham Garage) for Preservation... That the only RML they have rest is RM... RML2760 is original from BW (Bow Garage)

About that, I think. Enjoy your trip!

Tears, tears, tears - what a beautiful iconic bus. Removed cos of elf n' safety

Normal prices, as far as I remember. One route is to The Tower.

And those that run the heritage routes, has been re-engined it seems... I was a bit disappointed finding out that they have installed a new diesel engine and a automatic transmission. I've hoped for the rolling thunder a Leyland diesel makes... :(

goodbye old friend x

Last Day? I still see them from time to time, not on show, but operating normally. :)

there are only two routes left that run the routemaster and the cab is changed. the routes are 9 & 15 ithink

Thankfully they still run on two "heritage" routes. RMs, not RMLs.

Great Routemasters about this video

Why!! these busses where great!

Crowd control - it was the last ever Routemaster running, and hundreds of people wanted to get onto it.

no, most of them were sold off privately. either to enthusiasts with big garages or to other operators. there was nothing wrong with the buses to stop their continued use. allegedly those in charge got backhanders to order a new fleet

The only people that hate them are fare dodgers. I am glad my uncle Ernie Seal never saw this day, he was the storekeeper for London Transport.

Problem with this old bus is hat it's slow, guzzles gas and is not easily accesible for disabled people, elderly people and parents with babies and small children. It's also quite dangerous because of the hop-on-hop-off door. It IS iconic and we do miss it and these buses are hired out for parties, weddings, other countries have bought them for tours etc but for a modern city they're just not practical.

@bommmmmmmm They still have them -.-

noo 2500 !! how many of these busses were made??

what happend to these busses did the all and up on the junkyard ?? did they wrecked them??

how old are these buses. I dont live in england and im just curious

No, not really; the did get a lot of condensation on the windows, though.

were those buses free to ride because im sure you could jest hop on the back and go were ever you want ?

er. No. That's why the buses have a driver, and a conductor to collect the tickets. If you don't have a bus pass, he will charge you for the ride.

I think it's free cause i went on it couple of days ago that was on Roue 9H but i had my Oyster card with me, but i think you'd still have to pay the full fare, but I'm not quite sure

@d90yqv i still see this bus in north london that was not the last one

Goodbye to a unofficial London icon

Lets get as many as possible to sit outside the Mayor's offices and jam the horns on for a few hours. Protesting RM fan style

Why were police on the bus?

I guess Big Ben will be the next thing to go. gcj

@GTA4Life666 This is a sort of an insult and a person who doesn't know what he is talking about, a man with no soul. This bus has been around London for 50 Years!!! for Christ sake, 5 Decades... To me I rode my first bus ride on a Routemaster by my self and that was when I was 10 Years Old.. Go me.. :D As a Lononder these buses will be surely missed and I don't think the "New Routemaster" would be able to replace them. Any who they've been around since RMs and RTs where in service.

@richardmaudsley77 I NEVER saw any Primary School children in Southwark who were nor White/British so it was nearer 99/100% ! At Grammar School there were 3 in the 11 years ( 5 above/ 5 below ) out of over 1,000 children. That was 1965-71.....there were a few Black Guys at some Secondary schools but one could go ONE MONTH without seeing a Non-White person on a South London street and I lived TWO miles from Peckham/Brixton. You would weep for London if you saw the contrast."then and now"..

@MegaTaurus777 abroad in developing countries..

The best value for money you will find in London is taking a ride on a Routmaster Bus.

@EBH250F Just saw your comment from one year ago! You would NOT recognise the people in London anymore! Only 20% of children are White/British in London now. When I was young in the 1960's it was 98% !

Hate the new buses. They suck real bad, they cause so much accidents when turning corners. Their not safe either, see smoke coming from them more than once:(

I'm glad Jeremy Clarkson blew them up!

its just a bus..ffs!

@k00l1o Yes. But it looks really ugly. Doesn't look at all like the original version. The new one will have no character like the old Routemaster.

I like how the description says 'a sad day'. Perhaps a sad day to lose one of our most iconic buses. Not so sad a day for the environment however. I'm more concerned about the environment so it's actually a happy day for me!

the end of a british icon i dont see why we should have removed these buses just to suit the terrorists..why? i think people were much safer on these buses than the new ones!

@wscott8987 for us having 25% more environmentally friendly Volvo buses instead? hang his head in shame for doing his part to the environment at the expense of people infatuated with nostalgia? huh?

@richardmaudsley77 Why do you think "millions" of White Londoners have deserted one of the 2 greatest Cities in the World and trust me I've visited nearly every one of London's 350 integrated "Villages" and its a fabulously vibrant, stimulating City. We take "White Flight" just like almost EVERY USA City, in fact. By re-locating to The London Suburbs we drastically reduce our chances of being a victim. If YOU live in a 95% White Area then Whites must be the culprits in your area.

@richardmaudsley77 What I'm saying that the overwhelming majority of White/Brits who have lived in London when it was White and can contrast it to the present where their Culture has been diluted or ( in many parts ) disappearred would prefer the former way of life to the present. 65/69 London Teenage murders committed by Blacks with 1 Arabic, 1 Turkish and 1 Asian ans 1 "Not Guilty" .. 171/174 London Gangs have predominantly or exclusively Black members. THAT is why many are Racist.!!

@richardmaudsley77 Only 21% of London schoolchilden are White/British so it soon will not be! 30% of London births last year were born to Women born outside THe UK and when you add all the babies from 2/3/4th Generation immigrants, as well you can see what the future of London will be. I've seen London's future and it certainly is NOT "orange" lol You never did say which area you reside in Mon Ami...

what happend to these busses did the all and up on the junkyard ?? did they wrecked them??