The Borismaster/New Routemaster - Vanity Project or an Iconic Success? 

In 2017, there was also a B5LHC (similar, but not identical, to the SRM) offered. It had a front volvo badge, and a slightly varied larger roof pod style. The windows on the lower right side where also not as long, with a larger openable panel to the left of the windows. The window emergency exit placement was also varied.

I would say it was a successful replacement but it novelty was destroyed after 2020 with only front door boarding

Double-decker buses need 3 doors and 2 staircases. Even in only the front door is used for boarding, which is already stupid, it's better than having two doors. And way better that only one door, as is the norm in the rest of the UK 😤

These are unique buses for sure in terms of cosmetic design. I’m not really a big fan of these NRM buses especially since during the summer it feels stuffy and sweltering on the inside. But these buses can definitely take off for sure! The recent refurbishment at least spruced up the interior a bit, but still prefer an MCV Evoseti and the Gemini Hybrids compared to the NRM if avoidable.

Will never be as successful as the original Routemaster which is still alive and kicking

I love traveling on busses what ever size big or sml as long as you get to where you come and go to safe and sound as the ringing of the bells inbetween

I do remember how hot these busses got in summer..jheeze. one thing i do like about them is there gearbox /motor noise!!

Nice buses. Used the no.12 from Lambeth North when on holiday. Very impressed with the bus and the air conditioning.... handy exiting the bus at the back. 👌

Top gear did a video on it saying u should buy that instead of a Lamborghini 😂😂😂

Interesting!

I feel like they are a novelty but mainly because they don’t fit how tfl run most buses. The design is aesthetically pleasing though. But I guess it could’ve been engineered better with the faults that have caused crashes and the aircon.

London Bus

Some of them have been refirbished already tbh. They have newer seats etc.

I’m from New Zealand. I lived in London between 2004-2009. Before these came along, but during Boris’ anti bendy buses campaign. I thought (and still think) that Boris Johnson is a blatantly obvious BS artist. And it still amazes me thinking back how many seemingly sensible and informed Londoners fell for him and all his nonsense. And I never found anything wrong with the Bendy buses, other than them taking up more space when I was driving. I never got a real answer as to why Londoners didn’t like the bendy buses, I think some people just don’t like change. But yes these being a flop and money drain comes as no whatsoever surprise to me. The only surprise is how many people fell for this obvious political stunt. I heard recently that most of them are looking like they might be scrapped after their not very long service life due to moves towards lower emissions fleet, has anyone heard anything about this?

Any bus commisioned and/or designed by a politician is a vanity project. Politicians are neither best placed nor qualified to commission or design buses. This was a vanity project steeped in nostalgia and conservatism, far more than for any practical use. It's the same with Johnson's insistance that all buses in London must use roller blinds - tecnology from the 1920s.... 😄 Costly, unreliable and inefficient (have you seen how long it can take for these blinds to change destinations?). But Johnson grew up seeing Routemasters with roller blinds, so that's what he insisted upon for the whole of London, in the 21st century. That's some ego projection!

they're okay but the bendies could've been kept instead of buying these really expensive buses

Possibly gonna be that one or only Londoner stating this but, I've hated these buses since day one, and wish for them to finally get withdrawn or scrapped. Watching so many nostalgic favourites like the ALX400s, Plaxton Presidents, Wright Gemini Ones etcetera, watching them all disappear one by one as those moving melted blobs replaced them destroyed me tbvh. The only thing nice is the interior colour scheme, since the Enviro400Citys on both Arriva and CT Plus have the same theme. Personally, I still don't see these as a successor to the og Routemasters, they're ugly, hot, and practically as common as the Mario Kart 8 DELUXE meta. Will at least admit there was one design I really liked from the entries, honestly a shame it wasn't picked. Regardless, this is my take, all the other buses feel like they have charisma, the Borris Buses however? None To brief, I personally wanna see each and every one of them gone for good. If they do go, least it can save TfL from some money hiccups

Not as good as the original ones