New Routemaster / LT class refurbishment programme
Oct 14, 2021 20:16:58 GMT
cc2005, M1104, and 7 more like this
Post by thelondonthing on Oct 14, 2021 20:16:58 GMT
I was idly browsing through TfL documentation this evening when I stumbled across a couple of details in the latest edition of the TfL Future contract opportunities document regarding the New Routemaster (or LT class, if that's the way you roll) refurbishment programme.
First, I spotted this entry, which indicates that the "expected award date" for the programme is imminent; in fact, it's tomorrow (15 October):
The document puts the value of the project at somewhere between £10m and £25m.
Later in the same document, another detail caught my eye - a "requirement to replace failing driver seat mechanisms as part of the NRM refurbishment":
Is that a thing? Are driver's seats regularly failing on NRMs? Remarkably, meeting this requirement alone will cost somewhere between £1m and £5m, on top of the cost of the main NRM refurbishment programme.
While considering these nuggets of information, I had a look around the forum to see if I could find more details on exactly what the NRM refurbishment programme will involve, but - unless I've failed miserably in my search efforts - there doesn't appear to be a great deal of info floating around. Indeed, over the last few months' worth of posts, I was only able to find passing references to NRM refurbishment, and even recent posts indicating that the details of the programme still haven't been officially confirmed.
This struck me as a bit odd, given that TfL said in mid-July that NRM refurbishment would soon begin, as noted at the time by snowman . So I decided to look around elsewhere and see if I could find out more. It turned out that all the information I wanted was waiting on the TfL site for me, thanks to details published in response to a Freedom of Information request.
TfL's response was published on 14 June 2021, and is the first official discussion from TfL that I've seen, at least, that provides real details about the programme beyond the mere fact of its existence. A few points of interest:
You can read the full FoI request, and TfL's complete response, here on the TfL site.
I do hope that's all of some interest, and that I haven't just wasted everyone's time by sharing a load of old information that they already know...
First, I spotted this entry, which indicates that the "expected award date" for the programme is imminent; in fact, it's tomorrow (15 October):
The document puts the value of the project at somewhere between £10m and £25m.
Later in the same document, another detail caught my eye - a "requirement to replace failing driver seat mechanisms as part of the NRM refurbishment":
Is that a thing? Are driver's seats regularly failing on NRMs? Remarkably, meeting this requirement alone will cost somewhere between £1m and £5m, on top of the cost of the main NRM refurbishment programme.
While considering these nuggets of information, I had a look around the forum to see if I could find more details on exactly what the NRM refurbishment programme will involve, but - unless I've failed miserably in my search efforts - there doesn't appear to be a great deal of info floating around. Indeed, over the last few months' worth of posts, I was only able to find passing references to NRM refurbishment, and even recent posts indicating that the details of the programme still haven't been officially confirmed.
This struck me as a bit odd, given that TfL said in mid-July that NRM refurbishment would soon begin, as noted at the time by snowman . So I decided to look around elsewhere and see if I could find out more. It turned out that all the information I wanted was waiting on the TfL site for me, thanks to details published in response to a Freedom of Information request.
TfL's response was published on 14 June 2021, and is the first official discussion from TfL that I've seen, at least, that provides real details about the programme beyond the mere fact of its existence. A few points of interest:
- I don't think this will really surprise anyone, but TfL does not intend to convert the NRM fleet to electric/zero-emission operation.
- Refurbished NRMs will not include USB charging ports.
- In fact, TfL doesn't intend to add any "new features" to the NRM fleet beyond what is already offered. In TfL's words: "Vehicle refurbishment tends to cover the cost of repainting and replacement of components approaching life expiry such as new seats rather than the addition of new features."
- However, TfL does say that it might include "any generic enhancements being considered for new buses" in refurbished NRMs.
- Once it begins, the full refurbishment programme is "likely to take around five years".
- TfL said of the programme: "Until we have certainty on our funding position from Department for Transport beyond 2021, our wider plans cannot be taken further." We know from its own documentation that TfL was previously intending to begin the programme soon after March 2020; obviously, the coronavirus crisis held things up, as did the need for emergency Government funding. Given that TfL currently lists 15 October as its intended deadline for appointing a contractor, we can reasonably infer that it's now in a position to move ahead with the programme.
You can read the full FoI request, and TfL's complete response, here on the TfL site.
I do hope that's all of some interest, and that I haven't just wasted everyone's time by sharing a load of old information that they already know...
