London to re-introduce publicly owned bus service with zero-emission fleet

Lord Sadiq Khan unveiled a plan to launch Buses for London, a publicly owned bus operator that will start with around 100 zero-emission vehicles operating from the Park Royal Depot in west London. The initiative seeks to boost service reliability, safety and environmental performance while channeling profits back into the city’s transport network. Over the next year, four new routes are slated to begin service in 2028, after which their outcomes will be assessed to decide on broader rollout.

TfL is working with the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation to develop the depot site, and the scheme represents the first major public ownership of London buses since the mid-1990s. TfL’s director of buses, Lorna Murphy, highlighted the project as a step toward a greener, more efficient system, and Khan emphasized its potential to deliver better value, support climate goals and improve conditions for passengers and drivers.