London hits a new green milestone as more than 2,000 zero-emission buses now on capital's roads

London is leading the way with the largest zero-emission fleet in Western Europe. There are now more than 2,000 zero-emission buses on the capital’s streets helping to improve the city’s air quality and reducing its carbon emissions. This means two in every nine of London’s world-famous red buses have now gone green, which is more than 20 per cent of the entire bus fleet, increasing from 30 in 2016.

TfL's target is to make its entire bus fleet zero-emission by 2030, putting the capital at the forefront of international efforts to make public transport greener. Zero-emission buses are helping to tackle the dangers of toxic air pollution and the climate emergency to protect the health of Londoners and the environment. Making buses zero-emission would save an estimated five million tonnes of carbon over the next two decades.

London's iconic red bus fleet is one of the greenest in the world, with lower CO2 emissions per passenger kilometres compared to other global cities like New York and Vancouver. Since 2021, all new vehicles joining the fleet have been zero-emission, helping TfL become the green heartbeat of London. In addition, all of TfL's other buses meet or exceed Euro VI emission standards, the same emissions standard as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Buses also help to cut congestion as they carry up to 80 times the number of passengers as a car, while taking up just three times as much space, making the most efficient use of road space.

TfL's investment in zero-emission buses has helped to create around 3,000 jobs in green technology in locations like Ballymena, Falkirk and Scarborough, supporting economic growth in the UK. Across the past two years, TfL’s £12bn spend with more than 3,000 UK suppliers across multiple industries has driven activity in new and emerging sectors, with 30 per cent of TfL suppliers operating in low carbon industries and 10 per cent of TfL's supply chain in cutting edge technology and data businesses. 

A key example of TfL’s supply chain delivering for market growth is through the appointment of Wrightbus as Transport UK’s preferred supplier, demonstrating a strong commitment to the UK zero-emission bus industry. This will create new green jobs across the UK and support wider economic growth. As a start, Transport UK has placed an order of 75 zero-emission buses over 12 months, signalling confidence in the UK’s manufacturing industry allowing Wrightbus to ramp up production in Ballymena. On top of around 2,000 green jobs at its factory in Ulster, this will help Wrightbus support 7,200 supply chain jobs across 47 counties in the UK and Ireland to deliver British-sourced components for the manufacturing of zero-emission buses.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It's fantastic London is leading the charge with more than 2,000 zero-emission buses in the capital, the largest zero-emission bus fleet in Western Europe.

“I’m proud we’ve taken London’s bus network from strength to strength since I became Mayor in 2016, increasing the size of the network, making transport greener and improving bus safety and customer experience. The number of London's world-famous red buses that have now gone green has increased from just 30 in 2016 to more than 2,000 today. This is helping to clean up London’s toxic air, protect the environment and the health of Londoners.

“I will continue to do everything I can to ensure buses remain the most accessible, affordable and sustainable form of transport as we continue to build a greener, fairer London for everyone.”

Lorna Murphy, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “Not only do our iconic buses play a vital role in enabling Londoners to travel from A to B affordably and accessibly, but they also ensure each customer they carry is making their journey in the most sustainable and eco-friendly way possible. With more than 2,000 zero-emission buses on London’s roads and the addition of more fully electric routes like the 337, we are on a mission to transition to a fully zero-emission bus fleet, and continue to have the largest zero-emission bus fleet in Western Europe. Our investment in our operators and supply chain partners ensures continuous market growth and security, while supporting the national economy through the green and manufacturing jobs. Decarbonising the public transport network is essential to the Mayor’s mission for London to achieve net zero carbon by 2030.”

The route 337, which operates between Clapham Junction and Richmond, has become the capital’s newest fully electric bus route and is now operated by Transport UK. With 12 new Wrightbus Electroliners added to the service, the fully electric route operates with a bus around every 10 minutes, delivering a high frequency service and contributing to cuts in carbon emissions. Customers on the 337 can also board a specially wrapped zero-emission bus to commemorate this green milestone. As well as being green, these zero-emission buses also give customers quieter, smoother journeys due to fewer vibrations, and include USB charging points and TfL’s Bus Safety Standard features. As part of TfL's commitment to achieving the Mayor's Vision Zero goal of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries on London's roads, all buses have a safer front-end design, and include the latest safety features, such as speed limiting technology, audible warnings to alert pedestrians and other road users to the bus, and improved direct and indirect vision for drivers through camera monitoring instead of mirrors.

David Cutts, Managing Director of Transport UK London Bus, said: “Having more than 2,000 zero-emission buses in London’s fleet is a momentous milestone and I am delighted that the Mayor commemorated it by visiting south-west London. Working with Transport for London and our supply chain, Transport UK are showcasing world-class public transport, in the process improving air quality and helping to secure UK-based employment. As a result of this partnership, all six of our garages run zero-emission services and with sustained investment over the next few years, we will collectively achieve decarbonisation of the entire red bus network.”

Jean-Marc Gales, Wrightbus CEO, said: “This is a landmark moment for London and for Wrightbus and one we’re proud to be a part of. Public transport is leading the way in the zero-emission transition, and we are delighted to support Mayor Sadiq Khan’s tireless efforts to improve air quality, reduce carbon and support UK manufacturing.

“We’re also pleased to announce our exclusive five-year partnership with Transport UK, which will see its fleet bolstered by 75 additional Wrightbus zero-emission vehicles in 2025 alone. Every Wrightbus in service on the streets of London thanks to this partnership helps to support good, green skilled jobs and the wider manufacturing sector across the UK.

“As the UK’s leading zero-emission bus manufacturer, Wrightbus vehicles are built with parts from suppliers across the UK manufacturing sector, so our success is its success.”

Marsha de Cordova, MP for Battersea, said: "It was wonderful to have the Mayor of London to open the capital's newest fully electric bus route for the 337 starting here in the heart of Battersea, taking us one step closer to a fully zero-emission bus fleet.

"Londoners want to be able to travel on affordable buses that are mindful of the environment, cutting emissions, improving health and providing clean, green jobs at the same time.

"As London's 2000th zero-emissions bus, the new and improved 337 will play a key role in helping us get there."

Simon Hogg, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: "Improving air quality is a key priority in helping our residents to live healthier and safer lives so it’s great that TfL chose Wandsworth to celebrate this historic milestone.

“London's zero-emission bus fleet is setting a world class standard and here in Wandsworth we are breathing the benefits, with improved air quality in town centres like Clapham Junction, Putney High Street and Tooting.

"Wandsworth is charging towards its goal of becoming a Carbon Neutral Council by 2030 and a Net Zero Borough by 2043, and the addition of more zero-emission buses helps create a better, greener transport network for us all."

Leonie Cooper, London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth and London Assembly Labour Group Environment Spokesperson, said: ''In 2015, I encouraged the Mayor to journey from Putney across London, wearing a device to monitor air quality. Three years later, he returned to Putney High Street, where we launched the first of London’s Emission Bus Zones.

“We've made great progress on air quality since then and as a result, children have healthier lungs and adults are at less risk of dementia.

“Making the 337 a fully electric bus route continues that world leading progress.

“It's a vital step in cleaning our air and creating healthier communities."

Anna Krajinska, UK Director at T&E UK, Europe’s leading advocates for clean transport and energy, said: ”Investment in greener buses isn’t just a win for the climate - it’s a blueprint for green growth. TfL’s zero-emission bus fleet is a great example of smart climate action that secures jobs and strengthens the UK’s clean tech supply chain.”

Rob Anderson, Research Director at Centre for London, said: “London’s buses are the engines of life, work and leisure on the city’s roads. They are a symbol of our city’s heritage and connectivity across every community in the capital, representing every Londoner no matter their background. It is very encouraging to see continued progress made on reducing the carbon impact from our public transport network, benefitting London’s economy and air quality in equal measure. Decarbonising London is an urgent priority as we approach a critical moment in global environmental policy, and it is welcome that the Mayor and Transport for London are leading the transformation.

"Data from our survey partnership with Savanta has found that two thirds of Londoners consider it important to them that London achieves net zero by 2030, with more than half of Londoners feeling personally impacted by climate change. As our latest report on Health-led Placemaking in London Bridge showed, the quality of our public realm and its environment has a much larger impact on the city’s workers than just its appearance. With more than a fifth of the capital’s red buses now zero-emission, it sets a standard for other global cities in the importance of promoting sustainable travel to support economic growth, resident wellbeing, and the connectivity of a thriving capital."

Complementing the target to transition to a fully zero-emission fleet, initiatives such as introducing 25km of new bus lanes by 2025 and better interchanges will help to deliver a faster and more efficient bus network. Improved customer information and upgraded bus stops will enable a more inclusive passenger experience. In 2023, TfL launched the Superloop, a game-changing network of 10 express bus services, linking stations, hospitals and transport hubs across outer London and adding more than six million kilometres per year to the bus network. Data shows that the Superloop is already transforming travel with millions of journeys each year, with almost half of the journeys involving an interchange with another mode of public transport. A number of express routes are also planned as part of the Superloop Expansion programme. Subject to consultation, two other routes forming part of this initial phase of the expansion include the SL11 which supports regeneration plans in Thamesmead, and SL12, which extends the Superloop network further into outer London. Building on the success of the Superloop, TfL launched the consultation for the proposed new 'Bakerloop' express bus service that would connect stations and areas that form part of the proposed Bakerloo Tube line extension route, running between Waterloo, Elephant & Castle and Lewisham. Results of the consultation will be published soon.

In London, around 4,000 premature deaths per year were previously attributed to toxic air. Air pollution increases the risk of developing asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and a stroke, and there is growing evidence that air pollution exposure increases the risk of developing dementia. Decarbonising London's bus fleet and the London-wide ULEZ will help remove harmful emissions from London's air, making London a cleaner place for all those who live and work in the capital. The latest figures show that the London-wide ULEZ has led to substantial improvements in air quality in outer London and across the capital. Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels, a toxic gas that exacerbates asthma, impedes lung development, and raises the risk of lung cancer, are estimated to be 27 per cent lower across the entire capital compared to a scenario without the ULEZ. Particle emissions (PM 2.5) from vehicle exhausts, are 31 per cent lower in outer London in 2024 than they would have been without the ULEZ expansion. For some of the most deprived communities living near London’s busiest roads, there was an estimated 80 per cent reduction in people exposed to illegal levels of pollution in 2023 – this increases to 82 per cent in outer London, compared to a scenario without the ULEZ.