First Bus London has placed electrification and operational excellence at the centre of its delivery strategy as it strives to become the capital’s leading bus operator.
The newly-branded operator was established earlier this year following the acquisition of RATP Dev Transit London by FirstGroup. First Bus London operates 83 routes in and around the capital, carrying more than 180 million customers every year. Currently, 21 of these routes are electric operating from six substantially electrified garages, with further upgrades due by the end of 2025, including the electrification of Route 18 – the busiest bus route in the capital.
The business remains on track to deliver a fully electric fleet by 2034 in line with the Mayor of London’s plans for a zero-emission bus fleet across London by 2034.
To facilitate this, engineers are being trained to maintain the growing electric fleet, with real-time charging visibility and upgraded telematics being introduced throughout the business’s four operational control centres. These specialist control teams are responsible for maintaining on-road performance in real time.
First Bus London is consistently ranked as one of the top performing operators in Transport for London’s network, reflecting its strong operational culture, route management and service reliability.
Bill Cahill, Managing Director at First Bus London, said: “Our focus is on delivering a cleaner, more reliable service for the communities we serve – something that matters to every Londoner who relies on our bus network every day. We’re investing in our people, our infrastructure and our fleet to ensure we’re not only meeting expectations but helping raise the bar for what a modern bus service should look like in the capital.
“Electrification plays a central role in that, but so does day-to-day reliability. We’re committed to doing both – reducing emissions at tailpipe while making sure our service delivers for Transport for London and its passengers.
“Becoming part of First Bus opens an exciting new chapter for our operation. Our shared commitment to our people, operational excellence and sustainability provides a strong foundation for growth. With First Bus’ support, we are well-positioned to enhance our service delivery while accelerating our journey toward a zero-emission future.”
First Bus London operates around 1,000 buses from 10 depots across west and central London and employs approximately 3,700 people.
