Routemaster

AEC Routemaster RML 2473 in April 2002

The AEC Routemaster is a double-decker bus, which was produced 1954-1968 by the Associated Equipment Company ( AEC), especially as a city and regional bus ( Country Bus Coach) for London Transport.

The Routemaster era

The Routemaster was constructed mid-1950s as a self-supporting bus with an aluminum body on either a front- and rear- stool as a successor to the AEC Regent (RT, the London Transport Standard biplane of the 1940s and 50s RT). On the front axle bolster the diesel engine was fixed, the four-stage semi-automatic transmission was under the floor in the middle of the vehicle. The drive was carried out on the doppeltbereifte rear axle. The first ride of Routemasters in London took place on 8 February 1956. The first vehicles of the Routemaster type were 8.4 meters long ( called RM = Routemaster ), had 64 seats and went into operation between 1959 and 1962. 1962 extended by half a window sub-models were ( called RML = "Routemaster long" ) taken with 72 seats in operation for the conversion of the London trolleybus operation on diesel buses. From 1965 to 1968 only this 9.11 meter long RML and RCL were purchased. The two length variants are easily distinguishable in the side view by the additional, smaller windows in the middle of the RML / RCL.

After extensive clarifications with the union were in the 1970s, an increasing number of London bus routes " one-man car" used in which the previously existing Schaffner was (initially only during off- peak hours ) saved. They wanted to meet the shortage of staff and also hoped for a cost savings. Since the stops stay, however, was greatly extended because the driver had to sell tickets now or check, the new system was initially used only to less heavily loaded lines; in the inner city you stayed with the occupied Schaffner car. The advantage of the old classic design ( diesel engine in front, open rear entrance ) constructed Routemaster was that in the city of London with its stop-and -go traffic, passengers could also between stops get on and off easily ( " Hop on / hop off ").

Some vehicles were initially painted green (RMC and RCL with more comfortable facilities for Green Line Coaches = express buses to the suburbs and London Country Bus Service LCBS = buses in the suburbs ). From August 1969 to January 1976 a number Routemaster (RM and RML ) were provided with full advertising, whereby the entire exterior body surface for striking colorful advertising different companies or brands was used. For 25 - and 50 - jahrigen anniversary of the coronation of the Queen, a number Routemaster was also silver or gold finish. After the privatization of the Londener bus company in the 1980s, the vehicles received some new bus companies also colors other than red ( eg Kentish Bus and Coach Co Ltd ). The most popular color of the Routemaster is probably the typical London red, which is prescribed again for city buses in central London for several years (at least 80 % of the body surface ).

For the Routemaster buses a mission life of 17 years was originally provided, however, many of the buses have become much older. Due to the weight-saving aluminum construction, the construction is very durable. In the more than fifty years, there is a series now, a lot has changed on the vehicles. Several times got the Routemaster new diesel engines: While 1962 and 1963 a number of new buses with Leyland engines endowed, in the late 1980s experiments with different diesel engines from other manufacturers were ( Cummins, Ashok, DAF and Iveco) undertaken in Routemaster buses. As a result, 1990 and 1994 of the remaining 502 cars from RML - 500 fleet vehicles got new Iveco engines. Of the shorter RMs were about a hundred vehicles a new engine. In recent years, the buses new, low-emission diesel engines were again eg Scania or Cummins, also the interior has been freshened up (including new interior lighting), the old crank windows replaced with hinged windows, front ( typical for London Buses 1960s ) indicators at the level of the lower deck roof and the rear lights replaced by other types.

The Routemaster series was until the introduction of the New Bus for London ( next to the Leyland Titan) as the last designed specifically for London Bus.

Withdrawal from the event and the end of the Routemaster era

Since the Routemaster buses are not handicapped accessible, the managers were forced by an EU directive in the 2000s, use of vehicles with low floor on the last lines and phase out the old buses. Many cars, particularly the shorter RMs were sold before. After the regular use of time in the 1980s, many vehicles were replaced by newer one-man biplane, several cars were even scrapped, more went to other transport companies in England and Scotland, from which they were bought partly back again later. Today, the old carriage popular attractions not only for lovers.

In the last twenty London lines on which weekdays still Routemaster were used, 2005, the operation was converted gradually to other types of buses Between 29 August 2003 and 9 December:

The last regular voyage of the Routemaster took place on 9 December 2005 and is considered the end of the Routemaster era in London. Since then operate only on sections of the bus lines 9 and 15 in the City of London are regular buses of this type ( "Heritage Routemaster" ). Almost 50 years shaped the vehicles the city and are still considered a landmark of London ( "Take a trip on a London landmark " - ( " Take a trip to a London landmark" ) - Inscription on some of the Heritage Routemaster ). The vehicles were replaced partly by modern low-floor double-decker, partly produced in Germany by articulated buses of the type Mercedes -Benz O 530 Citaro EvoBus, which are produced for the ruling in Britain driving on the left than right hand drive.

Routemaster Heritage Routes

Due to numerous protests against the closure of Routemaster buses on the London Routemaster bus a few, it was decided by Transport for London to use two lines. These lines are referred to as "Routemaster Heritage Routes" and are each shortened versions of existing lines ( see table above), which are now served by low-floor buses:

• Heritage Route 9: Kensington High Street - / Royal Albert Hall - Hyde Park Corner - Piccadilly Circus - Trafalgar Square - beach - Aldwych and back

• Heritage Route 15 Trafalgar Square - beach - Aldwych - Fleet Street - Station Cannon Street - Monument - Tower Hill and back

For courses on these two lines of 19 buses are needed, more will be kept in reserve. The buses are equipped to meet today's emission standards.

Routemaster as a model

New Bus for London

The New Bus for London is also equipped by Wrightbus as the " successor" to the Routemasters with a stern platform. This hybrid, which is especially used at the request of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has since February 20, 2012 in passenger service. The NB4L is therefore also called " Boris Master".

Yutong City Master

In the Macedonian capital Skopje since 2011/12, at a total of over 200 new red double-deckers, which were manufactured by the Chinese company Yutong one in London. Some specimens have an open upper deck. Despite the historicist designs are technically modern vehicles. They act in the Balkan cityscape initially disconcerting, but it is a reintroduction. Already around 1960 it had used a number given in Skopje acquired London RT Double Decker at the time of the great earthquake on 26 July 1963 about disappeared from the cityscape.

Gallery

Side receiving the same vehicle during his stay at the terminus of Golders Green with new indicators and folding windows

Green Routemaster go to line 13 in Golders towards the end station Aldwych '

RM 2217 runs on 9 December 2005 after his last trip on line 159 to the depot Streatham one.

Heritage Routemaster with conductors on line 9 with the advertisements Take a trip in a London landmark and new rear lights on the beach in November 2005

Former, in London for sightseeing bus converted, Open Top Routemaster on city tour on July 2, 2005 in Toronto

Original device of the lower decks with bell-rope, lighted indoor advertising and views of cab (RM 1414)

Routemaster in Perth, 1989