New Bus For London
Such was the popularity of the Routemaster that many calls continued to be made for a new version of the vehicle to be produced. Conservative Mayoral candidate for London, Boris Johnson on 3 September 2007 announced that he was contemplating introducing a modern-day version of the Routemaster (and scrapping bendy bus operation). In December 2007, UK magazine Autocar commissioned leading bus designer Capoco, designer of the innovative Optare Solo, to come up with detailed proposals for a new-generation Routemaster. Johnson backed the Capoco design in principle and suggested that he would hold a formal design competition to develop a new Routemaster if he became London mayor in 2008. After he was elected, this competition was held for general ideas and detailed designs, with cash prizes for the winning entries. The results of the competition were published on 19 December 2008, with the winning and other good proposals being passed to bus manufacturers to draw up a final design. The winners included two joint 'whole bus' designs, one submitted by Capoco and one submitted by Aston Martin and Foster and Partners.
The brand-new Routemaster was put into service in February 2012.
Read more about this topic: Routemaster
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