TfL unveils publicly owned bus company 

Transport for London (TfL) has launched ‘Buses for London’, the capital’s publicly owned bus company, as well as plans for its first route and operational base at Park Royal Depot in west London. 

TfL has confirmed that route 6, which runs between Willesden and Victoria station, will be the first service to operate under the new name when the brand launches in late 2027.

A further four routes will be announced over the coming year, to come into operation from 2028. 

TfL currently contracts bus services to eight privately-owned operators across the capital’s almost 700 bus routes.

According to TfL, the creation of a publicly owned bus company will afford it greater control over how services are run, enabling it to boost reliability and safety while reinvesting profits to further improve the capital’s transport network.

Park Royal Depot will become the first operational site for ‘Buses for London’ and will be electrified to initially support about 100 zero-emission buses.

TfL is working in partnership with the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) to develop the site.

It is being leased to TfL until 2033 ahead of regeneration in line with the Old Oak Masterplan Framework. TfL and OPDC will work together to identify an alternative location for the depot ahead of the expiry of the lease. 

Lorna Murphy, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “The announcement marks an exciting new chapter for London’s buses and an important first step in exploring how a publicly owned bus company could support the future of the capital’s transport network.”