Transport for London has announced that a publicly owned company, Buses for London, will begin operating services in the capital from late 2027. The move is described by the authority as a “major milestone” in its drive to improve reliability, safety and value for passengers and drivers alike. The new operator will initially take control of route 6, which runs between Willesden and Victoria station, with a further four routes to be assigned from 2028.
TfL currently contracts bus services to eight private operators across nearly 700 routes. By bringing a small slice of the network in-house, the authority says it will gain greater oversight over timetables, fares and investment decisions. Profits generated by the new company are to be reinvested into the wider transport network, supporting efforts to cut emissions and ease congestion.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, welcomed the launch as a chance to reimagine the bus network. He said the initiative would deliver better value for money, advance climate goals, improve road safety and ultimately work better for both passengers and staff. His remarks echoed the authority’s broader aim to reverse a decade‑long decline in bus speeds and ridership, which has seen average speeds fall to around nine miles per hour – slower than the average cyclist.
Lorna Murphy, TfL’s director of buses, highlighted the environmental benefits of the new venture. She pointed to a depot planned in the Old Oak regeneration area that will house the first generation of zero‑emission buses. According to Murphy, the facility marks “an exciting new chapter” and will help build on the progress already made toward a more sustainable transport system.
The announcement was met with approval from trade unions. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said the move answered a long‑standing call for public ownership. She argued that outsourcing to private firms had failed workers and passengers, citing intolerable working conditions and declining service quality while operators’ profits rose. Wayne King, the union’s national officer for passenger transport, described the launch as “only the beginning” and pledged that Unite would hold TfL and the mayor to account on pay, terms and conditions.
Private operators, however, voiced strong reservations. Graham Vidler, chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, insisted that passengers do not need a new public bus operator but rather faster, more reliable journeys. He urged investment in congestion‑busting measures, bus priority schemes and traffic‑flow improvements, arguing that the current average speed of nine miles per hour shows where the real problem lies. Vidler warned that the uncertainty created by a publicly owned rival could deter private firms from making further investments in vehicles and technology.
The development fits into a wider Labour‑led programme of bus franchising and public control that has been rolling out since 2025. Similar municipal operators already exist in places such as Reading, Blackpool and Nottingham, survivors of the deregulation and privatisation wave of the 1980s. TfL’s move may encourage other local authorities to consider establishing their own publicly owned bus companies.
Why it Matters
The creation of Buses for London represents a significant shift in how the capital’s bus services are managed and financed. By placing a portion of the network under direct public control, Transport for London aims to break the cycle of declining speeds and falling patronage that has plagued the system for years. If the new operator can deliver on its promise of greener, safer and better‑value services, it could provide a workable model for other UK cities grappling with similar challenges. Conversely, the pushback from private operators underscores the risk that fragmented ownership and competing priorities could undermine coordinated efforts to tackle congestion and improve reliability. The outcome will likely shape the future of bus franchising not just in London, but across the country.
