Efforts to give one of the most iconic symbols of London transport an environmental makeover have taken another step forward after Transport for London (TfL) selected Wrightbus as its preferred manufacturer.

The New Bus for London will be based on the iconic Routemaster after TfL held an open design contest for new buses in London in 2008 with the results to be passed on to the selected manufacturer – in this case Wrightbus. The new bus incorporates hybrid technology and is 40 per cent more fuel efficient than conventional diesel buses and 15 per cent more fuel efficient than existing London hybrid buses. Nitrogen oxide emissions have also been slashed by 40 per cent while PM has been reduced by 33 per cent compared to diesel buses.

Among the buses’ features is an open platform that allows the reinstatement of the hop-on, hop-off bus service. It will have the facility to be closed at certain times and the bus will have three doors and two staircases giving it an innovative new design and smoother boarding. Passenger capacity is expected to be at least 87.

Currently, Wrightbus is working on the final design which is expected early in the New Year with the aim of putting the first new bus on the streets of London in 2011. Meanwhile, TfL will continue to convert its fleet to hybrid technology including retrofitting buses to Euro 4 standard as part of the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy.