London unveils 'modern' Routemaster

[xchrom]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2011/12/2011121616251795938.html


he model has been dubbed "Boris Bus" after London Mayor Boris Johnson, seen here on the platform [GALLO/GETTY]

London has welcomed a new open-backed double-decker bus, six years after the much-loved but ageing fleet of "Routemaster" vehicles were removed from the streets of the British capital.

The distinctive snub-nosed red Routemasters, popular with tourists and locals alike and as synonymous with London as Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, were almost totally withdrawn in 2005 because they were regarded as expensive relics of the past.

The sleek new modern bus, which also features a conductor and the distinctive open rear boarding platform to allow people to jump on and off, was unveiled for the first time on Friday, gliding through busy traffic on its first trip through London.

Beaming London Mayor Boris Johnson, who had promised a modern Routemaster in his 2008 election manifesto, said he believed the new design would become as resonant worldwide as its predecessor.


The new buses are based on the iconic Routemaster, which last ran in 2005 [GALLO/GETTY]

[jonthebru]

1. One should avoid riding on the top story...

"because there is no driver on the top!"

[backscatter712]

2. All we need now is the Harry Potter triple-decker... n/t