Last day of the Routemaster bus in London

[MrSkodaman]

Pity about the rubbish music. I'd much rather have heard RM sounds - engines, gears, the wonderful noises they made when idling and so on.

[TraffordReds9]

Problem with this old bus is hat it's slow, guzzles gas and is not easily accesible for disabled people, elderly people and parents with babies and small children. It's also quite dangerous because of the hop-on-hop-off door. It IS iconic and we do miss it and these buses are hired out for parties, weddings, other countries have bought them for tours etc but for a modern city they're just not practical.

[glen4404]

ereSy is a dipstick, they got you there quicker, because they had a conductor, and you didn,t have to wait at bus stops so long.

[ere5y234]

This british bus is piece of shti,it is too slow~!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jamie123ginge]

were those buses free to ride because im sure you could jest hop on the back and go were ever you want ?

[NeoFalcon69]

London public transportation is an tourist attraction in it's own right.

[britanniaairlines12]

Theres a new one coming.... but its not the same!

[MegaTaurus777]

where did all these old buses end up? the scrapyard?

[jayeastanglia]

@MegaTaurus777 abroad in developing countries..

[THEDOMINICATOR]

I live in London and am really pleased that in 2012 they will return. (Modern Version)

[Isleofskye]

Now try to keep up Richie ! :)

London has endless "rich" areas like Camden/Hyde Park/Marble Arch//Primrose Hill/Highgate/ Muswell Hill etc but it ALSO has a high crime rate and most NOT "all" of that street crime is perpetrated by members of the "10%" Black Community.

That does NOT mean "all" Black people are bad, far from it.

I have lived with 3 different Black Women and socialised with endless others but it does NOT change the crime Stats.

That 10% .commit bearly all gang attacks.

[AimalCool]

Boris Johnson should re-introduce the Routemasters for limited service on some routes. This will be good because instead of keeping them unused in garages, we can put them in service. That will also create jobs for jobseekers (oyster card checkers).

[shafty37]

its just a bus..ffs!

[Davewise1965]

Routemaster buses were the best buses ever made. They were comfortable and actually fun to ride on. I am 45 years old now and as a kid i remember going on bus rides with a few mates just so that i could go on a routemaster. I also remember the old RT buses before the routemasters. When i was older, going upstairs for a smoke. Paying my fare to the conductor. Todays buses are horrible bone shaking things that i only use when i really have to. I say make more Routemasters and bring them back.

[ydesdev]

Great little film. Thank you. I love the fading into black and white, very appropriate...

[choongbren]

they still have them

[MarcoTUV]

Goodbye to a unofficial London icon

[wscott8987]

Environment? Suggest you do some research and see how those superb old buses had been modernised with cleaner engines. Also, there was a hydrogen fuel cell engined version under consideration. They were ahead of their times when introduced and nothing has come along that is better suited to the job they did. Show me a modern bus that can come into the depot after the morning rush, have its engine changed and be out in time for the afternoon peak!

[Hirotoro4692]

I like how the description says 'a sad day'.

Perhaps a sad day to lose one of our most iconic buses.  Not so sad a day for the environment however. I'm more concerned about the environment so it's actually a happy day for me!

[p168ugo]

Such a shame they've all gone now. A lot of it was to do with health and safety regs. The powers that be decided it was dangerous to have open back buses as people could fall off ! Like they havent considered that since the very first horse drawns ! The Routemaster WAS London, along with the black cab. Its just not the same anymore.

[Raksoo1993]

The Routemaster buses was in production between 1958 and 1968

[rightfredsdead]

ding ding. all aboard my cock.!!

[LeBartman]

how old are these buses. I dont live in england and im just curious

[k00l1o]

theres going to be a new routemaster aparently =] modernised.

[Safarigod]

@k00l1o

Yes. But it looks really ugly. Doesn't look at all like the original version. The new one will have no character like the old Routemaster.

[raavi0085]

shut up ITUNES who ll buy this fucking song .....thats inta tain ment

[charliepeto]

the routemaster bus may be about to come back!!

boris johnson wants to reintroduce (a 'modernised' version of) them while the bendy buses are phased out. it is said that for the first 5 buses the cost would be £7million, which is a stupid waste of money, but it is still a nice idea . tbh though i think its more of a dream than an idea, but i would love to see these buses coming back

[adcrg]

Simplemente beautiful.

[Thedoctorsbiggestfan]

what is a routemaster ???? why are they different to other buses??? when did they last run ??? why did they stop them ??? and i saw one or two not long ago when i went to london

[davesgcr]

Excellent - as good as the BTF stuff on the last tram in London. Beautifully caught

[cdkgb]

Thanks very much for this video. I was in London in June of 2004 and rode on a routemaster while I was there. It was a good ride.

[Seal00754]

The only people that hate them are fare dodgers. I am glad my uncle Ernie Seal never saw this day, he was the storekeeper for London Transport.

[MrSkodaman]

Why do we have to listen to the crap music track instead of the wonderful sound of Routemaster engines? It completely spoils an otherwise good video

[jack253]

RML2760 is at WH (West Ham Garage) for Preservation... That the only RML they have rest is RM... RML2760 is original from BW (Bow Garage)

[Mitsugejl]

And those that run the heritage routes, has been re-engined it seems... I was a bit disappointed finding out that they have installed a new diesel engine and a automatic transmission. I've hoped for the rolling thunder a Leyland diesel makes... :(

[russbloke]

@Mitsugejl had auto gears ages m8 decades even !!!!!!

[ianbillericay]

They still run and Jeremy was out of order, I grew up with these lovely AEC vehicles and they have had their revenge. Long live you routemaster you are loved and us Londeners will always luv ya.

[mike81041]

I was out and about on the last day 9/12/05, a great send off and a very sad day. R.I.P Routemaster

[ppshchik]

I'm glad Jeremy Clarkson blew them up!

[londoniscool2009]

The best value for money you will find in London is taking a ride on a Routmaster Bus.

[80sWeekends]

What i liked about the Routemasters is they were so much faster then todays buses. Please bring them back!

[jack253]

I think it's free cause i went on it couple of days ago that was on Roue 9H but i had my Oyster card with me, but i think you'd still have to pay the full fare, but I'm not quite sure

[xxjonboy]

Thankfully they still run on two "heritage" routes. RMs, not RMLs.

[jesusfreakmusic]

I just found out about that. What are the ticket prices... because I would like to go on it :)

[xxjonboy]

Normal prices, as far as I remember. One route is to The Tower.

[jesusfreakmusic]

That is 2 pounds if I'm right?

[xxjonboy]

About that, I think. Enjoy your trip!

[jesusfreakmusic]

Thanks + thanks, hehe!

[ThisIs2009]

RMs and RMLs!

[xxjonboy]

There was actually a farewell ceremony for the last of the RMLs on the heritage routes a couple of years ago, so it is just RMs now....unless they have reinstated some since.

[ThisIs2009]

oh, I'm sure I saw a video on YouTube of a ride on an RML in 2009 (probably wasn't in regular service which makes sense)

[crusher19860138]

A routemaster is based at Stourbridge college here in the West Midlands...makes quite a sight going round the area - ;)

[leleleleee]

The Jam!

[dennatrol81]

Hate the new buses. They suck real bad, they cause so much accidents when turning corners. Their not safe either, see smoke coming from them more than once:(

[EBH250F]

Thanks. I lived in London for almost 2 years in the early 80's. Have not been back since late 80's. I can't imagine London without the routemasters. We would always jump on the back as they were pulling away from the stop, have a seat and qait for the conductor to come around and check bus pass or sell ticket. Great fun and good memories. Sure seems like a trip to London would be missing something now.

[Isleofskye]

@EBH250F

Just saw your comment from one year ago!

You would NOT recognise the people in London anymore!

Only 20% of children are White/British in London now.

When I was young in the 1960's it was 98% !

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye Both incorrect and racist.

[Isleofskye]

@richardmaudsley77

I NEVER saw any Primary School children in Southwark who were nor White/British so it was nearer 99/100% !

At Grammar School there were 3 in the 11 years ( 5 above/ 5 below ) out of over 1,000 children. That was 1965-71.....there were a few Black Guys at some Secondary schools but one could go ONE MONTH without seeing a Non-White person on a South London street and I lived TWO miles from Peckham/Brixton.

You would weep for London if you saw the contrast."then and now"..

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye Why would I weep for london? I don't care how many "non-whites" are there. Hell, we invaded them, so it's only fair they do it to us. You'll notice they are decent enough to do it without maxim guns, so they're one up on us there.

You're full of shit anyway though, I was there in the summer holidays and it looked like cracker island.

[Isleofskye]

@richardmaudsley77

"I was there in the summer holidays" AN ALMIGHTY LOL !

I KNEW you could not live in London as you would not have the attitude that you do.

FYI: 2004 Last Ethnic breakdown: 175,000 mobile phone assaults with 155,000 WHITE victims and 157,000 BLACK assailiants! Now THAT IS "racist" its statistically impossible if that was "Random". Whites are targeted as the line of least resistance.

Which Multi-Cultural "Hotbed" do you live in? Cheshire? lol Surrey ? lol Somerset? lol

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye "I KNEW you could not live in London as you would not have the attitude that you do."

So what you're saying is that all the white people in the london area are racists like you?

[Isleofskye]

@richardmaudsley77

What I'm saying that the overwhelming majority of White/Brits who have lived in London when it was White and can contrast it to the present where their Culture has been diluted or ( in many parts ) disappearred would prefer the former way of life to the present.

65/69 London Teenage murders committed by Blacks with 1 Arabic, 1 Turkish and 1 Asian ans 1 "Not Guilty" ..

171/174 London Gangs have predominantly or exclusively Black members.

THAT is why many are Racist.!!

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye Still doesn't explain why when I go to london, it's the land of the whitebread honkey.

[Isleofskye]

@richardmaudsley77

Only 21% of London schoolchilden are White/British so it soon will not be!

30% of London births last year were born to Women born outside THe UK and when you add all the babies from 2/3/4th Generation immigrants, as well you can see what the future of London will be.

I've seen London's future and it certainly is NOT "orange" lol

You never did say which area you reside in Mon Ami...

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye St. Helens, up north where we're too busy doing real work to sit around worrying about "racial purity". Do us all a favor and fuck off, you goosestepping mail reading bastard.

[Isleofskye]

@richardmaudsley77

St.Helens !!! So you imply the benefits of a Multi-Cultural ( MC ) heaven and you do NOT line in a MC area yourself.. WHAT A CLOWN YOU ARE.

How hypocritical can you get. ? I virtually guarantee that the Culture of YOUR area has hardly changed at all since Mass immigration and you only probably have Asian or East European immigrants who tend to be family-orientated and hard-working.

Come and live in a BLACK area you and then your views will hold some credilibilty.

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye Oh, so you're saying that specifically black people aren't "family-orientated and hard-working"?

Reality check, everything bad that's ever happened to me was caused directly by whitebreak cracka honkeys.

[Isleofskye]

@richardmaudsley77

Anyone who has had the misfortune to see their area completely swamped by a differerent Culture wil be sickenened by your naive, wishy-washy, clueless comments.

Its all very well living well away from the "action" but come and live in the East London Black "Murder Mile" i.e. Homerton/Hackney environs or its South London equivalent "Murder Mile" i.e. Brixton/Kennington/Camberwell/­Stockwell and THEN lets hear your views after the 5th time you are a victim.

CLUELESS.

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye Yeah, you believe the daily mail. Stop talking.

[Isleofskye]

@rim77

I'm the antithesis of "ignorant" as I have lived and worked around Black people for many decades..

The Bangla-Deshi Community in London are the most impoverished, yet commit little crime.

The REASON that in ANY area in The UK (where the Black populace is 10%+) why they commit the MAJORITY of street crime is because 71% NATIONWIDE are from Single-Parents where the Mum has to provide for the kids with little emotional, financial or practical support from the feckless Fathers.

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye You mad 'cause I'm stylin on you.

[Isleofskye]

@richardmaudsley77

Why do you think "millions" of White Londoners have deserted one of the 2 greatest Cities in the World and trust me I've visited nearly every one of London's 350 integrated "Villages" and its a fabulously vibrant, stimulating City.

We take "White Flight" just like almost EVERY USA City, in fact.

By re-locating to The London Suburbs we drastically reduce our chances of being a victim.

If YOU live in a 95% White Area then Whites must be the culprits in your area.

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye Maybe they deserted london because it's an overpriced shithole where a pint costs a fiver?

[Isleofskye]

@richardmaudsley77

Yeah! "Shithole" lol

Mayfair, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Barbican, Belgravia,Belsize Park. Hampstead etc Real shitholes! NOT !!

Try buying a house in The Bishops Avenue, Hampstead for under £12 Million. lol

One house probably worth more than the whole market value of St.Helens! lmao.

Why do you think the "Supply and Demand" dictates that people are prepared to pay fortunes to line in London My Son?

"Fiver" for a Pint....you got off lightly!

[richardmaudsley77]

@Isleofskye Wait hang on, one second you're going on about how london is mostly black criminals, next you're saying it's a highly desirable place full of rich people.

[bommmmmmmm]

Coming to London and no longer seeing this icon is sad. When you saw it you knew that it was London. Can you imagine going to New York and not seeing a 'big yellow'? At the end of the day its only a bus but it was part of London's identity. What makes countries from all over the world interesting to visit are things that are unique to that country or a city within it. I have no interest in buses - but this was more than a bus....it was part of London's soul.

[Bevoin1970]

I totally agree !!

[faridjabba]

@bommmmmmmm why ? these are suspened ?now they have new ones but similar look, no?

[jimmyass]

@bommmmmmmm try getting a wheel chair on it? or a pushchair? it is still runing on route 9 and 15.

[auntisa]

Hi, thanks for this lovely video. I've also liked your comment too. I do agree and London is a unique place to live.

My son of 22mths is fascineted for buses, and actually your video is replacing any cartoon from CBBs.Thanks

[aeronuk1]

@bommmmmmmm Thats why Red Ken got rid of them, commie leftists hate national identity in any shape or form. Unfortunately for the routemaster it sybolised London and Britain and was a part of it's identity, so in red ken's eyes it had to go.

[GTA4Life666]

@bommmmmmmm It's a fuckin bus get over it.... I visited London after this and I was fine. And I've been to new york, and have no Idea what a "Big Yellow" is. And no it wasn't more than a Bus, it's a piece of metal with and engine and wheels that moved people around, who gives a shit, there bigger problems in the world, get over it.

[jack253]

@GTA4Life666

This is a sort of an insult and a person who doesn't know what he is talking about, a man with no soul.

This bus has been around London for 50 Years!!! for Christ sake, 5 Decades...

To me I rode my first bus ride on a Routemaster by my self and that was when I was 10 Years Old.. Go me.. :D

As a Lononder these buses will be surely missed and I don't think the "New Routemaster" would be able to replace them.

Any who they've been around since RMs and RTs where in service.

[kypoppa]

@GTA4Life666 Shut you mouth your just a nasty bastard arnt you huh ???

[WolfBrat]

@GTA4Life666 Obviously just a troll (check the name), but the reason people love the buses is that they're part of something greater - part of life - part symbol, part participant -- but reducing that all to "a piece of metal" shows you're one of that rare breed of people who simply doesn't get it and never will. Your loss. The rest of us will remain grinning kids no matter how old we get when we get a chance to ride one or see one drive by in the street.

[landof101dreams]

@bommmmmmmm They still have them -.-

[citroenfanatic]

noo 2500 !! how many of these busses were made??

[wscott8987]

Ken Livingstone hang your head in shame !

[deanyorks]

Yup, I agree. Good old lefty ken. Any opportunity to ruin and destroy anything totally British, and ken is in there like a ferret down a rabbit hole.

SHAME ON HIM AND ALL HIS SUPPORTERS

[Hirotoro4692]

@wscott8987 for us having 25% more environmentally friendly Volvo buses instead? hang his head in shame for doing his part to the environment at the expense of people infatuated with nostalgia? huh?

[bronzeonion]

health and safety are assholes

[LondonDefenceIntel]

The Routemaster and the old red bus rover great days i do miss them

[Loftier]

Is there anyone out there that actually likes the modern day double-decker? I personally can't stand them. I suppose the safety first mob will tell us hopping on and off a moving bus, even if it's crawling along at 5mph, is a potential hazard and as such a potential lawsuit. This video reminds me of the days of undistracted drivers, roomy transport and a conductor to keep order. Truly safe days. Thanks d90yqv.

[barringtonbank]

I am going to a bus rally very soon, I hope to see more buses than the last bus rally. Oh and thank you for your email Hornebeedublo, very interesting information you if out there about the buses.

[anton9108]

i hate ken livingston.

i went to london for the first time in may this year and were surprised to find the routemasters gone,the last day i found out about the heritage route and i wanted to get on one so bad it made us miss the flight back home XD

[nelsontaylor1971]

Great Video, these buses are the best. Driving the new ones are nothing like as good. No feel, and no good looks. Well done britain letting another good thing slip through our hands.  Come on Boris keep your promise with the new Route Maser. The old ones still live on and are in demand. keep up the good work enthusiasts.....

[dannyman1995]

there are only two routes left that run the routemaster and the cab is changed. the routes are 9 & 15 ithink

[citroenfanatic]

Why!! these busses where great!

[amazingamazers]

The Routemasters really define London.

They are the best buses ever made, hands down.

[Adriano9966]

the end of a british icon i dont see why we should have removed these buses just to suit the terrorists..why? i think people were much safer on these buses than the new ones!

[flobblepop1]

Last Day? I still see them from time to time, not on show, but operating normally. :)

[citroenfanatic]

what happend to these busses did the all and up on the junkyard ?? did they wrecked them??

[mrspivvy]

no, most of them were sold off privately. either to enthusiasts with big garages or to other operators. there was nothing wrong with the buses to stop their continued use. allegedly those in charge got backhanders to order a new fleet

[citroenfanatic]

what happend to these busses did the all and up on the junkyard ?? did they wrecked them??

[shalambraxy]

about 2500 were wrecked and about 500 have been moved to other countries and are in service around the world :/

[MadYorkie]

Big mistake getting rid of these reliable buses,these wer part of london & part of its heritage. Sorry to see them go.

[buffboydan]

I bet they were damn cold in the winter though...

[lelboy]

No, not really; the did get a lot of condensation on the windows, though.

[MadYorkie]

No they were quite warm, just easy on easy off no waiting to be served by the driver like the newer buses.

[lioshenka]

Nice ending, looks 50-ies ish

[jimclart]

the heritage route runs the number 9 and 15 theres 16 buses still in service they run from 9.00am til 6.00pm

[jaffacake38]

You do know that a couple of routemasters still run on a couple of lines

[Oscarell]

Take those good ol' buses back to us in London! I'm thinking just like RickyUK100, it's like the Big Ben would be carried with choppers out of London and down to the scrapyard!! I'm gonna' have one when it's possible and import it to Finland!

[Trek001]

Lets get as many as possible to sit outside the Mayor's offices and jam the horns on for a few hours. Protesting RM fan style

[Oscarell]

Jam the horns on for a few hours! Do agree! :D Funny idea though.

[Oscarell]

Jam the horns on for a few hours! Do agree! :D Funny idea though.

[RickyUK100]

London isn't the same without them! It's like loosing big ben or st Pauls.

I think borris Johnson says he is going to get rid of the bendy buses and commision a replacement for the routemaster if he becomes mayor.

[Oscarell]

The bendy buses are horrible!

[JohnGBUK]

Why were police on the bus?

[d90yqv]

Crowd control - it was the last ever Routemaster running, and hundreds of people wanted to get onto it.

[choongbren]

@d90yqv i still see this bus in north london that was not the last one

[scottishlowoflow]

if they want it to be disablity accesable then they just need a ramp the clippie shoves out when they see a wheelchair

[barringtonbank]

I have saved this in my favorites. Absolutely wonderful, I would love to go on one of these beautiful buses. May there rest in pease.

[barringtonbank]

Todays buses are horrible and nasty, but these buses are beautiful and wonderful. The song and the music is great too.

[deselmes]

As the advertisement says, one can still enjoy a ride on the Routemaster on routes 9 and 15, but it really will be the end in 2017 when the demands for disabled access on all buses in London are fully implemented.

[barringtonbank]

I have only been on a routemaster only once. I have been on RTMS loads of times. The RTMS had the door at the front and the routemasters had the door at the back, and Ken Livingstone needs to be shown the door when the next general election comes along for getting rid of these beautiful buses.

[barringtonbank]

The reason why the routemasters and the RT'S have been scrapped for is their were too expensive to repair and there could not get the parts.

[HORNEBEEDUBLO]

This is not the case with Routemasters. All still in London service had received new Cummins, Iveco or Scania engines. Around 2001, a significant number were refurbished and fitted with Cummins B series engines and Allison automatic gearboxes. This ensured parts commonality with new buses and provided a smoother ride.

[mrspivvy]

True. In addition London Transport had successfully run these buses for 40 odd years, their workshops were equipped to carry out any repair on the routemasters. they had all been overhauled many times before, resulting in what was effecively a brand new bus. there was no reason this could not have continued. hard to find parts were simply cannibalised from RM's in poor condition. With the cummins B series, up to 14 mpg was possible, nowhere near this with the bendies. sheer stupidity.

[tatianapetite]

awesome. I wonder if Boris would reinstate them?

[waine9574]

Tourists like them because they have a really London feel to them.They should have kept them in service.Livingstone,when the BNP come to power you will be put on trial for high treason.Trust me

[markhynde]

i spent the whole of the last 2 days on westminster bridge taking shots of the 159, while wearing my old but warm mod jacket from the 80s, so great choice of soundtrack

[dutchdanny]

The bus drives straight into history. Nice video!

[gemcityjeff]

I guess Big Ben will be the next thing to go. gcj

[shalambraxy]

yeah but big ben probably isn't a "health and safety hazard"

[peewillyherman]

Ken Livingstone will be out next election!

get the anti semitic - secret Tory boy out!

[mrspivvy]

livingston-you know, Mr "routemasters will leave london over my dead body" should be shot. I wonder how much of a backhander he got from the bendy manufacturer

[Deadoralive2046]

historical, London will never be the same again. thanks

[longshadoww]

Really enjoyed this video especially that last shot with the cops riding the Routemaster, which is surely a sign of the times, and probably one of the reasons why the Routemaster is being made redundant. Here's my video with a Routemaster in it. So sorry to see them go. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v­=qeJgCDPe7DA -- Tracy (Longshadoww)