LOOK IN ON LONDON
Fare collection was suspended on the London network from 20 April when the front doors of multi-door buses were taken out of use to protect drivers from the Covid-19 coronavirus.
Over 30 bus workers, mainly drivers, have died after contracting Covid-19 and, following a short trial on routes operated from Abellio London’s Walworth garage, passengers were required to board multi-door buses via the centre doors from 20 April.
Transport for London is confident that the low number of people currently using the network can keep a safe distance when entering and exiting through the same door. Passengers on single-door buses are also expected to board swiftly. During the period of these temporary arrangements, passengers are not required to touch in their Oyster or contactless cards. There are reports that this has led to more short distance riders using buses.
Some operators have allocated dual-door buses in place of single-door vehicles. Notably, Go-Ahead London Metrobus has stood down the Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied Volvo B9TLs that were refurbished with luggage racking for route X26 (Croydon-Heathrow Airport) in favour of two-door Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC hybrids. The virtual ab…
