Mayor answers to London

New Routemasters

[Supplementary question]

Question number	0985/2008
Meeting date	18/06/2008

Question by Caroline Pidgeon

What, if any, guidelines will you be setting for the design and will it have an open rear platform and need conductors?

Answer by Boris Johnson (1st Term)

Let me tell you this; I am determined to have a new generation Routemaster and, yes, it is certainly part of my vision that it should have an open platform. Obviously this is something that came up endlessly during the campaign. I think it was probably one of the most elucidated global issues; the exact cost of the people who would have to look after the platform. There is scarcely anybody in Outer Mongolia who is ignorant of this debate!

I think it probably will be necessary to have someone to invigilate the platform. I think that is no bad thing for bus safety generally and we will certainly make sure that it is done in an economical way.