It's a delightfully convivial atmosphere and one that would be ruined by an intrusive, loudspeaker-delivered commentary. Gentle piano music plays in the background and through an avenue of plane trees we can see Waterloo Bridge, the River Thames and the brutalist concrete monstrosity that is the Southbank Centre (thankfully there will be more agreeable sights to come). Our elegantly-attired server, Jay, welcomes us on board with a glass of Lombard champagne. If anything, it's a better experience – the gleaming wooden tables don't wobble, the seats are generously padded and we're not surrounded by people smoking enthusiastically between courses. Attempting to recreate the atmosphere of a Parisian bistro on the top deck of a bus is no easy task, but the designers have done an admirable job. We're ushered past the small galley kitchen and upstairs to the dining area, where there's seating for 38 people in a mixture of two, four and six-seat tables. I sign up for the latter, boarding the sleek black bus at Victoria Embankment on a balmy summer's evening with a tall, leggy brunette (aka my brother). There are two dining tours – a two-hour, four-course lunch experience and a three-hour, six-course dinner. Thankfully, none of these factors deterred Bustronome's two founders, who perfected the concept in Paris before launching it in London in 2017. How do you safely serve food on a moving bus? How do you stop glasses from spilling? How do you stay on schedule in London's unpredictable traffic? ![]() And then you take a moment to consider the logistics. In fact, it seems such a glaringly good idea that you wonder why no one has done it before. Take a double-decker bus, convert it into an upscale moving restaurant and offer a sightseeing tour of London's best-known landmarks. On paper, Bustronome sounds like an inspired concept. Occasionally, the buses can be bought by individuals, businesses and charities hoping to to convert them into unconventional vehicles such as homes.Bustronome's founders perfected the concept in Paris before launching it in London in 2017. They can also be sold off to bus enthusiasts who wish to preserve them. There are several second hand bus dealerships where buses formerly used on the TfL London bus network are re-sold either to bus companies around the UK and in other countries which drive on the left. Standard diesel single decker bus: A 2006 model currently goes for £8-10,000.Standard diesel double decker bus: A 2006 model currently goes for £20-30,000.Here are the going rates for second hand buses, prices decrease due to age, emissions standards and condition: Electric single decker bus: up to £340,000.Electric double decker bus: £400,000 (a hybrid was around £300,00 although these cannot be bought anymore).Hydrogen fuel cell-powered double decker bus: £545,000 (based on deal for route 7 buses).However, typical prices of the vehicles include: We'll also let you know in advance if there are any roadworks, railworks or closures you should know about, or if there are any problems on the city's tube network. We will keep you informed about the latest news that affects your daily commute to work, as well as at the weekend. We've created a Facebook group for people who travel on London's bus, rail, Underground, Overground and DLR services. ![]() ![]() It is important to note that there is no set standard price for a London bus because each operator buys their own buses (TfL does not usually purchase buses directly) and they can be bought in batch deals where the manufacturer can offer a discount. ![]() This decision came as part of his ambition to get the entire fleet zero emission by 2034 (or 2030 if central government supports this), down from his original 2037 target. READ MORE : TfL London Underground and bus fare increases set for January to be pushed back The price for a London bus, from new, has gone up in recent years following Transport for London (TfL)'s emphasis on ordering more expensive zero emission vehicles to improve the capital's dire air quality.Įarlier this year, Mayor Sadiq Khan instructed London's bus operators to only order zero emission vehicles (essentially electric and hydrogen powered buses). Most of us have a pretty good idea on how much is acceptable to pay for an old banger of a vehicle that you might want to use as a run around, but few of us know the price of the public transport many of us take every day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |