The year 2022 will be remembered as the year London buses almost came apart. Although the capital’s population was struggling gamely back to some semblance of normalcy after the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact remained that not quite enough of them had resumed their previous travel patterns. A cavernous gap in revenue thus grew, and increasing acrimony between the Mayor, Transport for London and central government over how this shortfall was to be filled, and by whom, prompted drastic plans to slash bus numbers by 4 per cent, including an astonishing 18 central London routes rich in history. Although the crisis was averted when funding was scraped together from emergency reserves, the issues affecting London’s buses are by no means over and may yet arise.

This book contains over 180 previously unpublished colour photographs of each contract change, new bus delivery and company upheaval as it happened over the calendar year 2022, showcasing great variety in the ever-changing arena of London’s buses.