The battle for the famous London double-decker buses is not over

London - Almost exactly two years ago, the operation of double-decker buses from the 1950s, the Routemaster, ended in London. However, the battle for their return to the streets is not over, as the magazine Autocar commissioned a radical study to fit an electric motors and hydrogen engine into the old bodywork, which would be completely environmentally friendly.
    The proposal was assessed by the city council, which stated that it did not address the main reason why the Routemasters were retired - namely, safety and accessibility issues for disabled people. Conservative candidate for London Mayor, Boris Johnson, however, supported the proposal.
    London now has about 8000 buses, of which 4000 are double-decker. But these are new types. The Routemasters, which revolutionized public transport in the 1950s with their alloy construction, reliable engine, large interior space, and power steering, have not been produced since 1968. They have become a symbol of London just like Big Ben.
    Current mayor Ken Livingstone had them withdrawn because they required a two-person crew with a conductor, making them more expensive to operate than modern versions of double-decker buses. Additionally, they had an open platform at the back, allowing passengers to board and disembark whenever they wanted, which was often dangerous.
    The magazine Autocar commissioned the British company Capoco to design a new Routemaster for the 21st century. It has been given the code name RMXL. It features electric drive and batteries that are charged by a hydrogen unit. It is also intended to include a ramp for disabled people. However, the city council stated that just for conductors it would have to pay around 600 million pounds (21 billion crowns) annually, making this type simply unaffordable.