A fleet of brand new, all-electric buses, featuring sunroofs, USB chargers and mobile phone holders, are being rolled out on a south east London route.

The route 63 double-deckers, linking Honor Oak to King’s Cross, first came into service in December, and will replace the old fleet over the coming weeks.

The buses, manufactured by ADL, have a more “open feel”, with a skylight on the upper deck, larger rear window, and handles on the backs of seats rather than vertical poles for an unobstructed view.

New covers for the priority seats, with a contrasting colour scheme, help differentiate them from other seats for passengers who are less able to stand.

News Shopper: The buses were first developed around two years ago (TfL)The buses were first developed around two years ago (TfL)

The vehicles also have a larger wheelchair and buggy area, improving accessibility and higher seats to improve comfort.

CCTV cameras have also been upgraded to provide higher-definition footage, and new digital signage shares a wider range of real-time information, including the time to the next stop, disruptions, and service updates for Tube and Overground services.

Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: "It's great to see the introduction of this cleaner, safer and 100 per cent electric bus fleet on route 63.

"As ridership levels on the route return close to pre-pandemic levels, these new buses will play a significant role in encouraging Londoners back onto our bus network.

"Unfortunately, we will not see more of these buses if TfL goes into managed decline due to lack of funding.

"Investing in these new buses and the wider network is now more important than ever - to both encourage sustainable travel and to support the capital's recovery from the pandemic.

"The reality is that without a long-term funding deal, innovation like this on our buses and across the capital's entire transport network is at risk of stalling; disrupting services, putting jobs at risk and stifling the economic recovery of London and the country."

TfL's current short-term funding deal is set to run out on February 18, having been extended by a fortnight before its previous expiry date, February 4.

The collapse in passenger numbers during the coronavirus pandemic has decimated TfL's finances, leaving a £1.9bn black hole.

Sadiq Khan has repeatedly warned that severe cuts to services may be unavoidable unless a long-term funding agreement with government can be reached.

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