Local buses

Read and memorize the following words, words combinations and word-groups:

London congestion charge - Лондонський збір за в'їзд автотранспорту

resurgence - відродження

rear-entrance double-deck Routemaster - двоповерховий автобус з заднім входом

to dwindle - зменшуватися

bendy buses -одноповерхові автобуси,де треба згинатися

Disability Discrimination Act - Закон про дискримінацію інвалідів

passengers in wheelchairs - пасажири в інвалідних колясках

competitive - конкурентоспроможний

subsidiary - допоміжний
commuter coaches - приміські автобуси

1. Most local buses within London form a network managed by London Buses, an arm of Transport for London, although most services are operated by private sector companies under contract to London Buses. With the introduction of the London congestion charge in central London and because at peak times the Underground is operating at maximum capacity, many bus service improvements have been undertaken, and central bus services are currently enjoying something of a resurgence.

2. Although the rear-entrance double-deck Routemaster is the archetypal London bus, their numbers have dwindled quite quickly owing to their age (the oldest are now more than 50 years old), their inability to accept wheelchairs or pushchairs, and their requirement for a two-person crew.

3. All other local bus services are now operated by modern low-floor buses, which may be single-deck or double-deck. Some of the single deck buses are articulated and locally known as bendy buses. Bendy buses have three sets of doors, and passengers with season tickets or Oyster cards can board articulated buses using any set of doors. Most other buses operating in London have two sets of doors, and passengers board the bus using the front door and alight using the rear door, whilst some buses on less busy routes have only one door. All these buses conform to the Disability Discrimination Act, and can accept passengers in wheelchairs and other mobility impaired passengers.

4. Because the operating contracts for local buses in London are subject to a system of competitive tender, a wide range of companies now operate bus routes across London. Many services have been contracted out to leading transport groups such as the Perth-based Stagecoach Group; until April 2013 the Aberdeen-based FirstGroup was also a major London operator until it sold its London operations to the Australian firm Transit Systems. Other London bus operators are owned by international operators including Arriva, a subsidiary of the German state-owned railway Deutsche Bahn, and London United which is part of RATP Group, the state-owned operator of the Paris public transport system. The largest operator of London bus routes is the Newcastle-based Go-Ahead Group, followed by Arriva.

5. Privately run bus services may also be operated independently of the regulated London bus network, but still require a permit from TfL. This permit applies to any service which has a stop in London and another within 15 miles of Greater London, such as commuter coaches, school buses or supermarket shuttle buses.