'welcome back' bus by miñarro garcía, héctor serrano studio and javier esteban

earlier this year the transport for london held a competition asking people to design a new bus for the city. aston martin together with foster + partners were named winners just a few weeks ago but coming a close second was the design shown here by miñarro garcía, héctor serrano studio and javier esteban.

based on the iconic routemaster the ‘welcome back’ bus would use hybrid diesel-electric drive-train and regenerative braking system to keep weight and emissions to a minimum, coupled with a solar-panel roof for top-up energy. the design has a small wheelbase for easier manoeuvrability around london’s narrow streets. another feature is the diagonal window that celebrates london’s double decker buses by visually externalizing the stairs. to improve safety the design incorporates a lighting system into the floor of the rear entrance platform that informs passengers and vehicles when the bus is about to move. its smaller size also means less weight so less fuel compsumption is required and less exhaust emissions are produced.

diagonal window that celebrates london’s double decker buses by visually externalizing the stairs

lighting system in the floor of the rear entrance informs passengers and vehicles when the bus is about to move.

judges were impressed with the wide doors, and aisles.

a hybrid diesel-electric drive-train and regenerative braking system were proposed to keep weight and emissions to a minimum, coupled with a solar-panel roof for top-up energy.