Transport for London (TfL) has launched a year-long trial of new bus shelter designs at 27 locations across the capital, marking a renewed focus on the often-overlooked waiting environment for bus passengers.
The trial, which began in late January, is testing two shelter designs and multiple feature configurations to assess how changes to lighting, seating, materials and layout can improve accessibility, safety and customer comfort. Locations were selected based on passenger volumes, the condition of existing shelters and areas with higher reported crime.
TfL says the initiative responds to the reality that bus stops and shelters are the most frequently used waiting points across the public transport system, yet their quality and condition can vary significantly.
More than five million bus journeys are made in London each day, making shelters a critical part of the customer experience rather than simply roadside furniture.
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Key upgrades being tested include brighter lighting to improve visibility and personal safety, redesigned seating aimed at better supporting passengers with mobility impairments, and tougher materials intended to reduce vandalism and maintenance demands. A new roof design using reflective red vinyl has also been introduced to improve shelter visibility at night and reinforce the city’s iconic bus identity.
Priority seating areas and clearly marked waiting spaces for priority customers are also being trialled, alongside CCTV at 10 selected shelters. TfL will assess whether cameras influence crime levels and passenger confidence, particularly for women and girls travelling after dark.
The shelter designs were developed with input from disability groups and passenger advocates, including the RNIB, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and London TravelWatch. TfL says feedback gathered during the trial will inform future shelter standards across the network.
Alongside the trial, TfL is expanding shelter coverage more broadly. Around 20 new Landmark London shelters are being installed at high-demand stops that previously had no shelter, while refurbished shelters are being redeployed to improve conditions at other locations.
TfL director of streets and network operations Carl Eddleston says the project reflects a broader shift in how bus infrastructure is viewed.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to creating a bus network that feels safer, more welcoming and easier to use,” Eddleston says.
“By modernising our infrastructure, we’re ensuring that Londoners benefit from spaces that truly support their daily journeys.”
The trial aligns with TfL’s Bus Action Plan, which aims to grow bus use and support the Mayor of London’s target for 80 per cent of trips to be made by public transport or active travel by 2030.
Results from the trial will be used to assess costs, feasibility and the potential for wider rollout across London’s 14,000 bus shelters.
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