Transport Research Laboratory - TRL Report 271 - Evaluation of Low-Floor Bus Trials in London and North Tyneside

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Mary Man

A substantial number of existing public transport passengers experience mobility impairments, making it difficult to negotiate steps at bus entrances/exits and the platform-to-train gap. Low-floor buses address these barriers by enabling pushchairs to be wheeled on/off without folding and, with retractable ramps, allowing wheelchair users to board and alight. The report evaluates trial deployments in London and North Tyneside, covering passenger characteristics, ease of access, operational impacts, research methods, and costs to support assessment of accessibility benefits and implementation implications.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages46

Reading Time1 h 56 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

1.2 The trial programme

1.3 Monitoring

2 The trials

2.1 The vehicles

2.2 The services

2.3 Infrastructure

2.4 Parking control near bus stops

3 Research methods

3.1 Video recordings

3.2 Classified passenger counts and bus stop timings

3.3 Bus passenger interviews

3.4 In-home interviews

3.5 Information from operators

3.6 Driver interviews

4 Passenger characteristics

4.1 Age and sex

4.2 Age and disability

4.3 Proportions of disabled passengers

4.4 Pushchair users

4.5 Difficulties in using buses

5 Ease of access

5.1 Passenger assessment

5.2 Analysis of video recordings

5.3 Boarding and alighting times

6 Difficulties in using low-floor buses

6.1 Boarding and alighting

6.2 Moving and standing in the vehicle

6.3 Service characteristics

7 Passenger preferences and evaluation

7.1 Preferred bus type

7.2 Route preference

7.3 Advantages of low-floor buses for less mobile people

7.4 User evaluation of low-floor buses

8 Patronage

8.1 Patronage statistics from operators

8.2 Reported changes in bus use

9 Operational implications

9.1 Bus stop timing surveys

9.2 Alighting and boarding time analysis

9.3 Effects on journey times

10 Operating costs

10.1 Fuel consumption

10.2 Average cost of repairs

10.3 Extra cost of running low-floor buses

10.4 Capacity considerations

11 Discussion

12 Conclusions

13 References

TRANSPORT RESEARCH LABORATORY Evaluation of low-floor bus trials in London and North Tyneside Prepared for Mobility Unit, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), Buses and Taxis Division DETR and the Unit for Disabled Passengers, LT I York and R J Balcombe TRL REPORT 271 First Published 1998 ISSN 0968-4107 Copyright Transport Research Laboratory 1998. This report has been produced by the Transport Research Laboratory, under/as part ofa Contract placed by the Mobility Unit, DETR, Buses and Taxis Division DETR and the Unit for Disabled Passengers, LT. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of the Mobility Unit, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), Buses and Taxis Division DETR and Unit for Disabled Passengers, LT. TRL is committed to optimising energy efficiency, reducing waste and promoting recycling and re-use. In support of these environmental goals, this report has been printed on recycled paper, comprising 100% post-consumer waste, manufactured using a TCF (totally chlorine free) process. Transport Research Foundation Group of Companies Transport Research Foundation (a company limited by guarantee) trading as Transport Research Laboratory. Registered in England, Number 3011746. TRL Limited. Registered in England, Number 3142272. Registered Offices: Old Wokingham Road, Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG45 6AU. CONTENTS Page Executive Summary 1 1 Introduction 5 1.1 Background 5 1.2 The trial programme 5 1.3 Monitoring 5 2 The trials 5 2.1 The vehicles 5 2.2 The services 10 2.3 Infrastructure 12 2.4 Parking control near bus stops 12 3 Research methods 12 3.1 Video recordings 12 3.2 Classified passenger counts and bus stop timings 13 3.3 Bus passenger interviews 13 3.4 In-home interviews 14 3.5 Information from operators 15 3.6 Driver interviews 15 4 Passenger characteristics 16 4.1 Age and sex 16 4.2 Age and disability 16 4.3 Proportions of disabled passengers 16 4.4 Pushchair users 18 4.5 Difficulties in using buses 18 5 Ease of access 19 5.1 Passenger assessment 19 5.2 Analysis of video recordings 19 5.2.1 Difficulties boarding and alighting for ambulant disabled passengers 19 5.2.2 Passengers with pushchairs 21 5.3 Boarding and alighting times 21 6 Difficulties in using low-floor buses 22 6.1 Boarding and alighting 22 6.1.1 Failure to stop near kerb 22 6.1.2 Failure to kneel 22 6.1.3 Failure to deploy ramp 23 6.1.4 Handrails 23 Page 6.2 Moving and standing in the vehicle 23 6.2.1 Overcrowding 23 6.2.2 Standing 24 6.2.3 Handrails 24 6.2.4 Ride quality 25 6.3 Service characteristics 25 7 Passenger preferences and evaluation 25 7.1 Preferred bus type 25 7.2 Route preference 27 7.3 Advantages oflow-floor buses for less mobile people 27 7.3.1 Ambulant disabled passengers 28 7.3.2 Wheelchair users 28 7.3.3 Passengers with pushchairs 29 7.4 User evaluation of low-floor buses 29 7.4.1 Sample sizes 29 7.4.2 Valuation of the low-floor bus 30 8 Patronage 30 8.1 Patronage statistics from operators 31 8.2 Reported changes in bus use 31 9 Operational implications 32 9.1 Bus stop timing surveys 32 9.2 Alighting and boarding time analysis 33 9.2.1 Alighting times 33 9.2.2 Boarding times 33 9.2.3 Dead times 35 9.3 Effects on journey times 35 9.3.1 North Tyneside 36 9.3.2 London 36 10 Operating costs 36 10.1 Fuel consumption 37 10.2 Average cost of repairs 37 10.3 Extra cost of running low-floor buses 38 10.4 Capacity considerations 38 11 Discussion 39 12 Conclusions 39 13 References 40 Notes 40 Abstract 41 Related publications 41 Executive Summary A substantial number of existing public transport passengers have some degree of mobility impairment and consequently experience difficulties in using conventional bus and rail services. One of the main problems is negotiating steps at the entrance and exit of a bus

FAQs

What mobility problems does the report identify with conventional buses and rail services?

The main problems are negotiating steps at a bus entrance/exit and dealing with the gap between platforms and trains. Wheelchair users, many ambulant disabled people, elderly and frail passengers, and parents using pushchairs face substantial barriers.

How do low-floor buses improve accessibility for different passenger groups?

Low-floor buses remove the need to negotiate steps, allowing pushchairs to be wheeled on/off without folding. A retractable ramp bridges horizontal and vertical gaps to enable wheelchair users to board and alight.

Where and how were the low-floor bus trials conducted?

London used five selected routes with a total of sixty-eight single deck low-floor buses introduced between January and November 1994. North Tyneside operated six low-floor buses entering service in October 1994, with research methods used to evaluate access and passenger experiences.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Mary Man