The Routemaster of the future has arrived!

New Routemaster pic from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/billkatygemma/6654680427/ 

The first of the new Routemaster-inspired bus has gone into service today. You can enjoy the new bus on route 38 which runs between Victoria station down Piccadilly and through central London into Hackney, East London. Eight of the new buses will enter passenger service in the first half of this year. Mayor London Boris Johnson described the new bus as being “revolutionary” and “the latest, greatest masterpiece of British engineering and design”. He has promised a return for a new “green” successor to the Routemaster. He has also withdrawn all bendy buses, a relief to many a cyclist. The 62 seater buses also come with a conductor but sensibly will not run in the evenings or at weekends. 

The Bus of the Future

TfL's surface transport director Leon Daniels said: "This vehicle really has set a new standard.
"It utilises the latest cutting edge engine technology to deliver phenomenal fuel economy and emission performance."
There have been moans from certain parties complaining of the cost to design, build and run these new Routemasters. A recession should not be used as an excuse to hinder progression. The future is made by people with vision. Even though a vision costs money to make into a reality it also created/maintained jobs having been built by Wrightbus, a company in Northern Ireland and the exterior and interior having been designed by London-based designers Heatherwick Studio.
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Pic of old routemaster from http://www.flickr.com/photos/16167635@N03/5930479827/