While all the dreamers out there have been pontificating about the return of Routemasters to the streets of the City I have been reading the part of the Mayor's manifesto which relates to transport. You will all notice that it makes no mention of buying-back time-expired vehicles or enhancing the existing heritage routes.

I quote from the Mayor's manifesto: "The bendy bus is unsuitable for London's streets, they are twice as dangerous as non-articulated buses and have almost three times the rate of fare evasion. I will phase out bendy buses and run a new competition to find a 21st century Routemaster that has full disabled access, runs on clean fuel and has conductors".

Get designing folks.

Actually Chris, I think they are nearly there with the RMXL, all they need to amend is the front by restoring the half-cab with O/S cab door. this would allow the original engine bonnet to be retained along with canopy number blind.