Park Royal is to become the first base for London’s new publicly owned bus company, with around 100 zero-emission buses operating from a depot on Atlas Road.
Transport for London (TfL) announced today (25 September 2026) that the Park Royal Depot will become the first base for Buses for London, its new publicly owned bus operator.
The company is due to begin running services in late 2027, with route 6 between Willesden and Victoria becoming its first route.
The Atlas Road depot will initially be home to around 100 zero-emission buses and is being developed by TfL in partnership with the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC).
The Park Royal depot will be used until 2033, when the site is expected to be redeveloped as part of the wider plans for Old Oak. TfL and OPDC say a new permanent location for the buses will be found before the lease ends.
TfL currently contracts bus services to eight privately owned operators across almost 700 routes in the capital. The new company will give TfL direct control over the services it operates, with any profits reinvested in the transport network.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the new company was an opportunity to “reimagine our bus network” and provide better value for money while making services work better for passengers and drivers.
Lorna Murphy, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “We are pleased to be working with the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation to establish Park Royal as the first home of a new generation of zero-emission buses, ahead of the site’s transformation as part of the wider regeneration of Old Oak.”
Matthew Carpen, Chief Executive of OPDC, said: “This site will temporarily support London’s transport network before being released for redevelopment from 2033 as a key part of the Old Oak masterplan, helping to unlock much-needed homes and employment space.”
A further four routes to be operated by Buses for London are expected to be announced over the coming year and begin operating from 2028.
TfL says the publicly owned operator will also be used to test different approaches to reliability, safety, operational efficiency, customer experience and driver welfare.
