What RATP Dev London does

RATP Dev London, now operating as First Bus London following its 28 February 2025 acquisition by FirstGroup plc, is one of the largest bus operators in London. The company runs 82 bus routes, mostly under seven-year contracts awarded by Transport for London (TfL) through competitive tendering, from ten operational bases (nine garages plus Park Royal) using a fleet of approximately 927 vehicles. It carries around 210 million passenger trips annually and employs 3,700 staff across driving, engineering, control and support functions. Its diverse end-user base spans commuters, tourists, schoolchildren, hospital patients and accessibility-needs passengers.

The company's core technology is conventional public bus transport operations combined with a significant electric vehicle infrastructure programme. Over 46% of the in-service fleet is zero-emission, with 23 electric routes operated from six converted garages (Shepherd's Bush, Harrow, Fulwell, Hounslow Heath, Westbourne Park and Edgware), and the business is targeting a fully electric fleet by 2030 — four years ahead of the Mayor of London's 2034 mandate. Supporting assets include four state-of-the-art operational control centres opened in 2023, mobile applications on iOS and Android, on-bus CCTV (since 2000), and a Tower Transit joint venture at Westbourne Park Garage. The company has no disclosed proprietary AI/ML or software platform; technology differentiation is operational rather than digital.

Revenue is generated under two intertwined streams: contracted payments from TfL for operating routes awarded via competitive tender (managed services), and fare revenue from approximately 210 million passenger trips annually, with pricing governed by TfL's unified fare structure. Ancillary revenue streams include advertising on London buses and commercial bus hire for film and photography. GTM is effectively enterprise field sales into TfL at the contract-award level, with passenger acquisition handled organically via route coverage, the First Bus mobile app, and the firstbus.co.uk website. Strategic positioning is anchored on operational scale, sustainability leadership through electrification, and contract reliability within London's regulated bus market.

Name

RATP Dev London

Legal name

First Bus Holdings Limited

Website

https://ratpdevtransitlondon.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

RATP Dev London, now First Bus London after its February 2025 acquisition by FirstGroup, operates 82 contracted TfL bus routes across Greater London with a 927-vehicle fleet, carrying around 210 million passengers annually under Transport for London tenders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Bus Transportation

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Fixed-Route Urban Bus Operators (Municipal/Regional) (TLAFAGAA)

Keywords

• Public bus services
• Urban transit operations
• Electric bus fleet
• Contracted bus services
• Passenger transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Twickenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Transport for London Contracts: Primary revenue from operating bus routes under contract to Transport for London. TfL awards routes through competitive tendering, typically for seven-year terms. The company runs 82 routes under these government contracts.
2. Passenger Fares: Revenue from carrying approximately 210 million passenger trips annually. Diverse customer base includes daily commuters, shoppers, tourists, visitors to London, school children, and people travelling to hospital appointments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

RATP Dev London (now First Bus London) operates one of the largest urban bus networks in London, running 82 routes from 10 operational bases with a fleet of 927 buses and carrying approximately 210 million passengers annually. Services are provided primarily under seven-year contracts to Transport for London awarded through competitive tendering, and include an expanding zero-emission portfolio of 23 electric routes from six converted garages.

Product overview

First Bus London (formerly RATP Dev Transit London) operates as a public transportation company providing bus services across London. The company operates as a single integrated offering—a large-scale bus operation running 82 routes with approximately 900 buses from 10 operational bases (9 garages). The core service includes traditional diesel/hybrid bus routes and an expanding electric bus fleet (23 routes, 46%+ of fleet). Supporting services include a mobile app, advertising opportunities on buses, and commercial bus hire for filming. All operations are conducted under contract to Transport for London through competitive tendering processes typically lasting seven years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• First Bus London Bus Services Public bus transportation service operating 82 routes across London under contract to Transport for London (TfL), carrying approximately 210 million customers annually with a fleet of around 927 buses from 10 operational bases.
• Electric Bus Services Zero-emission bus operations across 23 electric routes from six converted garages, representing over 46% of the in-service fleet, with a target of a fully electric fleet by 2030.
• Bus Hire for Filming and Photography Commercial bus hire service allowing film and photography productions to rent buses for shoots across the London fleet.
• First Bus App Mobile application available on iOS and Android for customers to plan journeys and access First Bus London service information across the 82-route London network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 46% of fleet is zero-emission with 23 electric routes from six converted garages
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Tower TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint venture with Tower Transit for Westbourne Park Garage in 2021, resulting in the fifth electric garage. This partnership combined operational expertise to deliver enhanced electric bus services.
• Transport for London (TfL)coreOthersTfL has ownership of all bus routes in London and awards them to bus operators through competitive tendering, typically for seven-year terms. First Bus London operates 82 routes under contract to TfL.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sullivan Buses: Independent London and Hertfordshire bus operator running TfL-contracted routes. Smaller-scale direct peer operating under the same TfL framework but with a more limited fleet.

Direct peers

• Go-Ahead London: One of the largest TfL bus operators in London with multiple garages and hundreds of routes under similar TfL competitive contracts. Directly comparable in business model, customer (TfL), and zero-emission fleet transition.
• Stagecoach London: Operates a major fleet of TfL-contracted bus routes in London from multiple garages. Directly comparable in scale, contract structure and customer base as a TfL contracted bus operator.
• Arriva London: Long-standing TfL contracted bus operator in London running multiple routes and garages. Same competitive tender framework, same TfL counterparty, similar fleet electrification mandate.
• Metroline: Major London bus operator (part of ComfortDelGro) running a large TfL-contracted fleet from multiple garages. Closely comparable in operating model, depot footprint and TfL contract exposure.
• Abellio London: Operates TfL bus routes in London under the Abellio brand. Directly comparable as a contracted urban bus operator serving the same TfL counterparty and route-tender framework.
• Tower Transit: London bus operator running TfL-contracted routes including a joint venture with First Bus London at Westbourne Park Garage. Direct peer in contract structure, fleet size and depot operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RATP Dev London