At the beginning of the 2000s, there was debate concerning the issue of whether to replace or retain the Routemaster in London service.
Supporters cited its continued mechanical fitness, speed of boarding and tourist potential, while opponents pointed to the economics of running increasingly elderly buses when newer, larger and more modern designs were now on the market following a resurgence in the bus manufacturing industry after recession in the 1990s.

Opponents also pointed specifically to the lack of accessibility of the Routemaster in light of impending relevant legislation, which meant all new buses now entering service in London would be required to have a low-floor design.
The emergence of off-bus ticketing technology also reduced the argument for better dwell times, whereby the Oyster card and off-bus ticket machines would reduce the time it took passengers to board the bus.

With Transport for London purchasing fifty Routemasters and having them thoroughly rebuilt in 2001/02, it appeared that the Routemasters would be around for some time to come.
In February 2003, route 10 was split, with the Kings Cross to Hammersmith section converted to driver-only operation and the Archway to Marble Arch section remaining Routemaster-operated as route 390.
In the same month route 36 was curtailed between Lewisham and New Cross and duplicated by route 436 between New Cross and Paddington, operated by Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated buses.

In March 2003, Transport for London managing director Peter Hendy advised that accessibility was a higher priority than retaining conductors, and in August 2003, as the existing contracts became due for renewal, the remaining Routemaster services were replaced, either by low-floor double-decker buses or articulated buses.
Government legislation required full accessibility on 22 October 2014 under the Disability Discrimination Act; however, Transport for London was aiming to be compliant far earlier.
As a consequence, the last Routemasters were withdrawn from general service on 9 December 2005, although two heritage routes - 9 and 15 - were introduced.
This was reduced to one on 25 July 2014.

Withdrawals began on the dates below as the five-year contracts expired.

On 9 December 2005, the last Routemasters ran on route 159.
On 8 December 2005, 24 special buses, including preserved RMs and RMLs and their predecessors from the AEC Regent III RT bus family made guest appearances on route 159.

On the last day, on police advice, instead of doing a normal shift, with crews working until around 23:00, the last Routemaster services ran in the middle of the day.
RM2217 operated the final departure from Marble Arch at 12:08.
Heavily delayed, it took 10 minutes to turn the final corner into Brixton garage arriving at 14:06.

Around the time of the last runs to the garage, crowds blocked the four-lane road, bringing all traffic to a standstill.
At the beginning of the 2000s, there was debate concerning the issue of whether to replace or retain the Routemaster in London service. Supporters cited its continued mechanical fitness, speed of boarding and tourist potential, while opponents pointed to the economics of running increasingly elderly buses when newer, larger and more modern designs were now on the market following a resurgence in the bus manufacturing industry after recession in the 1990s.
Opponents also pointed specifically to the lack of accessibility of the Routemaster in light of impending relevant legislation, which meant all new buses now entering service in London would be required to have a low-floor design. The emergence of off-bus ticketing technology also reduced the argument for better dwell times, whereby the Oyster card and off-bus ticket machines would reduce the time it took passengers to board the bus.
With Transport for London purchasing fifty Routemasters and having them thoroughly rebuilt in 2001/02, it appeared that the Routemasters would be around for some time to come. In February 2003, route 10 was split, with the Kings Cross to Hammersmith section converted to driver-only operation and the Archway to Marble Arch section remaining Routemaster-operated as route 390. In the same month route 36 was curtailed between Lewisham and New Cross and duplicated by route 436 between New Cross and Paddington, operated by Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated buses.
In March 2003, Transport for London managing director Peter Hendy advised that accessibility was a higher priority than retaining conductors, and in August 2003, as the existing contracts became due for renewal, the remaining Routemaster services were replaced, either by low-floor double-decker buses or articulated buses. Government legislation required full accessibility on 22 October 2014 under the Disability Discrimination Act; however, Transport for London was aiming to be compliant far earlier. As a consequence, the last Routemasters were withdrawn from general service on 9 December 2005, although two heritage routes - 9 and 15 - were introduced. This was reduced to one on 25 July 2014.
Withdrawals began on the dates below as the five-year contracts expired.
On 9 December 2005, the last Routemasters ran on route 159. On 8 December 2005, 24 special buses, including preserved RMs and RMLs and their predecessors from the AEC Regent III RT bus family made guest appearances on route 159.
On the last day, on police advice, instead of doing a normal shift, with crews working until around 23:00, the last Routemaster services ran in the middle of the day. RM2217 operated the final departure from Marble Arch at 12:08. Heavily delayed, it took 10 minutes to turn the final corner into Brixton garage arriving at 14:06.
Around the time of the last runs to the garage, crowds blocked the four-lane road, bringing all traffic to a standstill.
AEC Routemaster