At the turn of the century Volvo found itself in a three-way tussle with Dennis and DAF to design and produce Britain's first low-floor double-deck buses. The resulting B7TL was later into service in London than its competitors, but quickly caught up to achieve parity with the Dennis Trident. Two lengths were available and three bodies, by Alexander, Plaxton and East Lancs. Between them, London's TfL-contracted London bus operators took over two thousand Volvo B7TLs between 2000 and 2006, after which noise problems obliged Volvo to develop the B9TL and its later B5LH hybrid. The Volvo B7TLs saw sterling service in the capital for two decades, with the last leaving service in the first week of 2021.

MATTHEW WHARMBY is an author, photographer and editor who specialises in London bus history. His published books include Routemaster Requiem and Routemaster Retrospective (with Geoff Rixon), London Transport 1970-1984 (with R.C. Riley), The London Titan and The London Metrobus. He has also written many articles for Buses, Bus & Coach Preservation, Classic Bus and London Bus Magazine. This is his eleventh book for Pen and Sword; the others are London Transport's Last Buses: Leyland Olympians L 1-263, The London Bendy Bus, The London Enviro400, The London DMS, The London LS, Last Years of the London Titan, Last Years of the London Metrobus, The London Volvo B9TL and B5LH, The London Dennis Trident and (with John Laker), London Buses 1970-80.