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Post by redexpress on Nov 13, 2017 13:36:36 GMT
The use of garage space makes sense - lots of space in prime locations underutilised during the day. But the use of buses makes less sense to me. On a weekday there aren't huge numbers of buses sitting in garages throughout the day - yes off-peak vehicle requirements are slightly lower, but the downtime between peaks is often used for maintenance anyway. I can see why there's a desire to cut down on the number of van trips, but there's a reason the delivery companies use small-medium vans - that's the vehicle size that gives them the most efficient delivery routes. If it was more efficient for them to use larger vehicles, they'd be using small lorries instead. Yes you can fit more parcels on a bus, but if you want 1 bus to replace 2 Transits, the bus needs to do twice the number of drops as the Transit in one day. I can't see how that will work out efficiently, and that's on top of the issues of access to residential streets already mentioned.
It has to also be considered that a lot of people will be arriving by car to collect their goods so there will have to be some parking available, during the daytime part of a garage could be cordoned off for this purpose? Obviously that wouldn't be possible at some garages.
Presumably it would be special buses such as dual purpose training vehicles rather than service buses bearing in mind lockers would have to be fitted, obviously there are security implications with one small package containing a top of the range phone being worth a few hundred pounds. I can only assume that the bus would follow a designated routes stopping at specific locations, maybe leisure centre or supermarket car parks where people come to collect their goods? But then why not install the lockers in the leisure centre or supermarket so people can collect them anytime? Any on street locations in residential areas would surely be objected to?
The more I think about this the more potential problems spring to mind  ! I suppose if they're just thinking of using buses to transport parcels between hubs and locker locations, instead of delivering directly to people's doors, there might be some potential. Not entirely sure that lockers would be needed on the buses - do the standard delivery vans have lockers? I guess high-value items could be sent by another method. But the use of buses still seems inflexible when you compare it with the existing setup that the delivery companies have. And do bus companies have enough spare drivers that they can use for this work? The use of people in full-time employment to deliver parcels seems to go against the industry practice of using supposedly self-employed contractors. They installed one of those lockers on the high street near me many years ago. I've still never seen anyone use it. Everyone (myself included) tends to get parcels delivered to the local post office / newsagent - he's much more friendly than a locker, although the downside is that he's not open all hours. |
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Post by sid on Nov 13, 2017 13:47:29 GMT
It has to also be considered that a lot of people will be arriving by car to collect their goods so there will have to be some parking available, during the daytime part of a garage could be cordoned off for this purpose? Obviously that wouldn't be possible at some garages.
Presumably it would be special buses such as dual purpose training vehicles rather than service buses bearing in mind lockers would have to be fitted, obviously there are security implications with one small package containing a top of the range phone being worth a few hundred pounds. I can only assume that the bus would follow a designated routes stopping at specific locations, maybe leisure centre or supermarket car parks where people come to collect their goods? But then why not install the lockers in the leisure centre or supermarket so people can collect them anytime? Any on street locations in residential areas would surely be objected to?
The more I think about this the more potential problems spring to mind ! I suppose if they're just thinking of using buses to transport parcels between hubs and locker locations, instead of delivering directly to people's doors, there might be some potential. Not entirely sure that lockers would be needed on the buses - do the standard delivery vans have lockers? I guess high-value items could be sent by another method. But the use of buses still seems inflexible when you compare it with the existing setup that the delivery companies have. And do bus companies have enough spare drivers that they can use for this work? The use of people in full-time employment to deliver parcels seems to go against the industry practice of using supposedly self-employed contractors. They installed one of those lockers on the high street near me many years ago. I've still never seen anyone use it. Everyone (myself included) tends to get parcels delivered to the local post office / newsagent - he's much more friendly than a locker, although the downside is that he's not open all hours. I was just thinking of lockers for people collecting their goods but then like you I don't see many people using existing lockers in town, presumably just people who aren't at home much? Quite honestly this whole thing sounds a bit like an April fools to me  ! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2017 23:38:42 GMT
I read this as a signal the efficiency drive by TfL is beginning to bite its largest bus contractor, and appeasement being prepared for some grumpy shareholders.
What next, delivering milk ?
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Post by planesandtrains on Nov 14, 2017 0:25:58 GMT
I read this as a signal the efficiency drive by TfL is beginning to bite its largest bus contractor, and appeasement being prepared for some grumpy shareholders. What next, delivering milk ? imagine, the driver having to get out of his cab every few stops to place milk on the front doors of homes  |
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Post by gloriouswater on Nov 14, 2017 1:08:00 GMT
I read this as a signal the efficiency drive by TfL is beginning to bite its largest bus contractor, and appeasement being prepared for some grumpy shareholders. What next, delivering milk ? imagine, the driver having to get out of his cab every few stops to place milk on the front doors of homes Sounds like a good way to pass the time given how much buses regulate these days  |
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Post by Alex on Nov 14, 2017 2:18:18 GMT
Sounds like a good way to pass the time given how much buses regulate these days May seem like an empty quote to some members but he has a point! |
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Post by snoggle on Nov 14, 2017 12:38:29 GMT
I read this as a signal the efficiency drive by TfL is beginning to bite its largest bus contractor, and appeasement being prepared for some grumpy shareholders. What next, delivering milk ? Well if they end up with some surplus NB4Ls from frequency cuts they can do parcels via the middle door and milk and bread via the back door. Returned parcels can be loaded via the front door. Instead of "customer assistants" they can employ some delivery bods instead.  |
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Post by YY13VKP on Nov 14, 2017 12:56:50 GMT
Whilst I think this is a sustainable alternative to having vans running around, I don't think this is a good idea for a number of reasons:
1. Some roads can't even take buses - my road for example is a narrow road, cannot take double deckers for sure due to trees, and a single decker trying to get down there while another car is coming will just cause congestion, and would be an absolute nightmare. I think bus would pretty much take up the entire width of the road.
2. There may not be enough buses available to undertake these duties. Croydon for example have spreadover buses which could be used, but only two of them are single decks (from routes 293 and 455), the rest double deckers, and double deckers may have to somehow get round a low bridge on the way to their destination. They also need to be back out in service by a certain time. Sometimes, apart from the odd one, from when the morning runout is complete to around 9am when the first spreadover bus comes back in, there are no buses left apart from the ones which need to be worked on by the engineers.
3. Some garages may not be big enough to accommodate Parcels, as well as garage facilities and the buses at the same time. I can't imagine anywhere at a garage the size of Croydon where the parcels would be stored securely. At big garages such as Stockwell and Camberwell though, this shouldn't be too much of an issue
4. If they are being transported on buses, they would need to be modified, unless the plan is that the driver just leaves them on the seats/luggage storage areas, in which case the contents of the packages could be damaged in transit.
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Post by SILENCED on Nov 14, 2017 13:12:13 GMT
Whilst I think this is a sustainable alternative to having vans running around, I don't think this is a good idea for a number of reasons: 1. Some roads can't even take buses - my road for example is a narrow road, cannot take double deckers for sure due to trees, and a single decker trying to get down there while another car is coming will just cause congestion, and would be an absolute nightmare. I think bus would pretty much take up the entire width of the road. 2. There may not be enough buses available to undertake these duties. Croydon for example have spreadover buses which could be used, but only two of them are single decks (from routes 293 and 455), the rest double deckers, and double deckers may have to somehow get round a low bridge on the way to their destination. They also need to be back out in service by a certain time. Sometimes, apart from the odd one, from when the morning runout is complete to around 9am when the first spreadover bus comes back in, there are no buses left apart from the ones which need to be worked on by the engineers. 3. Some garages may not be big enough to accommodate Parcels, as well as garage facilities and the buses at the same time. I can't imagine anywhere at a garage the size of Croydon where the parcels would be stored securely. At big garages such as Stockwell and Camberwell though, this shouldn't be too much of an issue 4. If they are being transported on buses, they would need to be modified, unless the plan is that the driver just leaves them on the seats/luggage storage areas, in which case the contents of the packages could be damaged in transit. re point 4 - Cant really see how that should be any more of an issue than in the back of a van? Have I missed something? |
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Post by sid on Nov 14, 2017 13:33:40 GMT
Whilst I think this is a sustainable alternative to having vans running around, I don't think this is a good idea for a number of reasons: 1. Some roads can't even take buses - my road for example is a narrow road, cannot take double deckers for sure due to trees, and a single decker trying to get down there while another car is coming will just cause congestion, and would be an absolute nightmare. I think bus would pretty much take up the entire width of the road. 2. There may not be enough buses available to undertake these duties. Croydon for example have spreadover buses which could be used, but only two of them are single decks (from routes 293 and 455), the rest double deckers, and double deckers may have to somehow get round a low bridge on the way to their destination. They also need to be back out in service by a certain time. Sometimes, apart from the odd one, from when the morning runout is complete to around 9am when the first spreadover bus comes back in, there are no buses left apart from the ones which need to be worked on by the engineers. 3. Some garages may not be big enough to accommodate Parcels, as well as garage facilities and the buses at the same time. I can't imagine anywhere at a garage the size of Croydon where the parcels would be stored securely. At big garages such as Stockwell and Camberwell though, this shouldn't be too much of an issue 4. If they are being transported on buses, they would need to be modified, unless the plan is that the driver just leaves them on the seats/luggage storage areas, in which case the contents of the packages could be damaged in transit. I can't imagine the idea is that buses would deliver goods to peoples front door, just imagine the sight of an LT reversing down a tight little cul de sac to deliver somebodys new trainers   . It would be simpler to go down to Avis or wherever and hire a transit van. Collecting goods from bus garages might be viable but even that has all sorts of practical difficulties. |
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Post by londonbusboy on Nov 14, 2017 18:27:14 GMT
Damaged parcels may increase lol i thought most London operators keep spare buses around a garage to a minimum? Can imagine phoning up for a sub only to be told no spare buses as the spare is out delivering.
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Post by eggmiester on Nov 15, 2017 16:41:11 GMT
If you read the articles carefully it merely states they would be suing the space as hubs which means they won’t be dropping parcels off to customers in buses merely just transferring the items from one hub to another.
I have to question the use of buses as freight carriers mind, surely that would have to be declared to the traffic commissioner?
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Post by ServerKing on Nov 15, 2017 17:49:03 GMT
If you read the articles carefully it merely states they would be suing the space as hubs which means they won’t be dropping parcels off to customers in buses merely just transferring the items from one hub to another. I have to question the use of buses as freight carriers mind, surely that would have to be declared to the traffic commissioner? Oh dear. Looks like the Daily Fail  weren't told this Jest aside, how wise is it to have members of the public traipsing across busy bus garage forecourts collecting packages while buses come and go? I have collected my daughter's school bag from Fulwell after she left it on a 267 a couple of years ago, and unless the 'collection point' is somewhere sensible, it's just going to interfere with ingress / egress of buses and be a Health & Safety nightmare  But I'm sure this has been thought through |
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Post by snowman on Nov 15, 2017 18:35:02 GMT
I'm not sure if the plan is basically to load parcels and then have delivery staff meeting the bus at transshipment points. Ironically Royal Mail ran post buses, but closed the last route 3 months ago, they ran for over 50 years and at one time had over 200 routes (which is lot more routes than GoAhead London operate), although many would have been single bus routes. www.scotsman.com/news/transport/last-postbus-reaches-the-end-of-the-road-1-4536405 |
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Post by snoggle on Nov 15, 2017 20:02:10 GMT
Oh dear. Looks like the Daily Fail weren't told this snip image "Mr Sag Dhansak" "replacing the 192 fleet for the third time" "no Amazon pda so order can't be delivered"  "West Ham manager 2018 game"  You are utterly bonkers! |
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. It would be simpler to go down to Avis or wherever and hire a transit van.
But I'm sure this has been thought through 
