Routes with 'popular points'

[abellion]

44, 77 and 270 all serve the Tooting - Earlsfield area  and, as a regular user, I feel like morning journeys - school and work - and afternoon journeys - going home are a lot more packed. 44 and 270 usually full as far as Wandsworth, though the 77 just almost unloads completely at Earlsfield in the mornings and sometimes picks up a few people on Penwith Road. 

However, during the afternoons, the 77 is actually very important. It does not serve the 44/270s overcrowded points (Earlsfield Road - Wandsworth) so it usually comes down to Earlsfield Station completed empty and saving people from the busier 44/270 - but is usually packed by Burntwood Lane. 

So I was wondering if there were other routes that relate to 77 - generally not used too much at one point, though arguably vital at others. 

[snoggle]

Nov 2, 2018 19:47:08 GMT abellion said:

44, 77 and 270 all serve the Tooting - Earlsfield area  and, as a regular user, I feel like morning journeys - school and work - and afternoon journeys - going home are a lot more packed. 44 and 270 usually full as far as Wandsworth, though the 77 just almost unloads completely at Earlsfield in the mornings and sometimes picks up a few people on Penwith Road. 

However, during the afternoons, the 77 is actually very important. It does not serve the 44/270s overcrowded points (Earlsfield Road - Wandsworth) so it usually comes down to Earlsfield Station completed empty and saving people from the busier 44/270 - but is usually packed by Burntwood Lane. 

So I was wondering if there were other routes that relate to 77 - generally not used too much at one point, though arguably vital at others. 

I think the phenomenon you cite on the 77 is true on many routes. Almost all routes have key points where large numbers board or alight and sections where loadings may fall before recovering some more. I'll do the 123 as it's the one I know best - usually moderately loaded off Wood Green but can pick up large numbers at Turnpike Lane depending on flows from the tube and if others routes on Westbury Av have run in front. Tends to both gain and lose passengers along Lordship Lane as people return from shopping in Wood Green / tube at Turnpike Lane and others board for journeys towards Tottenham. Often have a fair number alight at Bruce Grove to change to the overground / other buses / go shopping. Can pick up large numbers at T Hale and also Blackhorse Road - again depends on flows from the tube. T Hale is now a significant traffic generator in its own right. The section through Walthamstow can be very variable - sometimes buses are lightly loaded and not many on and off and yet 2 hours later you've got umpteen people getting on and off at every stop and the bus is bursting with people going to / from Waltham Forest college. Usually decent numbers off at South Woodford High Rd (on jnys to Ilford). Boarding and alighting can be rather variable from South Woodford on to Ilford - depends if a 179 has been or not. The 123 can end up picking people up at every single stop if there's been a gap between buses. It can also be very busy in the peaks along here as people travel to / from Gants Hill tube. Usually large numbers on and off at the two Gants Hill stops - for tube and bus interchange and again local shopping. The run into Ilford has a high bph given there are multiple routes here but the 123 can still be picking and setting down at every stop. Lots of people off at Coventry Road, Ilford Stn and Chapel Road stops for Ilford Town Centre. Not so many stay on for the Library and Hainault St stops. I am sure Mr Busoccultation will leap in with any corrections as he sees more of the Ilford end than I do.

The 123 is a little unusual in that decent numbers of people may travel half the route length or longer on a regular basis. That reflects its orbital nature and linking of important centres relatively directly. Lost count of the times I've heard people asking the driver in Ilford if the 123 goes to Walthamstow/Tottenham/Turnpike Lane - they're long journeys. On top of that it has multiple shorter rides to / from interchange points and then on top of that you have the usual local 1-4 stops down the road type journeys.

[vjaska]

Nov 2, 2018 19:47:08 GMT abellion said:

44, 77 and 270 all serve the Tooting - Earlsfield area  and, as a regular user, I feel like morning journeys - school and work - and afternoon journeys - going home are a lot more packed. 44 and 270 usually full as far as Wandsworth, though the 77 just almost unloads completely at Earlsfield in the mornings and sometimes picks up a few people on Penwith Road. 

However, during the afternoons, the 77 is actually very important. It does not serve the 44/270s overcrowded points (Earlsfield Road - Wandsworth) so it usually comes down to Earlsfield Station completed empty and saving people from the busier 44/270 - but is usually packed by Burntwood Lane. 

So I was wondering if there were other routes that relate to 77 - generally not used too much at one point, though arguably vital at others. 

Practically every bus route running through Brixton is packed at those times but even outside of those teams, some routes still continue to see heavy loads right into the night due to the corridors they serve.

[busoccultation]

Nov 3, 2018 0:12:17 GMT snoggle said:

I think the phenomenon you cite on the 77 is true on many routes. Almost all routes have key points where large numbers board or alight and sections where loadings may fall before recovering some more. I'll do the 123 as it's the one I know best - usually moderately loaded off Wood Green but can pick up large numbers at Turnpike Lane depending on flows from the tube and if others routes on Westbury Av have run in front. Tends to both gain and lose passengers along Lordship Lane as people return from shopping in Wood Green / tube at Turnpike Lane and others board for journeys towards Tottenham. Often have a fair number alight at Bruce Grove to change to the overground / other buses / go shopping. Can pick up large numbers at T Hale and also Blackhorse Road - again depends on flows from the tube. T Hale is now a significant traffic generator in its own right. The section through Walthamstow can be very variable - sometimes buses are lightly loaded and not many on and off and yet 2 hours later you've got umpteen people getting on and off at every stop and the bus is bursting with people going to / from Waltham Forest college. Usually decent numbers off at South Woodford High Rd (on jnys to Ilford). Boarding and alighting can be rather variable from South Woodford on to Ilford - depends if a 179 has been or not. The 123 can end up picking people up at every single stop if there's been a gap between buses. It can also be very busy in the peaks along here as people travel to / from Gants Hill tube. Usually large numbers on and off at the two Gants Hill stops - for tube and bus interchange and again local shopping. The run into Ilford has a high bph given there are multiple routes here but the 123 can still be picking and setting down at every stop. Lots of people off at Coventry Road, Ilford Stn and Chapel Road stops for Ilford Town Centre. Not so many stay on for the Library and Hainault St stops. I am sure Mr Busoccultation will leap in with any corrections as he sees more of the Ilford end than I do.

The 123 is a little unusual in that decent numbers of people may travel half the route length or longer on a regular basis. That reflects its orbital nature and linking of important centres relatively directly. Lost count of the times I've heard people asking the driver in Ilford if the 123 goes to Walthamstow/Tottenham/Turnpike Lane - they're long journeys. On top of that it has multiple shorter rides to / from interchange points and then on top of that you have the usual local 1-4 stops down the road type journeys.

You're right with Ilford where most people do alight off at Ilford Station and Chapel Road stops, though Coventry Road don't see too many people alight at that stop and number of people alighting is similar all other stops between Gants Hill Stations and Ilford Station. Also not too many people who do alight at Redbridge Central Library and Hainault Street stops or board at Hainault Street, Redbridge Central Library and High Road Ilford stops with when leaving Ilford most of the people board the 123 at Ilford Station stop.