|
|
Post by dennisplaxtonmpd on Jan 23, 2019 5:57:55 GMT
I was wondering are the original routemasters going in April? Because if they are then it's a real shame (Not my picture)  |
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Jan 23, 2019 6:16:41 GMT
I was wondering are the original routemasters going in April? Because if they are then it's a real shame (Not my picture) No as the heritage route is still scheduled to operate, just at certain times of the year and in a much limited capacity. |
|
|
|
Post by dennisplaxtonmpd on Jan 23, 2019 6:20:37 GMT
I was wondering are the original routemasters going in April? Because if they are then it's a real shame (Not my picture) No as the heritage route is still scheduled to operate, just at certain times of the year and in a much limited capacity. Oh, I was told by a conductor sometime last year that they might be going! Because of Mayor of London's Ultra Low Emissions scheme. Thanks for the quick reply. The only reason why I asked is because they are the only remaining icon on London's streets. |
|
|
|
Post by galwhv69 on Jan 23, 2019 8:08:15 GMT
No as the heritage route is still scheduled to operate, just at certain times of the year and in a much limited capacity. Oh, I was told by a conductor sometime last year that they might be going! Because of Mayor of London's Ultra Low Emissions scheme. Thanks for the quick reply. The only reason why I asked is because they are the only remaining icon on London's streets. Good to see you don't find the NRM a London Icon! 😉  |
|
|
|
Post by dennisplaxtonmpd on Jan 23, 2019 8:10:34 GMT
Oh, I was told by a conductor sometime last year that they might be going! Because of Mayor of London's Ultra Low Emissions scheme. Thanks for the quick reply. The only reason why I asked is because they are the only remaining icon on London's streets. Good to see you don't find the NRM a London Icon! 😉 No they are ugly as all hell. It's like looking at a big red pile of junk. I always prefer original. |
|
|
|
Post by Pilot on Jan 23, 2019 17:33:55 GMT
I think we should slowly start worrying about new ones since streets getting filled with ADL 400s...and to be honest new ones attract tourism just as much as the old ones...but I gotta say the moment we lose the routemasters of any kind then the whole 'London red bus' attraction will be gone for people, more and more countries now have double decks in general on their streets so it won't be any more special apart from just being red.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennisplaxtonmpd on Jan 23, 2019 23:46:59 GMT
I think we should slowly start worrying about new ones since streets getting filled with ADL 400s...and to be honest new ones attract tourism just as much as the old ones...but I gotta say the moment we lose the routemasters of any kind then the whole 'London red bus' attraction will be gone for people, more and more countries now have double decks in general on their streets so it won't be any more special apart from just being red. I mean don't get me wrong I do love the more modern buses as I've grown up with them but the routemasters will always have a legacy that I feel cannot be reproduced by any other bus be it Alexander Dennis or a volvo. |
|
|
|
Post by 6HP502C on Jan 24, 2019 8:28:05 GMT
Oh, I was told by a conductor sometime last year that they might be going! Because of Mayor of London's Ultra Low Emissions scheme. Thanks for the quick reply. The only reason why I asked is because they are the only remaining icon on London's streets. Vehicles registered before 1973 will be exempt from ULEZ. |
|
|
|
Post by busman on Jan 24, 2019 8:49:03 GMT
It was a shame original RMs and RMLs had to be withdrawn from regular service.I know people love RM’s (me included) and they are iconic, but the 15H is in essence a tourist attraction. As such it should be run as a commercial operation and not funded by the taxpayer.
With reference to ULEZ, these vehicles are exempt as they were registered over 40 years ago so there is no reason to withdraw them on grounds of emissions.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennisplaxtonmpd on Jan 24, 2019 9:27:22 GMT
Yea I know that the routemasters were registered well before 1970. It's was a shame when TFL pulled almost all the rm and the rml from regular service operations I do understand that this was for disabled access as the rm and other buses of the era weren't able to deal with wheelchairs etc due to a lack of space, so the more conventional ADLS, Volvos, scainas etc were required on those routes. I would be kinda annoyed if the only remaining rm in. Londons red was in the LTM. I know there is a lot of rms used within the tourist trade in London and other places up and down the country. But if they decided to remove the last 4-5 for the 15h I would be upset. As they are a tourist attraction on wheels its why people come to London to see a RM. But yea they shouldn't be removed for emissions but they could be removed for maintenance costs and running costs. (not my pictures) Just an example of what some surviving rms look like.   |
|
|
|
Post by busman on Jan 24, 2019 10:46:19 GMT
People don’t come to London to see RMs any more than they come to see suited gentlemen with bowler hats and umbrellas. Unless you’re a bus enthusiast of course 😉
If these buses really are a tourist magnet, the 15H would be packed out all the time. Why should TfL funds (public money) be spent on keeping these buses on the road for tourists when regular every day essential services are being cut? I would favour TfL taking the RM’s commercial whilst maintaining the TfL red livery. The route could terminate at the soon to be vacant RV1 stand and upsold through the London Transport museum with tickets available on board via hop on hop off arrangement. A short loop of London Eye, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, British Museum and back to the RV1 stand might do good business if it were marketed well. Whether TfL actually have the competence to do that is highly questionable.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennisplaxtonmpd on Jan 24, 2019 10:48:51 GMT
People don’t come to London to see RMs any more than they come to see suited gentlemen with bowler hats and umbrellas. Unless you’re a bus enthusiast of course 😉 If these buses really are a tourist magnet, the 15H would be packed out all the time. Why should TfL funds (public money) be spent on keeping these buses on the road for tourists when regular every day essential services are being cut? I would favour TfL taking the RM’s commercial whilst maintaining the TfL red livery. The route could terminate at the soon to be vacant RV1 stand and upsold through the London Transport museum with tickets available on board via hop on hop off arrangement. A short loop of London Eye, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, British Museum and back to the RV1 stand might do good business if it were marketed well. Whether TfL actually have the competence to do that is highly questionable. This is tfl we're talking about. They couldn't navigate out of a paper bag. |
|
|
|
Post by twobellstogo on Jan 24, 2019 21:22:45 GMT
Said this before - but personally I much prefer a good London area running day with RTs, RFs etc running as nature intended them as well as Routemasters.
With the 15H, I doubt all ten will be kept when it’s reduced.
The four restored buses, RM1933, 1941, 2060, 2089, I would think will be kept, maybe three or four others too. Would imagine two or three roadworthy RMs will be sold, plus long derelict RM1280.
|
|
|
|
Post by busaholic on Jan 24, 2019 22:14:00 GMT
Said this before - but personally I much prefer a good London area running day with RTs, RFs etc running as nature intended them as well as Routemasters. With the 15H, I doubt all ten will be kept when it’s reduced. The four restored buses, RM1933, 1941, 2060, 2089, I would think will be kept, maybe three or four others too. Would imagine two or three roadworthy RMs will be sold, plus long derelict RM1280. I think the writing was on the wall for the 15H when Stagecoach lost the 'real' 15. One of the reasons the 9H didn't work as well as the 15H imo was the complete lack of co-ordination with the main 9, operated by a rival company. I believe there were at one time some attempts at co-ordination at the Tower Hill end, at least, of the 15/15H. I tend to agree with the sentiments you express in your first sentence: I'd like to see two central London running days a year, perhaps in the Spring and Autumn. I don't see a summer weekend RM operation lasting long - possibly just the one season. |
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Jan 24, 2019 23:16:44 GMT
Said this before - but personally I much prefer a good London area running day with RTs, RFs etc running as nature intended them as well as Routemasters. With the 15H, I doubt all ten will be kept when it’s reduced. The four restored buses, RM1933, 1941, 2060, 2089, I would think will be kept, maybe three or four others too. Would imagine two or three roadworthy RMs will be sold, plus long derelict RM1280. The problem with that is you become limited to what vehicles can attend - no offence but as much as they have their place as does any bus, I'd rather not every rally be full of RM's, RT's & RF's (I actually have a small fondness for the RF) as most London based ones are - a good rally is one full of variety from different era's such as a good mix of old & more modern and sadly due to the ULEZ zones, this severly restricts what can be used. Personally, all preserved buses should be exempt but that won't ever happen and that's why the events that do well tend to be found outside London instead such as last years Essex Bus Rally  |
|
