|
Post by jrussa on Aug 17, 2013 7:16:49 GMT
Another tweak to route 339! Looks like TfL have had some "representations" made against their decision not to serve a NHS health centre in the Olympic Park. I've just received the following info from the consultation people. "Discussions have been continuing with London Borough of Newham and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) about improved service for the Sir Ludwig Guttmann Health and Wellbeing Centre with similar concerns shared by NHS, Qatari Diar Delancey and Triathlon Homes. As a result of these further discussions we have decided that route 339 will now directly serve Liberty Bridge Road and the Sir Ludwig Guttmann Health and Wellbeing Centre. From 31 August 2013, the service will now be routed from Celebration Avenue via Liberty Bridge Road, Leyton Road and Temple Mills Lane to Crownfield Road. Bus stops will be located on either side of the road near to the health centre." Thanks for the information! I think it is a reasonable proposal made about having a bus service for the health centre! I wonder what the journey time will be from Stratford to Leytonstone via Crownfield Road!!
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Aug 17, 2013 9:50:50 GMT
Another tweak to route 339! Looks like TfL have had some "representations" made against their decision not to serve a NHS health centre in the Olympic Park. I've just received the following info from the consultation people. "Discussions have been continuing with London Borough of Newham and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) about improved service for the Sir Ludwig Guttmann Health and Wellbeing Centre with similar concerns shared by NHS, Qatari Diar Delancey and Triathlon Homes. As a result of these further discussions we have decided that route 339 will now directly serve Liberty Bridge Road and the Sir Ludwig Guttmann Health and Wellbeing Centre. From 31 August 2013, the service will now be routed from Celebration Avenue via Liberty Bridge Road, Leyton Road and Temple Mills Lane to Crownfield Road. Bus stops will be located on either side of the road near to the health centre." Thanks for the information! I think it is a reasonable proposal made about having a bus service for the health centre! I wonder what the journey time will be from Stratford to Leytonstone via Crownfield Road!! Well it's getting very, very close to the introduction date for these changes and I don't envy Tower Transit having to cope with last minute changes like this one. They will have had to redo the timetable and schedules and TfL will be up against it trying to get their systems updated to cope with a new line of route that was not envisaged in the consultation process. There is a big package of changes across London on 31 Aug 2013 so I-Bus and all the linked systems will need updating for lots of routes. We saw with the 588 that it took nearly a fortnight before it appeared on I-Bus and that was a short notice introduction.
|
|
|
Post by Late Again on Aug 17, 2013 23:05:17 GMT
Thanks for the information! I think it is a reasonable proposal made about having a bus service for the health centre! I wonder what the journey time will be from Stratford to Leytonstone via Crownfield Road!! Well it's getting very, very close to the introduction date for these changes and I don't envy Tower Transit having to cope with last minute changes like this one. They will have had to redo the timetable and schedules and TfL will be up against it trying to get their systems updated to cope with a new line of route that was not envisaged in the consultation process. There is a big package of changes across London on 31 Aug 2013 so I-Bus and all the linked systems will need updating for lots of routes. We saw with the 588 that it took nearly a fortnight before it appeared on I-Bus and that was a short notice introduction. Which explains why there still hasn't been a new timetable published. I'm eagerly awaiting to see it as I'm hoping they will run a few extra buses at night as I feel the last bus currently at 23:40 from Stratford city is far too early and even if it ran a hour later it would be of more use. I still feel this extension will effect the reliability until its further diversion around hackney wick next march. When it can avoid the A12 slip road. Which it's closed yet again northbound until December.
|
|
|
Post by mondraker275 on Aug 31, 2013 10:23:23 GMT
Took the 339 from Shadwell to Leytonstone, from 9:18 to 10:00am, i.e 42 minutes. A grand total of 12 passengers. Things I noticed: 1) No passengers got on between Stratford and Leytonstone. 2) The 339 numbers were missing from a lot of bus stops especially towards Shadwell. 3) My driver did not stop at stops without the 339 sign, which was ridiculous. 4) At Leytonstone passengers alight at the middle stop (Stop B). Then the bus goes round the corner and stops at a stand away from the station. This is another ridiculous situation, as passengers wanting to go to Leyton and beyond, can only take W15. Apparently, hearing from the driver, passengers can get on when the bus alights at Leytonstone and then the passengers will wait with the driver on his break at the stand round the corner . Think this will have to change as waiting for a stand a Whipps Cross could take a while.
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Aug 31, 2013 10:57:20 GMT
Took the 339 from Shadwell to Leytonstone, from 9:18 to 10:00am, i.e 42 minutes. A grand total of 12 passengers. Things I noticed: 1) No passengers got on between Stratford and Leytonstone. 2) The 339 numbers were missing from a lot of bus stops especially towards Shadwell. 3) My driver did not stop at stops without the 339 sign, which was ridiculous. 4) At Leytonstone passengers alight at the middle stop (Stop B). Then the bus goes round the corner and stops at a stand away from the station. This is another ridiculous situation, as passengers wanting to go to Leyton and beyond, can only take W15. Apparently, hearing from the driver, passengers can get on when the bus alights at Leytonstone and then the passengers will wait with the driver on his break at the stand round the corner . Think this will have to change as waiting for a stand a Whipps Cross could take a while. I've just put something up on the Countdown thread about the somewhat bizarre stop arrangements at Leytonstone. I agree it's far from ideal and as for boarding at the alighting stop? That's not what I-Bus indicates and I doubt drivers would want people on their vehicle when they're supposed to be checking the vehicle between turns. I'm surprised about the lack of stop plates - normally things work better than that.
|
|
|
Post by zebedee104 on Aug 31, 2013 12:19:38 GMT
The W15 and 339 share all of four stops when they leave Leytonstone before heading off in completely different directions. The W15 is much more frequent than the 339 and can more than handle the load heading down Grove Green Road for the large majority of the time - W15's will also nearly empty out at Leytonstone.
The stop arrangement at Leytonstone is the only compromise that works sensibly.
Interestingly, my 339 earlier picked up 3 at Stratford, then a full load as soon as it turned onto Leytonstone High Road. Some were surprised when it turned off at Harrow Green but stayed in until Leytonstone. At Leytonstone, there were already 3 waiting passengers to head back towards Westfield.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2013 15:58:39 GMT
I tried out the 339 today, and I agree the situation with the stopping points at Leytonstone Station is not ideal. This seems to have been a last minute decision as the bus map at Leytonstone says the 339 picks up at bus stop B, but there is a notice at that stop telling people it won't be stopping there.
Many of the bus stops have not had e-tiles and timetables updated, and that includes Stratford City. Passengers waiting for the 339 towards Shadwell were still waiting at the 'old' stop for it, as it still had e-tiles for it. When I was there, I didn't see any members of staff to help with the confusion, and I had to direct people a few times. Also, the bus stops at Stratford International were closed for no apparent reason, which is pointless for the D8. Strangely, the bus stop bays all had cars parked there, but no where else along International Way.
I also noticed a couple of buses getting a bit lost. One 97 was seen on the approach to a multi-storey car park, and had hazards on as there didn't seem to be room for it to turn around.
You can't expect everything to go right on the first day, but this seemed surprising as TfL are usually good with changes.
With the 339 going to Leytonstone, I can imagine it causing problems to the route next week when there is more traffic, as Leyton and Leytonstone often seems to have awful traffic conditions. If the 339 section to Leytonstone becomes popular, having small E200s on a 15 minute frequency could be problematic. I do wonder if the D8 would have been a better route to extend to Leytonstone.
All the vehicles on the 339 were E200s, and I didn't see any older Darts on there.
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Aug 31, 2013 18:06:14 GMT
I tried out the 339 today, and I agree the situation with the stopping points at Leytonstone Station is not ideal. This seems to have been a last minute decision as the bus map at Leytonstone says the 339 picks up at bus stop B, but there is a notice at that stop telling people it won't be stopping there. Many of the bus stops have not had e-tiles and timetables updated, and that includes Stratford City. Passengers waiting for the 339 towards Shadwell were still waiting at the 'old' stop for it, as it still had e-tiles for it. When I was there, I didn't see any members of staff to help with the confusion, and I had to direct people a few times. Also, the bus stops at Stratford International were closed for no apparent reason, which is pointless for the D8. Strangely, the bus stop bays all had cars parked there, but no where else along International Way. I also noticed a couple of buses getting a bit lost. One 97 was seen on the approach to a multi-storey car park, and had hazards on as there didn't seem to be room for it to turn around. You can't expect everything to go right on the first day, but this seemed surprising as TfL are usually good with changes. With the 339 going to Leytonstone, I can imagine it causing problems to the route next week when there is more traffic, as Leyton and Leytonstone often seems to have awful traffic conditions. If the 339 section to Leytonstone becomes popular, having small E200s on a 15 minute frequency could be problematic. I do wonder if the D8 would have been a better route to extend to Leytonstone. All the vehicles on the 339 were E200s, and I didn't see any older Darts on there. I am amazed that things like route knowledge / signs and stop plates are not correct. I also agree with you that no staff or notices at Stratford City is really not on - especially as there are usually loads of London Buses vans parked up at Stratford City *and* Stratford Bus Station. So TfL can't spare one person or find some Travel Ambassadors to help out? I agree with you that there may be the odd glitch on a first day but I do expect there to be people around to help when bus stops change for key services. Westfield did build accommodation and an enquiry window at Stratford City but TfL can't / won't staff it. We shall see what happens next week when the kiddies are back at school and traffic levels return to normal. I am not too much of a fan of saying "I told you so" but I offered TfL an alternative solution for the 339 which allowed larger buses to run, created lots of new links and meant the Leytonstone problem would not occur. They took no notice. I'll try not to go to smug mode in the next few weeks.
|
|
|
Post by Trident on Aug 31, 2013 18:52:39 GMT
Took the 339 from Shadwell to Leytonstone, from 9:18 to 10:00am, i.e 42 minutes. A grand total of 12 passengers. Things I noticed: 1) No passengers got on between Stratford and Leytonstone. 2) The 339 numbers were missing from a lot of bus stops especially towards Shadwell. 3) My driver did not stop at stops without the 339 sign, which was ridiculous. 4) At Leytonstone passengers alight at the middle stop (Stop B). Then the bus goes round the corner and stops at a stand away from the station. This is another ridiculous situation, as passengers wanting to go to Leyton and beyond, can only take W15. Apparently, hearing from the driver, passengers can get on when the bus alights at Leytonstone and then the passengers will wait with the driver on his break at the stand round the corner . Think this will have to change as waiting for a stand a Whipps Cross could take a while. All the stops along the extension towards Shadwell, excluding the first stop didnt have the 339 tiles this morning. Although I can now confirm just coming back that the stops Edith Road and Burgess Road have now had the new 339 tiles put in place today. Also to note - Prior to today the 339 extension wasn't advertised at bus stops along it. The tiles and timetables were just added at the last minute. Overall I'd say the extension is good enough for the benefit of more links into Tower Hamlets. However if the Central Line or the A12 goes bottles up then I fear for the overall service completely collapsing. The route is currently on a diversion towards Shadwell via the A102 from Bow (via Bromley-By-Bow) as the slip-off road towards Old Ford is shut. If there are problems in Blackwall Tunnel then the service would completely collapse.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 15:40:17 GMT
TFL have missed an opportunity here. The stand arrangements are ridiculous. Leytonstone has two bus stations and they allow an additional stand on the road far enough away from the station for it not to be the station! I would have either extended it to the other side or moved the w16 to the other side. If the 339 is extended to whips cross at a future date the arrangements can be reversed.
|
|
|
Post by DT 11 on Sept 16, 2013 19:29:56 GMT
TFL have missed an opportunity here. The stand arrangements are ridiculous. Leytonstone has two bus stations and they allow an additional stand on the road far enough away from the station for it not to be the station! I would have either extended it to the other side or moved the w16 to the other side. If the 339 is extended to whips cross at a future date the arrangements can be reversed. Extending the W16 to Stratford City and 339 to Leytonstone over the same route would be quite useful as I can see the 339 becoming a busy service. Simply because the 339 now links Stratford City from two points. Tbh I I think the 357 could have been extended via Leytonstone to Stratford City. A new single decker route could replace the Sunday and weekday service Chingford Station - Whipps Cross Hospital or could even extend the 397 to Whipps Cross Hospital. and the Whipss Cross Hospital and create a new Route from Enfield - Whipps Cross Hos...
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Sept 16, 2013 21:04:38 GMT
TFL have missed an opportunity here. The stand arrangements are ridiculous. Leytonstone has two bus stations and they allow an additional stand on the road far enough away from the station for it not to be the station! I would have either extended it to the other side or moved the w16 to the other side. If the 339 is extended to whips cross at a future date the arrangements can be reversed. Extending the W16 to Stratford City and 339 to Leytonstone over the same route would be quite useful as I can see the 339 becoming a busy service. Simply because the 339 now links Stratford City from two points. Tbh I I think the 357 could have been extended via Leytonstone to Stratford City. A new single decker route could replace the Sunday and weekday service Chingford Station - Whipps Cross Hospital or could even extend the 397 to Whipps Cross Hospital. and the Whipss Cross Hospital and create a new Route from Enfield - Whipps Cross Hos... Although TfL haven't said so publicly I think one of the objectives of the 339 is to increase capacity between Leytonstone and Whipps Cross *and* to improve access to the Hospital from the Cathall area of Leytonstone. Clearly it doesn't achieve those objectives yet but the W15 and W19 are overloaded between the Hospital and Station. Extending the W16 wouldn't help given it runs via Leyton High Road. The 339 stand issue at Leytonstone is temporary pending a stand at or near the Hospital. Extending the W16 to the other bus station could possibly cost another bus given the horrendous jams to get to the High Rd and back down to the west side for buses departing from the eastern bus station. I can see why TfL haven't bothered with that option. My proposal that TfL gave no time to was not to extend the 339 but to create a new route from Stratford City via the route the 339 covers and then to Whipps Cross, full length of Wood Street, Forest Rd, Hale End Road, Wadham Road, Chingford Road to terminate at Crooked Billet Sainsburys. By my reckoning they could have achieved a x20 M-S peak / daytime headway for that new service with the same resource as will be needed for the 339 to Whipps Cross. I also proposed that 10.2m buses be used to partially compensate for losing 1 bph compared to the 339. My route would give several direct new links around Walthamstow and to Whipps Cross Hospital whereas people currently have to change buses at least once from Wood St / Hale End to get to the hospital. Unfortunately the consultation process doesn't deal with alternative suggestions very well.
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Mar 20, 2014 19:13:46 GMT
I note in the latest TLB that on 5 April 2014 the 339 will be diverted away from Stratford High St and will use a new link road from Fish Island into the Olympic Park. That diversion is another element of the scheme completed. Just need the D8 to have a mini diversion near the Aquatics Centre and they'll be done. The 241 extension to the IBC was always a bit tentative.
I also note with only a little surprise that the extension of the 339 from Leytonstone to Whipps Cross has been "abandoned for the time being". I assume the recent announcement of the Mini Holland cycling scheme for Waltham Forest has killed off all prospect of a quick fix bus stand at Whipps Cross. The plans for cycling involve the complete reconstruction of Whipps Cross roundabout. The drawing I saw barely had enough space for the 56 and certainly no other stand space. I suspect we'll see no movement on the 339 for a few years given how long it'll take to do the cycling works.
|
|
|
Post by routew15 on May 22, 2014 10:02:11 GMT
Thinking some more about the 339 extension and the various comments about going beyond Whipps Cross. I'm thinking about this as a proposal for the public consultation. 339 - runs on via East Village to terminate at Leyton (ASDA). 397 - extended on from Crooked Billet Sainsburys via Wadham Rd, Hale End Road, Forest Road, Wood Street, Whipps Cross roundabout and then the proposed 339 route through to Stratford City. While this only adds 2 bph over the new link it is a modest start and the money for the "missing" 2 bph from the 339 proposal should be able to finance the extra route through Walthamstow. The extended route would give good access from Chingford direct to Whipps Cross Hospital and from the wider catchment area through to Stratford City. My only concern is making the 397 a bit unwieldy and prone to delays although efficient scheduling should be able to minimise that risk. The alternative would be a new service from Stratford City to Walthamstow Crooked Billet over the route I suggest. My concern would be that this is potentially less cost efficient as the route would have to have two sets of stand time rather than none as per any extended route. It also creates more management overhead by being a new route in the network. The advantage would be that it could be enhanced, as and when needed, independently of considerations that would apply to enhancing either the 339 or 397. I think there are some possible risks due to the narrow residential streets used by both the 339 and 397 that TfL might be reluctant to push frequencies too high to avoid buses meeting "head on" on roads where it is hard to pass. Any comments on my idea before I write it down and send it to TfL? ;D I like the idea you proposed it crossed my mind as well, however, the 397 would become really long. However the 385 could easily follow the same proposals but using 9.6m buses and a higher frequency of like 8, as this route is way shorter.
|
|
|
Post by routew15 on Nov 15, 2014 0:38:00 GMT
Seems as though the D8's diversion along Carpenters road has a date. Bus route maps suggest 29 November 2014
Two have been changed so far 'Bow Roundabout and Bromley High Street' and 'Stratford High Street (Pudding Mill Lane)' waiting to see if there are more.
|
|