mr24
Conductor
Posts: 65
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Post by mr24 on Feb 2, 2020 7:19:08 GMT
Its the back street part of the 343 you mentioned that gave it the title of one of the most overcrowded routes in London. The frequency was no one where good enough for the amount of people wanting to use it, so most people trying to get into Central London on that section simply couldn’t board. An MP (I think it was an MP, her name is on the tip of my tongue but I can’t remember it) pushed for changes which bought about the 136 extension over that section too to help assist it. At a guess the MP would be Harriet Harman, ex deputy leader of the Labour party. Yes, if it was an MP it would basically have to have been Harriet Harman, because she is the MP of that area. Apparently the 343 appeared in a documentary dedicated to complaining about how crowded it was, I did not travel at peak times but it barely went past an empty bus stop and there were so many stops which were disconcertingly busy in a way which wierdly juxtaposed the residential nature of the route. You really do not expect to see 8 people waiting at a full blown bus shelter in the middle of a quiet residential area on a Saturday afternoon. I can't quite believe I did not notice that the 343 ran parallel to the 136 for a while, I just happened to get on one not knowing the route to get to New Cross Gate. I guess it shows how tired I was at this point.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Feb 2, 2020 12:28:04 GMT
At a guess the MP would be Harriet Harman, ex deputy leader of the Labour party. Yes, if it was an MP it would basically have to have been Harriet Harman, because she is the MP of that area. Apparently the 343 appeared in a documentary dedicated to complaining about how crowded it was, I did not travel at peak times but it barely went past an empty bus stop and there were so many stops which were disconcertingly busy in a way which wierdly juxtaposed the residential nature of the route. You really do not expect to see 8 people waiting at a full blown bus shelter in the middle of a quiet residential area on a Saturday afternoon. I can't quite believe I did not notice that the 343 ran parallel to the 136 for a while, I just happened to get on one not knowing the route to get to New Cross Gate. I guess it shows how tired I was at this point. It was indeed Harriet Harman, she has made a few comments about the situation, one of such I've posted below Notably at the time Boris was the mayor and so TfL was effectively under Tory control which probably prompted her to be a bit more vocal if you'd like. Now that Labour are back in charge the constituency MPs that are labour aren't nearly as loud as they could be. The only major campaign Labour to Labour I've seen here is Margaret Hodge fighting for the 5 to serve Queen's, although she's been after TfL regarding that for years dating back to when Boris was in charge.
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Post by vjaska on Feb 2, 2020 12:50:34 GMT
At a guess the MP would be Harriet Harman, ex deputy leader of the Labour party. Yes, if it was an MP it would basically have to have been Harriet Harman, because she is the MP of that area. Apparently the 343 appeared in a documentary dedicated to complaining about how crowded it was, I did not travel at peak times but it barely went past an empty bus stop and there were so many stops which were disconcertingly busy in a way which wierdly juxtaposed the residential nature of the route. You really do not expect to see 8 people waiting at a full blown bus shelter in the middle of a quiet residential area on a Saturday afternoon. I can't quite believe I did not notice that the 343 ran parallel to the 136 for a while, I just happened to get on one not knowing the route to get to New Cross Gate. I guess it shows how tired I was at this point. You'll be surprised how busy stops can get on a Saturday even in a quiet residential area.
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Post by greenboy on Feb 2, 2020 16:31:40 GMT
At a guess the MP would be Harriet Harman, ex deputy leader of the Labour party. Yes, if it was an MP it would basically have to have been Harriet Harman, because she is the MP of that area. Apparently the 343 appeared in a documentary dedicated to complaining about how crowded it was, I did not travel at peak times but it barely went past an empty bus stop and there were so many stops which were disconcertingly busy in a way which wierdly juxtaposed the residential nature of the route. You really do not expect to see 8 people waiting at a full blown bus shelter in the middle of a quiet residential area on a Saturday afternoon. . The extra capacity was only really needed Monday to Friday peak hours.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2020 4:47:20 GMT
No real agenda, other than having been on nights all week and yesterday was my first day off i decided to stay up all night.
VH45223 18 Royal Oak to Wembley VH45251 18 Wembley to A406 DEL2064 112 A406 to Ealing TfL rail to Southall VH45265 105 to Heathrow Central 2573 278 to Hayes DLE30011 H98 to Hounslow West LT677 N9 to Brentford SP40123 65 to Kingston VH45152 285 to Heathrow Central LT148 N9 to Kensington LT152 N27 to Great Portland Street LT860 453 to Trafalgar square LT21 24 to Camden LT25 24 to Trafalgar Square Train home
Best thrash of the night by far LT148 on the N9
A grand total of 3 passengers end to end on the (N)285
Abellio's LT's were disgusting inside. Like travelling in a bin.
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Post by Frenzie on Feb 6, 2020 18:50:33 GMT
No real agenda, other than having been on nights all week and yesterday was my first day off i decided to stay up all night. VH45223 18 Royal Oak to Wembley VH45251 18 Wembley to A406 DEL2064 112 A406 to Ealing TfL rail to Southall VH45265 105 to Heathrow Central 2573 278 to Hayes DLE30011 H98 to Hounslow West LT677 N9 to Brentford SP40123 65 to Kingston VH45152 285 to Heathrow Central LT148 N9 to Kensington LT152 N27 to Great Portland Street LT860 453 to Trafalgar square LT21 24 to Camden LT25 24 to Trafalgar Square Train home Best thrash of the night by far LT148 on the N9 A grand total of 3 passengers end to end on the (N)285 Abellio's LT's were disgusting inside. Like travelling in a bin. I agree. Abellio buses are generally disgusting. The N9 is fun around Heathrow with the higher speed limits.
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Post by ronnie on Feb 6, 2020 19:02:57 GMT
I was doing the 98 end to end earlier today (eastbound). Uneventful apart from a very, very close shave on the A5 between Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue stations (while heading south). There were roadworks : temp traffic lights at one of the junctions.
Now the vehicle in front of us has signalled its intention to turn right. Our bus would have been the last vehicle through the lights. Now the opposite side of the junction was slightly tight for buses (but a 332 in front of us had managed fine). Our driver for some reason decided to use the wrong side (northbound side) to drive through the junction while the car in front of us was turning right!!! The car somehow stopped while we rushed through but there wouldn’t have been more than a couple of inches gap left ...
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Post by routew15 on Feb 6, 2020 19:09:24 GMT
Currently on the 55.
I respect this is just a sample of one journey but I can only assume the introduction of front door boarding has not been as successful on the 55 as maybe the 8 or the 267.
On LT312 the rear door reader is still functioning whilst the middle door one’s do not.
Passengers were still using all the doors on the bus. A lot that came through the middle tried to touch in but because the reader was switched off no fare was collected. A lady i saw entering through the rear door with her bank card to hand, looked at the sign that said ‘not in use’ on the reader and opt not touch - another fare missed.
In order for this to work in my opinion, there needs to be area wide roll-out. Intermixing front door only NRMs routes with Open boarding NRMs routes is not working for everyday passengers who just want to board the bus.
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Post by ronnie on Feb 6, 2020 19:14:41 GMT
Currently on the 55. I respect this is just a sample of one journey but I can only assume the introduction of front door boarding has not been as successful on the 55 as maybe the 8 or the 267. On LT312 the rear door reader is still functioning whilst the middle door one’s do not. Passengers were still using all the doors on the bus. A lot that came through the middle tried to touch in but because the reader was switched off no fare was collected. A lady i saw entering through the rear door with her bank card to hand, looked at the sign that said ‘not in use’ on the reader and opt not touch - another fare missed. In order for this to work in my opinion, there needs to be area wide roll-out. Intermixing front door only NRMs routes with Open boarding NRMs routes is not working for everyday passengers who just want to board the bus. Funnily I am on the 8 now and the driver did a sensible job of opening only the front door. Then again there was no one getting off so probably helped
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Post by greenboy on Feb 6, 2020 19:31:21 GMT
Currently on the 55. I respect this is just a sample of one journey but I can only assume the introduction of front door boarding has not been as successful on the 55 as maybe the 8 or the 267. On LT312 the rear door reader is still functioning whilst the middle door one’s do not. Passengers were still using all the doors on the bus. A lot that came through the middle tried to touch in but because the reader was switched off no fare was collected. A lady i saw entering through the rear door with her bank card to hand, looked at the sign that said ‘not in use’ on the reader and opt not touch - another fare missed. In order for this to work in my opinion, there needs to be area wide roll-out. Intermixing front door only NRMs routes with Open boarding NRMs routes is not working for everyday passengers who just want to board the bus. Funnily I am on the 8 now and the driver did a sensible job of opening only the front door. Then again there was no one getting off so probably helped Have the door buttons been changed so that drivers can open just the front door? When I've been on the 8 there were still people boarding through the centre doors, some went to the front and touched in and some didn't.
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Post by ronnie on Feb 6, 2020 19:47:29 GMT
Funnily I am on the 8 now and the driver did a sensible job of opening only the front door. Then again there was no one getting off so probably helped Have the door buttons been changed so that drivers can open just the front door? When I've been on the 8 there were still people boarding through the centre doors, some went to the front and touched in and some didn't. No clue to be honest ....
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Post by george on Feb 6, 2020 20:13:42 GMT
Currently on the 55. I respect this is just a sample of one journey but I can only assume the introduction of front door boarding has not been as successful on the 55 as maybe the 8 or the 267. On LT312 the rear door reader is still functioning whilst the middle door one’s do not. Passengers were still using all the doors on the bus. A lot that came through the middle tried to touch in but because the reader was switched off no fare was collected. A lady i saw entering through the rear door with her bank card to hand, looked at the sign that said ‘not in use’ on the reader and opt not touch - another fare missed. In order for this to work in my opinion, there needs to be area wide roll-out. Intermixing front door only NRMs routes with Open boarding NRMs routes is not working for everyday passengers who just want to board the bus. The other day I saw a group of lads wait for the back door on the LT to open on the 8 they was waiting and driver didn't open the door so they just pressed the emergency exit button and all got on that way.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Feb 6, 2020 20:20:28 GMT
Funnily I am on the 8 now and the driver did a sensible job of opening only the front door. Then again there was no one getting off so probably helped Have the door buttons been changed so that drivers can open just the front door? When I've been on the 8 there were still people boarding through the centre doors, some went to the front and touched in and some didn't. Yes, they have indeed been changed.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2020 20:26:37 GMT
Currently on the 55. I respect this is just a sample of one journey but I can only assume the introduction of front door boarding has not been as successful on the 55 as maybe the 8 or the 267. On LT312 the rear door reader is still functioning whilst the middle door one’s do not. Passengers were still using all the doors on the bus. A lot that came through the middle tried to touch in but because the reader was switched off no fare was collected. A lady i saw entering through the rear door with her bank card to hand, looked at the sign that said ‘not in use’ on the reader and opt not touch - another fare missed. In order for this to work in my opinion, there needs to be area wide roll-out. Intermixing front door only NRMs routes with Open boarding NRMs routes is not working for everyday passengers who just want to board the bus. Can't wait to see this in action on the EL1, 2 and 3! *note the sarcasm
I think maybe they should have gone for some extremely large No Entry vinyls for the two rear doors and perhaps a increase in fares inspection almost daily until people get used to the new system.
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Post by busoccultation on Feb 6, 2020 22:28:11 GMT
Currently on the 55. I respect this is just a sample of one journey but I can only assume the introduction of front door boarding has not been as successful on the 55 as maybe the 8 or the 267. On LT312 the rear door reader is still functioning whilst the middle door one’s do not. Passengers were still using all the doors on the bus. A lot that came through the middle tried to touch in but because the reader was switched off no fare was collected. A lady i saw entering through the rear door with her bank card to hand, looked at the sign that said ‘not in use’ on the reader and opt not touch - another fare missed. In order for this to work in my opinion, there needs to be area wide roll-out. Intermixing front door only NRMs routes with Open boarding NRMs routes is not working for everyday passengers who just want to board the bus. Now that it is likely that every LT routes will eventually be front door only boarding, I do think the readers on both the middle and rear doors should be removed completely on LT routes that now have front door only boarding rather than just turning off the reader off use to give a clearer view for the passengers that they need to board the bus using the front doors especially seeing that I saw few people boarded the 8 at Liverpool Street Station this morning using the rear two doors trying to tap their card on the reader that isn't in use.
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