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Post by vjaska on Jul 12, 2014 18:48:33 GMT
I'm against any extension of the 108 simply for reasons mentioned by others - the unreliability and overcrowding of the route. Like 'twobellstogo', at contract renewal, it should receive 12m Citaros and be left at that. Alternatively, 'tom99's idea could work but rather than split the route, run alternate buses alongside the 108 between Lewisham & North Greenwich. 'Nad' - My view on an extension for the 108 hasn't changed from when the topic was first started. At contract change, some sort of 12m vehicles should be introduced and that's all I'd do to the 108.
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Post by rmz19 on Jul 14, 2014 0:24:38 GMT
I reckon it's a good idea, going that bit further to East Village potentially enables tourists to travel between the O2 centre and the Olympic Park, as well as residents. However as already mentioned, the 108 suffers from extreme overcrowding during peaks, therefore it would be ideal to allocate 12m Citaros to enhance the route's reliability first in order for the extension to go smoothly.
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Post by danorak on Jul 25, 2014 21:23:21 GMT
I don't know whether this has been picked up on here already, but this seemed the best place to post it: www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11364879.TfL_to_add_extra_service_to_ease_chaos_on_108_bus_to_Greenwich Violence has become a common sight on the 108 bus running though Greenwich due to overcrowding described by commuters as 'a serious health and safety issue.' The single-decker to Stratford reaches capacity daily during peak times causing pregnant women to stand, fights between passengers and even fainting. Capacity is such an issue for the bus that 20 people on average get left behind daily. Ruth Townson, 39, of St John's Park, said the problem has become a stressful element of her life for the past six years. "Every day passengers have to deal with bags in faces if lucky to be seated, jostling, extreme discomfort and raised tempers. I find the journey an ordeal and often arrive at work stressed and frustrated as I have no control over this part of my journey." Ms Townson, a project manager who boards the bus at Stratheden Road, also said the bus arrives and departs erratically and has even resorted to hiring a minibus with other stressed commuters when there has not been room to get on. "Overcrowding, inconsistent and delayed services have been an issue since I started using the service," she added. The bus travels through the Blackwall Tunnel on route from Lewisham, meaning a double-decker would not be an option. Thomas Turrell, Greenwich constituency organiser, raised awareness to TFL who will be adding another service this autumn. Mr Turrell said: "I'm pleased that Transport for London have finally recognised the issues on the 108 bus and are taking the first steps to addressing them." Bob Blitz, London Buses Network Planning Manager, said: "We are aware of capacity concerns from passengers on the route 108 bus in the Blackheath area. We have recently been examining the feasibility of adding more capacity to this route at the busiest times." Slightly garbled, as you'd expect from a local paper. I expect talk of an extra 'service' just means an extra journey or two at the busiest times. And if Bob Blitz isn't known as 'Ballroom' within TfL, then standards are slipping.....
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Post by snoggle on Jul 25, 2014 21:43:23 GMT
I've been on some busy 108 journeys but I don't use it frequently. If we have anyone on here who does have they witnessed the alleged fights and violence? Peak time travel all over London can be awful but it sounds like ridiculous hype to say fights break out on the 108 with the implication that this is a regular occurrence.
I agree that there is unlikely to be a miracle cure. I expect it'll be 1 or 2 extra peak flow journeys or if there is a strong school journey flow on the south side then perhaps a 108S with a double deck to cover the affected section.
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Post by southeastlondonbus on Jul 25, 2014 21:49:42 GMT
I don't know whether this has been picked up on here already, but this seemed the best place to post it: www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11364879.TfL_to_add_extra_service_to_ease_chaos_on_108_bus_to_Greenwich Violence has become a common sight on the 108 bus running though Greenwich due to overcrowding described by commuters as 'a serious health and safety issue.' The single-decker to Stratford reaches capacity daily during peak times causing pregnant women to stand, fights between passengers and even fainting. Capacity is such an issue for the bus that 20 people on average get left behind daily. Ruth Townson, 39, of St John's Park, said the problem has become a stressful element of her life for the past six years. "Every day passengers have to deal with bags in faces if lucky to be seated, jostling, extreme discomfort and raised tempers. I find the journey an ordeal and often arrive at work stressed and frustrated as I have no control over this part of my journey." Ms Townson, a project manager who boards the bus at Stratheden Road, also said the bus arrives and departs erratically and has even resorted to hiring a minibus with other stressed commuters when there has not been room to get on. "Overcrowding, inconsistent and delayed services have been an issue since I started using the service," she added. The bus travels through the Blackwall Tunnel on route from Lewisham, meaning a double-decker would not be an option. Thomas Turrell, Greenwich constituency organiser, raised awareness to TFL who will be adding another service this autumn. Mr Turrell said: "I'm pleased that Transport for London have finally recognised the issues on the 108 bus and are taking the first steps to addressing them." Bob Blitz, London Buses Network Planning Manager, said: "We are aware of capacity concerns from passengers on the route 108 bus in the Blackheath area. We have recently been examining the feasibility of adding more capacity to this route at the busiest times." Slightly garbled, as you'd expect from a local paper. I expect talk of an extra 'service' just means an extra journey or two at the busiest times. And if Bob Blitz isn't known as 'Ballroom' within TfL, then standards are slipping..... Another piece of expert journalism from the bore shopper................
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Post by DT 11 on Jul 25, 2014 22:22:14 GMT
I am not surprised at this. I have been on packed 108s many times and is no longer a route I like using, usually stinks of body odour as well because the vehicles are always warm, in fact most single decker routes are becoming impossible to use due to overcrowding...
From the day it inherited the DWFails from ETB I knew in a few years time the route would suffer more overcrowding. I see it all the time from the 1st Stop in Lewisham....
The current fleet is inadequate and the route needs 12 Metre buses and early morning and late double deck journeys between Lewisham and North Greenwich, which may be costly but imo adding more single decks just adds more buses to queue up in Traffic on the Blackwall Tunnel approach...
Another suggestion of mine would be to to withdraw the current 199 and extend the 1 to Bellingham, cut route 320 back to Bromley North to avoid the one way system in Catford, divert the 269 to Bromley South once the development is complete, extend the 199 to Bromley Common, Crown Lane via the 208 and to North Greenwich via the 108 and reduce the 108 frequency to every 10 mins. Doubt it will ever happen though lol, would certainly take a lot off pressure off the 108 & 208 which both suffer from overcrowding, thats two problems solved with a double decker service, the 320 currently carries thin air most of the day, it is dead, a lot of the time arrives after the 320, rather it was withdrawn from Catford even If it is one of my favourite routes... the extension of the 1 just replaces the current 199 retaining the link.
A lot of people use the 108 to the O2 as well as the Jubliee Line and will continue to become popular..
The two year contract extension Is something I was not happy about simply because the current trash is now staying longer...
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Post by vjaska on Jul 25, 2014 22:55:19 GMT
I've been on some busy 108 journeys but I don't use it frequently. If we have anyone on here who does have they witnessed the alleged fights and violence? Peak time travel all over London can be awful but it sounds like ridiculous hype to say fights break out on the 108 with the implication that this is a regular occurrence. I agree that there is unlikely to be a miracle cure. I expect it'll be 1 or 2 extra peak flow journeys or if there is a strong school journey flow on the south side then perhaps a 108S with a double deck to cover the affected section. About 5 or 6 years ago, I used to use the 108 a lot during peaks whilst on one of my journeys and didn't witness any violence though buses were jammed packed.
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Post by rmz19 on Jul 26, 2014 1:45:42 GMT
I've been on some busy 108 journeys but I don't use it frequently. If we have anyone on here who does have they witnessed the alleged fights and violence? Peak time travel all over London can be awful but it sounds like ridiculous hype to say fights break out on the 108 with the implication that this is a regular occurrence. I agree that there is unlikely to be a miracle cure. I expect it'll be 1 or 2 extra peak flow journeys or if there is a strong school journey flow on the south side then perhaps a 108S with a double deck to cover the affected section. I'm a regular 108 user during the PM peaks, it is always overcrowded but I've never encountered any fights or violence, just drivers yelling at people to move down the bus
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Post by sid on Jul 26, 2014 10:26:06 GMT
I am not surprised at this. I have been on packed 108s many times and is no longer a route I like using, usually stinks of body odour as well because the vehicles are always warm, in fact most single decker routes are becoming impossible to use due to overcrowding... From the day it inherited the DWFails from ETB I knew in a few years time the route would suffer more overcrowding. I see it all the time from the 1st Stop in Lewisham.... The current fleet is inadequate and the route needs 12 Metre buses and early morning and late double deck journeys between Lewisham and North Greenwich, which may be costly but imo adding more single decks just adds more buses to queue up in Traffic on the Blackwall Tunnel approach... Another suggestion of mine would be to to withdraw the current 199 and extend the 1 to Bellingham, cut route 320 back to Bromley North to avoid the one way system in Catford, divert the 269 to Bromley South once the development is complete, extend the 199 to Bromley Common, Crown Lane via the 208 and to North Greenwich via the 108 and reduce the 108 frequency to every 10 mins. Doubt it will ever happen though lol, would certainly take a lot off pressure off the 108 & 208 which both suffer from overcrowding, thats two problems solved with a double decker service, the 320 currently carries thin air most of the day, it is dead, a lot of the time arrives after the 320, rather it was withdrawn from Catford even If it is one of my favourite routes... the extension of the 1 just replaces the current 199 retaining the link. A lot of people use the 108 to the O2 as well as the Jubliee Line and will continue to become popular.. The two year contract extension Is something I was not happy about simply because the current trash is now staying longer... The service is 'hellish' at times and I've seen some arguments although they've not extended to violence but it may be true at other times. Your idea certainly has some merits, I remember a limited stop service numbered 608 being suggested from Bromley South via the 208 to Lewisham, the 180 to East Greenwich and the 108 to Stratford.
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Post by vjaska on Jul 26, 2014 11:23:12 GMT
I am not surprised at this. I have been on packed 108s many times and is no longer a route I like using, usually stinks of body odour as well because the vehicles are always warm, in fact most single decker routes are becoming impossible to use due to overcrowding... From the day it inherited the DWFails from ETB I knew in a few years time the route would suffer more overcrowding. I see it all the time from the 1st Stop in Lewisham.... The current fleet is inadequate and the route needs 12 Metre buses and early morning and late double deck journeys between Lewisham and North Greenwich, which may be costly but imo adding more single decks just adds more buses to queue up in Traffic on the Blackwall Tunnel approach... Another suggestion of mine would be to to withdraw the current 199 and extend the 1 to Bellingham, cut route 320 back to Bromley North to avoid the one way system in Catford, divert the 269 to Bromley South once the development is complete, extend the 199 to Bromley Common, Crown Lane via the 208 and to North Greenwich via the 108 and reduce the 108 frequency to every 10 mins. Doubt it will ever happen though lol, would certainly take a lot off pressure off the 108 & 208 which both suffer from overcrowding, thats two problems solved with a double decker service, the 320 currently carries thin air most of the day, it is dead, a lot of the time arrives after the 320, rather it was withdrawn from Catford even If it is one of my favourite routes... the extension of the 1 just replaces the current 199 retaining the link. A lot of people use the 108 to the O2 as well as the Jubliee Line and will continue to become popular.. The two year contract extension Is something I was not happy about simply because the current trash is now staying longer... I know I'm not from the area but I don't think all the above is needed. I agree with the 269 to Bromley South and some kind of extra journeys on the 108 between North Greenwich & Lewisham but I don't think you need to extend the 1 to Bellingham - I was told I'd make it unreliable just by diverting the 1 to serve the Surrey Canal Road area as a double run. The 199 would run into traffic along Woolwich Road & Blackwall Lane. The ideas are good, just I don't think they'd work when put into practice.
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Post by southeastlondonbus on Jul 26, 2014 20:04:00 GMT
Perhaps time for ghe 129 to have a purpose in life and extend it to Lewisham at least that would create some new links and give a DD alternative between Lewisham and North Greenwich.
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Post by DT 11 on Jul 26, 2014 22:36:39 GMT
Perhaps time for ghe 129 to have a purpose in life and extend it to Lewisham at least that would create some new links and give a DD alternative between Lewisham and North Greenwich. Not a good idea during the Lewisham Gateway currently.
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Post by vjaska on Jul 27, 2014 2:12:41 GMT
Perhaps time for ghe 129 to have a purpose in life and extend it to Lewisham at least that would create some new links and give a DD alternative between Lewisham and North Greenwich. But it already has a purpose otherwise it wouldn't be so busy.
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