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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Dec 8, 2014 19:32:27 GMT
So as 2014 draws to a close, I am wondering if anything has stood out this year in terms of workings or service changes whether they be bad or good. Do any of you have any service changes you are anticipating in 2015?
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Post by DT 11 on Dec 8, 2014 20:02:48 GMT
Good Things 2014: 136 extension to Elephant & Castle the most Brilliant Idea TFL have come up with this year restored a lost Link between Lewisham & Elephant & Castle, the return of the 54 & 75 to Selkent after 5 years of pretty much an empty TL, 124 & 185 gaining frequency increases.
Bad Things 2014: The least best thing that has happened Metrobus becoming fully under Go Ahead London, but in a way I don't mind as WVLs are more decent than Scania's & Of course DT still operate the 160 poorly unfortunately... Worst things that have happened.... well of course more LTs and the 45Free returns and now we have the 1Free7 & cutting the 159 from Paddington, shouldn't have extended it there in the first place... Arriva The 34 loss my favourite route that was operated with DLAs
Shockers: 109/N109, 415, S4 awarded to Abellio London on Tender, 444 awarded to Tower Transit, 432 to Go Ahead London on Tender & The return of Volvo / ADL Combinations 135 & 177
Non Shockers: 498 & 499 awarded to Stagecoach, 135, 322 awarded to Go Ahead London
Service changes that needs to happen in 2015: 352 & 354 gain Sunday Service and many more busy single decker routes double decked
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Dec 8, 2014 20:35:59 GMT
Good Things 2014: 136 extension to Elephant & Castle the most Brilliant Idea TFL have come up with this year restored a lost Link between Lewisham & Elephant & Castle, the return of the 54 & 75 to Selkent after 5 years of pretty much an empty TL, 124 & 185 gaining frequency increases. Bad Things 2014: The least best thing that has happened Metrobus becoming fully under Go Ahead London, but in a way I don't mind as WVLs are more decent than Scania's & Of course DT still operate the 160 poorly unfortunately... Worst things that have happened.... well of course more LTs and the 45Free returns and now we have the 1Free7 & cutting the 159 from Paddington, shouldn't have extended it there in the first place... Arriva The 34 loss my favourite route that was operated with DLAs Shockers: 109/N109, 415, S4 awarded to Abellio London on Tender, 444 awarded to Tower Transit, 432 to Go Ahead London on Tender & The return of Volvo / ADL Combinations 135 & 177 Non Shockers: 498 & 499 awarded to Stagecoach, 135, 322 awarded to Go Ahead London Service changes that needs to happen in 2015: 352 & 354 gain Sunday Service and many more busy single decker routes double decked I agree with the 136 extension, it has definitely been a highlight of the year, no matter where you live in London. I personally was a bit shocked that the 135 was leaving Arriva, I know it common for new routes to change on their first tender but Arriva seemed to be coping fine with it
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Post by snoggle on Dec 8, 2014 20:38:51 GMT
Good things - the announcement that the bus network is going to get some expansion at long last. The reopening of a bus station at T Hale and the completion of the road works. The arrival of new Volvo hybrids in Walthamstow, albeit short term only. I guess bits of "year of the bus" were OK but I'm still not sure what it was for! Bad things - Arriva losing the 34 as they did a decent job with the route. The impending loss of the W11 as a local service convenient for me. I not really shocked or not shocked by tender losses - they are what they are. Good things for 2015 - TfL change their mind and give us the W11 back. The impending Tower Transit takeover on the 212 and 444. Streetlites arriving on the 192 - interesting to see what they size / layout they are. We eventually get the x10 min headway back on the 123 - the stupid 11 min temporary frequency drives me nuts as you've no way of memorising when a bus is due. TfL taking over local rail services out of Liverpool Street. Bad things for 2015 - the demise of all ticket offices on London Underground. Getting to the end of 2015 and the W11 having not been restored. (can you spot the theme?).
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Post by vjaska on Dec 8, 2014 21:00:24 GMT
Good things:
The 136 extension to Elephant & Castle Decking of the 66 & 285 The announcement of re-starting the bus network expansion Uno entering the TfL market Stagecoach back operating the 75
Bad things:
The end of the proper Metrobus operation (and it's gone downhill ever since) More LT's, especially regarding the 137 - why won't they stop lol. Arriva The Shires motley collection of TfL single deckers is tidied up Overcrowding on the 109 identified but this far, nothing has been done Arriva London losing routes left, right & center.
What I look forward to in 2015:
Extension of the 415 to Old Kent Road, Tesco Abellio's operation of the 109 (this should be interesting) Streetlites on the 192
What I'd like to see happen in 2015:
Decking of the 355 & P4 Extension of the 64 to Streatham to help out the 109 The 37 to get some much needed help Abellio to finally do something about the 157 Special liveries to mark privatisation (apparently, it was yesterday 20 years since it happened)
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Post by overgroundcommuter on Dec 8, 2014 21:04:16 GMT
Good things: 136 being extended to the Elephant relieving the 343, increased frequency for the P13 and 185. The P13 is at long last a turn up and go service and outside the peaks, less of a cattle truck experience. 197 getting some of the DW's from the 38.
Bad things: Two year extension for the 176 with those noisy VLA's. The archaic 20 minute service on the 197 on Sundays with no plans to change the PVR.
Service Changes to happen in 2015: 176 increase to every 7 mins in the peaks. NBfL on Route 436 despite the revenue losses during the artics era. 227 style buses on the P4.
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Post by LX09FBJ on Dec 8, 2014 21:21:37 GMT
My strong view:
Good Things in 2014: 285 awarded with double decks SP38-40 refurbished, turning them from some of London's worst buses into some of London's nicest PB open day Enhanced frequencies on 406 and 418 The launch of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC
Bad things: 111 service going downhill 111 getting a contract extension. If a service this reliable can get a two year extension, then why aren't all contracts just awarded as seven year ones 49 being lost to Abellio. It just doesn't seem right that LU don't operate it anymore
Shockers: 34 being lost to Metroline 109 being lost to Abellio Stagecoach ordering Volvo B5LH/Wright Gemini 3s
Non-Shockers: E3 being lost to London United 54 and 75 being lost to Stagecoach
Things I'm looking forward to in 2015: New 285 double decks Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMCs The growth of Tower Transit and Abellio Hopefully a new timetable on the 111 The 'Plumsteadification' of London. Hopefully
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Post by Green Kitten on Dec 8, 2014 21:26:48 GMT
Good things in 2014 - More hybrid buses! - The announcement of Uno's first London's Buses contract. Hope they can win a few more routes! - 66 going DD. Bad things in 2014: - Displacement of lovely SPs on the 10 and 148 to boring LTs! Definitely my least favourite 'event' this year. ;D Seeing as I use it most days, let's add the 9, whose lovely VLEs I miss riding, especially since the 49 went to Abellio who only ever order Alexander products - Metroline winning the 34! Well, to be fair, had Arriva retained the route, the DLAs would be ousted anyway. Nothing against you, ComfortDelGro. - Go-Away taking over MetroBus overall. - Arriva London's tendering results in general! Things to look forward to next year - Seeing the new Enviro400 MMCs in service early on in the year for Metroline and Abellio's new contracts. - Tower Transit's new contracts and buses, hopefully with a new interior! - 383 run by Uno - that's when I'll do the route end-to-end! - Results for routes in North London, hoping for Metroline to keep the 91 and 263, for example Bad things to dread next year - More LTs! - Probably the last year seeing DLAs in service... - On that note... seeing less Stagecoach Tridents in service... Shocking News: 34 to Metroline 383 to Uno 109 to Abeille
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Post by DT 11 on Dec 8, 2014 21:50:36 GMT
The best odd working this year for me is 18487 on Route 75. Good Things this year: 1. 136 extension to Elephant & Castle. 2. Stagecoach operating 54 and 75 again. 3. London Central gaining 286. 4. 47, 124, 185, C10 and P4 getting PVR increases. Bad things this year: 1. MB Garage losing their 900-series OmniDekkas (Most of them were great IMO). 2. Abellio gaining an extension for 188 3. Arriva losing route 135 (Although this happens next year, 135 was my favourite Arriva route). What I'm looking forward to in 2015: 1. The tender result for 47 and N47 2. The new buses for 100, 109, 201, 407 and 415. 3. The Optares (897/898/899) appearing on BX routes and 180/N1 4. The Lewisham Gateway works to finally end so bus services won't be affected anymore. Regarding 18487 on the 75. I actually did a journey on it that day, it brought back memories of Tridents on the 75 Lewisham Gateway wont be finished for a while long way to go, they have not touched the roundabout yet.
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Post by DT 11 on Dec 8, 2014 21:58:55 GMT
Good Things 2014: 136 extension to Elephant & Castle the most Brilliant Idea TFL have come up with this year restored a lost Link between Lewisham & Elephant & Castle, the return of the 54 & 75 to Selkent after 5 years of pretty much an empty TL, 124 & 185 gaining frequency increases. Bad Things 2014: The least best thing that has happened Metrobus becoming fully under Go Ahead London, but in a way I don't mind as WVLs are more decent than Scania's & Of course DT still operate the 160 poorly unfortunately... Worst things that have happened.... well of course more LTs and the 45Free returns and now we have the 1Free7 & cutting the 159 from Paddington, shouldn't have extended it there in the first place... Arriva The 34 loss my favourite route that was operated with DLAs Shockers: 109/N109, 415, S4 awarded to Abellio London on Tender, 444 awarded to Tower Transit, 432 to Go Ahead London on Tender & The return of Volvo / ADL Combinations 135 & 177 Non Shockers: 498 & 499 awarded to Stagecoach, 135, 322 awarded to Go Ahead London Service changes that needs to happen in 2015: 352 & 354 gain Sunday Service and many more busy single decker routes double decked In addition, 10136 & 36343 repainted into Special liveries another good thing this year. And unfortunately 17001 was withdrawn
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Post by DT 11 on Dec 8, 2014 22:17:37 GMT
Good Things 2014: 136 extension to Elephant & Castle the most Brilliant Idea TFL have come up with this year restored a lost Link between Lewisham & Elephant & Castle, the return of the 54 & 75 to Selkent after 5 years of pretty much an empty TL, 124 & 185 gaining frequency increases. Bad Things 2014: The least best thing that has happened Metrobus becoming fully under Go Ahead London, but in a way I don't mind as WVLs are more decent than Scania's & Of course DT still operate the 160 poorly unfortunately... Worst things that have happened.... well of course more LTs and the 45Free returns and now we have the 1Free7 & cutting the 159 from Paddington, shouldn't have extended it there in the first place... Arriva The 34 loss my favourite route that was operated with DLAs Shockers: 109/N109, 415, S4 awarded to Abellio London on Tender, 444 awarded to Tower Transit, 432 to Go Ahead London on Tender & The return of Volvo / ADL Combinations 135 & 177 Non Shockers: 498 & 499 awarded to Stagecoach, 135, 322 awarded to Go Ahead London Service changes that needs to happen in 2015: 352 & 354 gain Sunday Service and many more busy single decker routes double decked I agree with the 136 extension, it has definitely been a highlight of the year, no matter where you live in London. I personally was a bit shocked that the 135 was leaving Arriva, I know it common for new routes to change on their first tender but Arriva seemed to be coping fine with it In many cases true, the 452 still remains at Battersea and many other new routes introduced years ago are still with their original garage / operator, such as the 321, 363, 357, 472.
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Post by vjaska on Dec 8, 2014 22:23:51 GMT
Good things: 136 being extended to the Elephant relieving the 343, increased frequency for the P13 and 185. The P13 is at long last a turn up and go service and outside the peaks, less of a cattle truck experience. 197 getting some of the DW's from the 38. Bad things: Two year extension for the 176 with those noisy VLA's. The archaic 20 minute service on the 197 on Sundays with no plans to change the PVR. Service Changes to happen in 2015: 176 increase to every 7 mins in the peaks. NBfL on Route 436 despite the revenue losses during the artics era. 227 style buses on the P4. Strictly speaking, the 197 never got any DW's from the 38 as its allocated the 05 reg DW's. The 412 and about 1-2 other TC routes got DW's from the 38.
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Post by sid on Dec 10, 2014 11:59:03 GMT
I'm afraid I can't get quite so excited about the 136 extension, for me it was just a cheap option when what the North Peckham area really needs is a direct link to the West End. The restoration of an Elephant & Castle to Lewisham link is somewhat indirect and it's probably quicker just to change buses at NX, swapping the southern terminals of the 21 and 453 would be the ideal solution for me.
Metrobus has sadly gone downhill since Go Ahead took over and I would expect further route losses.
Abellio seems to still be going from strength to strenght whilst the Arriva decline continues.
Good to see Uno entering the TfL market, I wonder whether Ensignbus will ever return to it?
More LT's, I quite like the buses themselves but running them in OPO mode just defeats the whole purpose of them.
The double decking of the 285 finally happens and there have been (unconfirmed?) reports that more single deck buses are to be double decked which has to be a good move.
Some more improvements to Sunday services would be good, some of which are relics from before the days of Sunday trading.
Hopefully Stagecoach can aquire some new premises in SE London with TB, TL and PD all near full capacity.
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Post by snowman on Dec 10, 2014 14:32:53 GMT
Good things: some short route extensions; the gemini3s; new entrant (Uno)
Bad things : no real attempt to thin out some of the overbussed off peak routes, (from the perspective of money could be spent better, sorting some pinchpoints and overcrowding); LTs being overweight with lower capacity;
Glad to see the back of some of the old rattly euro3 buses, but there is a bit of a lull in new orders, even if got to find some way of allowing LTs to take over routes, would have preferred to see more 12m single decks in the outer suburbs where roads are straighter
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Post by ServerKing on Dec 10, 2014 18:46:58 GMT
Good things - Arriva coming to Ealing with the E10, albeit in TGM guise - being operated from DT makes the route even more interesting Metroline's kung-fu grip on West London loosened ever so slightly, with the E1 going to Abellio, E3 to London United, E10 to TGM DW411 entering service, albeit as reliable as Emmanuel Adebayor Uno gaining a London route Stagecoach getting Wright bodied deckers for the 53 1st gen DW's moving North to Enfield, although just a handful London Sovereign buses finally gaining vinyls and fleetnames The new E400 and E200 MMC Bad things - DW411 leaving service for long intervals for modifications (see above) Arriva getting absolutely hammered in every round of tenders (except hanging onto the 102 and 253) The end of the DLP's after Arriva lost the 34 The long-awaited Streetdeck looking quite fugly... More and more LT's... but no modifications to their air cooling Too many decent Euro3 DB250's ending up in the Bus Graveyard in Borehamwood
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