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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2016 0:50:37 GMT
Unless you like 'other operators' routes id go for places like Langley and Slough (just the 81), Molesey (411), Watford (142, 258), and other outer London suburbs with very little going on. Might make some of you think twice about the places you mentioned though I understand the sentiments!
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Post by vjaska on Aug 31, 2016 1:29:15 GMT
Central London is probably the one place I dread going to on a bus which is why I really only do so when completing a route end to end and/or riding a particular vehicle of interest and given it's just the odd new electric vehicle I've never used before, Central London is extremely dull nowadays. Otherwise, I just use the tube into Central London. There's a few areas I dislike but it's not really for bus reasons so no point listing them here
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Post by astock5000 on Aug 31, 2016 2:17:40 GMT
I'd probably say places which only have a couple of routes and/or relatively infrequent services, so mainly areas around the edge of Greater London. Cockfosters is the first such location that comes to mind. Other than that I don't mind areas with mostly non-TfL services. Apart from those near Watford I'm not so familiar with non-London operators' fleets but I still find them to be interesting and visiting an area where they run gives me a reason to look at those operators in more detail.
Central London is actually my favourite place to see buses, though maybe not to travel on them (unless it's a certain type that is currently only used on central routes, of course). I've found it hard to drag myself away from locations such as Marble Arch, St Paul's and Trafalgar Square. The fact that I like LTs has a lot to do with it but I'm also very familiar with the area, and the final reason is simply the number of buses passing through any one location.
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Post by 725DYE on Aug 31, 2016 9:15:30 GMT
Despite being hideous, having a woeful reputation and for being a failed commercial attempt in the 1960s that lead to everyone heading for Canary Wharf, Croydon is actually a great place for bus variety. It's full of most of London's remaining euro-3 DAFs, the DOEs (as awful as they are), Enviro 200MMCs, Gemini 2DLs, Electric Metrocities, Mercedes Citaros and some of A's remaining PVLs with the powerblinds and fantastic ZF gearboxes.
Another thing that that makes the area great in terms of buses is the fact that TC, TH, BC and C are all very close to one another meaning that there is often great competition for routes. Recent changes between them have been the 64, 367 and 434 in recent years. The upcoming 433 tender result seems to be a fight between Go-Ahead, Arriva and Abellio so that should be interesting
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Post by Gellico on Aug 31, 2016 9:25:49 GMT
Despite being hideous, having a woeful reputation and for being a failed commercial attempt in the 1960s that lead to everyone heading for Canary Wharf, Croydon is actually a great place for bus variety. It's full of most of London's remaining euro-3 DAFs, the DOEs (as awful as they are), Enviro 200MMCs, Gemini 2DLs, Electric Metrocities, Mercedes Citaros and some of A's remaining PVLs with the powerblinds and fantastic ZF gearboxes. Anither thing that that makes the area great in terms of buses is the fact that TC, TH, BC and C are all very close to one another meaning that there is often great competition for routes. Recent changes between them have been the 64, 367 and 434 in recent years. The upcoming 433 tender result seems to be a fight between Go-Ahead, Arriva and Abellio so that should be interesting Was at Croydom yesterday. The trams make everything a little more interesting as well
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Post by twobellstogo on Sept 1, 2016 8:23:01 GMT
Central London and that's mainly because of the LTs. I used to love going to Central London because of diversity yes you had the Routemasters but also had MCW Metrobuses, Volvo Citybuses, ECW bodied Leyland Olympians, Dennis Darts and Volvo Olympians. Even when you when the low floor buses came in you still had diversity what with the Bendy Buses, ALX400s, Wright Pulsar Gemini, Wright Eclipse Gemini and Plaxton Presidents. Now it's just full of LTs. If I walk down Oxford Street, Regent Street and Whitehall all I see are Borismaster and now I find Central London because of the lack of diversity. I rather be at Brent Cross or White City or Hammersmith rather than Central London. I'm sorry for LT lovers on this site but that's how I feel. Yes, there are the LTs, but there's still plenty of variety in Central London. Trafalgar Square/Strand/Aldwych is a good bet. London Bridge too. Would agree about speed of traffic, but even then there is still a great deal of joy to be had in sightseeing on a good touristy route such as 9, 11, 15, 23, 24, 88, 188.
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Post by sid on Sept 1, 2016 8:34:30 GMT
Central London and that's mainly because of the LTs. I used to love going to Central London because of diversity yes you had the Routemasters but also had MCW Metrobuses, Volvo Citybuses, ECW bodied Leyland Olympians, Dennis Darts and Volvo Olympians. Even when you when the low floor buses came in you still had diversity what with the Bendy Buses, ALX400s, Wright Pulsar Gemini, Wright Eclipse Gemini and Plaxton Presidents. Now it's just full of LTs. If I walk down Oxford Street, Regent Street and Whitehall all I see are Borismaster and now I find Central London because of the lack of diversity. I rather be at Brent Cross or White City or Hammersmith rather than Central London. I'm sorry for LT lovers on this site but that's how I feel. Yes, there are the LTs, but there's still plenty of variety in Central London. Trafalgar Square/Strand/Aldwych is a good bet. London Bridge too. Would agree about speed of traffic, but even then there is still a great deal of joy to be had in sightseeing on a good touristy route such as 9, 11, 15, 23, 24, 88, 188. I would say Central London was one of the best places whether you like LT's or not, plenty of non TfL stuff as well on sightseeing, National Express, Oxford Tube etc.
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Post by rmz19 on Sept 1, 2016 10:47:44 GMT
As others have said, nothing more dull than Central London right now with the sheer amount of LTs around. I was in Brighton for a few days recently and I was envious of how diverse their bus network is. I pretty much spent my whole time riding buses when I really should've been basking in the sunshine and walking along the beach
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Post by sid on Sept 1, 2016 11:18:26 GMT
As others have said, nothing more dull than Central London right now with the sheer amount of LTs around. I was in Brighton for a few days recently and I was envious of how diverse their bus network is. I pretty much spent my whole time riding buses when I really should've been basking in the sunshine and walking along the beach But the Brighton & Hove fleet is much the same as what you can find in London, except the bendybuses of course! Obviously far more eye catching liveries though.
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Post by vjaska on Sept 1, 2016 11:24:08 GMT
As others have said, nothing more dull than Central London right now with the sheer amount of LTs around. I was in Brighton for a few days recently and I was envious of how diverse their bus network is. I pretty much spent my whole time riding buses when I really should've been basking in the sunshine and walking along the beach But the Brighton & Hove fleet is much the same as what you can find in London, except the bendybuses of course! Obviously far more eye catching liveries though. The Omnilinks are not found in London either. It's not just the lovely livery - the routes are better & the people are friendly as well.
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Post by rmz19 on Sept 1, 2016 11:29:35 GMT
As others have said, nothing more dull than Central London right now with the sheer amount of LTs around. I was in Brighton for a few days recently and I was envious of how diverse their bus network is. I pretty much spent my whole time riding buses when I really should've been basking in the sunshine and walking along the beach But the Brighton & Hove fleet is much the same as what you can find in London, except the bendybuses of course! Obviously far more eye catching liveries though. Funny enough, I'm not really into the liveries of buses much. Rather, the variety of buses themselves is what appeals to me the most. Regarding buses in Brighton, while it's true that you can find most of their buses in London, they don't have too many of one particular bus type unlike London with the LTs. Also, Brighton's variety is more abundant than London's i.e. you can find many types in most areas within the city whereas in London you would have to go to certain areas for variety. On the other hand, I suppose it can be argued that this is due to Brighton being much smaller in size than London.
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Post by SN17MOA on Sept 1, 2016 11:32:23 GMT
Central London because everywhere you look you see the same thing all the time: LTs. It is not like back in about 2002/2003 when there was a variety of buses making it more interesting than it is now. I'm not saying that LTs are terrible buses it's just a bit boring seeing them all in one compound.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 3, 2016 21:57:52 GMT
Wood Green is rather monotonous with its infestation of Arriva Gemini 2s I started this thread with Kingston, which I haven't seen since 2009. Until July, I hadn't seen Wood Green since 2008! I usually only have 3 or occasionally 4 tours of London bus changes per year.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 4, 2016 9:33:47 GMT
Somewhere else I have not really picked up on is Orpington. It has no central London routes nor any direct day routes to an Underground station. Even the main operator Metrobus, until absorbed into GAL, was not even a former LBL company. I have found its moquette refreshing though, but realise that GAL moquette will effetively replace it in due course.
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Post by Green Kitten on Sept 4, 2016 12:29:17 GMT
Wood Green is rather monotonous with its infestation of Arriva Gemini 2s I started this thread with Kingston, which I haven't seen since 2009. Until July, I hadn't seen Wood Green since 2008! I usually only have 3 or occasionally 4 tours of London bus changes per year. Kingston is automatically disqualified as it has five OmniCity routes!
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