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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 22:23:58 GMT
EMN1 for route 377 spotted in Rotherham. Registrations for the buses are EMN1 YJ73 BVB EMN2 YJ73 BVC EMN3 YJ73 BVD EMN4 YJ73 BVE
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 22:17:12 GMT
Some more good news XR founder convicted after four-year legal sagaThe co-founder of Extinction Rebellion has been convicted of causing £27,500 of damage after a four-year legal saga over protest rights.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67288289
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 11:59:45 GMT
The SL1 will already support the 221 to an extent between North Finchley and New Southgate, so could just extend the 67 as far as Arnos Grove? However, North Finchley is where the main flow of demand starts, hence is why the previous 5bph shorts were run there. Whilst extending the 67 would be useful, it's going to be excess capacity at the same time as I dont think 13bph necessary needed. What I think should be implemented is a Superloop express service between North Finchley and Turnpike Lane to allow faster and simpler journeys between the Finchley and the Wood Green flows whilst investing in capacity at the same time. I cannot see any express gaining much time over an existing 221, especially in the peaks when Friern Barnet Rd, Woodhouse Rd and Bounds Green Rd is solid with traffic. It has also been made worse by road narrowing, cycling warfare with pathtic poles etc. At times a light running 221 to Edgware from Wood Green does not even make much headway over that section than a 221 that is running in service.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 11:57:12 GMT
The full service on route 34 would be transferred to [AD] garage from Saturday 9th December (No more buses on the route parked at [EC]). It would drop down to a 10 minute service (currently 8 minutes) and pvr would also drop to 18 buses, currently 22 The route would also have buses running light to Courtney Mews from Walthamstow Central to make way for the SL route (stand space) I wonder where would the 34 stand? Surely extend the 34 to South Grove would be the best option no? ST. JAMES STREET STATION, COURTENAY MEWS STAND
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 11:54:44 GMT
The full service on route 34 would be transferred to [AD] garage from Saturday 9th December (No more buses on the route parked at [EC]). It would drop down to a 10 minute service (currently 8 minutes) and pvr would also drop to 18 buses, currently 22 The route would also have buses running light to Courtney Mews from Walthamstow Central to make way for the SL route (stand space) Has the SL1 been confirmed to start 9th Dec or that can be assumed? Suspected that there would be issues with stand space, however, not sure this is best option. Firstly, why are we prioritising SL1 over 34. Second, it would make more sense for SL1 to provide a service between St James Street and WC. Third, stand space at SJS is not as it was once before and South Grove may be an option too. I can see more 34s terminating at Crooked Billet. I guess moving 34 will create more space for SL2. There would not be enough stand space at WSTC for SL1 and SL2 and the easiest way done with a route that the company operate is to ship it out. It does not mean more Billet turns, it means there could be less as some could end up then resorting to a WSTC then 2 mins then head back in the next direction. As to Courtney Mews would be 5 mins down and 5 mins to come back.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 11:51:49 GMT
In my opinion this not only goes for NHS, other government departments and private companies, the biggest con in my eyes are preferred supplier contracts. They are sold as you will get all you supplies from them in return for a discounted price. What happens in reality is you end up paying more than if you got it off the open market. I have a firend who works at a South London hospital, says he can purchase something of Amazon for under £60. To get it from the hospitals preferred supplier £800. I heard exactly this on LBC a few months ago, How can this be allowed to happen? Either it is gross incompetence by those who sign off such contracts at the Dept of Health in which case they should be fired or else it is deliberate and they are receiving backhanders/promises of cushy non-exec directorship roles when they leave the NHS if they award such contracts. People are clearly benefiting from such scandalous contracts! Follow the money... It is nothing new, it has been happening for years. The same goes for the ULEZ contract, and even the Congestion Charge contract from years ago. They NEVER really solve any problem but there as stealth taxes and money earners for private companies and the government.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 11:49:33 GMT
The issue is the NHS is excessively bloated in terms of its finances. The more money thrown at it, the more gets gobbled up somewhere it doesn't need to be. In my opinion this not only goes for NHS, other government departments and private companies, the biggest con in my eyes are preferred supplier contracts. They are sold as you will get all you supplies from them in return for a discounted price. What happens in reality is you end up paying more than if you got it off the open market. I have a firend who works at a South London hospital, says he can purchase something of Amazon for under £60. To get it from the hospitals preferred supplier £800. I worked for a company in the private sector, had a meeting with a supplier whose presentation extolled the virtues of why they are doing such a good job saving money for the company. Well I had a limited budget, worked out what I could buy via the manufacturers sale to public RRP website. To my horror the quote came in higher. Contacted the guy who did the meeting to query what was quoted, and guess what, very quickly got an email saying the had made an error in the calculations and the new quote supplied was over 30% cheaper. People just send these orders off and accept the quote. It is not their money, and they follow the required process to procure items. These contracts make the suppliers huge profits, and probably the person agreeing the contract a huge kickback. I am aware of someone having a huge extension built by a supplier. Government seems to have less controls on costs than the private sector, so expect them to be abused more by this practice, but my exposure to the public sector is limited, but definitely not zero. I remember a few years ago Boris mentioned this, but the usual Labour hags went on to think he was trying to scrap the NHS etc. End of the day it is not just happening to the NHS but the local councils and a lot of them is Labour councils this is happening to. With loads of these so called housing projects and various urban realm nonsense roadworks. They charge an arm and a leg for these organisations but other private companies they sell to would not sell at these prices. They know they are a soft target and is a way for easy profits.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 11:42:00 GMT
And if Khan is re-elected next year wait and see how much is raised when he alters the goalposts and more cars are deemed non-compliant I'm not sure he will change the goalposts but I do see more anti-motorist rules coming into force. One of his tactics to justify the excessive tunnel charge in East is to say there's not enough help from government. I suspect such charge will make it to the Rotherhithe and potentially Tower Bridge. Issue is he has an extremely weak competitor. The only time I'd even consider voting for her over Khan is if she makes it a headlining policy to review tube staff wages and also probably removing the nominated travel pass for people who don't actually work on TfL. Not sure why you think a mayor must sort out tube staff wages
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 2:02:05 GMT
Route 329 would be transferring from [AD] to [WN] on Saturday 9th December The full service on route 34 would be transferred to [AD] garage from Saturday 9th December (No more buses on the route parked at [EC]). It would drop down to a 10 minute service (currently 8 minutes) and pvr would also drop to 18 buses, currently 22 The route would also have buses running light to Courtney Mews from Walthamstow Central to make way for the SL route (stand space)
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 1, 2023 1:54:01 GMT
I dont know if anyone else has mentioned that T300 has moved to Enfield being the only "white blind" T bus at the garage. I'm patiently waiting for it to turn up on the 191, certainly the better suited vehicle for that route It does seem strange as it is the only one there with a white blindset.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Oct 31, 2023 11:16:29 GMT
Not only that but why I asked my original question is it's this sort of change that can lead people to deserting public transport. The 91 is a good change but it's then paired up with the 123 change which something that only makes sense in terms of making space of the 91 but doesn't for passengers requiring Wood Green. I know the forum lacks any trust in TfL but maybe they have usage data for the 123 and the cut back can be justified. Changes have to be made sometimes and you can’t keep using the deserting public transport every time you don’t like a proposal. TfL always still has to balance its books! The recent bailout doesn’t mean it has unlimited funds. I think it is not justified. TfL have ambushed various proposals even though data shows it has high usage and has alienated people. They reduced the frequency on the W12 some years ago because they did not want to spend the money to put another bus on the schedule even though ridership was doing well. After the drop from 20-30 mins the people using it declined massively. If you have anything like a vomit, mechanical, tyre blow out, then it instantly becomes an 1 hour service! The 123 cut back is only seems to be for stand space as to give the 91 the space. The 232 re-direction is only to cover this. The nonsense of "to improve the pedestrian environment" on Wood Green High Rd reeks of TfL and local council bull poo. No wonder people are deserting the High Streets, these bufoons and part of the main orchestra-tors of this. As for the proposals it is an overkill for another stupid housing development most likely with stupid overpriced flats on former industrial lands. Good luck on sending the 91 that way. The roads leading up to that way is a dump and made worse by LTN's in that area. Station Rd has W3's and 184's easily losing 10-20 minutes at times in the morning and evening peaks. I can easily see 91's that are on time from Crouch end be 10 late by the time the hit the nonsense of Hornsey High St, then the time they get onto Station Rd another 10 mins and be 20+ late by the time they get to the stand. What they should have done was axe the 67 and extend the 329 over its route or vice versa.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Oct 31, 2023 11:01:32 GMT
Not necessarily a bus stop rename, but a destination rename. In Dagenham, along the Heathway, southbound stops say ‘Towards Beckton or Dagenham Ford’s.’ It is redundant, as the 175 no longer serves Ford’s, as it is closed. So I think the best thing to do now is name the destination: ‘Towards Beckton or Beam Park’, considering the Beam Park area is starting to get up and running, and the 174 at least passes through there. And similar thing for another Dagenham stop: Ballards Road/Princess Parade. Currently says ‘Towards Becontree, Ford’s Works, or Rainham’. I would just change it to ‘Towards Becontree or Rainham’. Sick of that Beam Park nonsense. Would be better if they said New Road.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Oct 31, 2023 10:54:24 GMT
As Hackney Council seem hellbent on wanting the 253 to serve Homerton Hospital and a route test with LT's failed, the 253 could end up going back to HV's (Gemini 3) and the LT's from the 253 end up on one of the SL1/2. I personally do not see why so many of these councils seems to think the only place people want to ride a bus to is the hospital They could always keep the buses from the 242 at CT after its lost in February and convert the 253 in advance of any proposed changes to the route. The LTs could then be prepared for the SL 2 and this could then start from DX just as the 325 is lost at the start of March.
All speculation on my part of course.
That could potentially end up happening, the ball is in TfL's court....
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Post by capitalomnibus on Oct 30, 2023 11:21:21 GMT
Looking back to earlier posts there was debate about stops for now closed pubs that should be changed such as 'Walthamstow, Bakers Arms'. Well a few years later and we still have 'Bricklayers Arms' on the Old Kent Road and on Pickhurst Lane in Bromley we still have 'The Pickhurst' (for routes 138 & 246) even though the pub closed a few years ago and is now a Miller & Carter Steakhouse. Pickhurst Green would be more correct but I hope it doesn't change as it was my local for many years and is much missed. 'The Bakers' Arms' closed in 2010 and is now a 'Paddy Power' bookmakers, my report on the forum on Leyton published a few months ago explains why the pub, and indeed the area was named "The Bakers Arms'. Another example would be the Swan and Sugar Loaf' in Croydon that also closed in 2010 but continues to have bus stops named. Local to Heathrow, although they don't currently have bus stops 'local's continue to refer to locations as 'Peggy Bedford' and the 'Jolly Waggoner' roundabout which I think is rather nice. The Bakers Arms pub, classed as Leyton, not Walthamstow, even though it is on the E17 Walthamstow side of Lea Bridge Rd/Hoe Street was a shame when it closed. I remember the pub well. It was named after the nearby Bakers Almhouses which is beside the post office and GOBLIN line. There are lots of places on the network with names of places long gone. Charlie Browns roundabout (pub gone), Gates Corner in South Woodford (Ford dealer shut)
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Post by capitalomnibus on Oct 30, 2023 0:20:37 GMT
LTs for the SL2, superannuated Scanias for the SL3 - doesn't the Forum want people to use these routes? Fully refurbished LTs in Superloop livery would be pretty decent IMO. As Hackney Council seem hellbent on wanting the 253 to serve Homerton Hospital and a route test with LT's failed, the 253 could end up going back to HV's (Gemini 3) and the LT's from the 253 end up on one of the SL1/2. I personally do not see why so many of these councils seems to think the only place people want to ride a bus to is the hospital
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