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Post by N230UD on Apr 10, 2021 8:59:22 GMT
Following the tracking on bustimes.org , the Solo on the route has indeed been terminating at Waltham Abbey today, as in the new timetable at Beechfield Walk, just before a large roundabout where it can turn around.
The route last ran to Chingford on the 3rd April. I’m still unsure on why it’s suddenly ceased, and if it’s maybe a short term thing.
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Post by N230UD on Apr 9, 2021 21:36:07 GMT
For a few years now, the once prominent route 505 from Harlow to Chingford has been operating on Saturdays only by Trustybus, under contract to Essex County Council. However, it seems it's days in London are finally over, with the bustimes.org website showing it operating between Harlow and Waltham Abbey only, and it is the same on the Trustybus/Central Connect website. The times have remained the same, meaning a long layover in Waltham Abbey. Therefore, the village of Sewardstone no longer has a bus service at all (not that residents really used it), and it no longer enters London to reach Chingford. This seems to have been done quietly with no notice. How long has this been the case? (New Trustybus timetable states from 10th April). Anyone know the reason why? I presume it may be to do with London emissions, however that would also mean Trustybus would no longer be able to do rail replacement within London which they do occasionally. Although as it is a Saturday route, they may not have enough suitable vehicles available. It's certainly different from 10-15 years ago when I was on a 505 on Arriva's ex-Wests Wright Handybus with every seat taken (although I know most journeys were quiet even then). See the links here: 505 times on Bustimes 505 timetable on Trustybus website
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Post by N230UD on Feb 7, 2021 19:31:45 GMT
Falcon's press release at the time said they were being fitted with next stop displays, but I've not been on one so can't confirm what type they are. www.falconbuses.co.uk/news/new-operators-of-route-461/Not forgetting the Versas too! The Citaros have indeed remained at Guildford, but were taken off the road when the Corona cuts came into force. Arriva has another three-way switch involving Guildford coming up, to ensure that EuroVI emissions-standard vehicles are used on route 724 (Harlow-Heathrow Airport) from 1st March when the London-wide ULEZ comes into force.: Seven ADL Enviro200 MMC to move from Gillingham to Harlow Seven Mercedes Citaros to move from Harlow to Guildford Seven Optare Versas to move from Guildford to Gillingham E200 MMCs are really not ideal for the 724 (or any of Harlow’s allocation). I doubt many travel the full route, but even just Watford-Heathrow, some better suited vehicles would be more ideal. I suppose they have no choice.
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Post by N230UD on Jan 6, 2021 18:02:41 GMT
Well, seems many have gone quiet at all the so called doomsday projections of Brexit and what would have happened. The ports would come to a standstill, the pound would be worth nothing; in a sense it was made out that the UK would have end up being a third world country. Yes, it is good things have gone smoothly so far. It is early days yet though, and it will take a while to see the full effects. There is already lots of extra bureaucracy for haulage firms (I thought Brexit was all about cutting red tape, but anyway...), and the British passport has less rights on it then before. We may not be a third world country, but this is reducing our position in the world. Things haven’t gone quiet, and won’t do for years. But I’m glad some of the more extreme predictions of Brexit haven’t come true.
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Post by N230UD on Jan 2, 2021 23:00:41 GMT
Stagecoach will be taking over many of the Arriva journeys... I think its 2 return journeys each day. Indeed, and only on schooldays. The 3X will be used by most of the former 333 passengers, although the 3X doesn’t serve the Ospringe area by Faversham (which includes a large secondary school), instead operating via Bysing Wood, hence Stagecoach replacing 2 return journeys on the 333.
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Post by N230UD on Dec 29, 2020 19:58:17 GMT
Arriva have now announced that the 333 will now be completely withdrawn, after 3rd January 2021. It currently runs between Faversham and Sittingbourne, but as I’ve written above was withdrawn from the full route to Maidstone. This now brings this historic route to an end, and takes Arriva out of Faversham, once where the boundaries of traditional operators East Kent and Maidstone & District (which became Arriva). In a historic sense, this is a shame. I still like the way that many routes in Kent have kept NBC style numbering (Medway with 1xx numbers, Tunbridge Wells with 2xx numbers etc.) so the loss of a 3xx number in Swale is to be regretted. Indeed it is a shame. Yes, Arriva have kept the NBC style in some places in Kent. Stagecoach have mostly reverted to the pre-NBC East Kent numbering. Lots of the Kent County Council-contracted routes still have the 6xx numbers, such as the 638, 660 and 666 all from Faversham
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Post by N230UD on Dec 29, 2020 17:59:15 GMT
Arriva have now announced that the 333 will now be completely withdrawn, after 3rd January 2021. It currently runs between Faversham and Sittingbourne, but as I’ve written above was withdrawn from the full route to Maidstone in recent years.
This now brings this historic route to an end, and takes Arriva out of Faversham, once where the boundaries met of traditional operators East Kent and Maidstone & District (which became Arriva).
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Ensign
Dec 18, 2020 20:20:20 GMT
Post by N230UD on Dec 18, 2020 20:20:20 GMT
Great to see that Ensign have made the cover of the latest Buses magazine, with their route 68 Southend open-top service. Something positive from this generally awful year.
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Post by N230UD on Oct 2, 2020 18:51:44 GMT
^ I know they had arrested the 3 kids, as I said in the post. They have been bailed but we don't know anything more than that. It often seems to be the case that you hear there have been arrests, but then never hear anything else about the story.
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Post by N230UD on Oct 2, 2020 17:28:36 GMT
Still no news on what exactly happened, and if there is any repercussions for those who were arrested, and if the parents will have any financial penalties. Like most stories like this, we probably won't hear anything.
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Post by N230UD on Sept 16, 2020 17:24:24 GMT
Because of course Johnson never spaffed taxpayer's money up the wall when he was Mayor of London....
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Post by N230UD on Aug 30, 2020 20:54:31 GMT
Yes I disagreed with some of the comments. I still don't understand what your point is. Its my opinion! Who is forcing anyone to disclose their sexuality? No one! My point was that if a train wasn't painted into this livery you wouldn't get the comments that you don't agree with. I didn't say anybody was being forced to disclose their sexuality and many people regard it as a private matter. Yes, but the majority of people appear to support it. Also, like I have said, any livery will attract negative comment whether it is Pride-related or not, so why should the livery not be used just because some people don't like it? If we only did things if ALL people wanted it, then there wouldn't be any progress with anything. And yes, some people regard it as a private matter. I'm not sure how that is relevant though?
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Post by N230UD on Aug 30, 2020 20:40:47 GMT
Any livery is going to attract both positive negative comment. Shall we stop all new liveries just because some people disagree with them? The Daily Mail focuses heavily on the negative comments, and only briefly mentions a couple of positive comments on the very end, which I think are a lot more common. The Daily Mail has a bias right-wing agenda, and has had homophobic articles before. The article mentions alot about how it might make stright people uncomfortable - if it makes them uncomfortable about their sexuality, they clearly have a problem. Of course some people want to keep their sexuality private, that is entirely their choice and their right. But many people feel that have to keep it quiet, because a lot of prejudice still remains. Inclusivity is all about giving marginalised groups the freedom to choose. Shall I give you the definition of inclusivity? "the practice or policy of including people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of minority groups".Well you were the one objecting to some of the comments. Those who keep their sexuality private won't be marginalised but as with anything if you make it public you run the risk of getting a reaction that you don't like. Yes I disagreed with some of the comments. I still don't understand what your point is. Its my opinion! Who is forcing anyone to disclose their sexuality? No one!
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Post by N230UD on Aug 30, 2020 20:17:35 GMT
Yes I like the train, and no I don't like some of the comments it attracted. Your point is? What do you mean I can't have it both ways? The vast majority of comments I have seen have been positive, although of course the right-wing media such as the Daily Mail only focuses on the negative comments. There are some valid points against the livery, but there is also a lot of ignorant homophobic comments too. Why do you struggle to understand why Avanti have done this? Clearly it is mainly for publicity and marketing, but in my opinion it does also do its bit to promote inclusivity. But of course, there will always be some who are sadly against inclusivity. The livery is going to attract comment and inevitably they won't all agree with you. The Daily Mail have just shown what was posted by some of the LGBT community. And what is this mythical inclusivity that needs to be promoted? For many people their sexuality is a private matter. Any livery is going to attract both positive and negative comments. Shall we stop all new liveries just because some people disagree with them? The Daily Mail as expected focuses heavily on the negative comments, and only briefly mentions a couple of positive comments on the very end, which I think are a lot more common. The Daily Mail has a bias right-wing agenda, and has had homophobic articles before. Of course some people want to keep their sexuality private, that is entirely their choice and their right. But many people feel that have to keep it quiet, because a lot of prejudice still remains. Inclusivity is all about giving marginalised groups the freedom to choose. Shall I give you the definition of inclusivity? "the practice or policy of including people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of minority groups".
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Post by N230UD on Aug 30, 2020 20:04:45 GMT
So you like the train but you don't like some of the comments it attracted? Well I'm afraid you can't have it both ways and there's been a significant amount of criticism from the LGBT community. I genuinely struggle to understand what Avanti were hoping to achieve. Just to be honest, the LGBTQ+ community is not as inclusive as everyone thinks. Not everyone in a group of people is going to agree with everything, and will have different opinions. I agree, there are some people in the community who are not inclusive, but not everyone is the same. On the whole though, I think the LGBT+ community is largely more inclusive and less judgemental than society as a whole.
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