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Post by N230UD on Aug 30, 2020 19:59:06 GMT
Some of the comments I see prove why a lot more needs to be done for equality with LGBT+ people. So what if Avanti are being "woke"? (I can't actually see what is wrong with being "woke"), even in 2020 there are still many LGBT+ people who feel they have to hide their true identity because of society's remaining prejudices. Some people who have seen the train, or the publicity of it, may just nudge them to think 'maybe I should open up about my sexuality'. I know that some openly LGBT+ people feel scared about using public transport because of homophobic attacks, so this may encourage them to feel safer on public transport - and of course, public transport use needs all the encouragement it can get at the moment. From other comments i've seen, the Pride train seems to have been really appreciated by LGBT+ railway staff and transport enthusiasts, and non-enthusiasts too. Of course there are some LGBT+ who may have good reasons to disagree with it, and I can understand why, but of course the Daily Mail is only going to focus on those who don't like it. On another note, is this really the first Pride train? I thought there was a Thameslink one a while ago. 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. 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.
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Post by N230UD on Aug 30, 2020 15:56:17 GMT
Some of the comments I see prove why a lot more needs to be done for equality with LGBT+ people. So what if Avanti are being "woke"? (I can't actually see what is wrong with being "woke"), even in 2020 there are still many LGBT+ people who feel they have to hide their true identity because of society's remaining prejudices. Some people who have seen the train, or the publicity of it, may just be nudged into thinking 'maybe I should open up about my sexuality'. I know that some openly LGBT+ people feel scared about using public transport because of homophobic attacks, so this may encourage them to feel safer on public transport - and of course, public transport use needs all the encouragement it can get at the moment.
From other comments i've seen, the Pride train seems to have been really appreciated by LGBT+ railway staff and transport enthusiasts, and non-enthusiasts too. Of course there are some LGBT+ who may have good reasons to disagree with it, and I can understand why, but of course the Daily Mail is only going to focus on those who don't like it.
On another note, is this really the first Pride train? I thought there was a Thameslink one a while ago.
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Post by N230UD on Aug 24, 2020 19:52:31 GMT
I can imagine getting an extra 200 buses is probably keeping the operators busy this week, however will there be enough drivers to cover the extra workings? I suspect it will be even more difficult outside of London too.
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Post by N230UD on Jun 9, 2020 20:02:21 GMT
I also agree that the statue should have been removed years ago by democratic process. However, people have been campaigning for years to get the statue removed. I can understand why the statue was targeted considering nothing was being done about it. And judging by the rest of your post, it seems you yourself has an agenda. I wasn't even aware of the statue but it seems the reaction from locals has been mixed...... history is what it is. I genuinely cannot understand BLM's apparent silence about the murder of David Dorn. I wasn't aware of the statue either, and thousands are now aware of it - which shows how effective this particular protest was, whether you agree with how it was removed or not (and I don't particularly agree with removing things in such a way). I suppose a bit of a comparison is some of the Eastern European countries, which have mostly removed all the Soviet era statues. They don't want to be reminded every day of a dark past - but they have plenty of museums about their past where many can learn about it.
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Post by N230UD on Jun 9, 2020 19:15:38 GMT
I also agree that the statue should have been removed years ago by democratic process. However, people have been campaigning for years to get the statue removed. I can understand why the statue was targeted considering nothing was being done about it. And judging by the rest of your post, it seems you yourself has an agenda.
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Post by N230UD on Jun 8, 2020 19:02:35 GMT
Hopefully they will replace the toppled statue of the slaver, with one commemorating the Bristol Bus Boycott.
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Post by N230UD on Jun 8, 2020 18:57:16 GMT
I would also thoroughly recommend Sofia for the transport enthusiast. They do have some modern types, but still lots of ancient vehicles about. In fact, i'd recommend most places in Eastern Europe, but as delt1c says, it is changing fast, with elderly stock being withdrawn fast. I'd also say its good for general tourism too - really affordable, not as busy as Western Europe, and frankly much safer than the UK and the rest of Western Europe. Anyway, apologies for continuing to go off-topic on this thread! I just couldn't help but post about it! Apologies for going off topic As you say, quite a lot of Eastern European cities are good for ancient vehicles. In Lodz,Poland for example you can have a wide range, from Konstal 805N's (originally called 105N's before refurb) from the 1970's right up to modern 2010's/2020's PESA trams. The buses seem to recieve a bit more attention with the oldest being a few Volvo 7000's from 2002. The also have the amazing Isuzu Novociti Life buses operating which are (I think) a fairly uncommon/rare example of 7m low floor buses with 2 sets of doors! Day tickets are fairly cheap and there is an old tram depot now in use with the local tram enthusiast preservation group who organise a few depot days yearly as well as a transport museum in the city centre where you can buy a large variety of transport souveniers. Highly recommend visiting *Apologies for the shameless plug of my home town lol* Very interesting, thank you. I hope to visit Lodz one day. I've been able to visit Krakow and Warsaw, and in both places managing to travel on some of the old Konstal trams.
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Post by N230UD on Jun 8, 2020 10:36:34 GMT
A highlight for me was seeing this former London Titan T1056 (A56THX) on my visit in 2013.
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Post by N230UD on Jun 8, 2020 10:34:08 GMT
I went to Malta in 2013 as part of a university field trip. We used the local bus network to travel around, which was then operated by Arriva. Travelling in an ex-Arriva London articulated Citaro at high speeds down bendy hilly narrow roads was quite the experience!
It is a country i'd like to revisit again, and see how the transport network is now. Its also great for historical buildings, and the culture is fascinating with its mix of Arabic and European influences. You can see evidence of its British colonial past too with the phone and post boxes.
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Post by N230UD on Jun 8, 2020 10:24:00 GMT
I would also thoroughly recommend Sofia for the transport enthusiast. They do have some modern types, but still lots of ancient vehicles about. In fact, i'd recommend most places in Eastern Europe, but as delt1c says, it is changing fast, with elderly stock being withdrawn fast. I'd also say its good for general tourism too - really affordable, not as busy as Western Europe, and frankly much safer than the UK and the rest of Western Europe.
Anyway, apologies for continuing to go off-topic on this thread! I just couldn't help but post about it!
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Post by N230UD on Apr 17, 2020 17:11:21 GMT
Wow so to simplify we've seen 7 companies shut down already since the pandemic started: T.J. Walsh of Halifax Nova Tours of Chesterfield Seaview Coaches, Poole Dans Luxury Travel, Waltham Abbey Alexcars of Cirencester Swallows Coaches, Rainham Leasks of Lerwick Not surprising to see that 4/7 are coach companies, over the last 3 days alone there has been another small coach company announced closed. Coach/tourist bus companies are most definitely hit hardest out of the bus industry - they usually rely on schools, private hire and tourism usually - of which schools are off for the time being and private hire and tourism just isn't possible at this time really. A shame to hear about all of those, but for me especially Dans Luxury Travel. A regular sight for me when I grew up in Essex, and they took me on school trips too. A well established operator at least 50 years old. Its my understanding that Leasks of Lerwick are due to close anyway, regardless of the virus, as the owner is retiring. Interestingly, this company is 101 years old, and is still in the ownership of the same family.
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Post by N230UD on Apr 1, 2020 14:33:43 GMT
^ haha At Stagecoach East Kent, there are 4 examples of the ex-Stagecoach London Enviro200s, all of which are believed to be going on this contract. Only 36329 has been seen on local service work. SEK also have 4 ex-Stagecoach London Trident/ALX400s (17582/17585/17587/17590) based at Herne Bay, all four still in service pre-coronavirus. There are also 17528 and 17529 converted to open-top for Thanet route 69. Also another open-top 17221 (ex-V221MEV) which I don't think is being used currently. Oh, and recent Scania Omnicity arrivals 15049, 15111, 15113, 15123 based at Herne Bay. Smart vehicles, but they have broken down a few times! Some of them still have ELBG seating material. If anyone is planning a visit to East Kent (post-lockdown of course), the Herne Bay Tridents and Omnicities are usually on routes 4/6 and Uni2. Thanks for that, I might make that my first post lockdown visit. Any other interesting vehicles in the surrounding areas? I’ve only ever done the 43 from Canterbury to Dover via Sandwich & the 102 from Dover to Hastings via Lydd (further afield the 99 from Hastings to Eastbourne). There isn't a huge amount of interesting vehicles in this area at present (especially since the end of the Olympians), but that might depend on your opinion. Lots of Scania/E400 vehicles which I really like. The E200 MMCs at Thanet for the Loop are impressive, especially if you manage to get one on routes 8 or 9. There are also the Scania / E400 MMCs on the Triangle and 8 (Canterbury-Margate) which have coach-seating (and the MMC body on a diesel Scania chassis is quite rare). If you haven't been to Tunbridge Wells, I would recommend that for sheer variety of operators (off the top of my head Metrobus, Brighton & Hove, Arriva, Stagecoach, Nu-Venture, Autocar, Hams Travel) - and you can get the really scenic 297, operated by Hams Travel who have a really interesting fleet, including some unique vehicles). With the independents, Chalkwell, they have an old fleet, including some ex-GAL E200s. Regent Coaches operate quite a few routes, but with a rather standard fleet of Enviro200s and Streetlites. Ashford-based Kent Coach Tours have a Citaro and ex-Dublin E500, but only operated on school routes. Their ordinary bus routes with Darts only operate Mon-Fri. In terms of routes, the 43 is a good one, with some traditional Kentish country scenery (orchards, hop fields). I would also try the 11 (Canterbury-Westwood) which is really rural, with really narrow country lanes, reversing points, but still mostly operated by double deckers! The 3 (Canterbury-Faversham), 7 (Canterbury-Herne Bay), 17 (Canterbury-Folkestone), 18 (Canterbury-Hythe), 2/2A (Ashford-Tenterden) are also some of my favourite scenic routes, largely operated by double-deckers. I could go on! If you ever plan to travel there, feel free to message me for any recommendations.
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Post by N230UD on Apr 1, 2020 13:00:54 GMT
^ haha At Stagecoach East Kent, there are 4 examples of the ex-Stagecoach London Enviro200s, all of which are believed to be going on this contract. Only 36329 has been seen on local service work. SEK also have 4 ex-Stagecoach London Trident/ALX400s (17582/17585/17587/17590) based at Herne Bay, all four still in service pre-coronavirus. There are also 17528 and 17529 converted to open-top for Thanet route 69. Also another open-top 17221 (ex-V221MEV) which I don't think is being used currently. Oh, and recent Scania Omnicity arrivals 15049, 15111, 15113, 15123 based at Herne Bay. Smart vehicles, but they have broken down a few times! Some of them still have ELBG seating material. If anyone is planning a visit to East Kent (post-lockdown of course), the Herne Bay Tridents and Omnicities are usually on routes 4/6 and Uni2.
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Post by N230UD on Mar 31, 2020 16:56:13 GMT
Stagecoach East Kent have had a few ex-London Enviro200s in storage for a few months now, and all have been repainted all-over white for some sort of contract, which is yet to start.
However, 36329 (LX58CCU) appeared on Canterbury local route 21 yesterday, still in its all-over white. I'm not sure why it appeared in service, considering East Kent have a large surplus fleet since emergency timetables have come in.
Frustratingly there is a lot of interesting workings happening with SEK during this crisis, but I shall persevere and stay indoors!
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Post by N230UD on Mar 25, 2020 17:45:26 GMT
Showing how fast-changing things are at the moment, it has now been announced the M2 coach service will cease completely on Monday 28th March. Just a few weeks ago I was planning another trip on the route as I hadn't been on it for a few months. Now I can't even travel on it for the final time (of course, there are more important things to be concerned about). A rather sad end to this innovative service. Talking about Stagecoach South East - they will be introducing a skeleton service from Monday 28th. Do you mean Saturday 28th? No great surprise really and I'm surprised it's not being withdrawn immediately under the circumstances, I can't imagine it sees much usage if indeed any at all? I would have taken one more ride on it under normal circumstances. Whoops, yes I did mean Saturday 28th. Judging by Twitter comments, there are some people still using it, but I can imagine most coaches running empty at the moment. The skeleton service on the rest of the network starts on Monday 30th.
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