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Post by ak121 on Sept 19, 2021 20:45:25 GMT
Is this why we will have LI's 733? Yes that is the reason why the 733 will be running during the Bank branch closure to provide extra capacity on the buses in the area displaced by the Northern Line passengers due to the closure.
EDIT: ak121 Sleaford Street stop is now renamed to Battersea Power Station with a tube roundel and pier stop sign next to the name:
Oh wow! Interesting that they didn’t use Station twice. This may cause confusion for some people listening to the iBus announcement as they may be wondering if they’ve got to the station or if the stop is named after the housing development at the Power Station instead.
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Post by ak121 on Sept 19, 2021 14:14:45 GMT
In response to the opening of the two new tube stations will the bus stops ‘Wilcox Road’ and ‘Sleaford Street’ be changed to ‘Nine Elms Station’ and ‘Battersea Power Station Station’ respectively?
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Post by ak121 on Sept 16, 2021 18:10:49 GMT
The bus type that I have to say has aged mechanically the best are the VWs. I've got Metroline's first 2 batches (LK10s and 60s) as my locals and mechanically are great for their age! (I've also grown up with them so I'm quite attached to them) Sadly, cosmetically they're beginning to look worn out (in and out) but another refurb by a future operator would fix all that! I totally agree, AH’s early VWs are mechanically solid despite being over a decade old. I love riding the E8 on Sunday morning and having one of these VWs dart down Boston Manor Road and London Road.
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Post by ak121 on Sept 5, 2021 20:21:58 GMT
Apart from the stop bell and the driver’s little error, the bus looked amazing. I can’t believe that these buses are nearly 5 years old, the refurb on them is amazing. I recall a rumour that RATP wanted to order Citaros for the 110 back in 2016 when it was retained, but due to stop/start being a requirement they had to opt for ADL. Good to see some finally make their way to AV! Yep I certainly remember that too. Makes you wonder what would’ve happened if Mercedes did offer a stop-start engine: RATP probably would’ve ordered Citaro Ks at least for the single decker routes at AV (we probably would’ve seen 12m ones for the H37 instead of it’s 19-reg DXEs for example). Oh well, there’s a saying that things happen for a reason 🤷🏽♂️
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Post by ak121 on Sept 5, 2021 13:30:30 GMT
Got on MCM30084 today on the 117. The buses look practically brand new and the seats are very comfortable. The flooring does contrast a tiny bit against the seats and poles. Sadly, the bus driver was missing out a lot of stops because the stop bells are very quiet and I don’t think the stop sign appeared on the driver’s dashboard numerous times. To add to the passengers’ infuriation, the driver forgot to serve the Hounslow High Street section towards Staines and instead stayed on the A315. Personally, I had a great experience on MCM30089! Very quiet, smooth and responsive, with a nice driver just to round it off! The bell was quiet but the driver did stop at every stop, so may have just been a fault with 84 I also rode on DE49 which also was an excellent bus, much better than the similarly aged Metroline LK09s. Also with another lovely driver! Apart from the stop bell and the driver’s little error, the bus looked amazing. I can’t believe that these buses are nearly 5 years old, the refurb on them is amazing.
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Post by ak121 on Sept 4, 2021 21:10:18 GMT
Got on MCM30084 today on the 117. The buses look practically brand new and the seats are very comfortable. The flooring does contrast a tiny bit against the seats and poles. Sadly, the bus driver was missing out a lot of stops because the stop bells are very quiet and I don’t think the stop sign appeared on the driver’s dashboard numerous times. To add to the passengers’ infuriation, the driver forgot to serve the Hounslow High Street section towards Staines and instead stayed on the A315.
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Post by ak121 on Sept 4, 2021 12:22:10 GMT
Am I correct in saying there are 36 LTs currently at AV. LT85-94 (10), LT130 (1), LT132-54 (22), LT461-3 (3). Isn't the TVR 27? The H98/H32 combined is only 29. That leaves 7 spares when the 111 goes to Abellio. The LT's at AV are allocated to the 111 with a partial allocation on the H32 for now - 27-28 LT's on the 111 with the rest on the H32 sounds about right. Is the H32’s partial allocation of LTs permanent or temporary?
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Post by ak121 on Aug 31, 2021 12:18:01 GMT
Saw LT150 on the H32 today. As it pulled into the bus stop in Southall Broadway, the near side mirror hit the bus stop pole. 😂😂 The mirror is now a bit crooked, but the bus itself is ok and no one is injured.
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Post by ak121 on Aug 29, 2021 22:41:01 GMT
BCE47037 has had an accident already whilst on 148. It appears as it was turning into Orpheus Street to reach the stand at Camberwell, it hit the scaffolding at the building on the corner, damaging the front window on the upper deck Already! Hope no one was injured by the accident.
Such a shame that this happened to such a new bus. Likewise, I hope everyone involved is ok.
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Post by ak121 on Aug 29, 2021 22:38:04 GMT
I’m not sure what drivers are playing at when switching over at Dormers Wells Lane on the 195, but why does it persistently take these drivers over 7-8 mins for them to change over?. On numerous times I’ve been on the 195 and either the new driver hasn’t turned up yet, the previous driver holds at the previous 3-4 bus stops in the hope that the new driver actually turns up at the changeover point or the drivers stop to have a long chit chat when switching. This has happened over 15 times in the past 2 months I have used the 195 and I am very disappointed because the headways of this already very busy route are being ruined. Most of the time the headways are 17-20 mins on the Dormers Wells Lane - Brentford section, whereas they should be 12 mins for the *entire* route. Today I was waiting at Jessamine Rod and had just missed an E8. I checked on LVF and a 195 was scheduled to arrive in 4 mins and was currently at Dormers Wells Lane. After a whole 11 mins another E8 had turned up and I boarded that instead. I still checked where the 195 I originally intended to use was on LVF and saw that it was still at Dormers Wells Lane and was scheduled to arrive at Jessamine Road in 8 mins. I wonder what drivers were doing for approx 20 Mins? It’s almost as if the drivers have to rebuild part of the bus when switching round, hence these unacceptable delays. Don't worry they will just regulate all the buses behind to match the speed of the slowest bus, all in the name of a good service. 🤣😅 You’d think that’s what would happen but in reality not all journeys are timetabled to have a live changeover, so really two buses bunch and run as a pair to the end of the route then there is a huge gap and then another two buses bunch together. Really Abellio should be providing a service with more or less even 12 min headways 😂
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Post by ak121 on Aug 29, 2021 22:21:33 GMT
I’m not sure what drivers are playing at when switching over at Dormers Wells Lane on the 195, but why does it persistently take these drivers over 7-8 mins for them to change over?. On numerous times I’ve been on the 195 and either the new driver hasn’t turned up yet, the previous driver holds at the previous 3-4 bus stops in the hope that the new driver actually turns up at the changeover point or the drivers stop to have a long chit chat when switching. This has happened over 15 times in the past 2 months I have used the 195 and I am very disappointed because the headways of this already very busy route are being ruined. Most of the time the headways are 17-20 mins on the Dormers Wells Lane - Brentford section, whereas they should be 12 mins for the *entire* route. Today I was waiting at Jessamine Road and had just missed an E8. I checked on LVF and a 195 was scheduled to arrive in 4 mins and was currently at Dormers Wells Lane. After a whole 11 mins another E8 had turned up and I boarded that instead. I still checked where the 195 I originally intended to use was on LVF and saw that it was still at Dormers Wells Lane and was scheduled to arrive at Jessamine Road in 8 mins. I wonder what drivers were doing for approx 20 Mins? It’s almost as if the drivers have to rebuild part of the bus when switching round, hence these unacceptable delays.
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Post by ak121 on Aug 20, 2021 13:48:59 GMT
I'm told that Stagecoach are hiring the ex 328 VHs from Tower Transit to cover for late delivery of electric buses on the 160s and 180s It looks like Stagecoach are having another stint with Gemini 3 B5LHs, albeit with loaned mark 2 versions this time.
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Metroline
Aug 18, 2021 14:06:08 GMT
via mobile
Post by ak121 on Aug 18, 2021 14:06:08 GMT
On YouTube, tesla vs bus, the bus involved is TE 1441. Sorry, unable to post link. Here's the video (not mine). What was the point in this? Surely the driver of the Model X would have been able to feel the immense amount of wind flying their way? Gullwing doors have always seemed more of a hazard to me, I'm not even sure of their purpose other than to show off. Hope the bus driver is OK and not too injured. I agree, surely the driver of the Tesla must’ve been able to feel the abnormal amount of wind flying past them with the door open like that?
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Post by ak121 on Aug 11, 2021 17:59:18 GMT
Fingers crossed ML go for more BCEs instead! BDEs you mean 😉 Whoops, I’ll correct it. Thanks for spotting that
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Post by ak121 on Aug 10, 2021 18:19:51 GMT
Just a guess, Wrightbus want orders, trying to sell them for 204 (and then get subsequent orders) Fingers crossed ML go for more BDEs instead!
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