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Post by ak121 on Jun 30, 2021 12:28:38 GMT
All of the current order of 195 electric vehicles will be fitted with LED blinds. That is interesting, didn't know that. Perhaps, LED's are becoming more common in London. I must say the quality of LED blinds in London has improved significantly too. I like how the blinds on ML’s WHDs lay out route 245 as close to how the original blinds are. (i.e. not being vastly spaced out like with Stagecoach’s Smart hybrids on the 241 and 474)
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Post by ak121 on Jun 24, 2021 8:40:56 GMT
Is the “Ye Olde Cherry Tree” bus stops in Southgate the only ones that are named after a pub? Route 81- 'Ye Olde George Inn' in Colnbrook Routes 195, 278 and H98- 'Adam & Eve' in Hayes are some more examples.
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Post by ak121 on Jun 23, 2021 22:13:10 GMT
Is it just me, but the front of the 200’s MetroDeckers seem to bulge out more compared to ML’s OMEs and TT’s OEs? I wonder why Optare decided to change the front, considering that TT’s batch was only recently fully completed. Yes it’s a new design to hide some of the windscreen wipers flic.kr/p/2m763Ts Ah! Comparing pictures of both types, I see how the Mes have the wipers covered when not being used. It does look like they stuck a big U shaped piece on the front of the bus lol.
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Post by ak121 on Jun 23, 2021 18:34:53 GMT
Is it just me, but the front of the 200’s MetroDeckers seem to bulge out more compared to ML’s OMEs and TT’s OEs? I wonder why Optare decided to change the front, considering that TT’s batch was only recently fully completed.
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Post by ak121 on Jun 21, 2021 20:06:08 GMT
Reckon Abellio could grab the 13, 111 and H32 in the next few years. Their willingness to provide electrics is really paying off. Only thing that would be worse than Abellio getting the 111 and H32 is if Metroline got it. I think it’d be quite pleasant actually.
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Post by ak121 on Jun 17, 2021 8:55:23 GMT
The 427 and U5 also stand on York Road I think. Hence why I said, "The 222 stands on Bakers Road, the U7 & U9 on Belmont Road & the rest of the stuff on York Road" implying that anything I didn't mention stands on York Road like the 427, U5 and the non TfL routes Whoops, didn’t read it properly, apologies.
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Metroline
Jun 15, 2021 21:56:32 GMT
via mobile
Post by ak121 on Jun 15, 2021 21:56:32 GMT
At Uxbridge Station, which routes stand inside the garage? Also, which routes are allocated to the other stand spaces at Belmont Road, Bakers Road and York Road (presumably mostly Abellio routes)? I believe all UX routes stand in the garage with everything else scattered around. The 222 stands on Bakers Road, the U7 & U9 on Belmont Road & the rest of the stuff on York Road The 427 and U5 also stand on York Road I think.
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Post by ak121 on Jun 11, 2021 20:36:31 GMT
Hayes (Hillingdon) might be the place with the greatest number of different termini: Hayes Sainsbury's Hayes Asda Hayes and Harlington Station Hayes Prologis Park Hayes End Hayes By Pass Hayes Bourne Avenue Hayes End, Lansbury Drive 6 different termini with Hayes in its name, rising to 8 including school routes Hayes End, Angel Lane too!
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Metroline
Jun 4, 2021 20:27:46 GMT
via mobile
Post by ak121 on Jun 4, 2021 20:27:46 GMT
Considering the X140, is it a limited stop or an express route then? It stops very frequently south of Hayes where the 140 was withdrawn whereas it is more of an express route north of Hayes where the 140 parallels it iirc. I think some of the stops on the X140 are quite unnecessary, especially between Hayes and Yeading. I don’t see the point why TfL has chosen the X140 to stop at Shakespeare Ave (Sbound) / Willow Tree Lane (Nbound) when The Grapes is only 2 stops prior/after. Also, Tangmere Gardens (Nbound) / Dilston Close (Sbound) seem pointless because Yeading / White Hart Roundabout is only on the other side of the roundabout. By removing these two stops, the routing of the X140 can be more flexible, depending on traffic conditions between The Grapes and White Hart: either use Yeading Lane or The Parkway (and could also use Willow Tree Lane to switch between the two midway) I also think that Station Parade should be renamed as Northolt Park Station / Station Parade to better point out the presence of the station (despite Chiltern serving it very infrequently). Oh, and Manse Close and Manor Lane should be renamed Harlington Village too.
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Post by ak121 on Jun 4, 2021 20:17:37 GMT
Strictly speaking an express service tends to do very limited and far between stops whereas a limited stop will act as a combi express/local service. The 607 stops at a lot more stops and with a lot less distance between each stop, for example at Ealing it has two stops. Technically the X68 is by definition a limited stop service. Considering the X140, is it a limited stop or an express route then? It stops very frequently south of Hayes where the 140 was withdrawn whereas it is more of an express route north of Hayes where the 140 parallels it iirc. I think some of the stops on the X140 are quite unnecessary, especially between Hayes and Yeading. I don’t see the point why TfL has chosen the X140 to stop at Shakespeare Ave (Sbound) / Willow Tree Lane (Nbound) when The Grapes is only 2 stops prior/after. Also, Tangmere Gardens (Nbound) / Dilston Close (Sbound) seem pointless because Yeading / White Hart Roundabout is only on the other side of the roundabout. By removing these two stops, the routing of the X140 can be more flexible, depending on traffic conditions between The Grapes and White Hart: either use Yeading Lane or The Parkway (and could also use Willow Tree Lane to switch between the two midway)
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Post by ak121 on May 31, 2021 11:13:08 GMT
Routes that serve the lowest number of postcode districts? One that I can think of is route 389 which is entirely in the EN5 district. (I know this is helped by the route being so short in length!) Can anyone think of any other routes serving a very low number of districts? 224: HA0 (Alperton - Twyford Abbey Rd) + NW10 (Twyford Abbey Rd- St Raphael’s) H17: HA0 (Wembley Central - Whitton Ave E) + UB6 (Whitton Ave E - Sudbury Hill) + HA1 (Sudbury Hill - Harrow Bus Stn) E5: UB2 (Toplocks - Southall Stn) + UB1 (Southall Stn - Windmill Lane) + UB6 (Windmill Lane - Perivale Tesco)
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Post by ak121 on May 31, 2021 9:48:37 GMT
Routes that serve the lowest number of postcode districts? One that I can think of is route 389 which is entirely in the EN5 district. (I know this is helped by the route being so short in length!) Can anyone think of any other routes serving a very low number of districts?
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Post by ak121 on May 13, 2021 13:18:19 GMT
Agree, it will be a three horse race. However , only Metroline have a feasible hybrid option as things stand. Running the 111 from TF is certainly an option. Don’t think there is room at WS and GW is possible ,but I’d imagine that would rely on remote sign ons. A system ML would also probably use, only RATP wouldn’t. Odds therefore are RATP favourites , ML and Abellio joint second. WS could be possible with a reshuffle, being well located for the 111. WS still has some space from the 427, as this was only replaced by the 482. The 482 & U7 could move to GW, using space from the E1/E9 losses, which would allow the 111 to fit at WS. Though TF would work just as well for the 111, not sure if it would have enough space currently, but the H28 could return to WS if needed. My prediction would be a Metroline gain for the 111 though, with the advantage of existing hybrids, plus lots of space at AH from the 117/235 losses. I think both AH or GW would be well placed to operate the 111. Regarding AH, if there isn’t enough space, I’m sure the E2 could be moved to G. Let’s hope ML strive to take the upcoming H98 too.
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Post by ak121 on Apr 12, 2021 20:39:14 GMT
It is pretty much as you describe unless your trying to go east to west which is a wider issue for South London as a whole TBF - it helps that Lambeth is very dependent on the bus being one of the areas with one of the lowest rates of car ownership in the UK. Brixton on its own probably has a better network than some boroughs due to it being known to some as the gateway to South & South East London as well as sited on one of the most heavily used bus corridors on the A23. I'd say Ealing Broadway is one of the best. Kingston Richmond Ruislip White City Uxbridge Hounslow Harrow Hillingdon Wembley Golders Green Willesden Brent X Finchley all direct from Ealing Broadway. 6 night routes.i rest my case Yep, I agree Ealing has quite a robust network and the potential extension of the E1 to Osterley will only add to that.
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Post by ak121 on Apr 11, 2021 20:34:15 GMT
I think Ealing is one of the boroughs where the bus network isn't too bad. It is home to quite a few trunk corridors: the 207,427,607, N207, the 140,X140 and 140, the 218,266,306,N266, the 65, N65 etc. but also has a balance of several local routes, such as the E-network. There is also a decent balance between N-S and W-E corridors in the borough, with key routes such as the 195 and the E3. The one thing that I would advocate to fix is that the 195 should be double decked, as it's packed, even during the pandemic.
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