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Post by wirewiper on Aug 10, 2023 15:57:28 GMT
TfL were adamant that there would be enough capacity when they rerouted the 21 away from Newington Green. I count this now as the second bolstering of the 141´s frequency, and I know the resident north London Arriva official would correct me if that was wrong. The frequency of the 76 has also been adjusted. I get that TfL were trying to save money with the 21 reroute, but from early on I knew by them saying ¨there is enough capacity¨ was total rubbish & was very vocal about the 141 needing more buses, especially in the morning peak. Oh well, let´s hope the few months of savings is greater than revenue lost from passengers abandoning the bus network around Newington Green... As for the 123 and 158 going 24 hours, it seems Christmas has come early for me! It may be safe to say that weekend 24 hour routes may not make a comeback, so TfL are (rightfully) plugging in gaps with the night bus network. Blackhorse Road will go from one night route to three night routes in a fortnight, which is pretty unwarranted in that area for that level of service. However Higham Hill is too dense a populated area to not have a night route, so I´m pretty sure punters would be appreciative of the 158 there and likely for a late night link from Westfield which is increasingly being established as a late night leisure destination. Talked about the 123 ad infinitum in the past so won´t repeat but am very pleased. Including the 486 a fortnight ago, that will be three weekend 24 hour buses that have been converted to nightly operation. I expect three, maybe four more weekend 24 routes to get the same treatment. Which ones exactly is speculation that I will refrain from engaging in in this thread. The 183 is a strong possibility as it would give a night service over a large part of a Superloop route (which is what the 123 is doing).
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 10, 2023 12:37:23 GMT
The Reading Buses website now has publicity for the new Flightline services that will operate between Heathrow Airport (Terminal 5), Frimley and Basingstoke starting Monday 21st August. The 730/731 will be limited stop and will make use of the M3 motorway. It will be operated by Newbury & District. Initially double-deck ADL Enviro400 MMCs will be used, but four new Plaxton Panther coaches are expected to enter service in October. The MMCs are expected to be 760-762 which have recently been stood down from Green Line work. Fares to and from Heathrow are quite steep, although period (1 month) and group returns are available and there are substantial discounts of up to 50% on weekly/daysaver 5 and monthly tickets for Team Heathrow Colleagues. Of note though is a special introductory fare of just £1 for any journey in the first two weeks of operation up to and including Sunday 3rd September. www.reading-buses.co.uk/great-new-way-get-heathrow
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 10, 2023 12:21:25 GMT
Reading Buses will be making a few service changes commencing Monday 4th September. jetblack 1 (Reading-Newbury): hourly evening service introduced on Fridays and Saturdays between Newbury and Thatcham (Cropper Close), numbered 1e. lime green 2/2a (Reading-Mortimer Common): increased frequency at peak times and an extra morning and afternoon 2a journey in each direction serving AWE Tadley. On Sundays one bus every 2 hours will operate as route 2a and continue to Mortimer (Sunday service currently terminates at Burghfield Common). emerald 5/6 (Reading-Whitley Wood): minor timetable changes purple 17 (Wokingham Road-Tilehurst): frequency of Friday and Saturday night journeys widened from 30 to 40 minutes to improve reliability. Additional journeys will operate on Sunday mornings. berry 23 (Reading-Emmer Green): revised route in Emmer Green, no longer serving Courtenay Drive and Kidmore End Road. buses will operate via Peppard Road. berry 24 (Reading-Emmer Green): revised route in Emmer Green, buses will proceed directly into Lowfield road and will not operate via Kidmore End Road, Courtenay Drive or Peppard road. pink 25 (Reading-Peppard Common): revised route in Emmer Green, will operate via Kidmore End Road and Courtenay Drive. Route X3 (Reading-Shinfield Park, peak times only): this route will be incorporated into the Mereoak Park and Ride, and will serve Mereoak Park & Ride stops in the town centre. Four morning peak journeys will be numbered 603 and will operate from Central Reading to Mereoak via Shinfield Park, with four return journeys in the afternoon. www.reading-buses.co.uk/timetable-change-monday-4-september
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 10, 2023 8:48:48 GMT
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 9, 2023 17:28:26 GMT
Plymouth CityBus is to operate Football Specials for all Plymouth Argyle FC home games at Home Park
PA1 - from Saltash via Whitleigh PA2 - from Plympton area PA3 - from George Junction Park & Ride PA4 - from Coypool Park & Ride PA5 - from Plymstock area via Prince Rock
All routes will operate one return trip, except the PA3 and PA4 where one outward trip will depart at 13.15 and a second trip at 14.10.
Fares are £5 return (PA3/PA4) or £6 return (PA1/PA2/PA5). Concessionary Passes and Plymouth CityBus tickets are not accepted.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 9, 2023 16:49:34 GMT
There will still be a greater PVR overall, it is possible that the SL10 will have an allocation scraped together from the 94 and 183 but I still expect it to be awarded with new vehicles. I don't understand your post. SL10 won't be tendered until 2026 (2028 with extension) so it will need a full allocation by then. If the Superloop is to be all electric barring the X26/SL7 then it will have to use the 94/183 BCEs until then. My apologies. I thought the SL10 was a standalone tender.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 9, 2023 16:20:46 GMT
I expect the new routes will all be awarded with new vehicles. TfL has funding to increase bus mileage in outer London. SL1 and SL10 appear to be split from their respective slow counterparts, so will use their vehicles for the time being. In the case of the former, this will only be for a year, when it will more than likely gain electrics (almost certainly new). SL10 will be on the 183 contract for longer, likely using BCEs made spare by cuts to the 94 and 183. There will still be a greater PVR overall, it is possible that the SL10 will have an allocation scraped together from the 94 and 183 (assuming RATP wins the contract) but I still expect it to be awarded with new vehicles.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 9, 2023 16:04:14 GMT
X183/SL10 surely just before as well? in my opinion it would make more sense to introduce them all at the same time. Only trouble is can they do it before the mayoral election? Introducing them gradually allows for better mobilisation of the extra new staff and vehicle resources. As these are new routes and not replacing anything they don't all need to be introduced at the same time.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 9, 2023 16:02:28 GMT
Latest I'm hearing, the consultation report for the X34/SL1 should be published around the Autumn before being introduced next year Spring. Considering SL1/2/3/5&10 are all new routes and not off the back of large TVR reductions*, it will be interesting to see where vehicles are sourced from for these new Superloop routes. *I accept the 34 is being reduced but not by enough to support the introduction of the SL1I expect the new routes will all be awarded with new vehicles. TfL has funding to increase bus mileage in outer London.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 8, 2023 16:54:33 GMT
Carousel Buses will have a number of service changes from Sunday 27th August, coinciding with wider changes to the network of services supported by Buckinghamshire Council. Amongst the highlights are: - route 8 (High Wycombe Park & Ride) will have a revised route and timetable, with some journeys operating as X8 direct via Marlow Hill. A handful of journeys will operate to Lane End, Stokenchurch and Cadmore End as route 28. - High Wycombe local service 38 (Deeds Grove) will be operated by Carousel Buses from this date. - route 41 (High Wycombe-Great Missenden) will be extended to Old Amersham and Amersham. The route has seen a growth in patronage since carousel Buses started operating in January 2023 and it is hoped the extension to Amersham, which has been requested by the local community, will generate extra custom. - Chiltern Hundreds 103 (High Wycombe-Slough) will be extended to Windsor. In Beaconsfield the route will be rerouted via Wilton Park in place of route 101 which will follow the same routing as the 102. Chiltern Hundreds routes 106/107 (Amersham-Slough) will be rerouted in Little Chalfont via Elizabeth Drive and Chalfont & Latimer Station. All the Chiltern Hundreds routes will have revised timetables with extra peak time journeys on the 103. - route 275 (High Wycombe-Oxford), previously operated by Red Rose, will be taken on by Carousel Buses with a revised timetable. - route 583 will be revised to operate between Hedgerley, Slough and Uxbridge and will incorporate the route 83 currently operated by Redline Buses. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-changes-27th-august-2023It is also worth noting that Carousel Buses is currently operating a free shuttle service between Uxbridge and Denham, normally using a Mercedes Sprinter minibus. This is funded by HS2 and is operating whilst Moorhall Road is closed, meaning that TfL route 331 is diverted via Harvil Road and is not serving Denham. The service commenced on Saturday 29th July and is expected to continue until Friday 18th August.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 7, 2023 11:53:19 GMT
Baring in mind general pvrs across depots have dropped slightly with school bus workings presently stood down. Do A have school workings on any of the routes? 151, 154 and 213 all have school holiday timetables which (without checking) probably shaves a few vehicles off the PVR.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 7, 2023 11:47:18 GMT
The entry into service of 731-737 has been documented, and has led to some associated moves: ADL Enviro400 MMCs 760/761/762 have been stood down temporarily, but will be redeployed to Newbury and District for temporary operation on Flightline 730/731 from 21st Augsut until the new coaches arrive (currently expected late October). These were originally delivered in emerald routes livery in 2015 but were redeployed to Green Line work in 2020 following Covid-19 related service reductions and carry Green Line vinyls on their emerald base livery. They will eventually be repainted in Reading Buses generic silver to replace some of the remaining Scania OmniDekkas (see below). Scania OmniDekkas 807/808 were withdrawn on 27th July at the end of the school year. ADL Enviro400 City 795 is being revinylled for Flightline 703 and will be reallocated to Thames Valley Buses. ADL Enviro400 1208 is being repainted from Green Line livery into Reading Buses generic silver and will be transferred to Reading Buses (from TVB). Similar 1203/1204 are still in use on route 703 until 795 arrives, and to provide additional journeys during the school Summer Holiday period. Thames Valley Buses has also taken delivery of four high-specification Mercedes Sprinter/EVM minibuses for the Heathrow Go2Gate contract. These are: 141 - YA23 ULU 142 - YB23 LRN 143 - YB23 LSJ 144 - YJ23 CLA Gas-powered Optare Solo 183 has been withdrawn for disposal. Gas-powered Scania/ADL Enviro300 no. 420 has received an updated version of its "cow poo" livery. Here is the original: The Cow Poo Bus by Julian Walker, on Flickr All information courtesy of Bus Zone Forum, Google Groups
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 7, 2023 10:39:22 GMT
After spending the weekend in Brighton and naturally observing the bus network there, I noticed buses with LED screens flickered between their destination and Service on Diversion. I hope you can see where I´m going with this: why can´t TfL do the same with its LED buses? I think it's a good idea, but if it can only be done with LED displays it will lead to inconsistency. Brighton & Hove's buses all have LED displays so all buses have the same capability to indicate a diversion. I'd rather TfL improved its information systems (including better staff training) and made better use of iBus to announce diversions.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 4, 2023 8:06:46 GMT
So when is our mayor going to force tfl staff to walk, cycle or use public transport? Why do tfl sites need car parks? They can sell and use the cash for public benefits Oh and he can stop using his 5-car diesel entourage and use the tube like others. Or cycle using the cycle lanes every single day between October and march. Why should commoners have all the fun You know why Khan doesn't use the tube and has an entourage (same reason as the Prime Minister - highest security threat level) but you conveniently omit to mention it because it doesn't suit your point-scoring rant.
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 3, 2023 17:30:35 GMT
New ADL Enviro400 Citys 731 and 733 were used on a University of Reading Graduation Day shuttle on 20th July, the first appearance of the type in passenger service. There's no news yet of the new Heathrow T5-Frimley route 730 which is supposed to start on Monday 24th July! An announcement on the Reading Buses website suggests the new buses for the 702 are in service from today and the route is now officially branded "The London Line". It seems like the X68 isn't the only rebranding in town .... www.reading-buses.co.uk/green-line-now-windsor-express732/733/734 were all used on the 702 on Friday 28th July, with 735 entering service the day after. 736 and 737 were also in service on the 703 on Friday 28th July. Generic 731 entered service on Saturday 29th July on lion route X4 (Reading-Bracknell). Possibly a foretaste of what is to come as the lion routes 4/X4 are expected to receive similar vehicles in the near future. The rebranding of the 703 from Green Line to Flightline 703 will occur "in the next few weeks". Presumably this is because some of the existing Green Line vehicles will be used alongside new 736/737 and will need time to be rebranded.
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