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Post by jrussa on Apr 15, 2021 19:47:05 GMT
Route 148 daytime service is returning to White City Bus Station. Goodness I didn't see this one coming. It's been 6 years now I think. I wonder if this was a last minute change to help out shops in Westfield following lockdown. Some local councillors reminded TFL that this was meant to be a "temporary measure." I agree with you that the easing of lockdown has contributed to this random announcement.
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Post by jrussa on Apr 15, 2021 15:58:09 GMT
Route 148 daytime service is returning to White City Bus Station.
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Post by jrussa on Apr 12, 2021 20:18:36 GMT
Greenwich suffers from a lack of north-south links within the borough - only the 161 between Woolwich and Eltham, which faffs around at Queen Elizabeth Hospital; and the 286 between Greenwich town centre and Eltham, which inexplicably suffered a Sunday frequency cut recently. There's also the 132 between Eltham and North Greenwich, although that skips a great chunk of potential custom by using the A102. Despite Woolwich being the borough's biggest town centre, there are no direct links from much of the south of the borough. As mentioned above, that odd north-south issue also manifests itself in the lack of links between Thamesmead/Abbey Wood and Welling/Eltham. Lewisham's not bad but has a different version of the same problem - a lack of east-west links; nothing from Blackheath Village to Brockley or New Cross; nothing from Lee to Forest Hill. That latter one Is part of a south London-wide problem. Found the Newham/Tower Hamlets comments above interesting - it's odd that the Isle of Dogs and Royal Docks have remained in their own silos with no links, despite the Lower Lea Crossing. Talking about a Blackheath to Brockley link, around 10 years ago there was a local campaign in Brockley to extend the 484 from Lewisham to somewhere in Greenwich. (I do not remember if it was the town centre)
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Post by jrussa on Apr 9, 2021 13:54:02 GMT
Went out today on lots of different buses and trains as I had a day off and oh goodness everything has picked up again. Couldn't believe how busy the Overground was during the day as with Stratford, Liverpool Street, Waterloo & London Bridge. from what I've seen today, things seem relatively normal I guess businesses are having staff meetings and getting prepared for Monday. Monday is going to be a dreadful day (in terms of social distancing) and it will take some adjusting for those of us who have had to travel everyday to work during the last three months or so. Not so busy buses, empty streets during the evening/ night. ALL CHANGE FROM SUNDAY EVENING. I know people will be at pubs and getting hair cuts from 11:59pm Sunday (Ridiculous)
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Post by jrussa on Mar 7, 2021 12:43:29 GMT
I really hope the electrics for route 358 takes until 2030 Mercedes Citaro 12m can stay forever. The kickdown is strawberries and cream - THE BEST!
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Post by jrussa on Mar 4, 2021 9:11:40 GMT
In terms of "the driver has been instructed to wait here to regulate the service," it is not always the controller. On the i-bus and on their schedule card the driver can see if they are running early or late. If they are more than 2minutes and half (I think, please correct me) then the i-bus start bleeping. We cannot blame drivers for waiting at bus stops. Some choose to travel 15-20 mph throughout the whole route and other choose to drive 'normal, a.k.a to the conditions of the traffic and wait at an appropriate bus stop. As I mentioned either in this thread or another one in this part of the forum, there are quite a few routes timetable that are padded out. I assume most operators do that to ensure the buses are punctual and they want to meet the QSI and get those extra coins in their pocket. Bare in mind that years ago people were complaining when most buses were not coming to the schedule and they (passengers) had no idea when the bus is coming. Once we have a fully integrated technology that links buses to arrival at bus stops in terms of I-bus and now available on tfl website, people start complaining. Do you want a regulated punctual bus or the old times when drivers would not follow the timetable and just all bunch up? Choose one Maybe 5 years ago I was a massive complainer but I am resigned to the fact that the bus drivers cannot do much. I bet many drivers, if they had the chance would just continue driving without regulating until the end, but obviously they are not going to do that a potentially (most likely) lose their job. My only recommendation is that TFL allows buses to be 4-5 minutes earlier than timetabled instead of two minutes.
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Post by jrussa on Mar 1, 2021 17:19:41 GMT
How hard is it to get on the night rota? If you mean as a driver? I should imagine a piece of cake these days as majority can't stand to be on Nightbus rota. It could also depend on what company. Can't comment on all companies but as I know Stagecoach pretty well and as far as memory takes me back to the 90s or early 2000s, you'd be on a route rota by 3 months maximum as your always on Spear List when new. Nightbus rota would be a matter if a vacancy is free on the line. I I wouldn't do it personally anymore as it's not worth killing yourself, although it pays higher amount than a standard normal bus route driver. Depends on you but can be annoying as most Nightbuses these days have excessive running times. Was a bargain back in the good old days though. Was on Nightbus rota from 2002 - 2008 then again 2012 - 2014! Good Luck! I agree with the excessive running times, especially on weekends. Route N55 for example (in current times) is scheduled to take TEN minutes from Holles street to New Oxford Street. On the weekend, THIRTY minutes from Oxford Circus to Old Street. Some of the last 55 buses have a quicker schedule. There are quite a few other examples... I know some regular night drivers who leave 4-8 minutes late, change their mirror angle, slow down at traffic lights, hoping for it to turn red. One of them even talk to the passengers to kill time. Night drivers tend to regulars. I have a few associates and friends (from previous work or through regular usage of night buses to and from work) and they drive N55, N73, N108, N109 and N171. Three of them are permanent night drivers and they drive either one journey, one round or two rounds of the daytime route before heading out on the night service.
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Post by jrussa on Feb 28, 2021 11:58:41 GMT
Look at TFL with it's little tables showing what days the route is affected. TFL has stepped ALL the way up! It’s strange that TfL would list Wimbledon as being an affected area when RATP don’t run any routes in Wimbledon anymore. Good point! TFL may be referring the general area (postcode/areas) that falls under Wimbledon. Some parts of areas such as Raynes Park, Lower Morden, Morden, Colliers Wood and even certain parts of Earlsfield fall under the 'district' of Wimbledon. I know that RATP does not serve some of these areas but it does for others
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Post by jrussa on Feb 28, 2021 11:43:33 GMT
Look at TFL with it's little tables showing what days the route is affected. TFL has stepped ALL the way up!
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Post by jrussa on Feb 27, 2021 22:13:21 GMT
I forgot, on my way home on Thursday night, 484 was diverted via Route 171, New Cross and Lewisham way due to bridge inspection (according to the driver) at Brockley. All the 484's seemed delayed as well based in LVF (TFL sent me an email saying Camberwell Green had/has resurfacing works this week)
I assume route 171 must of went via Lewisham and Ladywell for the Brockley Cross diversion. A couple of years ago there was an accident at Brockley Cross and it went that way.
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Post by jrussa on Feb 27, 2021 22:07:02 GMT
Last week Friday I was on Route P13 towards Streatham and the bus was diverted from Peckham Bus Station via Route 63 to Old Kent Road, Albany Road and Southampton Way due to resurfacing works on Peckham High Street. That added 12-13 minutes to the journey.
The bus was also 7 minutes late due to being on that same diversion towards New Cross Gate. It was an enjoyable ride because there was NO regulation required.
I thought to myself I am going soo North to go so South West haha!
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Post by jrussa on Feb 27, 2021 4:44:31 GMT
Am I right in thinking that the serve from Wembley Park will not go all the way to Uxbridge based on frequency? Properly the number of buses per hour required for the amount of passengers is different between Uxbridge and Ruislip compared to Ruislip and Wembley Park.
A lot is happening in North West and West London, especially as there is no District line west of Earls Court this weekend.
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Post by jrussa on Feb 26, 2021 22:08:23 GMT
None to be honest - I am saddened by the direction most transport systems are heading to throughout the world (I totally understand). I would prefer a Mercedes Citaro, hearing that kickdown along Park Lane 40/50mph on route 73 or up Pentoville Road. I would prefer a VLA on route 123 down Woodford Avenue o a LDP on route 484.
Electrics do not do it for me. NRM is probably the newest bus that will do it for me. Hearing it at the maximum speed on the N8 on the A102 or Eastern Avenue is the business.
#nostalgia
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Post by jrussa on Feb 23, 2021 15:04:00 GMT
One bus on the route 18... (I'm done... really?)
I guess it better than none.
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Post by jrussa on Feb 18, 2021 19:14:56 GMT
Thank you @abz and @dan for your responses. I recall one time on route 232 the last bus towards Neasden broke down at Betstyle Circus and another bus came. I am not sure if it was a bus finished towards Wood Green and it was heading back to Cricklewood Garage but it arrived within 20-30 minutes.
I look forward to any more information
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