Route 497

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2020 1:57:59 GMT vjaska said:

Feb 6, 2020 23:42:33 GMT @michaellevenson said:

Yes, I've been on it twice. Late morning from Harold Hill and mid evening from Harold Wood. Both times as I expected the main passenger traffic was between Gallows Corner Tesco and Harold Hill. No one got on or off in Kings Park. From HH four of us were on it until Tesco then just me. From HW five got on at the Station one got off at Tesco, the other three in Chatteris Avenue. Haven't figured out where they stand at HH, it isn't at the first stop. At HW they hang around for a few minutes in St Clements Avenue then stop at the Station and then immediately go back to HH.

After passengers alight at Hilldene Avenue, buses run to the 174's stand at Dagnam Park Square.

Presumably it could keep passengers on until Dagnam Park Square, it would give a new link between Hilldene Ave shops and Petersfield Avenue, assuming it goes down Gooshays Drive and turns into Petersfield to Dagnam Park Drive. Then return via 496 to Petersfield Avenue and right towards Hilldene. That'll be useful link.

[britishguy54]

Went on the route today, and it is a very nice route, around Kings Park, the area has lots of life. Then traffic around Gallows Corner kicks in, but a positive route overall, 8/10

[dannyl1989]

haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-497

Looks like the 497 could be on its way out after only a year and a half. Can't say I am surprised as someone who lives along the route. It's always empty.

We are considering two very different futures for bus route 497 and we want to know your thoughts.

We are now holding a public consultation on our proposals, running from 6 September to 17 October 2021, and you can find details on how to take part below.

Route 497 currently runs between Harold Wood Station to Harold Hill, Gooshays Drive via Gallows Corner Tesco.

Proposal 1: We propose extending route 497 to serve bus stops between Gooshays Drive and a new terminus at Dagnam Park Square.

Proposal 2: We are considering withdrawing the service.

[TB123]

Sept 7, 2021 16:46:25 GMT dannyl1989 said:

haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-497

Looks like the 497 could be on its way out after only a year and a half. Can't say I am surprised as someone who lives along the route. It's always empty.

We are considering two very different futures for bus route 497 and we want to know your thoughts.

We are now holding a public consultation on our proposals, running from 6 September to 17 October 2021, and you can find details on how to take part below.

Route 497 currently runs between Harold Wood Station to Harold Hill, Gooshays Drive via Gallows Corner Tesco.

Proposal 1: We propose extending route 497 to serve bus stops between Gooshays Drive and a new terminus at Dagnam Park Square.

Proposal 2: We are considering withdrawing the service.

This has already been posted by yours truly.

[passingfordbridgeboy]

Been on this route a few times, never more than 3 on it. Had an idea last week and went on the 347 to Ockendon to see if North Ockendon could use a more frequent service than the 4 journeys a day 347. There's some very infrequent non tfl routes from there to the shops in Sth Ockendon, so I would suggest withdrawing 347 between Upminster and Romford and having it run just between Ockendon and Upminster or possibly from Ockendon to Gallows Corner Tesco, and extend the 497 from Harold Wood to Upminster. As it stands the 497 cannot get enough passengers because the King's Park residents are simply not using it.

[ThinLizzy]

Sept 20, 2021 17:02:12 GMT passingfordbridgeboy said:

Been on this route a few times, never more than 3 on it. Had an idea last week and went on the 347 to Ockendon to see if North Ockendon could use a more frequent service than the 4 journeys a day 347. There's some very infrequent non tfl routes from there to the shops in Sth Ockendon, so I would suggest withdrawing 347 between Upminster and Romford and having it run just between Ockendon and Upminster or possibly from Ockendon to Gallows Corner Tesco, and extend the 497 from Harold Wood to Upminster. As it stands the 497 cannot get enough passengers because the King's Park residents are simply not using it.

I don't think an extension to Upminster or Ockendon would bring enough passengers to the 497- Upminster and Ockendon aren't exactly central shopping, transport or leisure hubs

[YX10FFN]

Sept 21, 2021 15:22:33 GMT ThinLizzy said:

Sept 20, 2021 17:02:12 GMT passingfordbridgeboy said:

Been on this route a few times, never more than 3 on it. Had an idea last week and went on the 347 to Ockendon to see if North Ockendon could use a more frequent service than the 4 journeys a day 347. There's some very infrequent non tfl routes from there to the shops in Sth Ockendon, so I would suggest withdrawing 347 between Upminster and Romford and having it run just between Ockendon and Upminster or possibly from Ockendon to Gallows Corner Tesco, and extend the 497 from Harold Wood to Upminster. As it stands the 497 cannot get enough passengers because the King's Park residents are simply not using it.

I don't think an extension to Upminster or Ockendon would bring enough passengers to the 497- Upminster and Ockendon aren't exactly central shopping, transport or leisure hubs

The only guaranteed boost in ridership would be for it to end up in Romford, and that would probably involve combining with another route, why would you go through all that when the route just seems utterly hopeless

[passingfordbridgeboy]

Final report on the proposals for this route have been released and the route survives, yeah 👍
It will be extended to Dagnam Park Square via 174 routing, but the Sunday service will be withdrawn. These come into effect sometime this summer.

haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-497

[dannyl1989]

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0278UprvC9ypjienMQwZc1x8hPvDT4gY8FNfMfN5j7n5UWqQgPtdxRhBsvaD49RSUPl&id=100077499644110&sfnsn=scwspmo

Looks like further plans to change the route and extend it to Upminster with routes 346 and 347 cut. Consultation launches tomorrow.

[southlondonbus]

Mar 5, 2023 20:01:20 GMT dannyl1989 said:

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0278UprvC9ypjienMQwZc1x8hPvDT4gY8FNfMfN5j7n5UWqQgPtdxRhBsvaD49RSUPl&id=100077499644110&sfnsn=scwspmo

Looks like further plans to change the route and extend it to Upminster with routes 346 and 347 cut. Consultation launches tomorrow.

Not a bad set of changes. Not sure how it works with the 346 as that had just been retendered but the 497 gets quite beefed up so no doubt will use the intended vehicles and drivers intended for the 346.

[southlondon413]

Mar 5, 2023 20:18:04 GMT southlondonbus said:

Mar 5, 2023 20:01:20 GMT dannyl1989 said:

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0278UprvC9ypjienMQwZc1x8hPvDT4gY8FNfMfN5j7n5UWqQgPtdxRhBsvaD49RSUPl&id=100077499644110&sfnsn=scwspmo

Looks like further plans to change the route and extend it to Upminster with routes 346 and 347 cut. Consultation launches tomorrow.

Not a bad set of changes. Not sure how it works with the 346 as that had just been retendered but the 497 gets quite beefed up so no doubt will use the intended vehicles and drivers intended for the 346.

Maybe the contracts just get merged into one with the 497 contract extended to 7 years to match the 346s? PVR Of 5 maybe?

[VMH2537]

Mar 5, 2023 20:01:20 GMT dannyl1989 said:

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0278UprvC9ypjienMQwZc1x8hPvDT4gY8FNfMfN5j7n5UWqQgPtdxRhBsvaD49RSUPl&id=100077499644110&sfnsn=scwspmo

Looks like further plans to change the route and extend it to Upminster with routes 346 and 347 cut. Consultation launches tomorrow.

As I predicted, it was indeed extending the 497 to Upminister replacing the 347. Withdrawing the 346 wasn't expected from my view. Would be curious what happens to the 346's contract being it's been retendered.

[ADH45258]

Mar 5, 2023 20:28:40 GMT VMH2537 said:

Mar 5, 2023 20:01:20 GMT dannyl1989 said:

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0278UprvC9ypjienMQwZc1x8hPvDT4gY8FNfMfN5j7n5UWqQgPtdxRhBsvaD49RSUPl&id=100077499644110&sfnsn=scwspmo

Looks like further plans to change the route and extend it to Upminster with routes 346 and 347 cut. Consultation launches tomorrow.

As I predicted, it was indeed extending the 497 to Upminister replacing the 347. Withdrawing the 346 wasn't expected from my view. Would be curious what happens to the 346's contract being it's been retendered.

The 497's contract expires in 2025, so could probably terminate it slightly early with the 346's new contract at Stagecoach covering the revised route. Note that the Upminster-Harold Hill route would likely have a higher PVR than the 346/497 combined anyway.

[vjaska]

Mar 5, 2023 20:18:04 GMT southlondonbus said:

Mar 5, 2023 20:01:20 GMT dannyl1989 said:

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0278UprvC9ypjienMQwZc1x8hPvDT4gY8FNfMfN5j7n5UWqQgPtdxRhBsvaD49RSUPl&id=100077499644110&sfnsn=scwspmo

Looks like further plans to change the route and extend it to Upminster with routes 346 and 347 cut. Consultation launches tomorrow.

Not a bad set of changes. Not sure how it works with the 346 as that had just been retendered but the 497 gets quite beefed up so no doubt will use the intended vehicles and drivers intended for the 346.

I don't agree with the 346 part - it makes sense to keep it a separate route when you take into account it's actual purpose and role. Merging the 347 & 497 together would of made more sense and ensured the link to Ockendon would remain.

[JUNIOR26]

Mar 5, 2023 20:28:40 GMT VMH2537 said:

Mar 5, 2023 20:01:20 GMT dannyl1989 said:

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0278UprvC9ypjienMQwZc1x8hPvDT4gY8FNfMfN5j7n5UWqQgPtdxRhBsvaD49RSUPl&id=100077499644110&sfnsn=scwspmo

Looks like further plans to change the route and extend it to Upminster with routes 346 and 347 cut. Consultation launches tomorrow.

As I predicted, it was indeed extending the 497 to Upminister replacing the 347. Withdrawing the 346 wasn't expected from my view. Would be curious what happens to the 346's contract being it's been retendered.

497 will likely be rolled onto the 346 contract and 497 doesn't get retendered in the 2024/25 or gets a 2-year extension, Arriva will probably be compensated for the 347 withdrawal. My guess is these changes would happen in January 2025 when the current 497 contract expires.