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Post by Volvo on Nov 6, 2019 14:30:40 GMT
For me no 1. 139
No 2. 19
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Post by TP1 on Nov 6, 2019 14:38:31 GMT
Worst for me was the 191, by far, without a doubt. Awful awful route. The only saving grace was the EN's.
Followed shortly by the 192
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Post by thewintersoldier on Nov 6, 2019 15:00:42 GMT
1. 266 - Too Long, clientele of Willesden and Harlesden, the Hammersmith Broadway to Askew Road lack of support from another route, the having to explain where (Seven Stars Corner) is whenever you get that curtailment) long winded diversions
2. 139 - Too long, slow buses, traffic issues, road issues, people issues, just issues!
3. 112/232 definitely joint 3rd, purely because if you get a slow bus you are pulling out constantly into the A406 nobody wants to let you out. Also on the subject of A406.. traffic. Some wonderful turns as well which you have to explain (Neasden on the 112) (Dollis Hill Lane on the 232) anti socials of St Raphs and lack of toilet facilities.
Routes I enjoyed were the 16, 32, 332, 205 for the short while we had it. I covered the 6 and 98 at my spell at AC as a conductor so I guess that doesn’t count.
316 during Carnival wasn’t bad either.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 6, 2019 15:06:43 GMT
I can imagine the 19 being quite a handful to drive sometimes due to the potential congestion that arises along the central section of the route, as well as connecting North and South West London.
Also the 224 appears to be quite challenging because of the convoluted nature of its routing.
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Post by thewintersoldier on Nov 6, 2019 15:06:58 GMT
Worst for me was the 191, by far, without a doubt. Awful awful route. The only saving grace was the EN's. Followed shortly by the 192 I’d have had those the other way round but of course I’m not looking at it from a drivers point of view and I prefer double decker routes over single deckers. The 192 is HEAVING at times. |
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Post by thewintersoldier on Nov 6, 2019 15:08:05 GMT
The 19 gets my vote. How tight are the roads at the southern terminus once you get the passengers off out of curiosity? |
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Post by thewintersoldier on Nov 6, 2019 15:08:56 GMT
I can imagine the 19 being quite a handful to drive sometimes due to the potential congestion that arises along the central section of the route, as well as connecting North and South West London. Also the 224 appears to be quite challenging because of the convoluted nature of its routing. My brother covered the 224 under First And was constantly getting the Park Royal Asda/Central Middlesex loop in the wrong order. 🤣 |
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 6, 2019 15:17:44 GMT
2. 139 - Too long, slow buses, traffic issues, road issues, people issues, just issues! When you say 'too long' do you mean regarding its route length or running time? I don't think the 139 is long at all in both respects. The 139 is essentially what the 13 used to be (excluding the Abbey Road/West Hampstead section and short stretch to Waterloo) before the latter replaced the 82, and the previous 13 was absolutely fine. |
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Post by thewintersoldier on Nov 6, 2019 15:27:16 GMT
2. 139 - Too long, slow buses, traffic issues, road issues, people issues, just issues! When you say 'too long' do you mean regarding its route length or running time? I don't think the 139 is long at all in both respects. The 139 is essentially what the 13 used to be (excluding the Abbey Road/West Hampstead section and short stretch to Waterloo) before the latter replaced the 82, and the previous 13 was absolutely fine. It’s a long route to drive when you constantly lose stand time. The running time needs to be looked at but obviously it’s so sporadic it won’t change. It wasn’t totally uncommon to leave W late get to West Hampstead late and be late for the two rounders you had with minimum stand time to take a breather. I drove it from West Hampstead to Waterloo and I thought this was bad enough the RATP boys going to GG I don’t envy them. Don’t get me wrong; early morning on a Sunday when the traffic isn’t about, in the ideal situation there’s no diversions or temporary traffic lights it’s great to drive. But you usually get a combination of 2 or all 3 and it just seems like you are sat in that cab forever. I used to hate the early TA’s and they used to give me headaches so was a struggle. Give me a TP on a Weekend morning or a TE and I was happy as larry. Over the years the route has lost support in the 6, 13, etc over core sections, been extended both ends, has been subjected to road change layouts, road works, and for some reason people seem to choose the 139 over other buses on approach (can vouch for this having driving the 189 too) it just seems to be a long winded shift when you pick up a 139 duty. |
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Post by TP1 on Nov 6, 2019 15:29:05 GMT
Worst for me was the 191, by far, without a doubt. Awful awful route. The only saving grace was the EN's. Followed shortly by the 192 I’d have had those the other way round but of course I’m not looking at it from a drivers point of view and I prefer double decker routes over single deckers. The 192 is HEAVING at times. Yes, from a passenger point of view the 192 is way worse, for sure. It has a steady stream of passengers all day mixed with horrible buses. It does make me wonder if it'd be worth extending one of the routes that terminate at the Hale to the superstores, 41 comes to mind. |
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Post by Volvo on Nov 6, 2019 16:04:17 GMT
The 19 gets my vote. How tight are the roads at the southern terminus once you get the passengers off out of curiosity? Nah the 19s around battersea with a HV is piece of cake. I'll ask my mate what its like with an LT. Honestly though the 19 has it's annoying points like for example Angel to Finsbury Parkand vice versa everyone rather use 19 than the 4 (same with 236 upto Highbury & same with other routes Angel to Highbury) Then angel to Hyde park same issue with the 38. Then we have the 38 drivers themselves who majority are just p***** and as it's normally 3 38s to one 19. They get away with it such as driving very slow Infront of you and it's hard to get past them as they are running in 3s they are just overtaking eachother meanwhile your getting swamped. Plus they love to block the junction at Piccadilly going into Shaftesbury. The traffic on blackstock road/rock street heading to Finsbury Park, Cambridge Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly traffic all the way to Hyde park. Kings road traffic and constant road works + the 5 million zebra crossings!!!, Battersea bridge to Beaufort Street/Kings Road. Slone Square to Beufort Steet the 11/22/319 don't exist. Have even had someone let a 319 go at SS to get to last stop at Batterse and ask where to pick up the 319!!! Face palm. The bus tip for Slone Square station is one of the most annoying bus stops on the planet as you have to serve it then switch back over to go down kings road, and you often get blocked in. I think I've covered everything. |
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Post by Volvo on Nov 6, 2019 16:11:49 GMT
When you say 'too long' do you mean regarding its route length or running time? I don't think the 139 is long at all in both respects. The 139 is essentially what the 13 used to be (excluding the Abbey Road/West Hampstead section and short stretch to Waterloo) before the latter replaced the 82, and the previous 13 was absolutely fine. It’s a long route to drive when you constantly lose stand time. The running time needs to be looked at but obviously it’s so sporadic it won’t change. It wasn’t totally uncommon to leave W late get to West Hampstead late and be late for the two rounders you had with minimum stand time to take a breather. I drove it from West Hampstead to Waterloo and I thought this was bad enough the RATP boys going to GG I don’t envy them. Don’t get me wrong; early morning on a Sunday when the traffic isn’t about, in the ideal situation there’s no diversions or temporary traffic lights it’s great to drive. But you usually get a combination of 2 or all 3 and it just seems like you are sat in that cab forever. I used to hate the early TA’s and they used to give me headaches so was a struggle. Give me a TP on a Weekend morning or a TE and I was happy as larry. Over the years the route has lost support in the 6, 13, etc over core sections, been extended both ends, has been subjected to road change layouts, road works, and for some reason people seem to choose the 139 over other buses on approach (can vouch for this having driving the 189 too) it just seems to be a long winded shift when you pick up a 139 duty. I agree about the stand time, also when your constantly holding back and driving such poor buses it feels long. When your 5 stops into the trip and your already having to hold back it feels long and but the time you get to Waterloo or golders green if doing 2 rounders you hardly have time to breathe before having to go through all that garbage again!!! The running time towards golders green after say 7.30 am generally is 1 HR 9-12 which is no where near enough time. Towards Waterloo during the same period is 1 hour 20-24. Early mornings upto around 7am it's 50 mins both ways and at that time when the roads are dead apart from crap buses and leaders the route is fine. Infact when doing a 3 rounder early duty your first 1 and half rounders is generally fine. It's the trip when your coming off for your meal relief where things get sticky very quickly and then your 1 rounder second half feels like 2 rounders in 1. As heading to Waterloo feels like forever and going back, especially when Piccadilly gets blocked often makes me wish I never came to work!!!! |
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Post by thewintersoldier on Nov 6, 2019 16:19:53 GMT
The 19 gets my vote. How tight are the roads at the southern terminus once you get the passengers off out of curiosity? Nah the 19s around battersea with a HV is peace of cake. I'll ask my mate what its like with an LT. Honestly though the 19 has it's annoying points like for example Angel to Finsbury Parkand vice versa everyone rather use 19 than the 4 (same with 236 upto Highbury & same with other routes Angel to Highbury) Then angel to Hyde park same issue with the 38. Then we have the 38 drivers themselves who majority are just p***** and as it's normally 3 38s to one 19. They get away with it such as driving very slow Infront of you and it's hard to get past them as they are running in 3s they are just overtaking eachother meanwhile your getting swamped. Plus they love to block the junction at Piccadilly going into Shaftesbury. The traffic on blackstock road/rock street heading to Finsbury Park, Cambridge Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly traffic all the way to Hyde park. Kings road traffic and constant road works + the 5 million zebra crossings!!!, Battersea bridge to Beaufort Street/Kings Road. Slone Square to Beufort Steet the 11/22/319 don't exist. Have even had someone let a 319 go at SS to get to last stop at Batterse and ask where to pick up the 319!!! Face palm. The bus tip for Slone Square station is one of the most annoying bus stops on the planet as you have to serve it then switch back over to go down kings road, and you often get blocked in. I think I've covered everything. I’m crying at these explanations man! That’s one of the reasons why the junction layout should never have been changed at Piccadily as once it’s blocked for a minute the traffic piles up so fast and it’s usually as you pointed out multiple 38’s! The 19 is a horrible route. I occasionally use it end to end (God help me) to connect with the 170 to get to Roehampton when I’ve got time to kill from my pit in Turnpike Lane. I instantly regret it as soon as I get to the southern end of the route as it’s just moving forwards a few inches at a time! |
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Post by DE20106 on Nov 6, 2019 16:33:54 GMT
I’m not a driver but I reckon routes that are unpopular are:
266 - been mentioned already, just a long and very slow route
260 - as it’s quite similar to the 266, both in routeing in a lot of places, being dull, just as long and just as slow
297 - for the same reasons, very long winded and slow route, I bet Wembley traffic can be quite tiresome
173 - very dull and bleak route, traffic filled, impossible to control, wretched buses
11 - spends most of the time stationary. 9, 15 and 24 ditto.
386 - never ending twists and turns
109 - constantly packed and has lots of glamorous well behaved passengers using it ........ (!) (bet its rocket MMCs are a dream to drive though)
197 - although it’s a brilliant route most of it is 20mph and I bet it’s absolutely infuriating combining that and the ISA.
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Post by busaholic on Nov 6, 2019 16:55:10 GMT
The 19 gets my vote. How tight are the roads at the southern terminus once you get the passengers off out of curiosity? Nah the 19s around battersea with a HV is peace of cake. I'll ask my mate what its like with an LT. Honestly though the 19 has it's annoying points like for example Angel to Finsbury Parkand vice versa everyone rather use 19 than the 4 (same with 236 upto Highbury & same with other routes Angel to Highbury) Then angel to Hyde park same issue with the 38. Then we have the 38 drivers themselves who majority are just p***** and as it's normally 3 38s to one 19. They get away with it such as driving very slow Infront of you and it's hard to get past them as they are running in 3s they are just overtaking eachother meanwhile your getting swamped. Plus they love to block the junction at Piccadilly going into Shaftesbury. The traffic on blackstock road/rock street heading to Finsbury Park, Cambridge Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly traffic all the way to Hyde park. Kings road traffic and constant road works + the 5 million zebra crossings!!!, Battersea bridge to Beaufort Street/Kings Road. Slone Square to Beufort Steet the 11/22/319 don't exist. Have even had someone let a 319 go at SS to get to last stop at Batterse and ask where to pick up the 319!!! Face palm. The bus tip for Slone Square station is one of the most annoying bus stops on the planet as you have to serve it then switch back over to go down kings road, and you often get blocked in. I think I've covered everything. How's the rest of the route?  |
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