Worst Bus Route to Drive

[TE920]

Oct 7, 2020 11:53:28 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Oct 7, 2020 7:01:55 GMT TE920 said:

😂 I know your hatred for 139.

I’ve been on it for last 3 weeks early/middle/lates and its not that bad.

The only things I hate is if iBus have it on headway towards Golders Green it can cause major problems.

Golders Green Stand Space.

Usual West Hampstead traffic is a pain.

Abbey Road can either save your time or lose your time.


But not a bad route but supposed I haven’t been on the route long enough to see.

Was even worse when it terminated at West Hampstead: the stand space there is abysmal. And as you both know, there’s very limited stops to be held at safely once you’ve gone passed Lisson Grove.

The route has become a victim of its own success since being extended both directions (Trafalgar Square to Waterloo and West Hampstead to Golders Green) adding to this was the growing number of people who now live in the areas north end of the route; the insane amount of constant roadworks and area developments; the pedestrians seemingly unaware of a big red object coming towards them who decide they will just step out into the road after a few seconds hesitation; the long winded diversions nowadays;the traffic in central London and its a disaster on many days.

It was a route I enjoyed back in the day; but I’d rather now drive 5 rounds on the 18, than one on the 139.

That West Hampstead turn is terrible, I remember the route terminating and until now wonder how that even was manageable.

Roadworks we had few weeks ago on Fortune Green was bad towards Waterloo especially. You’ve got the yellow box at Finchley Road lights and the temp lights just after the bus stop for Finchley Road leading to Fortune Green, you’d be there for 20-35 minutes at one point.


I don’t think I could do the 18 though, that route is never ending busy. I used to go with my uncle when he was driving it from W and then WJ and that was always busy. Even a friend of mine still says its the same
now.


Diversions we had due to gas leak at Regent Street, instead of Park Lane/Green Park diversion, we were forced to go Tottenham Court Road, Holborn turn around back to Shaftesbury Avenue to Picadilly!!
Which didn’t make sense

[thewintersoldier]

Oct 7, 2020 12:00:22 GMT TE920 said:

Oct 7, 2020 11:53:28 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Was even worse when it terminated at West Hampstead: the stand space there is abysmal. And as you both know, there’s very limited stops to be held at safely once you’ve gone passed Lisson Grove.

The route has become a victim of its own success since being extended both directions (Trafalgar Square to Waterloo and West Hampstead to Golders Green) adding to this was the growing number of people who now live in the areas north end of the route; the insane amount of constant roadworks and area developments; the pedestrians seemingly unaware of a big red object coming towards them who decide they will just step out into the road after a few seconds hesitation; the long winded diversions nowadays;the traffic in central London and its a disaster on many days.

It was a route I enjoyed back in the day; but I’d rather now drive 5 rounds on the 18, than one on the 139.

That West Hampstead turn is terrible, I remember the route terminating and until now wonder how that even was manageable.

Roadworks we had few weeks ago on Fortune Green was bad towards Waterloo especially. You’ve got the yellow box at Finchley Road lights and the temp lights just after the bus stop for Finchley Road leading to Fortune Green, you’d be there for 20-35 minutes at one point.


I don’t think I could do the 18 though, that route is never ending busy. I used to go with my uncle when he was driving it from W and then WJ and that was always busy. Even a friend of mine still says its the same
now.


Diversions we had due to gas leak at Regent Street, instead of Park Lane/Green Park diversion, we were forced to go Tottenham Court Road, Holborn turn around back to Shaftesbury Avenue to Picadilly!!
Which didn’t make sense

Yeah that bloody right turn from Finchley Road into fortune green road you can sit there for ages. I still reckon one of the big factors for the Finchley Road reshuffle was to stop not in service buses flying down Mill Lane although we will never know this for sure it was mentioned a lot on the stakeholder and community feedback.

Ha. The 18 just ain’t for me. When a route goes past 6 police stations, you know it’s not right (Sudbury community support, Wembley police, Stonebridge community support, Harlesden community support, Kensal Green community sport, Paddington green police station)

Back in the days with a diversion on the south of the 139 they would have just cut the route back to Oxford Circus. I thoroughly enjoyed fighting with the 189’s the 113’s and the 137’s at that time for stand space (sarcasm clearly) let’s not mention the 12’s were also round the back. And of course we’d be there for a while! Nowadays you’ve got ridiculous diversions where you spend ages off route to only miss out one or two stops. I was discussing this with our former resident 139 RATP driver the other day. It’s all about mileage now. Metroline also back in the day were very good to issue you with an in and out Piccadily circus turn, If things got heavy for you anywhere on the route. You’d always run through to West Hampstead as most buses if not all would be then running light to the garage, but it was rare to be sent all the way through being late, knowing that Oxford Street, regents street, haymarket, southbound and everyone’s favourite the Strand westbound Piccadily circus area northbound meant you’d be ridiculously late getting back messing up meal reliefs. all these combined and you extend the route to Golders Green.... myth

[TE920]

Oct 7, 2020 14:28:03 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Oct 7, 2020 12:00:22 GMT TE920 said:

That West Hampstead turn is terrible, I remember the route terminating and until now wonder how that even was manageable.

Roadworks we had few weeks ago on Fortune Green was bad towards Waterloo especially. You’ve got the yellow box at Finchley Road lights and the temp lights just after the bus stop for Finchley Road leading to Fortune Green, you’d be there for 20-35 minutes at one point.


I don’t think I could do the 18 though, that route is never ending busy. I used to go with my uncle when he was driving it from W and then WJ and that was always busy. Even a friend of mine still says its the same
now.


Diversions we had due to gas leak at Regent Street, instead of Park Lane/Green Park diversion, we were forced to go Tottenham Court Road, Holborn turn around back to Shaftesbury Avenue to Picadilly!!
Which didn’t make sense

Yeah that bloody right turn from Finchley Road into fortune green road you can sit there for ages. I still reckon one of the big factors for the Finchley Road reshuffle was to stop not in service buses flying down Mill Lane although we will never know this for sure it was mentioned a lot on the stakeholder and community feedback.

Ha. The 18 just ain’t for me. When a route goes past 6 police stations, you know it’s not right (Sudbury community support, Wembley police, Stonebridge community support, Harlesden community support, Kensal Green community sport, Paddington green police station)

Back in the days with a diversion on the south of the 139 they would have just cut the route back to Oxford Circus. I thoroughly enjoyed fighting with the 189’s the 113’s and the 137’s at that time for stand space (sarcasm clearly) let’s not mention the 12’s were also round the back. And of course we’d be there for a while! Nowadays you’ve got ridiculous diversions where you spend ages off route to only miss out one or two stops. I was discussing this with our former resident 139 RATP driver the other day. It’s all about mileage now. Metroline also back in the day were very good to issue you with an in and out Piccadily circus turn, If things got heavy for you anywhere on the route. You’d always run through to West Hampstead as most buses if not all would be then running light to the garage, but it was rare to be sent all the way through being late, knowing that Oxford Street, regents street, haymarket, southbound and everyone’s favourite the Strand westbound Piccadily circus area northbound meant you’d be ridiculously late getting back messing up meal reliefs. all these combined and you extend the route to Golders Green.... myth

Can definitely agree with the issue with 18 passing those police stations 😂😂😂😂


To be honest some controllers don’t explain it to these drivers properly with diversions, and I reckon the same with mill lane 😂😂

[greenboy]

Oct 7, 2020 14:28:03 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Oct 7, 2020 12:00:22 GMT TE920 said:

That West Hampstead turn is terrible, I remember the route terminating and until now wonder how that even was manageable.

Roadworks we had few weeks ago on Fortune Green was bad towards Waterloo especially. You’ve got the yellow box at Finchley Road lights and the temp lights just after the bus stop for Finchley Road leading to Fortune Green, you’d be there for 20-35 minutes at one point.


I don’t think I could do the 18 though, that route is never ending busy. I used to go with my uncle when he was driving it from W and then WJ and that was always busy. Even a friend of mine still says its the same
now.


Diversions we had due to gas leak at Regent Street, instead of Park Lane/Green Park diversion, we were forced to go Tottenham Court Road, Holborn turn around back to Shaftesbury Avenue to Picadilly!!
Which didn’t make sense

Yeah that bloody right turn from Finchley Road into fortune green road you can sit there for ages. I still reckon one of the big factors for the Finchley Road reshuffle was to stop not in service buses flying down Mill Lane although we will never know this for sure it was mentioned a lot on the stakeholder and community feedback.

Ha. The 18 just ain’t for me. When a route goes past 6 police stations, you know it’s not right (Sudbury community support, Wembley police, Stonebridge community support, Harlesden community support, Kensal Green community sport, Paddington green police station)

Back in the days with a diversion on the south of the 139 they would have just cut the route back to Oxford Circus. I thoroughly enjoyed fighting with the 189’s the 113’s and the 137’s at that time for stand space (sarcasm clearly) let’s not mention the 12’s were also round the back. And of course we’d be there for a while! Nowadays you’ve got ridiculous diversions where you spend ages off route to only miss out one or two stops. I was discussing this with our former resident 139 RATP driver the other day. It’s all about mileage now. Metroline also back in the day were very good to issue you with an in and out Piccadily circus turn, If things got heavy for you anywhere on the route. You’d always run through to West Hampstead as most buses if not all would be then running light to the garage, but it was rare to be sent all the way through being late, knowing that Oxford Street, regents street, haymarket, southbound and everyone’s favourite the Strand westbound Piccadily circus area northbound meant you’d be ridiculously late getting back messing up meal reliefs. all these combined and you extend the route to Golders Green.... myth

I think there were complaints from residents in Mill Lane about the number of out of service buses up and down there all day. The 18 has always had a bad reputation, it was one of the first routes (possibly the first?) to convert to crew doored buses back in the 70s because of assaults on conductors.

[DT 11]

229 & 469 at the moment. Pretty much because of reduced capacity on buses.

[Trafalgax]

I’m surprised 149 or 279 isn’t on this thread yet. 😂😂😂

[redbus]

Prior to the 139 the 159 went and terminated at West Hampstead. Going back it had something like a 2-3 minute frequency in peaks, albeit a few buses terminated in Sheriff Road (destination, West Hampstead LT station) and Abbey Road (destination, St Johns Wood Belsize Road), so not all buses went as far as West End Green. Nevertheless the West End Green stand coped with something like a 4 minute frequency. Obviously it was in the days of standard Routemaster buses of which two could relatively easily fit on stand.

As for the right turn into Fortune Green Road, TfL arguably have a lot of explaining to do. The traffic light sequence used to be Finchley Road in both directions, Finchley Road South and right turn into Fortune Green Road ALONG with a left filter from Fortune Green Road into Finchley Road, then Fortune Green Road and Platts Lane. Now the left filter from Fortune Green Road into Finchley has been removed meaning a shorter green time for Fortune Green Road and also the Finchley Road turning right into Fortune Green Road. This causes regular jams and more pollution on the Finchley Road for the right turn into Fortune Green Road and on Fortune Green Road itself. There are supposedly benefits for pedestrians trying to cross, but these seem somewhat dubious at best and speaking as a pedestrian certainly not worth the chaos caused. I am sure a better scheme could be designed with the return of the left filter and this would rid the right turn from Finchley Road of most of the current issues.

The roadworks in West End Lane are now complete. They were due to the installation of new fibre optic cables for fast broadband. Thames Water seem to have a penchant for returning to West End Lane to deal with leaks, so they may well be back. From next summer it will have been three years since Abbey Road will have been re-surfaced so it will be possible for the utilities to dig that up again for non-essential reasons. Therefore the roadworks are quite likely to return.

I would argue that curtailing the 139 to Oxo is no longer appropriate. This is because the 139 is the only route left going down Oxford Street, Regent Street and The Strand, so curtailing it leaves passengers on this section with no bus service.

[northlondonbuses]

Oct 7, 2020 12:00:22 GMT TE920 said:

Oct 7, 2020 11:53:28 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Was even worse when it terminated at West Hampstead: the stand space there is abysmal. And as you both know, there’s very limited stops to be held at safely once you’ve gone passed Lisson Grove.

The route has become a victim of its own success since being extended both directions (Trafalgar Square to Waterloo and West Hampstead to Golders Green) adding to this was the growing number of people who now live in the areas north end of the route; the insane amount of constant roadworks and area developments; the pedestrians seemingly unaware of a big red object coming towards them who decide they will just step out into the road after a few seconds hesitation; the long winded diversions nowadays;the traffic in central London and its a disaster on many days.

It was a route I enjoyed back in the day; but I’d rather now drive 5 rounds on the 18, than one on the 139.

That West Hampstead turn is terrible, I remember the route terminating and until now wonder how that even was manageable.

Roadworks we had few weeks ago on Fortune Green was bad towards Waterloo especially. You’ve got the yellow box at Finchley Road lights and the temp lights just after the bus stop for Finchley Road leading to Fortune Green, you’d be there for 20-35 minutes at one point.


I don’t think I could do the 18 though, that route is never ending busy. I used to go with my uncle when he was driving it from W and then WJ and that was always busy. Even a friend of mine still says its the same
now.


Diversions we had due to gas leak at Regent Street, instead of Park Lane/Green Park diversion, we were forced to go Tottenham Court Road, Holborn turn around back to Shaftesbury Avenue to Picadilly!!
Which didn’t make sense

The right turn to fortune green road from finchley road was so long especially when there was traffic and I always hated and still hate the 328/139 from childs hill to Kilburn/belsize road.

[TE920]

Oct 7, 2020 15:48:35 GMT greenboy said:

Oct 7, 2020 14:28:03 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Yeah that bloody right turn from Finchley Road into fortune green road you can sit there for ages. I still reckon one of the big factors for the Finchley Road reshuffle was to stop not in service buses flying down Mill Lane although we will never know this for sure it was mentioned a lot on the stakeholder and community feedback.

Ha. The 18 just ain’t for me. When a route goes past 6 police stations, you know it’s not right (Sudbury community support, Wembley police, Stonebridge community support, Harlesden community support, Kensal Green community sport, Paddington green police station)

Back in the days with a diversion on the south of the 139 they would have just cut the route back to Oxford Circus. I thoroughly enjoyed fighting with the 189’s the 113’s and the 137’s at that time for stand space (sarcasm clearly) let’s not mention the 12’s were also round the back. And of course we’d be there for a while! Nowadays you’ve got ridiculous diversions where you spend ages off route to only miss out one or two stops. I was discussing this with our former resident 139 RATP driver the other day. It’s all about mileage now. Metroline also back in the day were very good to issue you with an in and out Piccadily circus turn, If things got heavy for you anywhere on the route. You’d always run through to West Hampstead as most buses if not all would be then running light to the garage, but it was rare to be sent all the way through being late, knowing that Oxford Street, regents street, haymarket, southbound and everyone’s favourite the Strand westbound Piccadily circus area northbound meant you’d be ridiculously late getting back messing up meal reliefs. all these combined and you extend the route to Golders Green.... myth

I think there were complaints from residents in Mill Lane about the number of out of service buses up and down there all day. The 18 has always had a bad reputation, it was one of the first routes (possibly the first?) to convert to crew doored buses back in the 70s because of assaults on conductors.

Somebody had told me about this at garage previously about Mill Lane residents. No surprise

[TE920]

Oct 7, 2020 18:24:22 GMT redbus said:

Prior to the 139 the 159 went and terminated at West Hampstead. Going back it had something like a 2-3 minute frequency in peaks, albeit a few buses terminated in Sheriff Road (destination, West Hampstead LT station) and Abbey Road (destination, St Johns Wood Belsize Road), so not all buses went as far as West End Green. Nevertheless the West End Green stand coped with something like a 4 minute frequency. Obviously it was in the days of standard Routemaster buses of which two could relatively easily fit on stand.

As for the right turn into Fortune Green Road, TfL arguably have a lot of explaining to do. The traffic light sequence used to be Finchley Road in both directions, Finchley Road South and right turn into Fortune Green Road ALONG with a left filter from Fortune Green Road into Finchley Road, then Fortune Green Road and Platts Lane. Now the left filter from Fortune Green Road into Finchley has been removed meaning a shorter green time for Fortune Green Road and also the Finchley Road turning right into Fortune Green Road. This causes regular jams and more pollution on the Finchley Road for the right turn into Fortune Green Road and on Fortune Green Road itself. There are supposedly benefits for pedestrians trying to cross, but these seem somewhat dubious at best and speaking as a pedestrian certainly not worth the chaos caused. I am sure a better scheme could be designed with the return of the left filter and this would rid the right turn from Finchley Road of most of the current issues.

The roadworks in West End Lane are now complete. They were due to the installation of new fibre optic cables for fast broadband. Thames Water seem to have a penchant for returning to West End Lane to deal with leaks, so they may well be back. From next summer it will have been three years since Abbey Road will have been re-surfaced so it will be possible for the utilities to dig that up again for non-essential reasons. Therefore the roadworks are quite likely to return.

I would argue that curtailing the 139 to Oxo is no longer appropriate. This is because the 139 is the only route left going down Oxford Street, Regent Street and The Strand, so curtailing it leaves passengers on this section with no bus service.

Very interesting to read to he honest. G Network were messing around with the fibre broadband. And thames water yes, to be fair its fairly quick the road being resurfaced. Hoping abbey road when in due course, will be fairly the same.


159 is a crazy route as it is. I remember this going to Paddington Basin when the 15 didnt and it was empty majority of the time

[Volvo]

Oct 7, 2020 11:53:28 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Oct 7, 2020 7:01:55 GMT TE920 said:

😂 I know your hatred for 139.

I’ve been on it for last 3 weeks early/middle/lates and its not that bad.

The only things I hate is if iBus have it on headway towards Golders Green it can cause major problems.

Golders Green Stand Space.

Usual West Hampstead traffic is a pain.

Abbey Road can either save your time or lose your time.


But not a bad route but supposed I haven’t been on the route long enough to see.

Was even worse when it terminated at West Hampstead: the stand space there is abysmal. And as you both know, there’s very limited stops to be held at safely once you’ve gone passed Lisson Grove.

The route has become a victim of its own success since being extended both directions (Trafalgar Square to Waterloo and West Hampstead to Golders Green) adding to this was the growing number of people who now live in the areas north end of the route; the insane amount of constant roadworks and area developments; the pedestrians seemingly unaware of a big red object coming towards them who decide they will just step out into the road after a few seconds hesitation; the long winded diversions nowadays;the traffic in central London and its a disaster on many days.

It was a route I enjoyed back in the day; but I’d rather now drive 5 rounds on the 18, than one on the 139.

Wow 5 rounds on the 18 instead of 1 on the 139 lool. Atleast you understand where I am coming from. Sorry but this and the 19 were just dreadful for me, I used to get so upset seeing these routes on my screen.

[thewintersoldier]

Oct 7, 2020 20:06:46 GMT TE920 said:

Oct 7, 2020 18:24:22 GMT redbus said:

Prior to the 139 the 159 went and terminated at West Hampstead. Going back it had something like a 2-3 minute frequency in peaks, albeit a few buses terminated in Sheriff Road (destination, West Hampstead LT station) and Abbey Road (destination, St Johns Wood Belsize Road), so not all buses went as far as West End Green. Nevertheless the West End Green stand coped with something like a 4 minute frequency. Obviously it was in the days of standard Routemaster buses of which two could relatively easily fit on stand.

As for the right turn into Fortune Green Road, TfL arguably have a lot of explaining to do. The traffic light sequence used to be Finchley Road in both directions, Finchley Road South and right turn into Fortune Green Road ALONG with a left filter from Fortune Green Road into Finchley Road, then Fortune Green Road and Platts Lane. Now the left filter from Fortune Green Road into Finchley has been removed meaning a shorter green time for Fortune Green Road and also the Finchley Road turning right into Fortune Green Road. This causes regular jams and more pollution on the Finchley Road for the right turn into Fortune Green Road and on Fortune Green Road itself. There are supposedly benefits for pedestrians trying to cross, but these seem somewhat dubious at best and speaking as a pedestrian certainly not worth the chaos caused. I am sure a better scheme could be designed with the return of the left filter and this would rid the right turn from Finchley Road of most of the current issues.

The roadworks in West End Lane are now complete. They were due to the installation of new fibre optic cables for fast broadband. Thames Water seem to have a penchant for returning to West End Lane to deal with leaks, so they may well be back. From next summer it will have been three years since Abbey Road will have been re-surfaced so it will be possible for the utilities to dig that up again for non-essential reasons. Therefore the roadworks are quite likely to return.

I would argue that curtailing the 139 to Oxo is no longer appropriate. This is because the 139 is the only route left going down Oxford Street, Regent Street and The Strand, so curtailing it leaves passengers on this section with no bus service.

Very interesting to read to he honest. G Network were messing around with the fibre broadband. And thames water yes, to be fair its fairly quick the road being resurfaced. Hoping abbey road when in due course, will be fairly the same.


159 is a crazy route as it is. I remember this going to Paddington Basin when the 15 didnt and it was empty majority of the time

I was the only passenger on the 159 most early mornings when I used to work at waterloo I would use the N16 to Edgware Road and then the 159 to Westminster bridge road to get to work. The 159 wouldn’t see any passengers till Piccadily circus around 4am so I understand why it was with no replacement. The 15 was the same.

[thewintersoldier]

Oct 7, 2020 20:24:41 GMT Volvo said:

Oct 7, 2020 11:53:28 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Was even worse when it terminated at West Hampstead: the stand space there is abysmal. And as you both know, there’s very limited stops to be held at safely once you’ve gone passed Lisson Grove.

The route has become a victim of its own success since being extended both directions (Trafalgar Square to Waterloo and West Hampstead to Golders Green) adding to this was the growing number of people who now live in the areas north end of the route; the insane amount of constant roadworks and area developments; the pedestrians seemingly unaware of a big red object coming towards them who decide they will just step out into the road after a few seconds hesitation; the long winded diversions nowadays;the traffic in central London and its a disaster on many days.

It was a route I enjoyed back in the day; but I’d rather now drive 5 rounds on the 18, than one on the 139.

Wow 5 rounds on the 18 instead of 1 on the 139 lool. Atleast you understand where I am coming from. Sorry but this and the 19 were just dreadful for me, I used to get so upset seeing these routes on my screen.

The 19 would upset me. One of those cross London routes that just looks a headache let alone driving it.

[thewintersoldier]

Oct 7, 2020 20:02:37 GMT TE920 said:

Oct 7, 2020 15:48:35 GMT greenboy said:

I think there were complaints from residents in Mill Lane about the number of out of service buses up and down there all day. The 18 has always had a bad reputation, it was one of the first routes (possibly the first?) to convert to crew doored buses back in the 70s because of assaults on conductors.

Somebody had told me about this at garage previously about Mill Lane residents. No surprise

Same residents would beg you to stop at anywhere you could If the C11 was on diversion via the Broadway and mill lane because of westbere road or better yet any route that got sent that way because of Shoot up hill roadworks...

I just think they wanted the 139’s to be stopping via those roads and was hoping if they complained about the empty buses TFL would eventually just run them in service. That’s my theory anyway as the small assed section that the C11 didn’t serve to where Mill Lane connects with shoot up hill is the bit that’s was the most desolate with not many places to live. Now I’ve said that there’s probably loads of places to live there now!

[Volvo]

Oct 7, 2020 16:58:49 GMT Trafalgax said:

I’m surprised 149 or 279 isn’t on this thread yet. 😂😂😂

If I'm honest I enjoyed the 149 just alot of the passengers were jarirng which is the same as any other route but the traffic etc wasn't so bad on the 149 you got congestion in Liverpool Street, monument and Fore street, Edmonton but was not bad compared to routes like the 19, 139.