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Post by overgroundcommuter on Nov 7, 2019 14:23:10 GMT
I’m not a driver but I reckon routes that are unpopular are: 173 - very dull and bleak route, traffic filled, impossible to control, wretched buses 197 - although it’s a brilliant route most of it is 20mph and I bet it’s absolutely infuriating combining that and the ISA. The 173 isn't too bad bad for most drivers as A13 (on the good days) do make things interesting if given a decent bus and lot of the route isn't that bleak at all and buses on the 173 isn't too bad considering the age of those buses. I can imagine that the 325 would probably be a lot worse for DX drivers as it is busy twisty single deck route seeing it does a tour of Newham and with some traffic hotspots such East Ham and Forest Gate.
The 197 is all 30mph between Sydenham and Croydon as well parts of Forest Hill areas so I can't see that as an issue especially if the ISA is somehow been disabled or the bus is running early/on time.
The 30mph zone is a short section between Lordship Lane in Dulwich and the junction of London Road/Dartmouth Road in Forest Hill on the 197. 30mph kicks in again on the Lewisham/Bromley border just before St. Christopher's Hospice on Lawrie Park Road. |
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Post by vjaska on Nov 7, 2019 14:28:32 GMT
The 173 isn't too bad bad for most drivers as A13 (on the good days) do make things interesting if given a decent bus and lot of the route isn't that bleak at all and buses on the 173 isn't too bad considering the age of those buses. I can imagine that the 325 would probably be a lot worse for DX drivers as it is busy twisty single deck route seeing it does a tour of Newham and with some traffic hotspots such East Ham and Forest Gate. The 197 is all 30mph between Sydenham and Croydon as well parts of Forest Hill areas so I can't see that as an issue especially if the ISA is somehow been disabled or the bus is running early/on time.
The 30mph zone is a short section between Lordship Lane in Dulwich and the junction of London Road/Dartmouth Road in Forest Hill on the 197. 30mph kicks in again on the Lewisham/Bromley border just before St. Christopher's Hospice on Lawrie Park Road. Indeed as I believe Southwark is now another 20mph borough? |
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Post by abellion on Nov 7, 2019 17:44:48 GMT
I'm not so sure about this but perhaps others can provide an insight into this. How are routes 111, 380, 484, 493 and G1 to drive? Their routings seem quite complex and rather indirect. Route learning the G1 is a mission and a half if you do not know the area as it involves a few loops along route, the biggest being inside St. George's Hospital where you can be within the complex for a good five minutes...by which time you come out somewhat forgetting on which direction you're meant to be heading towards. Suffice to say I once headed back towards Tooting Broadway by mistake when I should have headed in the other direction along Garratt Lane. I've lived near the Tooting area all my life and I made that mistake, imagine a new driver doing the route for the first time not knowing the area other than on the roads they route learnt along. If you don't want to drive down nearly every side street in Tooting don't drive the G1. On the flip side if you love the chance to say "Hello!" to the plenty of boarding/alighting nurses, drive the G1. I chose the latter.  G1 advice - just use alternatives. When I was new to SW London I took it from Clapham Jct to Tooting and I haven't bothered using it since |
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Post by Volvo on Nov 7, 2019 18:03:44 GMT
It is really interesting to see all these opinions of all these routes imo.
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Post by Volvo on Nov 7, 2019 18:13:07 GMT
The 30mph zone is a short section between Lordship Lane in Dulwich and the junction of London Road/Dartmouth Road in Forest Hill on the 197. 30mph kicks in again on the Lewisham/Bromley border just before St. Christopher's Hospice on Lawrie Park Road. Indeed as I believe Southwark is now another 20mph borough? Not going to lie in most cases o really find this 20mph thing jarring. Even in a 30 alot of the time whether I am driving my car or the bus people are doing less than 20! That's another thing annoying about the 139. |
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Post by busoccultation on Nov 7, 2019 18:33:36 GMT
Gotta give my 'not a driver' warning but I suspect routes like the 69, 169, 287 and EL1 are not fondly appreciated during the daytime; particularly the peaks and the 474 probably isn't liked during the evenings because of a thin recovery time at stands. I'm tempted to throw the 145 in there but I've spoken to a BK driver who says when the A12 isn't acting up, it's a joyous route to drive. I'd say that the 366 is a lot worse then all the routes that you have mentioned and certainly out of all BK routes, seeing it is really long indirect route with full of traffic hotspots like Redbridge roundabout, Barking Town Centre and most of Beckton, uses some narrow roads especially between Ilford & Barking with few Hail and Ride sections along the route, doesn't have much stand time at both ends of the route and it only has driver facilities (i.e. toilets) at one end of the route. That said, a one BK driver I've spoke to in the past of whom he mainly drives the 366 said that he prefers the 366 over the 145 saying that the behaviour of the school kids in general along the 145 isn't good particularly at the Dagenham end of the route is one of the reason that he doesn't like the 145 very much. So all in all, one driver might like driving that route and the other doesn't like driving that route. |
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Post by ronnie on Nov 7, 2019 19:16:30 GMT
Surely the “old” 25 must have been a tough one?
Ridiculously busy throughout at any point of the day, long, time consuming, fare dodgers, rough sleepers - you name it! Plus 2hr + easily in the peaks
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2019 20:28:21 GMT
A few from me
325 - A very long way round (Almost full circle) from Prince Regent Station to Beckton. Travels through so very busy tight roads via busy shopping areas such as Forest Gate and East Ham.
5 - Again a long route picking up non stop. The 5 is almost like two routes seems to takes a huge number of passengers from Romford to Barking then picks up more local passengers from Barking to Canning Town.
Some short routes must be tedious simply for the fact you bust do so many rounders. I am thinking a route like the 323 which takes about 15 mins from Mile End to Canning Town.
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Post by busaholic on Nov 7, 2019 21:00:54 GMT
A few from me
325 - A very long way round (Almost full circle) from Prince Regent Station to Beckton. Travels through so very busy tight roads via busy shopping areas such as Forest Gate and East Ham.
5 - Again a long route picking up non stop. The 5 is almost like two routes seems to takes a huge number of passengers from Romford to Barking then picks up more local passengers from Barking to Canning Town.
Some short routes must be tedious simply for the fact you bust do so many rounders. I am thinking a route like the 323 which takes about 15 mins from Mile End to Canning Town.
The 5 is two routes in effect - Romford and Canning Town were never directly connected by any day route since WW2, and probably for very good reason. The creation of the present-day 5 owes as much to the desire (obsession?) of some then high up in TfL to use the number 87 to re-number the last suffix route, the 77A. If the sensible thing were done and the 5 was split into two overlapping routes for much of the day, then it might operate better, but orthodoxy precludes this, to the detriment of the general public. |
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Post by John tuthill on Nov 7, 2019 21:11:59 GMT
Surely the “old” 25 must have been a tough one? Ridiculously busy throughout at any point of the day, long, time consuming, fare dodgers, rough sleepers - you name it! Plus 2hr + easily in the peaks Imagine what it was like in 1958! (Timecard from Ian Armstrongs bus route page) Attachment Deleted |
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Post by ThinLizzy on Nov 8, 2019 11:08:53 GMT
I'm not so sure about this but perhaps others can provide an insight into this. How are routes 111, 380, 484, 493 and G1 to drive? Their routings seem quite complex and rather indirect. Route learning the G1 is a mission and a half if you do not know the area as it involves a few loops along route, the biggest being inside St. George's Hospital where you can be within the complex for a good five minutes...by which time you come out somewhat forgetting on which direction you're meant to be heading towards. Suffice to say I once headed back towards Tooting Broadway by mistake when I should have headed in the other direction along Garratt Lane. I've lived near the Tooting area all my life and I made that mistake, imagine a new driver doing the route for the first time not knowing the area other than on the roads they route learnt along. If you don't want to drive down nearly every side street in Tooting don't drive the G1. On the flip side if you love the chance to say "Hello!" to the plenty of boarding/alighting nurses, drive the G1. I chose the latter. I did some of the G1 route learning at Limebourne in the summer when they took half the route over from Arriva- we went round the nurse home section a couple of times every day lol |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 8, 2019 11:47:41 GMT
I’m not a driver but I reckon routes that are unpopular are: 173 - very dull and bleak route, traffic filled, impossible to control, wretched buses 197 - although it’s a brilliant route most of it is 20mph and I bet it’s absolutely infuriating combining that and the ISA. The 173 isn't too bad bad for most drivers as A13 (on the good days) do make things interesting if given a decent bus and lot of the route isn't that bleak at all and buses on the 173 isn't too bad considering the age of those buses. I can imagine that the 325 would probably be a lot worse for DX drivers as it is busy twisty single deck route seeing it does a tour of Newham and with some traffic hotspots such East Ham and Forest Gate.
The 197 is all 30mph between Sydenham and Croydon as well parts of Forest Hill areas so I can't see that as an issue especially if the ISA is somehow been disabled or the bus is running early/on time.
The 173 isn't that bad, many drivers at [DX] seem to like it. The A13 if there is an RTC is the problem. The 173 now is padded between the Chequers and Beckton in terms of timing at last timetable change. The 325 is also liked very much, apart from the school run.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Nov 8, 2019 11:51:04 GMT
Worst route to drive for me was 379, too short, very annoying, keep picking up and dropping off the same people, felt as though it was an annoying taxi service. Was worst in the evening with local youth when free passes came in, they would ride the 379 as though it was a mobile youth club.
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Post by Volvo on Nov 8, 2019 16:05:03 GMT
Surely the “old” 25 must have been a tough one? Ridiculously busy throughout at any point of the day, long, time consuming, fare dodgers, rough sleepers - you name it! Plus 2hr + easily in the peaks I would have hated driving from Ilford to Oxford Circus even to City Thameslink. |
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Post by Volvo on Nov 8, 2019 16:18:35 GMT
Worst route to drive for me was 379, too short, very annoying, keep picking up and dropping off the same people, felt as though it was an annoying taxi service. Was worst in the evening with local youth when free passes came in, they would ride the 379 as though it was a mobile youth club. 288 is a bit like this tbh. I also wish they changed the last stop @ Broadfields from Meadfield to Aldridge Avenue/Glengall Road by the shops there is enough space for 2 buses to stand there for 5 minutes. It's better than the current arrangement where your only real stand time is @ Queensbury which isn't even convenient ATM either As you have to stand in the bus stop outside the Morrisons as on Westmoreland road there is construction work going on. Depending on your stand time aswell which can range from 5-15 mins when another bus comes they can't serve the stop properly and end up blocking the road, also if another 288 is there then you have no where to stand. Even when we could stand @ Westmoreland road, as they put up new fencing for the Morrisons car park we can no longer cut straight from the stand through the car park to use the toilets in morrisons. So if you only have 5-8 minutes stand your screwed as it takes 8 minutes to walk all the way around last the petrol station then into the toilet use the toilet and come back. So what drivers tend to do was just use the last stop as a stand or have to stop when you get to Edgware to use the toilet at the station and let the passengers know. Broadfields is even worse as you get 2 minutes to Change Blinds and fill your log card at Meadfield where there is no space to even wait 2 minutes as there is always a ford transit tipper and other cars parked opposite the stop, so nothing can pass except a cycle. |
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