|
Post by speller on Feb 28, 2020 0:41:16 GMT
I've finally with success received a response to my FOI from TFL: it was about New Routemaster, I'd like to share with you: There is 'no' plans to withdraw the New Routemaster vehicles - all routes that currently operate with them will continue with route 19 converting. This must mean that the candidates for electric vehicles will be the routes which don't operate with New Routemaster vehicles currently. The project has been completed at 1,000 vehicles and will not be extended (as most know). This isn't really what I wanted to hear 😰 What did you want to hear? Me was thinking that forward from May they'll be replaced as it is the mayoral election.
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Feb 28, 2020 2:13:08 GMT
They sadly won’t be withdrawn - too much money has been poured into them for them to be withdrawn at this stage. Why the sadly. What’s wrong with them vjaska? I can't speak as a driver but from a passenger point of view, very poor buses. Seats are uncomfortable especially with how the backs have been designed where it juts out in the middle decreasing the legroom, the air cooling still don't work, they are still sweat boxes despite the addition of sliding windows, the wireless bells are unreliable and don't always work and the one useful feature they had is being removed - three door boarding which helps with crowds at places like Barking & Brixton. On a subjective point of view, I think they look quite ugly & the interior is quite gloomy.
|
|
|
Post by ServerKing on Feb 28, 2020 4:36:28 GMT
The bendies were able to be withdrawn early partly because TfL didn't own them like they do with the LTs, which they are stuck with as VJ mentioned in greater detail. Also the bendies were able to be deployed elsewhere in the UK and overseas. The NB4L on the other hand probably has a very low resale value for TfL due to the fact they are unique vehicles and no-one else in the world wanted them. I could see them being useful for city tour buses with 3 door boarding, dual staircase etc, but maintenance would be costly (training of drivers, engineers, parts etc). All that was needed to replace bendies was a bulk order of Geminis and E400s. It was that simple. I hope BoJo has learned lessons from his profligate time as mayor of London. At least the rest of the UK - especially flood-hit Ironbridge - can see what a real "leader" he is now I think the tribute band running Wrightbus will be saddled with making LT spares, a lot of the LTs are looking shabby now. They have a good turn of speed, they would do well on the 123 and faster routes rather than 5 or 10 mph in central London
|
|
|
Post by snowman on Feb 28, 2020 6:18:05 GMT
What did you want to hear? Me was thinking that forward from May they'll be replaced as it is the mayoral election. TfL have no money to replace them, in fact deferring any replacement of assets seems to be current stopgap. Piccadilly Line trains got put back to 2023-2025, the Bakerloo trains replacement is years away, can’t afford the Piccadilly line resignalling. Refurbs and life extension works seems to be current TfL mantra.
|
|
|
Post by greenboy on Feb 28, 2020 6:40:09 GMT
What did you want to hear? Me was thinking that forward from May they'll be replaced as it is the mayoral election. I'm slightly baffled as to why you think they should be replaced because there is a mayoral election? I get it that some enthusiasts don't like them but to most people a bus is a bus and LT's surely have plenty of life left in them yet?
|
|
|
Post by rugbyref on Feb 28, 2020 9:02:40 GMT
Bring them out to the suburbs. I will happily ride on one any day.
|
|
|
Post by TP1 on Feb 28, 2020 9:19:13 GMT
From a driver perspective, they're brilliant, very comfortable and responsive. They're up there with my favourite to drive along side E200EVs and B7RLE's.
That said, they're horrible when they're on diesel mode, very sluggish and loud. A lot of drivers will force them into diesel mode for better AC.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2020 11:07:38 GMT
LTs don't like anything above 40mph, I remember doing rail replacement from Canning Town to Aldgate East and on my way back to the depot on the A406 (Junction with the M11) it conked out. I was actually scared and had to force myself onto the central reservation with traffic coming at each side. Another time I was on the A13 doing the same job and it just conked out. Awful buses to drive and only beaten by a Voith MAN 12.240 and Daimler Streetlite.
I don't understand how Tfl helped with the procurement of the original DB300H and withdrew them early for whatever reason and then proceeded to purchase 1000 of literally the same thing.
I think LTs promote antisocial behaviour and its a not a bus I feel secure on, the few times I have been a passenger on one. Also what you find is when they are running on diesel mode, they're Euro3/4 and the braking and handling are compromised as a result. I had a controller tell me that it was fine once, I parked the bus up and an HV was brought out for me. The bendies were just far better and actually fit for purpose.
|
|
|
Post by greenboy on Feb 28, 2020 11:42:58 GMT
LTs don't like anything above 40mph, I remember doing rail replacement from Canning Town to Aldgate East and on my way back to the depot on the A406 (Junction with the M11) it conked out. I was actually scared and had to force myself onto the central reservation with traffic coming at each side. Another time I was on the A13 doing the same job and it just conked out. Awful buses to drive and only beaten by a Voith MAN 12.240 and Daimler Streetlite. I don't understand how Tfl helped with the procurement of the original DB300H and withdrew them early for whatever reason and then proceeded to purchase 1000 of literally the same thing. I think LTs promote antisocial behaviour and its a not a bus I feel secure on, the few times I have been a passenger on one. Also what you find is when they are running on diesel mode, they're Euro3/4 and the braking and handling are compromised as a result. I had a controller tell me that it was fine once, I parked the bus up and an HV was brought out for me. The bendies were just far better and actually fit for purpose. Each to their own opinion on the LT, I've got no problem with them from a passenger perspective, but I'd have to question your claim that bendy buses were fit for purpose. The buses themselves were OK but they were totally unfit for purpose the way TfL used them, basically cramming more passengers into fewer buses with fewer seats, I'm not surprised the concept didn't work. Had bendy buses been used more appropriately, the 108 for example, I think they would have been seen as a genuine improvement.
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Feb 28, 2020 11:51:58 GMT
Each to their own opinion on the LT, I've got no problem with them from a passenger perspective, but I'd have to question your claim that bendy buses were fit for purpose. The buses themselves were OK but they were totally unfit for purpose the way TfL used them, basically cramming more passengers into fewer buses with fewer seats, I'm not surprised the concept didn't work. Had bendy buses been used more appropriatly, the 108 for example, I think they would have been seen as a genuine improvement. Bendies should have been kept on the 507 and 521, ideally using the newest batch that were on the 453
|
|
|
Post by Nathan on Feb 28, 2020 11:53:20 GMT
LTs don't like anything above 40mph, I remember doing rail replacement from Canning Town to Aldgate East and on my way back to the depot on the A406 (Junction with the M11) it conked out. I was actually scared and had to force myself onto the central reservation with traffic coming at each side. Another time I was on the A13 doing the same job and it just conked out. Awful buses to drive and only beaten by a Voith MAN 12.240 and Daimler Streetlite. I don't understand how Tfl helped with the procurement of the original DB300H and withdrew them early for whatever reason and then proceeded to purchase 1000 of literally the same thing. I think LTs promote antisocial behaviour and its a not a bus I feel secure on, the few times I have been a passenger on one. Also what you find is when they are running on diesel mode, they're Euro3/4 and the braking and handling are compromised as a result. I had a controller tell me that it was fine once, I parked the bus up and an HV was brought out for me. The bendies were just far better and actually fit for purpose. The earlier models should at least be Euro 5, no? That's quite shocking to read.
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Feb 28, 2020 12:04:51 GMT
The earlier models should at least be Euro 5, no? Yes, LT1 is euro5 therefore the rest are that or euro6
|
|
|
Post by kmkcheng on Feb 28, 2020 12:24:59 GMT
What did you want to hear? Me was thinking that forward from May they'll be replaced as it is the mayoral election. I don’t understand why you think it will be withdrawn as part of the mayoral election. Is there some public outcry demanding the LTs withdrawal that hinges on whether Sadiq Khan will be re-elected or not?
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Feb 28, 2020 12:28:25 GMT
From a driver perspective, they're brilliant, very comfortable and responsive. They're up there with my favourite to drive along side E200EVs and B7RLE's.
That said, they're horrible when they're on diesel mode, very sluggish and loud. A lot of drivers will force them into diesel mode for better AC.
I imagine they would do the same for the heating? I was told by a driver that hybrid buses in general are not as effective with the heating as regular diesel buses, though I'm not sure if that driver was talking of any particular type of hybrid.
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Feb 28, 2020 12:30:20 GMT
Bring them out to the suburbs. I will happily ride on one any day. I’ll happily give you all the LT’s in my area in return for the same amount of conventionals running through Orpington.
|
|