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Post by VWH1414 on Mar 18, 2020 20:31:35 GMT
All night tube suspended until further notice. Certain stations will also be closing altogether for now, though not confirmed which ones yet.
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Post by george on Mar 18, 2020 20:42:58 GMT
All night tube suspended until further notice. Certain stations will also be closing altogether for now, though not confirmed which ones yet. Suspension of the Waterloo and City Line as well. |
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Post by Hassaan on Mar 18, 2020 21:01:07 GMT
Traffic patterns have certainly been different this week, compared to the other three weeks I've been commuting by car. Monday actually had more traffic than usual on the A40 both ways. A4088 Dudden Hill Lane was also its usual self in the morning, but much quieter on the way back. A406 approaching Hanger Lane roundabout on the way back had slightly less traffic, but that saving was ruined by having to leave the A40 at Perivale and use Argyle Road, Ruislip Road and Greenford Avenue. Usually I'd have stayed on A406 Hanger Lane and used an array of side roads through Ealing (Hillcrest Road etc), but I was avoiding humps. On Tuesday morning it was unbelievable. After joining the A40 at Greenford I didn't need to drop below 25mph at all until I was on Hanger Lane roundabout itself! Yep, even managed to get through the off-slip traffic light without needing to stop! A4088 Dudden Hill Lane was also less busy, so I got to work in 39 minutes, beating my previous best by a good 4-5 minutes  . On the way back I had to go through Park Royal as there was an accident on the A406, but the left onto the A40 opposite Park Royal Station and the U-turn by Concord Road were less busy. However, A40 itself had more traffic. Still managed about 45 minutes, and that's after ignoring the suggestion from Waze to use Twyford Abbey Road (to save about 2-3 minutes). Today, slightly less traffic than usual on the A40, but much better on Dudden Hill Lane. 40 minutes to work. 42 minutes on the way back as A406 was better and A40 was good. Still got unlucky with the traffic lights at Greenford Broadway though (took 3rd attempt to get through)  Best I ever managed using public transport was 57 minutes, and that was after being lucky with very tight connections everywhere. With sensible connections, that was usually 65-70 minutes, therefore driving has been 25-30 minutes faster each trip! The 120 was timetabled every 10 minutes on weekdays, usual bus was at 0736 but turned up anywhere between 0730 and 0738. On a Saturday timetable, that will be either 0724 or 0747 as it runs every 21-25 minutes at that time. As the 0747 will be too late for the Acton Main Line train, I'll have to use the 0802 and change at Ealing Broadway, then the 266 at North Acton would be less frequent too so I'd probably have to use the 120 at 0724, leaving earlier than I used to. With the car, I can leave at 0755 to arrive at the same time, saving over 30 minutes if on a Saturday timetable. My college will be closed for students after Friday, which was already announced a few hours before the government forced it. Most staff to come in next week (23 March), but working from home the week after (30 March). I'll still have to go in though as I work in IT and we'll be busier  . |
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Mar 18, 2020 21:04:30 GMT
Not sure if everyone will take the steps but I wonder if we as the enthusiast community should also take some steps. I've seen and heard elsewhere that enthusiasts are still quite adamant on going on to ride buses despite the Government's advice that non essential travel should be stopped and despite that we all love buses it's hardly essential to joyride on them. It certainly can increase the chances of contracting the infection as well as passing it on to people. However end of the day it is each to their own. Would be interesting to know everyone's thoughts on this. |
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Post by Hassaan on Mar 18, 2020 21:13:03 GMT
Its all very well these companies saying they are doing extra cleaning but saying and doing are completely different things. Every bus driver will know how dirty bus cabs get especially in corners and crevices such as the dash where chewing gum, apple cores and thick layers of dust gather. Most bus companies do a full deep clean once a year on MOT. I've become slightly concerned about this virus and bus driving because as someone else said we should not be allowing packed buses and if i hear someone coughing what do i do? I have gone on a few buses and trains and still have not seen cleanliness on the levels they should be cleaned. The cleanest buses were Stagecoach from [RM] and [NS] no dust and grains dirt, handrails clean. Arriva [EC] [SF] were just average. Go-Ahead [RR] and Arriva [DX] doesn't seem as though the cleaners have bothered and just done minimals, complete let down especially in this situation. I would be having words with [DX] Victoria line, not clean enough imo. Metropolitan, Circle/Hammersmith/District, London Overground, TfL Rail cleaned good.
Had a couple of Metroline 08-reg TEs which clearly looked like they hadn't had a good clean in years  What really annoyed me was the light diffusers (not far from the heads of sitting passengers remember) with so much dirt, and one with signs of leaks and mould. This is the same operator that didn't have handrails cleaned when the AH buses VW1034-1069 were refurbished in 2017/18. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 21:38:14 GMT
Not sure if everyone will take the steps but I wonder if we as the enthusiast community should also take some steps. I've seen and heard elsewhere that enthusiasts are still quite adamant on going on to ride buses despite the Government's advice that non essential travel should be stopped and despite that we all love buses it's hardly essential to joyride on them. It certainly can increase the chances of contracting the infection as well as passing it on to people. However end of the day it is each to their own. Would be interesting to know everyone's thoughts on this. I am a car driver but always used to try and make a point on catching buses were I could at weekends but can't see my self using buses in the near future. The highlight this year was going to be the 25 change but in the scheme of things it really don't matter.
Car manufacturers have started to close down production so assume bus builders won't be far behind. This could have a impact on outstanding deliveries but sure operators can loan existing buses / or contract changes postponed.
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Post by busoccultation on Mar 18, 2020 21:40:58 GMT
Not sure if everyone will take the steps but I wonder if we as the enthusiast community should also take some steps. I've seen and heard elsewhere that enthusiasts are still quite adamant on going on to ride buses despite the Government's advice that non essential travel should be stopped and despite that we all love buses it's hardly essential to joyride on them. It certainly can increase the chances of contracting the infection as well as passing it on to people. However end of the day it is each to their own. Would be interesting to know everyone's thoughts on this. I'm one of those people who have said yes to carry on ridding buses. but I am trying to be mainly focusing on the routes that are having a operator change in the next month or so such as the 25, 106 & 191 possibly as well as doing routes that are certain to have vehicle type changes like the 262/473 and knowing there won't be a another opportunity to do these routes as they are now once this pandemic is over.
EDIT: Before anyone defends me, yes I have already scaled back of my plans of bashing buses significantly to just do to the ones that will be changing very soon.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 21:55:25 GMT
Not sure if everyone will take the steps but I wonder if we as the enthusiast community should also take some steps. I've seen and heard elsewhere that enthusiasts are still quite adamant on going on to ride buses despite the Government's advice that non essential travel should be stopped and despite that we all love buses it's hardly essential to joyride on them. It certainly can increase the chances of contracting the infection as well as passing it on to people. However end of the day it is each to their own. Would be interesting to know everyone's thoughts on this. My job is risky enough to contract the bastard virus, so decided last week no public transport for me UFN. |
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Post by planesandtrains on Mar 18, 2020 21:58:49 GMT
Not sure if everyone will take the steps but I wonder if we as the enthusiast community should also take some steps. I've seen and heard elsewhere that enthusiasts are still quite adamant on going on to ride buses despite the Government's advice that non essential travel should be stopped and despite that we all love buses it's hardly essential to joyride on them. It certainly can increase the chances of contracting the infection as well as passing it on to people. However end of the day it is each to their own. Would be interesting to know everyone's thoughts on this. Absolutly, this pandemic will require all of us to play our roles, by all means go outside for a short walk, cycle until further measures are introduced but try and keep at least 2m away from other people. The only reason why public transport is still running is to ensure people fighting on the front line, such as medical proffesionals, supermarket workers etc can actually get to the front line, not for an enthusiasts jolly. |
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Post by Green Kitten on Mar 18, 2020 22:01:57 GMT
All this riding on stuff can wait, especially when these contracts last 5 years...
If everyone could practice social distancing as much as possible, the flatter the ‘curve’ can be, thus preventing overloading of hospitals. It’s also less likely for the virus to spread.
Us younger people will very likely have very mild symptoms, or even be asymptotic. Older people and immunocompromised people aren’t so lucky, so if we take small steps like that to prevent them getting infected, we should, IMO.
If we all band together we can do this! This virus ain’t gonna beat us. <3
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Post by Hassaan on Mar 18, 2020 22:15:29 GMT
Not sure if everyone will take the steps but I wonder if we as the enthusiast community should also take some steps. I've seen and heard elsewhere that enthusiasts are still quite adamant on going on to ride buses despite the Government's advice that non essential travel should be stopped and despite that we all love buses it's hardly essential to joyride on them. It certainly can increase the chances of contracting the infection as well as passing it on to people. However end of the day it is each to their own. Would be interesting to know everyone's thoughts on this. I've been tempted out because 482 to Abellio is on Saturday, and yesterday SP40001 was on the 423, but apart from that I've not needed to use buses (or indeed go anywhere where public transport is much more convenient than driving) since I got my car a month ago. So my public transport usage had already become pretty much 0 before all this  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 22:45:29 GMT
Seen elsewhere the X68 is being withdrawn once the Saturday service is in place.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Mar 18, 2020 22:49:45 GMT
Yay, no school! Schools out for the .......... insert month or year here Schooolss out for summer, ahem forever |
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Post by Nathan on Mar 18, 2020 22:49:47 GMT
Not sure if everyone will take the steps but I wonder if we as the enthusiast community should also take some steps. I've seen and heard elsewhere that enthusiasts are still quite adamant on going on to ride buses despite the Government's advice that non essential travel should be stopped and despite that we all love buses it's hardly essential to joyride on them. It certainly can increase the chances of contracting the infection as well as passing it on to people. However end of the day it is each to their own. Would be interesting to know everyone's thoughts on this. I have been SO tempted to go out and about on the less populated bus network this past week, especially seeing as much time has been freed up because of the situation. There are so many bus routes I want to do and I've had little time to do it before the outbreak, so this is all quite sad. I was hoping to do the 482 on a TE last Sunday as I've never boarded the route before but simply didn't want to take the risk (as it's quite far away from me). We all just have to wait it out. |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Mar 18, 2020 22:54:03 GMT
I am not sure if it has been mentioned here yet. But buses would be on a Saturday service from next week Monday. London Buses are sustaining losses, plus routes performing better due to no passengers would cost them in further bonus payments to operators. Plus at some garages as one or two drivers been quarantined other staff have not come in to work, giving routes a few cuts.
I think it was mentioned by foxhat a few days ago the Saturday time timetable will start on Monday 23rd March. But still no news on what the Tube is doing I presume it will be in the same day as the buses. I believe it is the same from what I read. |
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What really annoyed me was the light diffusers (not far from the heads of sitting passengers remember) with so much dirt, and one with signs of leaks and mould. This is the same operator that didn't have handrails cleaned when the AH buses VW1034-1069 were refurbished in 2017/18.
