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Post by danorak on Mar 28, 2023 12:21:35 GMT
The livery definitely has echoes of the NBC dual purpose bus/coach style. It's OK if a little unimaginative. The old 177 Express livery would have been a better inspiration!
I feel I should clarify that I am not against the plans at all, but have some concerns about how they will be executed. There needs to be some substance to them: slapping a brand name on an existing service isn't really enough.
It probably doesn't help that it makes me think of the R4 sitcom Cabin Pressure, and Carolyn Knapp-Shappey having a cockerpoo called "Snooperdoop". And as for comments about hype, I fear it is no coincidence that the name is clearly based on Elon Musk's hopeless 'Hyperloop' idea...
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 28, 2023 12:29:31 GMT
I need confirmation that this isn't Peter robbing Paul for express routes. The south-east areas look a lot like they're just advertising the 119 and 269. Then there's also the fact the X239 will connect with no other express route, which I assume passengers would ask for after looking at the map with the questionable colour scheme. The devil's definitely in the detail, and if TfL want to display the 607 stopping at Hayes & Harlington Station when it's a good kilometer from The Grapes, then I'm not sold until I see the specifics. As the wording below the diagram states quite clearly: "Routes and stops are Illustrative only (my emphasis) and subject to consultation". |
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Post by vjaska on Mar 28, 2023 12:29:45 GMT
If idiot Khan thinks this will win him votes in Outer London he is even more deluded than we thought possible. I envisage really high voter turnout next time, with ‘nul points’ going to Khan. My thoughts exactly, this crayonist superloop looks like something out of the fantasy section on here, I'll believe it when it happens. Meanwhile elsewhere......... www.transdevbus.co.uk/_/witchway-and-cityzap-sky-class-luxury-amazing-valueBut isn’t this exactly the same thing as what you do on here in both the withdrawn sections topic & the topic involving Central London routes being changed? |
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Post by vjaska on Mar 28, 2023 12:32:54 GMT
I will guess I’m in a minority of one here, but I like that livery, looks very smart. I also don’t get at all why so many of you here have already dismissed the concept as poor/won’t work, or worse, turned it all political. I would state my opinion further, but it’s likely to cause a lot of arguments, so I’ll keep it to myself. I personally dismissed the idea as express or no there is still going to be congestion. I think the whole concept is being sold as speedy journeys and the reality is going to be very different. Can’t see how these services are going to generate a huge amount of extra revenue either. Time will tell. Didn’t you say in another thread that TfL has all the data and that we trust that they know what they are? |
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Post by vjaska on Mar 28, 2023 12:41:16 GMT
I like the concept but the execution is quite meh IMO. The base livery is ok, reminds me of NBC like others have mentioned but the branding and application I think is poor (removal of the advert frames would be a good start) and I’d of loved to have seen Stenning get his hands on this and seen what he could come up with.
With little details on what the routes will be (bar the current collection of limited and express routes) and if any bus priority schemes come with this which could make or break such a scheme, I’ll hold further judgment back.
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Post by WH241 on Mar 28, 2023 12:50:22 GMT
I personally dismissed the idea as express or no there is still going to be congestion. I think the whole concept is being sold as speedy journeys and the reality is going to be very different. Can’t see how these services are going to generate a huge amount of extra revenue either. Time will tell. Didn’t you say in another thread that TfL has all the data and that we trust that they know what they are? Yes I did but what’s that got to do with these services being sold as express but the reality is buses will be sat in congestion just as they are now. Even if they are using roads like the A406 I doubt very much the buses will get up to 40 or 50. Wish people would ignore my posts if they have nothing to say or just want to dig. This is the second time today on here I have had to defend myself and explain a reply 🙄 |
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Post by TB123 on Mar 28, 2023 12:51:22 GMT
Sadiq has confirmed the number of the Harrow to North Finchley portion as X183
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Post by cl54 on Mar 28, 2023 13:08:29 GMT
Didn’t you say in another thread that TfL has all the data and that we trust that they know what they are? Yes I did but what’s that got to do with these services being sold as express but the reality is buses will be sat in congestion just as they are now. Even if they are using roads like the A406 I doubt very much the buses will get up to 40 or 50. Wish people would ignore my posts if they have nothing to say or just want to dig. This is the second time today on here I have had to defend myself and explain a reply 🙄 The buses will be limited by GPS to just under the maximum speed on each stretch of road. Express is not appropriate. |
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 28, 2023 13:17:27 GMT
I have just seen a photo mock up of the Superloop route branding on a bus. It is a Enviro400EV in a retro livery with an Abellio London logo! Possible foreshadowing? The "Superloop" branding will be rolled out first on the four existing express routes so it could appear quite soon (EDIT: yes I know Abellio doesn't operate an express route at present). According to the RouteONE article about the launch, the Abellio vehicle was adorned with the new livery and logo for "launch purposes" so is unlikely to retain the vinyls. On the finished product I would expect the branding to be route-specific, it may also feature connections with other Superloop routes. The routes are to be consulted on between now and 2024, although the branding could appear on the existing routes sooner than that. www.route-one.net/news/tfl-unveils-superloop-express-bus-plans-for-london/ |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Mar 28, 2023 13:23:35 GMT
I don't mind the livery, it's a bit 1970s-era National Bus Company dual-purpose to my eye, but it does stand out as something different yet still recognisably a London red bus. And the roundel, the iconic symbol of transport in London, has been incorporated cleverly. As for the name, something like "ARC" or "ORBITS" might have been a bit more snappy, and also avoided any adverse comment about the routes not actually forming a complete loop. However Superloop is what it is, so I'm happy to get behind it. The success of the X140 shows that the concept can work and deliver results, and it is good to see something happening with London's buses that is trying to break away from the cycle of managed decline. I actually thought loop was a good name, not sure on Orbits, reminds me of the chewing gum. Although some have been calling it "Super Flop" of "Super Loopy" on the Standard comments. It is meant to be a retro livery, but I do not think it would be catchy enough to promote non bus users into going onto it. Sadiq Khan unveils ‘Superloop’ bus network for London suburbsThe Superloop is part of a £6m investment by the Mayor in outer London bus services alongside the expansion of Ulezwww.standard.co.uk/news/transport/superloop-bus-network-route-map-launch-date-london-sadiq-khan-ulez-b1070372.html#Superloop bus service to link London's outer boroughsA new fast service bus network has been announced for London's outer boroughs.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65091373 |
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Post by overgroundcommuter on Mar 28, 2023 13:30:15 GMT
I hope the Superloop route for Bromley to Croydon isn't the 119, but something more like the old 726.
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 28, 2023 13:30:35 GMT
I don't mind the livery, it's a bit 1970s-era National Bus Company dual-purpose to my eye, but it does stand out as something different yet still recognisably a London red bus. And the roundel, the iconic symbol of transport in London, has been incorporated cleverly. As for the name, something like "ARC" or "ORBITS" might have been a bit more snappy, and also avoided any adverse comment about the routes not actually forming a complete loop. However Superloop is what it is, so I'm happy to get behind it. The success of the X140 shows that the concept can work and deliver results, and it is good to see something happening with London's buses that is trying to break away from the cycle of managed decline. I actually thought loop was a good name, not sure on Orbits, reminds me of the chewing gum. Although some have been calling it "Super Flop" of "Super Loopy" on the Standard comments. It is meant to be a retro livery, but I do not think it would be catchy enough to promote non bus users into going onto it. Sadiq Khan unveils ‘Superloop’ bus network for London suburbsThe Superloop is part of a £6m investment by the Mayor in outer London bus services alongside the expansion of Ulezwww.standard.co.uk/news/transport/superloop-bus-network-route-map-launch-date-london-sadiq-khan-ulez-b1070372.html#Superloop bus service to link London's outer boroughsA new fast service bus network has been announced for London's outer boroughs.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65091373The comments just show that anyone can take the mick out of any name - equally "arc" could be derided as "out of the Ark" and as you say yourself, "Orbits" reminds you of chewing gum! I don't often read the comments for on-line news articles as they tend to be inane. The livery in itself may not be a draw to non-bus users, but the X140 is proof that people like the services - a 15% growth in passenger numbers, and increased customer satisfaction. Also significant is that 40% of X140 passengers also use another bus as part of their journey, showing the the route has wider network benefits. |
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 28, 2023 13:41:24 GMT
I hope the Superloop route for Bromley to Croydon isn't the 119, but something more like the old 726. I could envisage a route via Beckenham, Elmers End and the A222 into Croydon. It would have to be single-deck if it went via Shortlands. Double-deckers could operate via Park Langley but would have a longer journey time. |
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Post by southlondon413 on Mar 28, 2023 13:41:35 GMT
The comments just show that anyone can take the mick out of any name - equally "arc" could be derided as "out of the Ark" and as you say yourself, "Orbits" reminds you of chewing gum! I don't often read the comments for on-line news articles as they tend to be inane. The livery in itself may not be a draw to non-bus users, but the X140 is proof that people like the services - a 15% growth in passenger numbers, and increased customer satisfaction. Also significant is that 40% of X140 passengers also use another bus as part of their journey, showing the the route has wider network benefits. Hmm, what are TfL using as their basis for the 15%? Is that 15% since the route first appeared in 2019 or 15% since the pandemic numbers started to rise again or 15% on the 140s numbers pre-split, it would good to see clarification. For the 40% how can we be sure this wasn’t the same on the 140? Harrow is a big shopping destination for the whole area. It just feels like TfL have plucked these figures with no real context of what they are being judged against. |
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Post by DT 11 on Mar 28, 2023 13:46:19 GMT
I hope the Superloop route for Bromley to Croydon isn't the 119, but something more like the old 726. Probably X119 I very much doubt the number 726 would be introduced as there are no 7 Series numbers. It’s only a number at the end of the day… |
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