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Post by evergreenadam on Dec 20, 2023 19:31:52 GMT
I don't get how hard it would have been to send the route through the shopping park. The traffic is never that bad, and if it is then the North Circular Road is jammed up anyway. A lot of focus has been given to the Barking-Ilford section of the route but I think it needs to be mentioned how fast the Barking-North Woolwich section can flare up as well. Sometimes it can take 20-25 minutes just to get from Gallions Reach to Beckton Triangle and this route seems to just be sticking to the North Circular too instead of going down Jenkins Lane and Claps Gate Lane like the 366 does. I have said this from the start and imagine stops at the shopping park would be well used from Ilford and Barking taking pressure off the 366. I honestly can’t see these new stops being well used especially with no interchange with other routes. Stop selection on new Superloop routes will need to be reviewed in the light of operating experience. I don’t see the point of requiring pedestrians to reach isolated Superloop bus stops on nasty stretches of urban highway, hardly the image of bus travel that you would want to promote. |
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Post by matthieu1221 on Dec 20, 2023 20:42:21 GMT
It was the right thing not to order any further examples. A lot of the work on the project is reflected in the later hybrid and electric vehicles. It should be remembered that the LTs were conceived in the days before the success of Oyster and flat fares with the need to clear busy stops in Central London quickly. The rear staircase and platform see little use apart from the regulars who know they are there. I think you can really see the rear staircase's benefit on commuter routes as opposed to tourist routes. They're a Godsend on the EL1 and EL2 every morning as the buses can clear very quickly, especially at stops such as Barking Station where the buses will arrive crowded and people are all trying to pile off in their masses. A lot has been lost with the end of open boarding... now, just like any bus, the entire crowd waiting to board is stuck behind the herd of tourists struggling to tap an Oyster or their contactless card is being difficult with them.
I feel that a big arrow with an exit sign should be stuck at the rear of the upper deck. A lot of people look bewildered when I march through the upper deck to use the back staircase to descend rather than the front staircase.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Dec 20, 2023 23:32:48 GMT
Bus shelters have been installed at Amanda Way/Windsor Terrace (near Gallions Reach Shopping Park) ready for the SL2 in March. What a miserable bus stop. I guess you would be there very often then, lol  |
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Post by vjaska on Dec 21, 2023 1:56:10 GMT
It was the right thing not to order any further examples. A lot of the work on the project is reflected in the later hybrid and electric vehicles. It should be remembered that the LTs were conceived in the days before the success of Oyster and flat fares with the need to clear busy stops in Central London quickly. The rear staircase and platform see little use apart from the regulars who know they are there. I think you can really see the rear staircase's benefit on commuter routes as opposed to tourist routes. They're a Godsend on the EL1 and EL2 every morning as the buses can clear very quickly, especially at stops such as Barking Station where the buses will arrive crowded and people are all trying to pile off in their masses. Exactly - I might dislike LT's greatly but even I can't deny they hoovered up passengers really well at the Brixton Station stops which are ridiculously busy at most times - 3 door boarding plus two staircases meant the 3, 59, 159 & 415 would usually dwell less time there than other routes. Now, those benefits are somewhat more muted nowadays since open boarding was removed |
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Post by WH241 on Dec 21, 2023 17:45:35 GMT
Bus shelters have been installed at Amanda Way/Windsor Terrace (near Gallions Reach Shopping Park) ready for the SL2 in March. Passed the stop today and they have now installed the actual bus stop / timetable pole but never included a out of use cover! Intended passengers would be in for a long wait  |
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Post by wirewiper on Dec 21, 2023 17:53:50 GMT
I have said this from the start and imagine stops at the shopping park would be well used from Ilford and Barking taking pressure off the 366. I honestly can’t see these new stops being well used especially with no interchange with other routes. Stop selection on new Superloop routes will need to be reviewed in the light of operating experience. I don’t see the point of requiring pedestrians to reach isolated Superloop bus stops on nasty stretches of urban highway, hardly the image of bus travel that you would want to promote. A stop in the vicinity of Gallions Reach was not part of the original plans. If the new stops are reasonably well-used and prove there is a demand for travel to and from Gallions Reach, there may be a case for diverting SL2 to the front entrance. Otherwise it's a time-wasting diversion for the benefit of a handful of people. |
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Post by WH241 on Dec 21, 2023 18:22:11 GMT
Stop selection on new Superloop routes will need to be reviewed in the light of operating experience. I don’t see the point of requiring pedestrians to reach isolated Superloop bus stops on nasty stretches of urban highway, hardly the image of bus travel that you would want to promote. A stop in the vicinity of Gallions Reach was not part of the original plans. If the new stops are reasonably well-used and prove there is a demand for travel to and from Gallions Reach, there may be a case for diverting SL2 to the front entrance. Otherwise it's a time-wasting diversion for the benefit of a handful of people. I can assure you more people would use the retail park stops than those on the A1020. |
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Post by enviroPB on Dec 21, 2023 19:33:24 GMT
Stop selection on new Superloop routes will need to be reviewed in the light of operating experience. I don’t see the point of requiring pedestrians to reach isolated Superloop bus stops on nasty stretches of urban highway, hardly the image of bus travel that you would want to promote. A stop in the vicinity of Gallions Reach was not part of the original plans. If the new stops are reasonably well-used and prove there is a demand for travel to and from Gallions Reach, there may be a case for diverting SL2 to the front entrance. Otherwise it's a time-wasting diversion for the benefit of a handful of people. I've avoided commenting on this, only because it's going to be a negative viewpoint. Next to no one will alight at Armada Way/Winsor Terrace for Gallions Reach Shopping Park, and those that do it will not do it again. The walk up to anywhere past Tesco (i.e. most of the shopping park) is rather unpleasant, with even fit individuals fighting to beat the 12 minute time there and back due to the wind resistance from cars and lorries. To put it into context, a mutual friend I met in July was totally unaware you could walk to the shopping park and he lives about a 3 minute walk from the newly erected bus stops. He's been living in Beckton since 2015. Only passengers from the neighbouring Winsor Park and Winsor Terrace estates will make use of those stops, whilst local teens/cyclists/a determined few will make the slog from the estates to the shopping park. I see no crossover sadly.  |
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Post by WH241 on Dec 22, 2023 17:52:43 GMT
The Gallions Reach stops even have SL2 tiles in place! Talk about being ready early 😁
I wonder could the route potentially start earlier than March?
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Dec 22, 2023 18:54:30 GMT
The Gallions Reach stops even have SL2 tiles in place! Talk about being ready early 😁 I wonder could the route potentially start earlier than March? It should be March if that's what's been stated already. You wouldn't expect a contract change to happen early just because preparations are being made. |
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Post by WH241 on Dec 22, 2023 19:08:43 GMT
The Gallions Reach stops even have SL2 tiles in place! Talk about being ready early 😁 I wonder could the route potentially start earlier than March? It should be March if that's what's been stated already. You wouldn't expect a contract change to happen early just because preparations are being made. It was only a question as the start date had been stated here and not seen anything official elsewhere. The tender award was TBC. They really need to put up some stop not in use notices and cover the stop flag. |
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Post by JUNIOR26 on Dec 22, 2023 19:54:49 GMT
It should be March if that's what's been stated already. You wouldn't expect a contract change to happen early just because preparations are being made. It was only a question as the start date had been stated here and not seen anything official elsewhere. The tender award was TBC. They really need to put up some stop not in use notices and cover the stop flag. My source was from the Gov website, which stated its starting on 2nd March, so as soon as I saw it confirmed, I posted it on here. |
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Post by WH241 on Dec 22, 2023 20:22:42 GMT
It was only a question as the start date had been stated here and not seen anything official elsewhere. The tender award was TBC. They really need to put up some stop not in use notices and cover the stop flag. My source was from the Gov website, which stated its starting on 2nd March, so as soon as I saw it confirmed, I posted it on here. Thanks for confirming. I wasn't trying to cast doubt but couldn't see a start date anywhere else. I was just curious that it could have potentiality stared earlier but assume not now. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2023 14:59:50 GMT
Ahhh, I've been seeing quite a few dual door Gemini 2s repainted in Superloop livery, assumed they were getting rid of the single-door ones, but now realise this is due to the frequency increasing requiring more buses. Any plans to refurbish the dual-door ones with single doors and luggage racks? There are 'plans' to add in luggage racks to the 13 extra buses by the end of the year. WVL488 is the 6th bus to have luggage racks installed this year, next up is WVL487 which is expected to return mid-January. The turnover of these buses have been 2-5 weeks meaning all remaining buses should have the racks installed by August latest but will most likely be much earlier around June. |
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Post by ctrh136 on Dec 25, 2023 19:37:43 GMT
There are 'plans' to add in luggage racks to the 13 extra buses by the end of the year. WVL488 is the 6th bus to have luggage racks installed this year, next up is WVL487 which is expected to return mid-January. The turnover of these buses have been 2-5 weeks meaning all remaining buses should have the racks installed by August latest but will most likely be much earlier around June. Isn't the new contract due by then? |
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