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Post by busoccultation on Jun 7, 2024 18:47:46 GMT
Signs are looking promising for the SL1 & SL2 (which are the two I'm most familiar with) in terms of performance and usage on both routes especially the SL2 which the stats shows it is no worse than any other routes in the area considering parts of the route is completely new from scratch over existing routes and the traffic it sometimes faces. SL1 has been a massive help to the 34 from what I have seen, as the 34 is no longer as rammed as it used to be which did sometimes have overcrowding issues before the SL1 even with the 34's frequency being reduced. Both routes are still getting decent loads and SL1 going over flyovers/underpass seems to work well as long as the traffic isn't a too much an issue. As for the SL2, the loadings are slowly building up on the route with some already from the 123 on heavily used trips like Ilford/Gants Hill to Walthamstow that has finally seen an additional/relief route that the 123 was crying out for a long time and is making a huge difference from a passenger experience on both routes with less packed buses than before. While on the North Woolwich end, you get some who came over the foot tunnel or from Uel Docklands Campus using the SL2 as a quicker option over the twisty 366 route or the 474 that takes ages just to get to East Ham for onward connections. While the route is quite at the North Woolwich end, the loads have been much better and busier than I expected.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jun 7, 2024 19:02:12 GMT
Signs are looking promising for the SL1 & SL2 (which are the two I'm most familiar with) in terms of performance and usage on both routes especially the SL2 which the stats shows it is no worse than any other routes in the area considering parts of the route is completely new from scratch over existing routes and the traffic it sometimes faces. SL1 has been a massive help to the 34 from what I have seen, as the 34 is no longer as rammed as it used to be which did sometimes have overcrowding issues before the SL1 even with the 34's frequency being reduced. Both routes are still getting decent loads and SL1 going over flyovers/underpass seems to work well as long as the traffic isn't a too much an issue. As for the SL2, the loadings are slowly building up on the route with some already from the 123 on heavily used trips like Ilford/Gants Hill to Walthamstow that has finally seen an additional/relief route that the 123 was crying out for a long time and is making a huge difference from a passenger experience on both routes with less packed buses than before. While on the North Woolwich end, you get some who came over the foot tunnel or from Uel Docklands Campus using the SL2 as a quicker option over the twisty 366 route or the 474 that takes ages just to get to East Ham for onward connections. While the route is quite at the North Woolwich end, the loads have been much better and busier than I expected.
Have to say nearly every single time I've used the SL2 the 366 has been quicker. It uses bus only access roads which have no traffic on them at all and it's use of Aramada Way in the peaks is almost always the quicker option when compared to the A1020. The loads on the SL2 South of Ilford are disappointing. I was very vocal about the SL2s introduction anticipating it would take a huge crowd between Ilford and Barking but it's simply not the case at all. When an EL1 or 169 is heaving the SL2 is stuck behind one of them with most of its seats available during the peaks. At Barking at either direction you just get single numbers of people boarding the bus in the peaks and in the off peak.
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Post by WH241 on Jun 7, 2024 19:09:20 GMT
Signs are looking promising for the SL1 & SL2 (which are the two I'm most familiar with) in terms of performance and usage on both routes especially the SL2 which the stats shows it is no worse than any other routes in the area considering parts of the route is completely new from scratch over existing routes and the traffic it sometimes faces. SL1 has been a massive help to the 34 from what I have seen, as the 34 is no longer as rammed as it used to be which did sometimes have overcrowding issues before the SL1 even with the 34's frequency being reduced. Both routes are still getting decent loads and SL1 going over flyovers/underpass seems to work well as long as the traffic isn't a too much an issue. As for the SL2, the loadings are slowly building up on the route with some already from the 123 on heavily used trips like Ilford/Gants Hill to Walthamstow that has finally seen an additional/relief route that the 123 was crying out for a long time and is making a huge difference from a passenger experience on both routes with less packed buses than before. While on the North Woolwich end, you get some who came over the foot tunnel or from Uel Docklands Campus using the SL2 as a quicker option over the twisty 366 route or the 474 that takes ages just to get to East Ham for onward connections. While the route is quite at the North Woolwich end, the loads have been much better and busier than I expected.
I must admit I was pleasantly surprised to see how quick passengers adjusted to using the route at the North Woolwich end. Yes the numbers are not heaving but I am yet to see a empty bus on this section.
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Post by mondraker275 on Jun 8, 2024 16:55:21 GMT
Signs are looking promising for the SL1 & SL2 (which are the two I'm most familiar with) in terms of performance and usage on both routes especially the SL2 which the stats shows it is no worse than any other routes in the area considering parts of the route is completely new from scratch over existing routes and the traffic it sometimes faces. SL1 has been a massive help to the 34 from what I have seen, as the 34 is no longer as rammed as it used to be which did sometimes have overcrowding issues before the SL1 even with the 34's frequency being reduced. Both routes are still getting decent loads and SL1 going over flyovers/underpass seems to work well as long as the traffic isn't a too much an issue. As for the SL2, the loadings are slowly building up on the route with some already from the 123 on heavily used trips like Ilford/Gants Hill to Walthamstow that has finally seen an additional/relief route that the 123 was crying out for a long time and is making a huge difference from a passenger experience on both routes with less packed buses than before. While on the North Woolwich end, you get some who came over the foot tunnel or from Uel Docklands Campus using the SL2 as a quicker option over the twisty 366 route or the 474 that takes ages just to get to East Ham for onward connections. While the route is quite at the North Woolwich end, the loads have been much better and busier than I expected.
It seems the 34 is also having fewer turns at Crooked Billet which was an issue prior to SL1 introduction/timetable change and mileage data seems to reflect that. EWT times have generally gone down too so maybe these combined is helping offset the frequency decrease impact. TfL will be looking to learn from this so 34 will be a case study on whether future cuts will happen to other routes that work with SL routes (current of future). I suspect that phase 2 will bring more radical area changes (e.g. withdrawal of say 296 or 396 if X66 came in).
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jun 14, 2024 21:04:27 GMT
In more SL2 chronicles. I was on the EL1 yesterday boarding at Ilford Hill, upon arrival at Chapel Road there was an SL2 sat there with its hazards on, presumably regulating or having a changeover. Notably people got off the SL2 ahead and ran onto the EL1 behind. Once we left the bus stop with a standing load we got caught at the roundabout by Winston Way at which point the SL2 from earlier was behind us being followed by a 169 as well.
We stopped at every single stop and at no point did the SL2 behind us overtake, and by the time we'd reached the Longbridge Road bus stop there was a considerable amount of cars between the two buses and the 169 still hot on the tail of the SL2. Many people who got off the SL2 onto the EL1 stayed on until Barking Station or Vicarage Field.
It's telling when people are now ditching the express route for the all stops route as it's likely to be the faster option. It shows how anti-car tactics such as that used on Ilford Lane which removed all the stop lay-bys has actually now had a negative impact on the buses instead, while doing pretty much nothing to turn car users away.
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Post by WH241 on Jun 14, 2024 21:29:03 GMT
In more SL2 chronicles. I was on the EL1 yesterday boarding at Ilford Hill, upon arrival at Chapel Road there was an SL2 sat there with its hazards on, presumably regulating or having a changeover. Notably people got off the SL2 ahead and ran onto the EL1 behind. Once we left the bus stop with a standing load we got caught at the roundabout by Winston Way at which point the SL2 from earlier was behind us being followed by a 169 as well. We stopped at every single stop and at no point did the SL2 behind us overtake, and by the time we'd reached the Longbridge Road bus stop there was a considerable amount of cars between the two buses and the 169 still hot on the tail of the SL2. Many people who got off the SL2 onto the EL1 stayed on until Barking Station or Vicarage Field. It's telling when people are now ditching the express route for the all stops route as it's likely to be the faster option. It shows how anti-car tactics such as that used on Ilford Lane which removed all the stop lay-bys has actually now had a negative impact on the buses instead, while doing pretty much nothing to turn car users away. A lot of the issues you post about on the SL2 are in the most problematic area which is Ilford Lane and the Barking. Having used Ilford Lane lots I would say a bus would struggle to take over another bus no matter the time of day. The SL2 is never going to win on that section and not sure what you expect to happen! Express or not if the bus is behind another bus it’s just the same as any other route except it’s not serving all stops. Even if Stagecoach was running this route it would be just the same story.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jun 14, 2024 21:30:02 GMT
In more SL2 chronicles. I was on the EL1 yesterday boarding at Ilford Hill, upon arrival at Chapel Road there was an SL2 sat there with its hazards on, presumably regulating or having a changeover. Notably people got off the SL2 ahead and ran onto the EL1 behind. Once we left the bus stop with a standing load we got caught at the roundabout by Winston Way at which point the SL2 from earlier was behind us being followed by a 169 as well. We stopped at every single stop and at no point did the SL2 behind us overtake, and by the time we'd reached the Longbridge Road bus stop there was a considerable amount of cars between the two buses and the 169 still hot on the tail of the SL2. Many people who got off the SL2 onto the EL1 stayed on until Barking Station or Vicarage Field. It's telling when people are now ditching the express route for the all stops route as it's likely to be the faster option. It shows how anti-car tactics such as that used on Ilford Lane which removed all the stop lay-bys has actually now had a negative impact on the buses instead, while doing pretty much nothing to turn car users away. A lot of the issues you post about on the SL2 are in the most problematic area which is Ilford Lane and the Barking. Having used Ilford Lane lots I would say a bus would struggle to take over another bus no matter the time of day. The SL2 is never going to win on that section and not sure what you expect to happen! Express or not if the bus is behind another bus it’s just the same as any other route except it’s not serving all stops. Even if Stagecoach was running this route it would be just the same story. What has Stagecoach got to do with the problem that I mentioned?
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Post by mkay315 on Jun 15, 2024 5:41:23 GMT
In more SL2 chronicles. I was on the EL1 yesterday boarding at Ilford Hill, upon arrival at Chapel Road there was an SL2 sat there with its hazards on, presumably regulating or having a changeover. Notably people got off the SL2 ahead and ran onto the EL1 behind. Once we left the bus stop with a standing load we got caught at the roundabout by Winston Way at which point the SL2 from earlier was behind us being followed by a 169 as well. We stopped at every single stop and at no point did the SL2 behind us overtake, and by the time we'd reached the Longbridge Road bus stop there was a considerable amount of cars between the two buses and the 169 still hot on the tail of the SL2. Many people who got off the SL2 onto the EL1 stayed on until Barking Station or Vicarage Field. It's telling when people are now ditching the express route for the all stops route as it's likely to be the faster option. It shows how anti-car tactics such as that used on Ilford Lane which removed all the stop lay-bys has actually now had a negative impact on the buses instead, while doing pretty much nothing to turn car users away. You know very well the section from Winston Way up until the polyclinic is difficult to overtake a bus. Realistically speaking the only way it can happen is if 1, the roads were clear enough from a distance that the bus could overtake or 2 the cars/buses coming in the opposite direction give enough space for that to happen. Since Ilford Lane is usually busy the first option in the early mornings is the most likely.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jun 15, 2024 7:19:53 GMT
In more SL2 chronicles. I was on the EL1 yesterday boarding at Ilford Hill, upon arrival at Chapel Road there was an SL2 sat there with its hazards on, presumably regulating or having a changeover. Notably people got off the SL2 ahead and ran onto the EL1 behind. Once we left the bus stop with a standing load we got caught at the roundabout by Winston Way at which point the SL2 from earlier was behind us being followed by a 169 as well. We stopped at every single stop and at no point did the SL2 behind us overtake, and by the time we'd reached the Longbridge Road bus stop there was a considerable amount of cars between the two buses and the 169 still hot on the tail of the SL2. Many people who got off the SL2 onto the EL1 stayed on until Barking Station or Vicarage Field. It's telling when people are now ditching the express route for the all stops route as it's likely to be the faster option. It shows how anti-car tactics such as that used on Ilford Lane which removed all the stop lay-bys has actually now had a negative impact on the buses instead, while doing pretty much nothing to turn car users away. You know very well the section from Winston Way up until the polyclinic is difficult to overtake a bus. Realistically speaking the only way it can happen is if 1, the roads were clear enough from a distance that the bus could overtake or 2 the cars/buses coming in the opposite direction give enough space for that to happen. Since Ilford Lane is usually busy the first option in the early mornings is the most likely. Yes which shows the amount of work that needs to, and that should be done to ensure that routes like this actually appeal to people. There's plenty of space to move the Winston Way stop into a lay-by which would allow vehicles to overtake. Someone has also gone and put a load of yellow boxes at some side roads down Ilford Lane, presumably to stop the traffic building up but that doesn't seem to be working.
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Post by mkay315 on Jun 15, 2024 7:28:01 GMT
You know very well the section from Winston Way up until the polyclinic is difficult to overtake a bus. Realistically speaking the only way it can happen is if 1, the roads were clear enough from a distance that the bus could overtake or 2 the cars/buses coming in the opposite direction give enough space for that to happen. Since Ilford Lane is usually busy the first option in the early mornings is the most likely. Yes which shows the amount of work that needs to, and that should be done to ensure that routes like this actually appeal to people. There's plenty of space to move the Winston Way stop into a lay-by which would allow vehicles to overtake. Someone has also gone and put a load of yellow boxes at some side roads down Ilford Lane, presumably to stop the traffic building up but that doesn't seem to be working. I mean back in the 369 days it was still bad but at least you could somewhat have a chance to overtake. Now it's virtually impossible especially if you're slap bang behind the bus as you wouldn't be able to see another vehicle coming in the opposite direction.
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Post by matthieu1221 on Jul 2, 2024 21:13:59 GMT
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jul 2, 2024 21:34:01 GMT
Some interesting stats also regarding bus route performances. SL1, SL5 and SL10 seem to be among the most reliable routes. The SL2 seems to have shown unreliability, however is now on the up and the route met its performance targets between April and May. The SL3 seems to be in a similar boat but there seems to also be specific mention about the state of the vehicles on the route and the challenges presented by these (what did RATP do to these buses?) The SL6, SL7, SL8 and SL9 seem to be suffering reliability issues, they mention the SL7 should be helped by the impending cut as it's not very easy to run a route that is this long.
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Post by mondraker275 on Jul 3, 2024 7:25:55 GMT
Firstly, it may make sense if we move this thread (or create a new one) to the London Bus Routes section, rename it Superloop, and pin it a the top section as it probably deserves its own specific area going forwards. The graphs are a bit messy but was surprised to see SL10 leading the way for the new routes although it seems SL2 is heading towards it. I have not really been in or seen packed SL10 in comparison to the other routes. The other interesting thing is the point about TfL looking to monitor the SL6 in a different way. I guess from 'on time' to ' headway' even though it is a low frequency route. I hope there is some more innovative ways of monitoring Superloop routes as they are not the same as normal routes.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Jul 4, 2024 10:35:33 GMT
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Post by greenboy on Jul 4, 2024 17:10:07 GMT
Which begs the question as to where this 8% increase in passengers has come from? Largely from other bus routes I suspect, there certainly seems to be no drop in traffic congestion since Superloop started.
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