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Post by TB123 on Jul 11, 2024 8:43:27 GMT
I won't go into details about all the other routes as the scenario is somewhat predictable if you look at a map of London election results, but a few other notes: 61, 146, 193, 252, 256, 294, 346, 375, 379, 385, 397, 403, 404, 434, 496, 498, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5/10, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R11 are the only TfL routes to run entirely within Tory-held seats 33, 71, 209, 213, 406/418, 411, 467, K1, K2, K3, K4, R68, R70 and S3 are the only TfL routes to run entirely within LibDem-held seats. Chislehurst is now part of the new Eltham and Chislehurst constituency, which is now, no doubt to your pleasure, Labour held, so the 61, R1 and R7 can be taken off your ‘entirely Tory held’ list. Of course they do 🤦 The new boundaries and the thought of chislehurst being a Labour seat takes some getting used to!
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Post by southlondonbus on Jul 11, 2024 8:56:29 GMT
Chislehurst is now part of the new Eltham and Chislehurst constituency, which is now, no doubt to your pleasure, Labour held, so the 61, R1 and R7 can be taken off your ‘entirely Tory held’ list. Of course they do 🤦 The new boundaries and the thought of chislehurst being a Labour seat takes some getting used to! Same with Beckenham now joined with Penge. Personally I think the boundary changes don't well reflect the 2 areas.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jul 16, 2024 21:15:35 GMT
I have long been critical of the SL2, however today has probably out-done all previous experiences so far. Was at Chapel Road in Ilford heading towards Barking as usual, an SL2 pulled up just slightly ahead of the bus stop and then played the bus regulating announcement. My EL1 that I was waiting for pulled up just behind it, behold almost every single person apart from maybe 3-4 people on the SL2 all ran off the bus onto the EL1 and then the EL1 left with a completely standing load to a point we had to skip the first bus stop on Ilford Lane. A 169 then also turned up behind us. Bot the EL1 and 169 remained together right the way until Barking, upon arrival at Barking Station I took a quick glance at countdown on my phone just to see the SL2 was 4 minutes behind us. I get things like traffic and I get that routes can be unpredictable, but where on earth is regulating to a point people are all running off the bus in a huge group going to attract people to the Superloop? The fact nearly the entire bus load of people all got off that SL2 suggests that this is a very common occurrence and that people have all worked out that the 169/EL1 is the faster option from Ilford to Barking if they leave Ilford first. This whole situation needs looking at, while I'm not as averse as some others to regulation but when the entire point of a route's existence is to be a faster alternative to an all stops service but the opposite effect is happening where people are ditching the faster route for the slower one you need to question it.
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Post by WH241 on Jul 16, 2024 21:23:16 GMT
I have long been critical of the SL2, however today has probably out-done all previous experiences so far. Was at Chapel Road in Ilford heading towards Barking as usual, an SL2 pulled up just slightly ahead of the bus stop and then played the bus regulating announcement. My EL1 that I was waiting for pulled up just behind it, behold almost every single person apart from maybe 3-4 people on the SL2 all ran off the bus onto the EL1 and then the EL1 left with a completely standing load to a point we had to skip the first bus stop on Ilford Lane. A 169 then also turned up behind us. Bot the EL1 and 169 remained together right the way until Barking, upon arrival at Barking Station I took a quick glance at countdown on my phone just to see the SL2 was 4 minutes behind us. I get things like traffic and I get that routes can be unpredictable, but where on earth is regulating to a point people are all running off the bus in a huge group going to attract people to the Superloop? The fact nearly the entire bus load of people all got off that SL2 suggests that this is a very common occurrence and that people have all worked out that the 169/EL1 is the faster option from Ilford to Barking if they leave Ilford first. This whole situation needs looking at, while I'm not as averse as some others to regulation but when the entire point of a route's existence is to be a faster alternative to an all stops service but the opposite effect is happening where people are ditching the faster route for the slower one you need to question it. You are always critical of the SL2 on the worse section of the route. Passengers are probably well aware of how bad Ilford Lane is so of course will go for the first bus! They will be well away that if they are not on the leading bus they are likely to be caught behind as there is little / no chance a bus can overtake on this section. The issue is not the SL2 the issue is Ilford Lane.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jul 16, 2024 21:26:05 GMT
I have long been critical of the SL2, however today has probably out-done all previous experiences so far. Was at Chapel Road in Ilford heading towards Barking as usual, an SL2 pulled up just slightly ahead of the bus stop and then played the bus regulating announcement. My EL1 that I was waiting for pulled up just behind it, behold almost every single person apart from maybe 3-4 people on the SL2 all ran off the bus onto the EL1 and then the EL1 left with a completely standing load to a point we had to skip the first bus stop on Ilford Lane. A 169 then also turned up behind us. Bot the EL1 and 169 remained together right the way until Barking, upon arrival at Barking Station I took a quick glance at countdown on my phone just to see the SL2 was 4 minutes behind us. I get things like traffic and I get that routes can be unpredictable, but where on earth is regulating to a point people are all running off the bus in a huge group going to attract people to the Superloop? The fact nearly the entire bus load of people all got off that SL2 suggests that this is a very common occurrence and that people have all worked out that the 169/EL1 is the faster option from Ilford to Barking if they leave Ilford first. This whole situation needs looking at, while I'm not as averse as some others to regulation but when the entire point of a route's existence is to be a faster alternative to an all stops service but the opposite effect is happening where people are ditching the faster route for the slower one you need to question it. You are always critical of the SL2 on the worse section of the route. Passengers are probably well aware of how bad Ilford Lane is so of course will go for the first bus! They will be well away that if they are not on the leading bus they are likely to be caught behind as there is little / no chance a bus can overtake on this section. The issue is not the SL2 the issue is Ilford Lane. If you read my post, the SL2 was actually the leading bus that everyone then ditched. The aforementioned issue also happened at Chapel Road and that stop is not on Ilford Lane. While constantly attempting to defend that route you're completely ignoring the root cause of today's problem which is an excessive amount of regulation that has led to passengers ditching the bus that is meant to be the faster option. Do you really think that's acceptable?
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Post by capitalomnibus on Jul 20, 2024 9:53:08 GMT
I have long been critical of the SL2, however today has probably out-done all previous experiences so far. Was at Chapel Road in Ilford heading towards Barking as usual, an SL2 pulled up just slightly ahead of the bus stop and then played the bus regulating announcement. My EL1 that I was waiting for pulled up just behind it, behold almost every single person apart from maybe 3-4 people on the SL2 all ran off the bus onto the EL1 and then the EL1 left with a completely standing load to a point we had to skip the first bus stop on Ilford Lane. A 169 then also turned up behind us. Bot the EL1 and 169 remained together right the way until Barking, upon arrival at Barking Station I took a quick glance at countdown on my phone just to see the SL2 was 4 minutes behind us. I get things like traffic and I get that routes can be unpredictable, but where on earth is regulating to a point people are all running off the bus in a huge group going to attract people to the Superloop? The fact nearly the entire bus load of people all got off that SL2 suggests that this is a very common occurrence and that people have all worked out that the 169/EL1 is the faster option from Ilford to Barking if they leave Ilford first. This whole situation needs looking at, while I'm not as averse as some others to regulation but when the entire point of a route's existence is to be a faster alternative to an all stops service but the opposite effect is happening where people are ditching the faster route for the slower one you need to question it. Funny these comments do not come up of any of the other Stagecoach routes in the area a few which are practically run crap. The problem would always happen due to the live changeover and the amount of running time. Going to Woolwich can be a problem from the stand at South Grove. If Selborne Rd is clear, this can see buses enter Walthamstow Central early, then there is not that much stops to hold back if the road is empty can see buses easily run up to 10 minutes early. If Selborne Rd is full of traffic, this can see buses come out of Walthamstow Central 10 minutes late. If the road is clear they make up the time and be at Ilford ok. If there is traffic at Forest Rd or Gants Hill roundabout approach, this can then see the bus end up being near 10 late at ilford. The excessive running time was requested by TfL, so if you do not like it, direct your complaints at them! If it was not for the crew change point at Ilford, the buses would not be held and made up continue going.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jul 20, 2024 10:08:51 GMT
I have long been critical of the SL2, however today has probably out-done all previous experiences so far. Was at Chapel Road in Ilford heading towards Barking as usual, an SL2 pulled up just slightly ahead of the bus stop and then played the bus regulating announcement. My EL1 that I was waiting for pulled up just behind it, behold almost every single person apart from maybe 3-4 people on the SL2 all ran off the bus onto the EL1 and then the EL1 left with a completely standing load to a point we had to skip the first bus stop on Ilford Lane. A 169 then also turned up behind us. Bot the EL1 and 169 remained together right the way until Barking, upon arrival at Barking Station I took a quick glance at countdown on my phone just to see the SL2 was 4 minutes behind us. I get things like traffic and I get that routes can be unpredictable, but where on earth is regulating to a point people are all running off the bus in a huge group going to attract people to the Superloop? The fact nearly the entire bus load of people all got off that SL2 suggests that this is a very common occurrence and that people have all worked out that the 169/EL1 is the faster option from Ilford to Barking if they leave Ilford first. This whole situation needs looking at, while I'm not as averse as some others to regulation but when the entire point of a route's existence is to be a faster alternative to an all stops service but the opposite effect is happening where people are ditching the faster route for the slower one you need to question it. Funny these comments do not come up of any of the other Stagecoach routes in the area a few which are practically run crap. The problem would always happen due to the live changeover and the amount of running time. Going to Woolwich can be a problem from the stand at South Grove. If Selborne Rd is clear, this can see buses enter Walthamstow Central early, then there is not that much stops to hold back if the road is empty can see buses easily run up to 10 minutes early. If Selborne Rd is full of traffic, this can see buses come out of Walthamstow Central 10 minutes late. If the road is clear they make up the time and be at Ilford ok. If there is traffic at Forest Rd or Gants Hill roundabout approach, this can then see the bus end up being near 10 late at ilford. The excessive running time was requested by TfL, so if you do not like it, direct your complaints at them! If it was not for the crew change point at Ilford, the buses would not be held and made up continue going. What has Stagecoach got to do with the above situation? Do you really think regulating for so long an all stops bus that turns up behind and becomes the faster option is a good showing?
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Post by WH241 on Jul 20, 2024 10:59:49 GMT
Funny these comments do not come up of any of the other Stagecoach routes in the area a few which are practically run crap. The problem would always happen due to the live changeover and the amount of running time. Going to Woolwich can be a problem from the stand at South Grove. If Selborne Rd is clear, this can see buses enter Walthamstow Central early, then there is not that much stops to hold back if the road is empty can see buses easily run up to 10 minutes early. If Selborne Rd is full of traffic, this can see buses come out of Walthamstow Central 10 minutes late. If the road is clear they make up the time and be at Ilford ok. If there is traffic at Forest Rd or Gants Hill roundabout approach, this can then see the bus end up being near 10 late at ilford. The excessive running time was requested by TfL, so if you do not like it, direct your complaints at them! If it was not for the crew change point at Ilford, the buses would not be held and made up continue going. What has Stagecoach got to do with the above situation? Do you really think regulating for so long an all stops bus that turns up behind and becomes the faster option is a good showing? Happens plenty of times along the 262 / 473 corridor since Go Ahead took over those routes. This is not just Arriva or Superloop issue.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jul 20, 2024 11:02:30 GMT
What has Stagecoach got to do with the above situation? Do you really think regulating for so long an all stops bus that turns up behind and becomes the faster option is a good showing? Happens plenty of times along the 262 / 473 corridor since Go Ahead took over those routes. This is not just Arriva or Superloop issue. You seem to constantly miss the point. The Superloop is advertised as a fast express service, the 262 and 473 are not.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Jul 20, 2024 17:42:05 GMT
Funny these comments do not come up of any of the other Stagecoach routes in the area a few which are practically run crap. The problem would always happen due to the live changeover and the amount of running time. Going to Woolwich can be a problem from the stand at South Grove. If Selborne Rd is clear, this can see buses enter Walthamstow Central early, then there is not that much stops to hold back if the road is empty can see buses easily run up to 10 minutes early. If Selborne Rd is full of traffic, this can see buses come out of Walthamstow Central 10 minutes late. If the road is clear they make up the time and be at Ilford ok. If there is traffic at Forest Rd or Gants Hill roundabout approach, this can then see the bus end up being near 10 late at ilford. The excessive running time was requested by TfL, so if you do not like it, direct your complaints at them! If it was not for the crew change point at Ilford, the buses would not be held and made up continue going. What has Stagecoach got to do with the above situation? Do you really think regulating for so long an all stops bus that turns up behind and becomes the faster option is a good showing? It is the faster option for 80% of the time. As mentioned, the regulation is mainly at Ilford or Barking Station, the rest of the route is free flowing
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Post by busoccultation on Jul 20, 2024 18:28:02 GMT
What has Stagecoach got to do with the above situation? Do you really think regulating for so long an all stops bus that turns up behind and becomes the faster option is a good showing? It is the faster option for 80% of the time. As mentioned, the regulation is mainly at Ilford or Barking Station, the rest of the route is free flowing SL2 is much quicker for certain point to point trips over existing routes like Walthamstow Central to Ilford where it is generally around 15 to 20 mins quicker than using the W19 all the way between Walthamstow & Ilford, North Woolwich to Barking or Ilford is another as long as there isn't traffic compared to the 366 with the all the turns and double runs it serve or the 474 which takes ages just to get to East Ham to change to the likes of the 5, 147 & 238.
Even getting the SL2 and changing at Gants Hill is much quicker than doing the 275 end to end between Walthamstow & Barkingside which now takes as twice as long because of the long term diverson when compared using the SL2 to Gants Hill and then crossing the road for the 128/150/167 to Barkingside.
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Post by mkay315 on Jul 20, 2024 21:34:56 GMT
It is the faster option for 80% of the time. As mentioned, the regulation is mainly at Ilford or Barking Station, the rest of the route is free flowing SL2 is much quicker for certain point to point trips over existing routes like Walthamstow Central to Ilford where it is generally around 15 to 20 mins quicker than using the W19 all the way between Walthamstow & Ilford, North Woolwich to Barking or Ilford is another as long as there isn't traffic compared to the 366 with the all the turns and double runs it serve or the 474 which takes ages just to get to East Ham to change to the likes of the 5, 147 & 238.
Even getting the SL2 and changing at Gants Hill is much quicker than doing the 275 end to end between Walthamstow & Barkingside which now takes as twice as long because of the long term diverson when compared using the SL2 to Gants Hill and then crossing the road for the 128/150/167 to Barkingside.
I think I've mentioned this before but the SL2 as much as it's a hard route to do has essentially done more positives than negatives. The positives being it has taken the strain off 3 bus routes, W19 and 123 from Walthamstow to Ilford, the 366 from Ilford to Gallions Reach, restored the South Woodford to Barking link that was lost in 2010 when the 179 got diverted to Ilford and restored the North Woolwich to Walthamstow link which was lost from the 69 in 1999 (talk about things coming back full circle, albeit via a different routing) The only sticking point for me for the SL2 is Ilford Lane and how congested it can be and the NCR but apart from that it's been gravy. Now the SL3 on the other hand. Paul what happened this week especially around Abbey Wood. I was hoping to get on one and I kid you not I saw 4 SL3 going towards Thamesmead and none going towards Bromley. For 30 minutes no SL3 came. In the end I gave up and went on the 180 to go to Woolwich to do a few things and then the SL3 came.
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Post by busoccultation on Jul 20, 2024 21:48:30 GMT
SL2 is much quicker for certain point to point trips over existing routes like Walthamstow Central to Ilford where it is generally around 15 to 20 mins quicker than using the W19 all the way between Walthamstow & Ilford, North Woolwich to Barking or Ilford is another as long as there isn't traffic compared to the 366 with the all the turns and double runs it serve or the 474 which takes ages just to get to East Ham to change to the likes of the 5, 147 & 238. Even getting the SL2 and changing at Gants Hill is much quicker than doing the 275 end to end between Walthamstow & Barkingside which now takes as twice as long because of the long term diverson when compared using the SL2 to Gants Hill and then crossing the road for the 128/150/167 to Barkingside.
I think I've mentioned this before but the SL2 as much as it's a hard route to do has essentially done more positives than negatives. The positives being it has taken the strain off 3 bus routes, W19 and 123 from Walthamstow to Ilford, the 366 from Ilford to Gallions Reach, restored the South Woodford to Barking link that was lost in 2010 when the 179 got diverted to Ilford and restored the North Woolwich to Walthamstow link which was lost from the 69 in 1999 (talk about things coming back full circle, albeit via a different routing) The only sticking point for me for the SL2 is Ilford Lane and how congested it can be and the NCR but apart from that it's been gravy. Now the SL3 on the other hand. Paul what happened this week especially around Abbey Wood. I was hoping to get on one and I kid you not I saw 4 SL3 going towards Thamesmead and none going towards Bromley. For 30 minutes no SL3 came. In the end I gave up and went on the 180 to go to Woolwich to do a few things and then the SL3 came. Definitely, I know there has been a lot of talk about Ilford Lane and SL2, but then most routes in London including the Superloop routes have at least one section of the route that causes problems, like Southall for the SL8, Worcester Park for the SL7 and also that week in New Malden from few months ago where there was a lane closure on the A3 that caused chaos on the entire SL7 route and other routes in the area and then there is Palmers Green part of the North Circular that can use some issues with the SL1 as well.
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Post by Paul on Jul 20, 2024 22:07:37 GMT
Now the SL3 on the other hand. Paul what happened this week especially around Abbey Wood. I was hoping to get on one and I kid you not I saw 4 SL3 going towards Thamesmead and none going towards Bromley. For 30 minutes no SL3 came. In the end I gave up and went on the 180 to go to Woolwich to do a few things and then the SL3 came. I’m sorry to hear that was your experience. I know we’ve had a few buses go down this week - in fact that wasn’t confined to us. Either yesterday or the day before I passed a 469 broken down at the top of New Road, a 244 broken down at Abbey Wood and a B11 on the back of a tow truck and that was on one trip into Thamesmead! It’s not acceptable for there to be a 30 minute gap - I would have been ‘responsible’ for a gap on Thursday morning when I broke down running dead to start service at Thamesmead in the morning. I can’t really offer an explanation for your experience though However, my feeling from driving the route day in and day out is that reliability isn’t that bad. Certainly turns seem far rarer to me and I seem to be passing buses going the other way in similar places suggesting gaps are remaining fairly constant. The latest performance figures showed us exceeding targets for, I believe, the first time since February. Hopefully your experience was an outlier
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Post by mkay315 on Jul 20, 2024 22:20:56 GMT
Now the SL3 on the other hand. Paul what happened this week especially around Abbey Wood. I was hoping to get on one and I kid you not I saw 4 SL3 going towards Thamesmead and none going towards Bromley. For 30 minutes no SL3 came. In the end I gave up and went on the 180 to go to Woolwich to do a few things and then the SL3 came. I’m sorry to hear that was your experience. I know we’ve had a few buses go down this week - in fact that wasn’t confined to us. Either yesterday or the day before I passed a 469 broken down at the top of New Road, a 244 broken down at Abbey Wood and a B11 on the back of a tow truck and that was on one trip into Thamesmead! It’s not acceptable for there to be a 30 minute gap - I would have been ‘responsible’ for a gap on Thursday morning when I broke down running dead to start service at Thamesmead in the morning. I can’t really offer an explanation for your experience though However, my feeling from driving the route day in and day out is that reliability isn’t that bad. Certainly turns seem far rarer to me and I seem to be passing buses going the other way in similar places suggesting gaps are remaining fairly constant. The latest performance figures showed us exceeding targets for, I believe, the first time since February. Hopefully your experience was an outlier Usually it's actually decent but this week oh boy it really threw up those surprises. I know you're doing backflips for when the new shiny vehicles come. Hopefully the contractors can kick start the work at TB for you folks.
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