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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Mar 29, 2023 10:50:27 GMT
The 18 has other routes along its line of route for partial support, so therefore I don't think there's much need for an X18. But there are parts where the 18 is mostly by itself and could do with support from another route and I think a express route could be what’s needed to support the 18. I believe that the 18 needs support from another route like an express route to help it out particularly between Wembley Triangle and Baker Street where it’s largely unsupported. Yeah there’s the 28, 36, 220, 260 and 266 but I believe the 18 needs something else to help alongside it. These express routes aren't intended to provide any sort of support, they're to create new links. It at most just needs a frequency increase, but knowing how this goes TfL will probably be along with a grander scheme to deal with it.
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Post by WH241 on Mar 29, 2023 10:59:01 GMT
If the 18 needs helping out, a frequency increase would be a better way of doing it rather than reducing the frequency and overlaying a limited stop service. The 18 has a lot of comings-and-goings and short distance riders and works well as a high-frequency all-stops service. But even when it had its old frequencies it struggled and had people left behind. I believe an express route x18 could be used alongside the 18 to scoop up passengers left behind and assist the 18. That depends where the passengers are going as don’t forget the X routes are limited stops.
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Post by yunus on Mar 29, 2023 11:06:11 GMT
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Post by rift on Mar 29, 2023 11:08:41 GMT
The Superloop name could be better, maybe Ring-link or Ring Line or Loop-link. Aside from that, the proposed network is to buses what the Overground is to suburban railways in London, the overground of the 2020s. I have a couple of suggestions though, they could link Thamesmead by including the 401 or 229, they could also resurrect the X53 as a radial link, I think they should also extend the X239 (hopefully it’ll be the X108 by the time the tunnel opens) to Bromley so that it links up with the main network, maybe have overlapping sections Orbital routes: X229: Thamesmead to Bromley X269: Bexleyheath to Croydon X119: Bromley to Sutton X26: Croydon to Heathrow X140: Kingston to Harrow Hayes & Harlington to Arnos Grove North Finchley to Royal Docks Radial routes: X53: Thamesmead to Elephant & Castle X108: Bromley to Canary Wharf X68: West Croydon to Russell Square 607: Uxbridge to White City X18: Harrow to Euston Glad to eee that the X68’s future is secure though, the X68 could run Mon to Fri off peak. Radial links is something that’s missing from the proposals, it’s definitely a missed opportunity. With the X53, I think it would be better if it just went to Plumstead instead of Thamesmead, due to the 472 already providing quite a fast link to Woolwich where an interchange can be provided with an X53. E&C is good enough for changing buses, but I feel like the main commuter draw would be at Charing Cross or Trafalgar Square. With an off peak X68, would it be viable if 4 journeys an hour went via Brixton, and another 4 went via Camberwell? It’s not really my area so vjaska will know more, but it could take pressure off the 109 and 468.
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Post by southlondon413 on Mar 29, 2023 11:17:17 GMT
I’ve said repeatedly if the pantograph project for the 358 is successful there is no reason it couldn’t also be adopted for the x26. The overflow stand at the rear of Heathrow Central could have a pantograph installed, likewise the stand at West Croydon. A rapid charge would maintain the vehicles energy between each journey. The x26, apart from some hills in the Sutton area particularly Carshalton Road, runs along a surprisingly flat route.
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Post by southlondonbus on Mar 29, 2023 11:20:59 GMT
In a logical world (but remember we are talking Khan and TFL) the X26 would use the last of the unallocated hybrids from the 119/40/185 etc. Ofcourse this won't happen and there will be massive delays whilst a solution is found.
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Post by vjaska on Mar 29, 2023 11:44:38 GMT
The Superloop name could be better, maybe Ring-link or Ring Line or Loop-link. Aside from that, the proposed network is to buses what the Overground is to suburban railways in London, the overground of the 2020s. I have a couple of suggestions though, they could link Thamesmead by including the 401 or 229, they could also resurrect the X53 as a radial link, I think they should also extend the X239 (hopefully it’ll be the X108 by the time the tunnel opens) to Bromley so that it links up with the main network, maybe have overlapping sections Orbital routes: X229: Thamesmead to Bromley X269: Bexleyheath to Croydon X119: Bromley to Sutton X26: Croydon to Heathrow X140: Kingston to Harrow Hayes & Harlington to Arnos Grove North Finchley to Royal Docks Radial routes: X53: Thamesmead to Elephant & Castle X108: Bromley to Canary Wharf X68: West Croydon to Russell Square 607: Uxbridge to White City X18: Harrow to Euston Glad to eee that the X68’s future is secure though, the X68 could run Mon to Fri off peak. Radial links is something that’s missing from the proposals, it’s definitely a missed opportunity. With the X53, I think it would be better if it just went to Plumstead instead of Thamesmead, due to the 472 already providing quite a fast link to Woolwich where an interchange can be provided with an X53. E&C is good enough for changing buses, but I feel like the main commuter draw would be at Charing Cross or Trafalgar Square. With an off peak X68, would it be viable if 4 journeys an hour went via Brixton, and another 4 went via Camberwell? It’s not really my area so vjaska will know more, but it could take pressure off the 109 and 468. I don’t think the X68 needs any modifications and I’ll go further - I don’t see the logic in sticking a X53 or X18 in either. The current express routes (and 607) survive because they have niches that other routes can’t do and largely avoid traffic filled Inner London. The X18 & X53 would need major infrastructure changes to get them to work as an express route as it’s no point sticking them in without it. The other issue is the existing routes would likely have their frequencies decreased in order to facilitate the express route - take the X68, even if it was alternate journeys, it would likely have a knock on effect to the 68, 196 & 468 in terms of current frequencies as I can’t see TfL not meddling with the corridors current routes.
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Post by greenboy on Mar 29, 2023 11:51:08 GMT
If the bus is fully charged it will be able to do 120 miles, or whatever the range is, regardless of whether it's on the X26 or another route so it could do two rounders on the X26 before returning to the garage for a recharge like they do on other routes.
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Post by ronnie on Mar 29, 2023 11:54:40 GMT
Radial links is something that’s missing from the proposals, it’s definitely a missed opportunity. With the X53, I think it would be better if it just went to Plumstead instead of Thamesmead, due to the 472 already providing quite a fast link to Woolwich where an interchange can be provided with an X53. E&C is good enough for changing buses, but I feel like the main commuter draw would be at Charing Cross or Trafalgar Square. With an off peak X68, would it be viable if 4 journeys an hour went via Brixton, and another 4 went via Camberwell? It’s not really my area so vjaska will know more, but it could take pressure off the 109 and 468. I don’t think the X68 needs any modifications and I’ll go further - I don’t see the logic in sticking a X53 or X18 in either. The current express routes (and 607) survive because they have niches that other routes can’t do and largely avoid traffic filled Inner London. The X18 & X53 would need major infrastructure changes to get them to work as an express route as it’s no point sticking them in without it. The other issue is the existing routes would likely have their frequencies decreased in order to facilitate the express route - take the X68, even if it was alternate journeys, it would likely have a knock on effect to the 68, 196 & 468 in terms of current frequencies as I can’t see TfL not meddling with the corridors current routes. I can’t see an X53 working any longer as the whole of the old Kent road corridor is being turned into a turtle track of 20mph. Express my a***
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Post by busoccultation on Mar 29, 2023 11:59:59 GMT
First/TrawsCymru have just started using Yutong E12 electrics on the T1 route between Carmarthen & Aberystwyth via Lampeter which is nearly 50 miles long and twice the distance the X26 currently operates, so there is no reason why the X26 can't use electrics on its new contract and same applies the longer night routes such as the N199 - traws.cymru/en/new-all-electric-trawscymru-t1-buses-launched
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Post by ADH45258 on Mar 29, 2023 12:44:24 GMT
If the bus is fully charged it will be able to do 120 miles, or whatever the range is, regardless of whether it's on the X26 or another route so it could do two rounders on the X26 before returning to the garage for a recharge like they do on other routes. The X26 could perhaps also be suitable for pantograph charging like the 358, as the termini at Croydon and Heathrow are both TFL bus stations?
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Post by cardinal on Mar 29, 2023 13:51:31 GMT
I don’t think the X68 needs any modifications and I’ll go further - I don’t see the logic in sticking a X53 or X18 in either. The current express routes (and 607) survive because they have niches that other routes can’t do and largely avoid traffic filled Inner London. The X18 & X53 would need major infrastructure changes to get them to work as an express route as it’s no point sticking them in without it. The other issue is the existing routes would likely have their frequencies decreased in order to facilitate the express route - take the X68, even if it was alternate journeys, it would likely have a knock on effect to the 68, 196 & 468 in terms of current frequencies as I can’t see TfL not meddling with the corridors current routes. I can’t see an X53 working any longer as the whole of the old Kent road corridor is being turned into a turtle track of 20mph. Express my a*** 😂 I don’t think radial routes other than what we have already will be used by TfL. Orbital yes - radial , they will say use the tube overground or national rail
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Post by rj131 on Mar 29, 2023 14:47:15 GMT
I can’t see an X53 working any longer as the whole of the old Kent road corridor is being turned into a turtle track of 20mph. Express my a*** 😂 I don’t think radial routes other than what we have already will be used by TfL. Orbital yes - radial , they will say use the tube overground or national rail With these express routes they should make them into a Cambridge busway style track to make journeys properly quick 😂
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Post by joefrombow on Mar 29, 2023 15:10:22 GMT
If the bus is fully charged it will be able to do 120 miles, or whatever the range is, regardless of whether it's on the X26 or another route so it could do two rounders on the X26 before returning to the garage for a recharge like they do on other routes. I'd imagine it's not financially viable for a bus to do two rounders and then sit charging for hours plus the weather etc would affect the battery , I personally think hybrids capable of 62mph (if any exist) are more suited for long routes and that when 2030 Net Zero comes which won't be long at all there should be a exemption for Buses and Lorries and Plant .
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Post by northlondon83 on Mar 29, 2023 15:18:22 GMT
I don't see the X18 idea coming into fruition, tfl will say to take the tube. Also Harrow Road can be very slow at times and most corridors in northwest London would be too unreliable, can't see an X16 working either. The A40 is also too volatile to have an express bus route operating besides there is the Oxford Tube there
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