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Post by cardinal on Aug 1, 2023 18:19:49 GMT
Thorney isn't that far from the U3 but has been left out of all London bus operations. The width restriction exists to limit traffic from passing through a fairly restricted village and the narrower roads of West Drayton once served by the 224A (to Mill Road). There isn't a suitable turn for a TfL bus in Thorney meaning any operation would have to pass through the width restriction and into Buckinghamshire. It used to be a toss-up whether you walked into Iver for the 459 at Richings Park or up to Swan Road for a 224A. Both went to Uxbridge and took as long as each other; both ran hourly but the 224A charged "central" fares while the 459 being a country bus charged slightly more. If there is a need for a bus between Iver and Heathrow why not make it an all-day offering? And incorporate the mortal remains of the original 459 which currently as the 583 manages a single trip from Uxbridge down Thorney Lane (rather than the old and more useful route through the houses) to Richings Park. I know it crosses boundaries but if it's supported by Heathrow through Bucks then why not a TfL Uxbridge - Iver - Thorney - Sipson - Heathrow service? Let's call it the U11. The other proposals are also interesting. Routes which offer only a handful of trips in the small hours are unlikely to ever gain widespread awareness and decent patronage. Again it's Heathrow pumping the funding to relieve pressure on private cares, taxies etc which is a good thing if the buses actually get used. I can't see a need for a dedicated Heathrow - Uxbridge night bus alongside the N9 / 222 when a quick-ish change along the Bath Road, even if not at exactly the same stop, will allow the journey to be completed with a Hopper fare. Or do we divert the 222 via Heathrow Central overnight as the N222? An (N)81 or (N) 222 double running via the Central would be nice - but thinking about it how busy would they actually be ? Likewise this new 459. Only a couple of early trips which would probably have been done by cabs before. There can’t be lots of people wanting to use it. When I first saw it I thought it was going to be a nice new all day route !
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Post by MoEnviro on Aug 2, 2023 12:19:12 GMT
From Sunday 3rd September, there will be extra buses operating on the Route 724 between Heathrow and Watford Junction on Sundays.
Four extra departures from Heathrow at 1015/1415/1820/2020 and three extra departures from Watford at 0802/1202/1602.
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Post by ADH45258 on Aug 2, 2023 12:55:44 GMT
From Sunday 3rd September, there will be extra buses operating on the Route 724 between Heathrow and Watford Junction on Sundays. Four extra departures from Heathrow at 1015/1415/1820/2020 and three extra departures from Watford at 0802/1202/1602. I think it was mentioned there are plans for a new Rail Air coach service between Watford Junction and Heathrow, so will be interesting to see what impact that has on the 724. Certainly this will be a faster link to Watford, and I doubt many passengers would use the 724 from Heathrow to further destinations such as St Albans or Hatfield. And as such I don't think it makes much sense running the 724 through to Harlow as one route. Maybe it would work better by replicating the route of the proposed HERT rapid transit, from Harlow to St Albans, then alternating to either Watford or Hemel. Could even convert some of the disused railways in the area into guided busways? The 724 does also serve a useful purpose in more local links via Denham and Maple Cross (although is only hourly) - however that could be covered by a shorter service, maybe just from Uxbridge to Rickmansworth or Watford? Having said that, the 724 does miss out on serving Harefield, which could do with a more frequent service into Rickmansworth, maybe even a direct bus to Watford?
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Post by kmkcheng on Aug 2, 2023 15:56:17 GMT
From Sunday 3rd September, there will be extra buses operating on the Route 724 between Heathrow and Watford Junction on Sundays. Four extra departures from Heathrow at 1015/1415/1820/2020 and three extra departures from Watford at 0802/1202/1602. I think it was mentioned there are plans for a new Rail Air coach service between Watford Junction and Heathrow, so will be interesting to see what impact that has on the 724. Certainly this will be a faster link to Watford, and I doubt many passengers would use the 724 from Heathrow to further destinations such as St Albans or Hatfield. And as such I don't think it makes much sense running the 724 through to Harlow as one route. Maybe it would work better by replicating the route of the proposed HERT rapid transit, from Harlow to St Albans, then alternating to either Watford or Hemel. Could even convert some of the disused railways in the area into guided busways? The 724 does also serve a useful purpose in more local links via Denham and Maple Cross (although is only hourly) - however that could be covered by a shorter service, maybe just from Uxbridge to Rickmansworth or Watford? Having said that, the 724 does miss out on serving Harefield, which could do with a more frequent service into Rickmansworth, maybe even a direct bus to Watford? The rail air service started last week. Not sure what loadings are like. Those extra 724 departures attempts to fill in the gaps to make it hourly as it is currently 2-hourly but there are still a couple of 2-hour gaps in the afternoon
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Post by gwiwer on Aug 2, 2023 20:34:10 GMT
We won't know unless it's tried. The 222 night service was slow to pick up much business but I gather has performed better more recently. A PVR increase of 1 may be necessary for a deviation via Heathrow Central which would require perhaps 8 minutes at night, so 16 minutes per rounder. Most of the Bath Road route covered by the daytime 81 is already covered one way or another at night though not necessarily along the same LOR. The Hounslow end would be covered by the N222 so an N81 is probably not needed at all.
Offering an N222 via Central would give staff and early morning passengers the option of a direct bus between Uxbridge, West Drayton and the airport which isn't available now and from many stops isn't available at all. The U3 covers some of the ground but not via the direct route through Cowley and Sipson.
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Post by northlondon83 on Aug 3, 2023 12:32:52 GMT
Thorney isn't that far from the U3 but has been left out of all London bus operations. The width restriction exists to limit traffic from passing through a fairly restricted village and the narrower roads of West Drayton once served by the 224A (to Mill Road). There isn't a suitable turn for a TfL bus in Thorney meaning any operation would have to pass through the width restriction and into Buckinghamshire. It used to be a toss-up whether you walked into Iver for the 459 at Richings Park or up to Swan Road for a 224A. Both went to Uxbridge and took as long as each other; both ran hourly but the 224A charged "central" fares while the 459 being a country bus charged slightly more. If there is a need for a bus between Iver and Heathrow why not make it an all-day offering? And incorporate the mortal remains of the original 459 which currently as the 583 manages a single trip from Uxbridge down Thorney Lane (rather than the old and more useful route through the houses) to Richings Park. I know it crosses boundaries but if it's supported by Heathrow through Bucks then why not a TfL Uxbridge - Iver - Thorney - Sipson - Heathrow service? Let's call it the U11. The other proposals are also interesting. Routes which offer only a handful of trips in the small hours are unlikely to ever gain widespread awareness and decent patronage. Again it's Heathrow pumping the funding to relieve pressure on private cares, taxies etc which is a good thing if the buses actually get used. I can't see a need for a dedicated Heathrow - Uxbridge night bus alongside the N9 / 222 when a quick-ish change along the Bath Road, even if not at exactly the same stop, will allow the journey to be completed with a Hopper fare. Or do we divert the 222 via Heathrow Central overnight as the N222? An (N)81 or (N) 222 double running via the Central would be nice - but thinking about it how busy would they actually be ? Likewise this new 459. Only a couple of early trips which would probably have been done by cabs before. There can’t be lots of people wanting to use it. When I first saw it I thought it was going to be a nice new all day route ! I don't see the need to have either route serve Central bus station, it would increase journey times, plus there is same stop interchange with several buses that serve the airport at night. If you're thinking to improve links coming from the Hounslow direction, the night tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights plus you have the 111 or alternatively change att Heathrow Airport North. As for making the N222 Uxbridge to Heathrow this would have some merit however it would still break links and I would prefer to keep it running to Hounslow
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Post by gwiwer on Aug 4, 2023 15:14:54 GMT
If you're thinking to improve links coming from the Hounslow direction, the night tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights plus you have the 111 or alternatively change att Heathrow Airport North. As for making the N222 Uxbridge to Heathrow this would have some merit however it would still break links and I would prefer to keep it running to Hounslow I was rather thinking of creating a direct link between Uxbridge, West Drayton and Heathrow Central. A lot of staff live or lodge in that area. Airport and airline staff would need a link seven days a week not just the two nights offered by the Night Tube so a 24/7 link from Hounslow would also be of benefit. I don't propose to break any links but rather to introduce new ones not currently available at night without a change of bus and a wait of up to 30 minutes. Diverting the 222 via Heathrow Central at night should only require an extra few minutes each way which might require an increase in PVR of one bus but can also be offset against the better nocturnal running times. As it would not then be identical to the day route it would under TfL's protocol take the number N222 but remain an Uxbridge - Hounslow route.
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Post by kmkcheng on Sept 6, 2023 8:52:54 GMT
I saw a RA3 this morning and noticed it displays ‘Watford station’ on the blind display. Hope Heathrow passengers know that it’s not the Met line station it serves but rather Watford Junction
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Post by MoEnviro on Dec 6, 2023 14:04:07 GMT
- White Bus to extend Route 446 from Staines to Hatton Cross every hour via Ashford Hospital and Terminal 4 from 29th August.
Interesting to note, it seems to have taken until last weekend (4th Dec) for the 446 to finally make it to Hatton Cross every hour on Mon-Fri only
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