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Post by LK65EBO on Sept 23, 2020 14:44:51 GMT
2053 being the last MMC of the 285 batch has entered service meaning all of the 285s MMCs are now in service.
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Post by LJ17THF on Sept 24, 2020 17:45:12 GMT
Saw 9504 at Selsdon doing a blind change - it's fully blinded for 109, 152, 157, 270, 407, 433 (ooh, it could go on the 433 ), U7 (not sure why it's only blinded for this, and not other WS routes, but it wouldn't be too useful outside of school journeys), and the 612. It might be blinded for more routes, but I didn't see anything past 612. A bit odd that it's blinded for the 152/157, considering it's the new font blinds, they were lost 4 years ago (how time does fly!).
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Post by bus12451 on Sept 24, 2020 18:02:08 GMT
Saw 9504 at Selsdon doing a blind change - it's fully blinded for 109, 152, 157, 270, 407, 433 (ooh, it could go on the 433 ), U7 (not sure why it's only blinded for this, and not other WS routes, but it wouldn't be too useful outside of school journeys), and the 612. It might be blinded for more routes, but I didn't see anything past 612. A bit odd that it's blinded for the 152/157, considering it's the new font blinds, they were lost 4 years ago (how time does fly!). Abellio are thinking ahead. They must be preparing to win the 152 and 157 back which could very possibly happen.
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Post by Max B on Sept 24, 2020 18:41:20 GMT
Saw 9504 at Selsdon doing a blind change - it's fully blinded for 109, 152, 157, 270, 407, 433 (ooh, it could go on the 433 ), U7 (not sure why it's only blinded for this, and not other WS routes, but it wouldn't be too useful outside of school journeys), and the 612. It might be blinded for more routes, but I didn't see anything past 612. A bit odd that it's blinded for the 152/157, considering it's the new font blinds, they were lost 4 years ago (how time does fly!). Abellio are thinking ahead. They must be preparing to win the 152 and 157 back which could very possibly happen. I’m sure 9504 will be gone by the time the 157 (which has just received a two year extension), and the 152 come up for tender which makes putting those two routes on the those blinds pointless.
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Post by SILENCED on Sept 24, 2020 18:43:03 GMT
Saw 9504 at Selsdon doing a blind change - it's fully blinded for 109, 152, 157, 270, 407, 433 (ooh, it could go on the 433 ), U7 (not sure why it's only blinded for this, and not other WS routes, but it wouldn't be too useful outside of school journeys), and the 612. It might be blinded for more routes, but I didn't see anything past 612. A bit odd that it's blinded for the 152/157, considering it's the new font blinds, they were lost 4 years ago (how time does fly!). Could be old blinds with a 270 insert.
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Post by vjaska on Sept 24, 2020 21:48:48 GMT
Saw 9504 at Selsdon doing a blind change - it's fully blinded for 109, 152, 157, 270, 407, 433 (ooh, it could go on the 433 ), U7 (not sure why it's only blinded for this, and not other WS routes, but it wouldn't be too useful outside of school journeys), and the 612. It might be blinded for more routes, but I didn't see anything past 612. A bit odd that it's blinded for the 152/157, considering it's the new font blinds, they were lost 4 years ago (how time does fly!). Abellio are thinking ahead. They must be preparing to win the 152 and 157 back which could very possibly happen. I suspect it’s an old blind set as the 152 & 157 were on the 109’s MMC’s which got new blinds not long ago.
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Post by M1104 on Sept 25, 2020 9:08:27 GMT
Saw 9504 at Selsdon doing a blind change - it's fully blinded for 109, 152, 157, 270, 407, 433 (ooh, it could go on the 433 ), U7 (not sure why it's only blinded for this, and not other WS routes, but it wouldn't be too useful outside of school journeys), and the 612. It might be blinded for more routes, but I didn't see anything past 612. A bit odd that it's blinded for the 152/157, considering it's the new font blinds, they were lost 4 years ago (how time does fly!). During winding was the 270 actually shown in numerical order? If not that's usually a tell-tale sign that it's an add-on to existing blinds.
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Post by LondonNorthern on Sept 25, 2020 10:56:04 GMT
vjaska may be able to answer this as could anyone else but I've seen things about 109 passengers (and possibly 250 passengers too) not being the best of people and being quite inconsiderate. Could someone elaborate on this? Thanks
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Post by vjaska on Sept 25, 2020 14:23:05 GMT
vjaska may be able to answer this as could anyone else but I've seen things about 109 passengers (and possibly 250 passengers too) not being the best of people and being quite inconsiderate. Could someone elaborate on this? Thanks Yeah, it's an actual thing - whilst it's calmed down a bit in recent years, both routes have long suffered from large groups of undesirables especially the 109. The amount of arguments I've witnessed on that route alone compared to other routes in my area is staggering.
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Post by LJ17THF on Sept 25, 2020 17:31:54 GMT
vjaska may be able to answer this as could anyone else but I've seen things about 109 passengers (and possibly 250 passengers too) not being the best of people and being quite inconsiderate. Could someone elaborate on this? Thanks Both routes travel through some of the dodgiest parts of London . But yes, there are some awful people on both routes, always some sort of argument on any ride you get on it. The 109 has nice buses, but I will always recommend taking the 60 and then change at Streatham to Brixton, even though it takes longer - the riders of the 109 are so annoying, you'd be better off going on the 60.
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Post by LJ17THF on Sept 25, 2020 17:36:33 GMT
Saw 9504 at Selsdon doing a blind change - it's fully blinded for 109, 152, 157, 270, 407, 433 (ooh, it could go on the 433 ), U7 (not sure why it's only blinded for this, and not other WS routes, but it wouldn't be too useful outside of school journeys), and the 612. It might be blinded for more routes, but I didn't see anything past 612. A bit odd that it's blinded for the 152/157, considering it's the new font blinds, they were lost 4 years ago (how time does fly!). During winding was the 270 actually shown in numerical order? If not that's usually a tell-tale sign that it's an add-on to existing blinds. It had the 270 after the 157. Abellio are thinking ahead. They must be preparing to win the 152 and 157 back which could very possibly happen. I suspect it’s an old blind set as the 152 & 157 were on the 109’s MMC’s which got new blinds not long ago. Possibly so, but all the blinds were in new style white, other than "Not in Service" (2013-2016 white). If I recall correctly, some of the blinds on the 109's MMC's were green, while this one had full white blinds.
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Post by Ts_As on Sept 26, 2020 5:16:56 GMT
During winding was the 270 actually shown in numerical order? If not that's usually a tell-tale sign that it's an add-on to existing blinds. It had the 270 after the 157. I suspect it’s an old blind set as the 152 & 157 were on the 109’s MMC’s which got new blinds not long ago. Possibly so, but all the blinds were in new style white, other than "Not in Service" (2013-2016 white). If I recall correctly, some of the blinds on the 109's MMC's were green, while this one had full white blinds. Yeah the green blind sets was from the Gemini 1s
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 26, 2020 11:23:33 GMT
Current indications are that I shall visit Croydon in November and Bromley next year. I am considering shunning route 367 in Croydon so that I can enjoy the novelty of Abellio in Bromley better. I did an identical bus on route U9 in July, and may well do a 130 or 433 although these are of course longer buses.
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Post by LJ17THF on Sept 26, 2020 12:28:15 GMT
Current indications are that I shall visit Croydon in November and Bromley next year. I am considering shunning route 367 in Croydon so that I can enjoy the novelty of Abellio in Bromley better. I did an identical bus on route U9 in July, and may well do a 130 or 433 although these are of course longer buses. While you're in Croydon, I'd recommend trying out some of the 154's buses, the DOE's, I love them - great bodywork (although a bit rattly), on a great chassis and possibly some E400H MMC's (on the 407, it has better people than the 109, and some fast roads that can be put to the test at Whyteleafe) or on the 405. The 166's and 289's Enviro's are awful buses, stay away from them, unless you want to see how bad they are . In Bromley, check out the 358's Citaro's and Scania's before they are all gone, they are wonderful, even though quite a few have been having issues lately, with some completely gone. Other buses I'd recommend are the 119's Volvo's, pretty nice ones, even though they are rather common in London. If you can, I'd strongly recommend the 464, the buses are very well kept on there, and it has some nice views at Saltbox Hill and Ship Hill but it might be too out of your way. However, please do stay safe, I understand that Thornton Heath has not the best types of people around, even I get worried when I go into the town centre.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 26, 2020 15:55:43 GMT
Current indications are that I shall visit Croydon in November and Bromley next year. I am considering shunning route 367 in Croydon so that I can enjoy the novelty of Abellio in Bromley better. I did an identical bus on route U9 in July, and may well do a 130 or 433 although these are of course longer buses. While you're in Croydon, I'd recommend trying out some of the 154's buses, the DOE's, I love them - great bodywork (although a bit rattly), on a great chassis and possibly some E400H MMC's (on the 407, it has better people than the 109, and some fast roads that can be put to the test at Whyteleafe) or on the 405. The 166's and 289's Enviro's are awful buses, stay away from them, unless you want to see how bad they are . In Bromley, check out the 358's Citaro's and Scania's before they are all gone, they are wonderful, even though quite a few have been having issues lately, with some completely gone. Other buses I'd recommend are the 119's Volvo's, pretty nice ones, even though they are rather common in London. If you can, I'd strongly recommend the 464, the buses are very well kept on there, and it has some nice views at Saltbox Hill and Ship Hill but it might be too out of your way. However, please do stay safe, I understand that Thornton Heath has not the best types of people around, even I get worried when I go into the town centre. Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions about some rides in the area. I have been on DOEs 3 times so far including route 154 in 2014 and agree these are original. One could come in handy to connect with route 410 at Wallington. A route 405 HT is indeed on my list. Although it looks a bit more promising for October now, guaranteeing such a ride is one reason why I am looking at November instead. I hope to ride a route 358 Citaro and may yet change my trip to Crystal Palace to make sure to ride one while I can. I did a Scania on route 293 in 2016. Route 464 is indeed pretty, as I remember from my 2013 Bromley trip. At one point I as good as forgot I was still in Greater London! I may do an Abellio E400H-MMC again especially as those on route 109 have just been refurbished. As I did an early classic E400H on route 278 in July I doubt I would replicate this on route 407 at this stage. I did an equivalent WHV to route 119 on routes 155 & 188 previously. Route 289 may be convenient to link with route 405 at Purley or route 367 at Elmers End. I didn't mind mine on route 289 in 2014 but may leave these ENXs to help enjoy a cascaded route 313 example elsewhere instead. Route 166 ENLs might not look nice but will be unique inside. I satisfied an even more morbid curiosity in 2014 by riding an acquired Abellio Caetano with grey seating on route 455! I may shun route 197 so I can enjoy Ultracaps from NX or on route 77 as appropriate and 208 more. As this and route 403 are unwelcome GA gains I may avoid both routes.
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