|
|
Post by vjaska on Jan 17, 2024 17:08:49 GMT
Maybe not this year but eventually, TFL & Bus operators across the country begin to ditch Hybrid/Electric buses slowly. They finally come to their senses that Diesel at EUROVI is good & clean enough. Yeah I know most if not all will disagree but hey ho it is my prediciton 🙏😏 It's not that people will disagree but just that there is no evidence this will happen - hybrid technology will likely be ditched because it's old hat now but electric technology is only going to gain more traction as the years pass and the technology improves. |
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Jan 17, 2024 22:59:54 GMT
Maybe not this year but eventually, TFL & Bus operators across the country begin to ditch Hybrid/Electric buses slowly. They finally come to their senses that Diesel at EUROVI is good & clean enough. Yeah I know most if not all will disagree but hey ho it is my prediciton 🙏😏 lol, wishful thinking, then you woke up and realise it was all a dream... |
|
|
|
Post by twobellstogo on Jan 18, 2024 20:28:40 GMT
Maybe not this year but eventually, TFL & Bus operators across the country begin to ditch Hybrid/Electric buses slowly. They finally come to their senses that Diesel at EUROVI is good & clean enough. Yeah I know most if not all will disagree but hey ho it is my prediciton 🙏😏 Maybe not this year, but I think there is the possibility of TfL further exploring other clean technologies, such as more hydrogen. I’m afraid diesel is on the way out for TfL standard services, and will stay out. That I can predict with some safety. |
|
|
|
Post by yunus on Jan 19, 2024 1:16:36 GMT
Maybe not this year but eventually, TFL & Bus operators across the country begin to ditch Hybrid/Electric buses slowly. They finally come to their senses that Diesel at EUROVI is good & clean enough. Yeah I know most if not all will disagree but hey ho it is my prediciton 🙏😏 Maybe not this year, but I think there is the possibility of TfL further exploring other clean technologies, such as more hydrogen. I’m afraid diesel is on the way out for TfL standard services, and will stay out. That I can predict with some safety. I am happy that Diesel buses are the norm for operators outside of London! |
|
|
|
Post by VMH2537 on Jan 21, 2024 11:31:15 GMT
I did mention earlier I will speculate on my predictions for the 299, 389 and 399 being moved to tranche 904A. I do personally believe there is an ongoing service review of these routes moving away from 904 itself.
My speculation:
299: I believe the route will reduce in frequency to every 20 minutes from its current 4bph service. The route hasn't sadly recovered well from the COVID pandemic as to why capacity reductions may be in place.
399: Using some of the resources from the 299, I think TfL may look at an opportunity to enhance the current 399 services. Maybe extending the operating hours to run full-time? An extension to Cockfosters could also be played and coordinated with the 299 extending the 1bph to Barnet, The Spires, similar to how the 166 route operates.
389: Once more, using some of the resources from the 299, there may be an opportunity to as well convert the route to running full-time. I'm imagining a similar operation to the 379 where a short-purposed feeding route runs frequently. I can't imagine the 389 needing a PVR of more than 2 to run a 15-minute service.
|
|
|
|
Post by wirewiper on Jan 21, 2024 14:28:00 GMT
I did mention earlier I will speculate on my predictions for the 299, 389 and 399 being moved to tranche 904A. I do personally believe there is an ongoing service review of these routes moving away from 904 itself. My speculation: 299: I believe the route will reduce in frequency to every 20 minutes from its current 4bph service. The route hasn't sadly recovered well from the COVID pandemic as to why capacity reductions may be in place. 399: Using some of the resources from the 299, I think TfL may look at an opportunity to enhance the current 399 services. Maybe extending the operating hours to run full-time? An extension to Cockfosters could also be played and coordinated with the 299 extending the 1bph to Barnet, The Spires, similar to how the 166 route operates. 389: Once more, using some of the resources from the 299, there may be an opportunity to as well convert the route to running full-time. I'm imagining a similar operation to the 379 where a short-purposed feeding route runs frequently. I can't imagine the 389 needing a PVR of more than 2 to run a 15-minute service. Although I don't like to see any route having a frequency reduction, you may have a point about the 299 not recovering passenger numbers after Covid. Concessionary pass use on buses is still well below pre-Covid levels in all areas of the UK, and those routes which had high numbers of pass users - I am guessing the 299 is one such route - will be feeling the effects of that. That said, I can get behind the use of those resources to improve the operation of the 389 and 399. There is definitely scope to run at least a half-hourly service from 07.00 to 19.00, and possibly an hourly service to cover Sunday trading hours. |
|
|
|
Post by wirewiper on Jan 21, 2024 14:36:56 GMT
Maybe not this year, but I think there is the possibility of TfL further exploring other clean technologies, such as more hydrogen. I’m afraid diesel is on the way out for TfL standard services, and will stay out. That I can predict with some safety. I am happy that Diesel buses are the norm for operators outside of London! Although two of the large groups, Stagecoach and First, have stated very publicly that they intend to have fully zero-emission bus fleets by 2035. First has also pledged not to buy any more diesel buses after the end of 2022. National Express West Midlands intends to be zero-emission even earlier, by the end of 2030, and has already bought its last diesel bus. |
|
|
|
Post by ADH45258 on Jan 21, 2024 15:41:12 GMT
I did mention earlier I will speculate on my predictions for the 299, 389 and 399 being moved to tranche 904A. I do personally believe there is an ongoing service review of these routes moving away from 904 itself. My speculation: 299: I believe the route will reduce in frequency to every 20 minutes from its current 4bph service. The route hasn't sadly recovered well from the COVID pandemic as to why capacity reductions may be in place. 399: Using some of the resources from the 299, I think TfL may look at an opportunity to enhance the current 399 services. Maybe extending the operating hours to run full-time? An extension to Cockfosters could also be played and coordinated with the 299 extending the 1bph to Barnet, The Spires, similar to how the 166 route operates. 389: Once more, using some of the resources from the 299, there may be an opportunity to as well convert the route to running full-time. I'm imagining a similar operation to the 379 where a short-purposed feeding route runs frequently. I can't imagine the 389 needing a PVR of more than 2 to run a 15-minute service. Although I don't like to see any route having a frequency reduction, you may have a point about the 299 not recovering passenger numbers after Covid. Concessionary pass use on buses is still well below pre-Covid levels in all areas of the UK, and those routes which had high numbers of pass users - I am guessing the 299 is one such route - will be feeling the effects of that. That said, I can get behind the use of those resources to improve the operation of the 389 and 399. There is definitely scope to run at least a half-hourly service from 07.00 to 19.00, and possibly an hourly service to cover Sunday trading hours. I wonder if it could work better to crosslink the 389/399 with the 383 (instead of the 299). All are infrequent routes terminating at the Spires. And with the 299 seeing lower usage, some kind of merger with the 298 might work, giving a service every 15 minutes between Potters Bar and Muswell Hill? Could add a short extension to the 384 or W9 to cover both routeings between Cockfosters and Southgate, and amend some other routes slightly in the Arnos Grove area to ensure all links are covered. Or alternatively, with suggestions to introduce an all-day equivalent of the 603, could that continue north from Muswell Hill to cover part of the 299? |
|
|
|
Post by Busboy105 on Jan 21, 2024 15:44:32 GMT
Although I don't like to see any route having a frequency reduction, you may have a point about the 299 not recovering passenger numbers after Covid. Concessionary pass use on buses is still well below pre-Covid levels in all areas of the UK, and those routes which had high numbers of pass users - I am guessing the 299 is one such route - will be feeling the effects of that. That said, I can get behind the use of those resources to improve the operation of the 389 and 399. There is definitely scope to run at least a half-hourly service from 07.00 to 19.00, and possibly an hourly service to cover Sunday trading hours. I wonder if it could work better to crosslink the 389/399 with the 383 (instead of the 299). All are infrequent routes terminating at the Spires. And with the 299 seeing lower usage, some kind of merger with the 298 might work, giving a service every 15 minutes between Potters Bar and Muswell Hill? Could add a short extension to the 384 or W9 to cover both routeings between Cockfosters and Southgate, and amend some other routes slightly in the Arnos Grove area to ensure all links are covered. Or alternatively, with suggestions to introduce an all-day equivalent of the 603, could that continue north from Muswell Hill to cover part of the 299? Merging the 298/299 could leave parts of Southgate without a bus especially since part of Waterfall Road is H&R for the 298 |
|
|
|
Post by ADH45258 on Jan 21, 2024 15:53:58 GMT
I wonder if it could work better to crosslink the 389/399 with the 383 (instead of the 299). All are infrequent routes terminating at the Spires. And with the 299 seeing lower usage, some kind of merger with the 298 might work, giving a service every 15 minutes between Potters Bar and Muswell Hill? Could add a short extension to the 384 or W9 to cover both routeings between Cockfosters and Southgate, and amend some other routes slightly in the Arnos Grove area to ensure all links are covered. Or alternatively, with suggestions to introduce an all-day equivalent of the 603, could that continue north from Muswell Hill to cover part of the 299? Merging the 298/299 could leave parts of Southgate without a bus especially since part of Waterfall Road is H&R for the 298 As I said it would require some changes to other routes in the area, for example something like the following? 298 - Current routeing kept, extended from Arnos Grove to Muswell Hill via the 184 to Bounds Green, then the 299 to Muswell Hill. Increased to every 15 minutes. 184 - Diverted between Osidge and Bounds Green via the 125 to Southgate, then the 299. Would no longer serve Arnos Grove. 251 - Diverted between Whetstone and Arnos Grove via the 125 then 184 (the 34 would still cover the current routeing). W9 - Extended from Southgate to Cockfosters via the 299. 299 - Withdrawn. |
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Jan 21, 2024 15:54:45 GMT
Although I don't like to see any route having a frequency reduction, you may have a point about the 299 not recovering passenger numbers after Covid. Concessionary pass use on buses is still well below pre-Covid levels in all areas of the UK, and those routes which had high numbers of pass users - I am guessing the 299 is one such route - will be feeling the effects of that. That said, I can get behind the use of those resources to improve the operation of the 389 and 399. There is definitely scope to run at least a half-hourly service from 07.00 to 19.00, and possibly an hourly service to cover Sunday trading hours. I wonder if it could work better to crosslink the 389/399 with the 383 (instead of the 299). All are infrequent routes terminating at the Spires. And with the 299 seeing lower usage, some kind of merger with the 298 might work, giving a service every 15 minutes between Potters Bar and Muswell Hill? Could add a short extension to the 384 or W9 to cover both routeings between Cockfosters and Southgate, and amend some other routes slightly in the Arnos Grove area to ensure all links are covered. Or alternatively, with suggestions to introduce an all-day equivalent of the 603, could that continue north from Muswell Hill to cover part of the 299? Must every suggestion be merge X with Y - look how many mergers actually take place in comparison. Merging routes should only be done where the two routes are very similar in nature, doesn’t effect any existing links already in place as much as possible & doesn’t affect reliability |
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Jan 21, 2024 19:23:06 GMT
I did mention earlier I will speculate on my predictions for the 299, 389 and 399 being moved to tranche 904A. I do personally believe there is an ongoing service review of these routes moving away from 904 itself. My speculation: 299: I believe the route will reduce in frequency to every 20 minutes from its current 4bph service. The route hasn't sadly recovered well from the COVID pandemic as to why capacity reductions may be in place. 399: Using some of the resources from the 299, I think TfL may look at an opportunity to enhance the current 399 services. Maybe extending the operating hours to run full-time? An extension to Cockfosters could also be played and coordinated with the 299 extending the 1bph to Barnet, The Spires, similar to how the 166 route operates. 389: Once more, using some of the resources from the 299, there may be an opportunity to as well convert the route to running full-time. I'm imagining a similar operation to the 379 where a short-purposed feeding route runs frequently. I can't imagine the 389 needing a PVR of more than 2 to run a 15-minute service. Although I don't like to see any route having a frequency reduction, you may have a point about the 299 not recovering passenger numbers after Covid. Concessionary pass use on buses is still well below pre-Covid levels in all areas of the UK, and those routes which had high numbers of pass users - I am guessing the 299 is one such route - will be feeling the effects of that. That said, I can get behind the use of those resources to improve the operation of the 389 and 399. There is definitely scope to run at least a half-hourly service from 07.00 to 19.00, and possibly an hourly service to cover Sunday trading hours. Reducing the 299 isn't going to solve the issue though, if anything, it will only worsen decline which is proven to happen when you decrease the frequency of a route. Nothing against improving the 389 or 399 but it should not be at the detriment of the 299. Really, TfL should be looking into why this happening and what solutions can be taken - is it merely disruption that has led to a decline, is it that some of the places it serves are no longer as important or even as something as it is even across the whole route or just a portion of it. |
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Jan 22, 2024 12:37:40 GMT
Electroliner working on one of QB's non EV spec routes
|
|
|
|
Post by yunus on Jan 23, 2024 15:50:59 GMT
The tender award today shows that my dream of TFL returning to Diesel *may* come true!
Good result for me regardless...
|
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Jan 24, 2024 9:29:41 GMT
The tender award today shows that my dream of TFL returning to Diesel *may* come true! Good result for me regardless... You must be excited |
|
