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Post by wirewiper on Jul 1, 2024 15:34:14 GMT
I can’t see any need for an SL5 stop at Sandilands or an extension to Grove Park. I agree with you on a Sandilands stop, it was raised in the original SL5 consultation and ruled out then so I don't see any reason for introducing it now. I would also rule out extending the SL5 to Grove Park, the 126 and 261 already provide eleven buses an hour from Bromley.
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Post by thekbq14 on Jul 1, 2024 20:12:32 GMT
Someone says the SL5 should stop at Sandilands for people coming from Wimbledon and Beckenham.. does East Croydon not exist?? I still support Harlington Corner as it is a good interchange point, Feltham less so because it is out of the way and could get the route stuck in additional congestion. I guess the Sandilands shouts are for those on the New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction branches of the tram who want to change on to the SL5 without wanting to go in to East Croydon or the Town Centre for example those in Addiscombe or Lloyd Park, who want to go to Bromley but Lloyd Park there's no direct bus to Bromley, and Addiscombe only have the indirect 367. Being someone who lives on the Elmers End/Beckenham Junction branch this does make a lot of sense as getting to Bromley through public transport relies on you getting to Elmers End/Beckenham and changing there or getting the 367 to Shirley and then changing but at that point you may as well just stay on the bus to Bromley even if it takes the long way. However I do get your point in that East Croydon is only 2 stops down the road. With it adding max 10 minutes to your journey even that.
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Post by overgroundcommuter on Jul 1, 2024 20:40:47 GMT
One of the advantages of the current SL5 is that it's short, so is easier to recover the service.
As for the SL7 being cut to Sutton, I can see why they want to cut it to Sutton for reliability, it means the loss of a cheaper service that is direct from West Croydon to Heathrow AIrport without having to change in Sutton. Lugging baggage on a single decker to Sutton is far from ideal and may end up with more passengers getting on rail services to Farringdon on Thameslink to change for the Elizabeth line and TfL's premium fare rather than the £1.75 fare passengers currently benefit from.
I'm sure TfL will ensure there's a same stop interchange for both routes in Sutton, but it's a pain for those living east of Sutton.
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Post by DE20106 on Jul 2, 2024 6:56:21 GMT
One of the advantages of the current SL5 is that it's short, so is easier to recover the service. As for the SL7 being cut to Sutton, I can see why they want to cut it to Sutton for reliability, it means the loss of a cheaper service that is direct from West Croydon to Heathrow AIrport without having to change in Sutton. Lugging baggage on a single decker to Sutton is far from ideal and may end up with more passengers getting on rail services to Farringdon on Thameslink to change for the Elizabeth line and TfL's premium fare rather than the £1.75 fare passengers currently benefit from. I'm sure TfL will ensure there's a same stop interchange for both routes in Sutton, but it's a pain for those living east of Sutton. To me it’s blindingly obvious that they want to make the SL7 short enough to convert it to EV operation, as TfL themselves have admitted it’s not currently possible in its current form. I know TfL have made some very questionable decisions in the past, but I really don’t think they’d be stupid enough to replace the Croydon to Sutton section of the SL7 with SDs. That really would be commercial suicide If they want to minimise uproar on Croydon passengers losing the Heathrow link then the least they can do is make sure buses are properly coordinated at Sutton, ie making sure the two are always on stand at the same time to allow easy interchange, fit luggage racks to the SL5 also, and allow guaranteed hopper fare transfers especially when coming back from Heathrow. It will take way more than an hour to Sutton and fall out of the hopper fare in normal circumstances I think in this case the SL5 and SL7 would be good routes to tender under one contract, with a specification in it that buses must be timetabled to link at Sutton at the same time, it’s unlikely to happen with the two routes under different operators
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Post by greenboy on Jul 2, 2024 7:18:09 GMT
One of the advantages of the current SL5 is that it's short, so is easier to recover the service. As for the SL7 being cut to Sutton, I can see why they want to cut it to Sutton for reliability, it means the loss of a cheaper service that is direct from West Croydon to Heathrow AIrport without having to change in Sutton. Lugging baggage on a single decker to Sutton is far from ideal and may end up with more passengers getting on rail services to Farringdon on Thameslink to change for the Elizabeth line and TfL's premium fare rather than the £1.75 fare passengers currently benefit from. I'm sure TfL will ensure there's a same stop interchange for both routes in Sutton, but it's a pain for those living east of Sutton. To me it’s blindingly obvious that they want to make the SL7 short enough to convert it to EV operation, as TfL themselves have admitted it’s not currently possible in its current form. I know TfL have made some very questionable decisions in the past, but I really don’t think they’d be stupid enough to replace the Croydon to Sutton section of the SL7 with SDs. That really would be commercial suicide If they want to minimise uproar on Croydon passengers losing the Heathrow link then the least they can do is make sure buses are properly coordinated at Sutton, ie making sure the two are always on stand at the same time to allow easy interchange, fit luggage racks to the SL5 also, and allow guaranteed hopper fare transfers especially when coming back from Heathrow will take way more than an hour to Sutton and fall out of the hopper fare in normal circumstances Electric buses could operate the current SL7. Any new SL5 buses do not need luggage racks which would reduce seating capacity, prior to Superloop the X26 was regularly operated with buses without luggage racks and there were no complaints as far as I'm aware. I'm pretty sure most airline passengers with luggage would prefer the train from Croydon to Heathrow with a change at Farringdon and other routes are available. Despite all the hyperbole on here I'm sure people will soon adapt to the new arrangements and it will all be fine.
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