Updated TfL Bus Planning Guidance November 2024

[VMH2537]

TfL has recently published an update to the former Bus Planning Guidance dating back to 2012.

Additional information for planning bespoke services, night services, Superloop, School Routes etc.

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-service-planning-guidelines.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiavLjs3cyJAxW3XEEAHQuKIvkQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2oOo52TYgmNTx9wyiYnQ5f

[mark]

Nov 8, 2024 12:45:23 GMT VMH2537 said:

TfL has recently published an update to the former Bus Planning Guidance dating back to 2012.

Additional information for planning bespoke services, night services, Superloop, School Routes etc.

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-service-planning-guidelines.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiavLjs3cyJAxW3XEEAHQuKIvkQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2oOo52TYgmNTx9wyiYnQ5f

Page 5 says that "More than 450 kilometres travelled by our buses each year".  That's probably correct as I suspect there is a missing million or even billion there!

[BL15HCD]

Nov 8, 2024 12:45:23 GMT VMH2537 said:

TfL has recently published an update to the former Bus Planning Guidance dating back to 2012.

Additional information for planning bespoke services, night services, Superloop, School Routes etc.

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-service-planning-guidelines.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiavLjs3cyJAxW3XEEAHQuKIvkQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2oOo52TYgmNTx9wyiYnQ5f

Looks like the IE has been getting its share of TfL stock pictures with it being featured in page 3

[matthieu1221]

When considering total capacity along a corridor with more than one bus route, the origin and destination of trips need to be considered. (page 11)

Would be fantastic if they could indeed follow their own guidance.

Service routeings should be as direct and straightforward as possible, while still adequately serving the places passengers need to travel to. (page 12)

30 & 205 reorganisation completely fails that. Don't know how having it so one can't travel straight down one same road can be considered a "simple network".

When volumes are above 50 per cent of capacity there is usually only standing room available. (page 14)

Cf. 452 consultation. In which case aiming for an 80%-90% occupancy rate isn't particularly attractive to potential new customers.

Generally, enough demand should exist on a corridor to justify the capacity provided by both a local and express stop route running in parallel at least every 15 minutes. If a local route is running more often than every 12 minutes, reallocating buses should be considered if both routes serve the busiest section. (page 17)

This is very interesting and gives us some insight into the philosophy of where Superloop 2 may ultimately end up going (and not the mayoral election wishlist map) and how/why parallel routes are reduced.

Two main areas are using automatic vehicle location data, which tracks every bus in London, and ticket machine data, which records passenger demand at each stop. An algorithm is used to infer passenger’s destinations, and these can be used to calculate bus loadings. (page 21)

Can't wait for them to get those trial passenger counters in place (and hopefully successfully roll it out to the entire fleet) because the current method really strikes me as having serious shortcomings in the post-Covid era with irregular days in and out and flexible hours and a greater importance of leisure and tourist crowds which I don't see how an algorithm could decently predict.

[PGAT]

Nov 8, 2024 16:42:28 GMT mark said:

Nov 8, 2024 12:45:23 GMT VMH2537 said:

TfL has recently published an update to the former Bus Planning Guidance dating back to 2012.

Additional information for planning bespoke services, night services, Superloop, School Routes etc.

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-service-planning-guidelines.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiavLjs3cyJAxW3XEEAHQuKIvkQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2oOo52TYgmNTx9wyiYnQ5f

Page 5 says that "More than 450 kilometres travelled by our buses each year".  That's probably correct as I suspect there is a missing million or even billion there!

Indeed I bet the number is more than 450

[SILENCED]

Nov 8, 2024 23:47:40 GMT PGAT said:

Nov 8, 2024 16:42:28 GMT mark said:

Page 5 says that "More than 450 kilometres travelled by our buses each year".  That's probably correct as I suspect there is a missing million or even billion there!

Indeed I bet the number is more than 450

If I can have GAL Me1, I might take that bet! 🤣😁