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Post by 6HP502C on Jun 23, 2020 17:26:52 GMT
Strait Road also deserves a special mention. We were instructed not to exceed 10mph on this road due to risk of damage from low tree branches. They weren't the only issue however - it also suffers from severe subsidence issues. The road surface was lumpy to put it mildly, bad enough to warrant various warning signs. At the eastbound bus stop for Beckton Park, the bus was leaning into the kerb at a disturbing angle. This caused various issues from door problems to it messing up the electrics in one LT, causing it to go into LIM mode upon departure. The bus restricted itself to 10mph Strait Road was great fun when I went for a ride many years ago, on an enthusiastically-driven Olympian. No 10mph limits in those days (well if there was a limit, it wasn't observed ). Much cheaper than a trip to Alton Towers If the driver was feeling mischievous, they could just take the middle of the road and do 30mph, with undulating swerves to avoid the more encroaching tree branches. Waltzer rides have nothing on this experience 6HP502C Are the Caetano's allowed on Rail Reps yet such as the 22:15 LO service? The garages tend not to like new buses going out on rail replacement. They might also insist on a decker for social distancing, but if they don't and the duty says single decker on it then I'll ask for a P13 MMC, if one is available.
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Post by 6HP502C on Jun 23, 2020 17:53:48 GMT
Interesting read! I noticed these buses running in and out of Blackwall station as I live nearby...I wouldn't like to have had the 21 rounders lol😲😲its too much!!! Thanks . Yes the 21 rounders would have been mind numbing, especially as there was no exhibition traffic! Very interesting read as always! Surprised to hear that the LT's have the best suspension though Appreciate it! Although the LT is a bus people love to hate, sometimes with good reason, one thing it has going for it is the ride quality. They handle uneven road surfaces well and are much harder to ground than an Enviro!
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Post by thesquirrels on Jun 23, 2020 18:15:08 GMT
It is being run by Ensign under there emergency rail replacement agreement with TfL. That still surprises me as Chesham is the furthest away you can get from Ensignbus on the Underground network. Would they use their own vehicles or can they subcontract? Passed what appeared to be an MMC - but definitely in Ensign colours, in Chesham Bois at around 7:45 this morning heading towards Amersham. Had a load of 7-8.
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Post by 6HP502C on Jun 24, 2020 8:50:57 GMT
It is being run by Ensign under there emergency rail replacement agreement with TfL. That still surprises me as Chesham is the furthest away you can get from Ensignbus on the Underground network. Would they use their own vehicles or can they subcontract? They can and do subcontract but generally speaking the pay rate offered by train operators for emergency rail replacement means sitting on the M25 for an hour shouldn't be a tall order for anyone!
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Post by VPL630 on Jun 25, 2020 8:05:23 GMT
Are Ensign running the emergency Met Line RRS between Amersham & Chesham? We were, there are contracts that involve ‘Emergency Rail Replacement’ it’s not always as simple as saying why doesn’t the local operator provide buses, many factors as actually getting drivers to come in and do the job, providing buses at short notice and insurance come into it. There are also contracts that specify the emergency rail replacement can’t be sub contracted out to other operators but this is dependent on the operator and terms agreed. Our buses go anywhere from Norwich and beyond to Portsmouth and everywhere in the middle on E Rail
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Post by george on Jun 27, 2020 20:12:34 GMT
Do rail replacement buses get transferred to other garages for the weekend?
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Post by 6HP502C on Jun 28, 2020 1:56:02 GMT
Do rail replacement buses get transferred to other garages for the weekend? They do for some operators, others assign the jobs to drivers from multiple depots. Moving buses between the depots is good fun and requires more knowledge of the business and bus engine specs than one might expect to pull it off smoothly - all kinds of things can go wrong otherwise!
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Post by george on Jun 28, 2020 9:26:56 GMT
Do rail replacement buses get transferred to other garages for the weekend? They do for some operators, others assign the jobs to drivers from multiple depots. Moving buses between the depots is good fun and requires more knowledge of the business and bus engine specs than one might expect to pull it off smoothly - all kinds of things can go wrong otherwise! I ask because yesterday I saw LT996 heading in the direction of Putney on the Upper Richmond Road I.E in the complete opposite direction of TF so was thinking this bus must be based at either WL or QB for the weekend.
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Post by george on Jun 28, 2020 13:32:20 GMT
Ul2 curtailed to Manor Circus due do a broken bus in Richmond
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Post by MoEnviro on Jul 4, 2020 11:00:51 GMT
Piccadilly Line today- Abellio PL1, LT’s and E400’s. Coaches on PL2/3 mainly Kings Ferry, Commonwealth Coaches and Westbus who did provide a couple of E400 MMC’s alongside there coaches. 285U between Central and Feltham and 490U Between T5 and Hanworth also operating. Fully expect same again in Two weeks time.
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Post by 6HP502C on Jul 4, 2020 15:59:16 GMT
They do for some operators, others assign the jobs to drivers from multiple depots. Moving buses between the depots is good fun and requires more knowledge of the business and bus engine specs than one might expect to pull it off smoothly - all kinds of things can go wrong otherwise! I ask because yesterday I saw LT996 heading in the direction of Putney on the Upper Richmond Road I.E in the complete opposite direction of TF so was thinking this bus must be based at either WL or QB for the weekend. Yes, that was one of three transferred to QB for the weekend. Yesterday's bus movement was more complex. Buses transferred from Twickenham/Southall to Battersea for the PL1 and from Beddington/Southall/Walworth to Twickenham for the 285 and 490 extras. All done and dusted well in time for the start of service!
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Post by 6HP502C on Jul 5, 2020 18:05:24 GMT
Route PL1 is the all stops Piccadilly Line replacement service between Hammersmith and Heathrow, but the sections served vary depending on where the rail closure is. This weekend it is operating between Hounslow Central and Heathrow Central and I was out on it yesterday. Having reviewed the full route I hadn't intended to write about this job, but will note a few bits for the record of a service affected by Covid 19. The routeThe PL1 runs every 10 minutes. Stops served this time were Hounslow Central, Hounslow West, Hatton Cross and Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3. Some late night trips started from Hounslow East. Night Tube being indefinitely suspended meant there was no night service. With the full PL1 route, Hounslow Central is served from Bell Corner. This time, the stops outside the station on Lampton Road were used. Notably the stand was located in the middle of the route at the Henly's Roundabout bus stop, which is situated in a layby suitable for two buses. There were up to three rail replacement buses parked there with the 81, 222 and H98 doing their best to serve the stop. The stand working alone added 2 buses to the PVR. Some rail replacement buses stood at the Civic Centre or on Lampton Road to save time. The changeover point was at Heathrow Central. Quite a long way to travel by public transport from Battersea. The given route was bus to Sloane Square, Underground to Osterley then replacement coach to Heathrow. I travelled on SWR from Queenstown Road to Feltham then waited for a 285. One of the 285 extras laid on turned up empty and took me to Central. LoadingsLockdown light - didn't carry more than about 10 people at any one time. Most Tube passengers would have bypassed this rail replacement service by using the PL2 and PL3 coach services between Osterley and Heathrow T5/T2&3 respectively. Running timesWell matched to actual trip times with no slack, which was fine as traffic levels are very stable and predictable in this area. There was a decent amount of recovery time - 9 minutes at Heathrow and 8 minutes at the Hounslow end, more of which could be clawed back by "creative" stand working. Some buses arrived at Heathrow a few minutes late because the A30 Great South West Road was closed westbound. The official diversion was via Green Lane, Staines Road and Faggs Road. The diversion notice, which was aimed at the 203 and 482, was published on work's social media in good time. Vehicle ChoiceI took over on the road so had no choice. First half was a LT and second half was Euro 4 Enviro 400 9458. 9458 had its performance restrictions flushed out of the engine a while ago and accelerates as per factory settings. It has gained a speed limiter since I last drove it and stops pumping fuel at 45mph. The route was too short to really have a preference over vehicle type. Just glad no QB Euro 5 E400s were used as they would not have been able to keep to time. SummaryIt was a fairly sad job - lots of aircraft that should have been out flying in anger parked up around Envoy Avenue. Few people around, even the travelators between Heathrow Central and T2 had been shut down to save energy. We were warned that there'd be nowhere to buy food at Heathrow Central and to bring a packed lunch. They weren't joking. Terminal 3 was shut and the only place open in Terminal 2 was Caffè Nero. Some staff whose break was at Heathrow rode the replacement bus to the bustling Hounslow West to get a hot meal. Route difficulty rating - 2/3 (intermediate) Enjoyability - 2/5 (fairly unenjoyable) Next route review - 22:15 Stratford to Richmond, Sunday 5th July[/quote]
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2020 20:12:27 GMT
Route PL1 is the all stops Piccadilly Line replacement service between Hammersmith and Heathrow, but the sections served vary depending on where the rail closure is. This weekend it is operating between Hounslow Central and Heathrow Central and I was out on it yesterday. Having reviewed the full route I hadn't intended to write about this job, but will note a few bits for the record of a service affected by Covid 19. The routeThe PL1 runs every 10 minutes. Stops served this time were Hounslow Central, Hounslow West, Hatton Cross and Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3. Some late night trips started from Hounslow East. Night Tube being indefinitely suspended meant there was no night service. With the full PL1 route, Hounslow Central is served from Bell Corner. This time, the stops outside the station on Lampton Road were used. Notably the stand was located in the middle of the route at the Henly's Roundabout bus stop, which is situated in a layby suitable for two buses. There were up to three rail replacement buses parked there with the 81, 222 and H98 doing their best to serve the stop. The stand working alone added 2 buses to the PVR. Some rail replacement buses stood at the Civic Centre or on Lampton Road to save time. The changeover point was at Heathrow Central. Quite a long way to travel by public transport from Battersea. The given route was bus to Sloane Square, Underground to Osterley then replacement coach to Heathrow. I travelled on SWR from Queenstown Road to Feltham then waited for a 285. One of the 285 extras laid on turned up empty and took me to Central. LoadingsLockdown light - didn't carry more than about 10 people at any one time. Most Tube passengers would have bypassed this rail replacement service by using the PL2 and PL3 coach services between Osterley and Heathrow T5/T2&3 respectively. Running timesWell matched to actual trip times with no slack, which was fine as traffic levels are very stable and predictable in this area. There was a decent amount of recovery time - 9 minutes at Heathrow and 8 minutes at the Hounslow end, more of which could be clawed back by "creative" stand working. Some buses arrived at Heathrow a few minutes late because the A30 Great South West Road was closed westbound. The official diversion was via Green Lane, Staines Road and Faggs Road. The diversion notice, which was aimed at the 203 and 482, was published on work's social media in good time. Vehicle ChoiceI took over on the road so had no choice. First half was a LT and second half was Euro 4 Enviro 400 9458. 9458 had its performance restrictions flushed out of the engine a while ago and accelerates as per factory settings. It has gained a speed limiter since I last drove it and stops pumping fuel at 45mph. The route was too short to really have a preference over vehicle type. Just glad no QB Euro 5 E400s were used as they would not have been able to keep to time. SummaryIt was a fairly sad job - lots of aircraft that should have been out flying in anger parked up around Envoy Avenue. Few people around, even the travelators between Heathrow Central and T2 had been shut down to save energy. We were warned that there'd be nowhere to buy food at Heathrow Central and to bring a packed lunch. They weren't joking. Terminal 3 was shut and the only place open in Terminal 2 was Caffè Nero. Some staff whose break was at Heathrow rode the replacement bus to the bustling Hounslow West to get a hot meal. Route difficulty rating - 2/3 (intermediate) Enjoyability - 2/5 (fairly unenjoyable) Next route review - 22:15 Stratford to Richmond, Sunday 5th July It is sad mate looking at all the BA planes parked up. More troubling when it really isn’t given at all that some of them will ever fly again. A once hectic, busy place reduced to an eerie landscape of abandoned aircraft and empty terminals.
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Post by richard on Jul 5, 2020 22:45:51 GMT
Metroline HT and AH helping out on the district line service using LTs and VWs and VWHs and at least one of W MMC TEHs
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Post by george on Jul 5, 2020 22:58:47 GMT
Metroline HT and AH helping out on the district line service using LTs and VWs and VWHs That explains why the 190 wasn't using VWs today like it is has done recently. I still think SWR replacement is the best for variety today you had ex first bus TN33197 and Lowland DAF J300 BTS to more modern stuff like an Arriva Sapphire 17 reg MMC.
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