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Post by croydonguy on Aug 7, 2018 19:39:41 GMT
Decided to pop into Bromley for the first time in a few years and had a throwback moment when I saw TB's 17864 still featuring a "Year of the Bus" sticker  |
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Post by snoggle on Aug 7, 2018 20:19:26 GMT
Decided to pop into Bromley for the first time in a few years and had a throwback moment when I saw TB's 17864 still featuring a "Year of the Bus" sticker Ah yes "Year of the Bus" - the point at which the rot set in and it's been downhill all the way since then. You have to be so careful with hubris - never know when it might turn round and teach you a lesson. Patronage peaked in 2014 and has been falling ever since and then the cutbacks started and they're due to accelerate very soon.   |
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Post by snoggle on Aug 8, 2018 18:48:50 GMT
Posted in case any younger forum members are interested. |
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Post by redbus on Aug 9, 2018 12:27:24 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!! 
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Post by snoggle on Aug 9, 2018 12:38:26 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!!
A TfL spokesperson said "Thank you for your valued feedback about route 268. In the light of your feedback about how bad the service now is we will shortly be withdrawing the service altogether."  |
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 9, 2018 12:46:14 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!!
I wonder why they are not diverting the 268 via East Heath Road, South End Green and Pond Street? |
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Post by redbus on Aug 9, 2018 12:51:57 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!!
I wonder why they are not diverting the 268 via East Heath Road, South End Green and Pond Street? That would miss out Hampstead Station. In truth there is no great diversion available
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Post by redbus on Aug 9, 2018 12:54:38 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!!
A TfL spokesperson said "Thank you for your valued feedback about route 268. In the light of your feedback about how bad the service now is we will shortly be withdrawing the service altogether." And while we are at it, now we have made the 31 and C11 unattractive and noticeably fewer are using the 31, we'll withdraw those routes as well!!
C'mon snoggle you need to keep up with all the routes we could axe!!!!!!
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Post by sid on Aug 9, 2018 12:57:48 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!!
A TfL spokesperson said "Thank you for your valued feedback about route 268. In the light of your feedback about how bad the service now is we will shortly be withdrawing the service altogether." There are no plans to withdraw the 268 as far as I'm aware. |
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Post by ronnie on Aug 9, 2018 13:41:41 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!!
I am not familiar with the area - but fully agree that it irritates me no end when the bus is "held to regulate service". I get irritated despite being a bus enthusiast; so can fully imagine people who just want to use the bus being delayed for no specific reason other than being held up! When you are sitting on the front seat on the upper deck and can see the bus crawling on an empty road .... no wonder bus patronage is dropping |
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Post by busaholic on Aug 9, 2018 13:41:50 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!!
This 'regulation of service' malarkey is really getting out of hand and, to use the phrase of the day, is casting an ''existential threat'' to bus services, particularly in certain areas it would seem. If it's being used by bus companies in the same way that schools inflate their position in league tables, by subterfuge and the rest, then it's reprehensible. |
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Post by redbus on Aug 9, 2018 14:16:16 GMT
Rosslyn Hill is closed for re-surfacing (why Camden are taking the best part of a month to complete it is beyond me, but I digress), but it means the 46 and 268 are diverted. This morning I had the dubious pleasure of travelling from Hampstead Station to Finchley Road Stations, a short bus journey on the 268, which should be even quicker than usual as it now takes a direct route down Fitzjohn's Avenue whilst Rosslyn Hill is closed.
The bus arrived quite well loaded and then the driver announced the diversion, at which point most (about 30 people) got off the bus (clearly missing out most of Hampstead and Belsize Park is working well for these passengers, not!). We proceed down to Swiss Cottage using the quicker diversion route, so arrived five minutes early. Now of course the driver announces bus has to wait for five minutes 'to regulate the service', at which point the remaining passengers other than myself got off. For those that don't know the route a five minute walk from Swiss Cottage will take you to Finchley Road, effectively one stop from the 268 terminus, so walking will get you to your destination quicker than waiting on the bus. I was dressed for summer with no umbrella and as it was raining I stayed on the bus and after five minutes we were on our way again. Not one further passenger boarded the bus, which isn't surprising as for the remainder of the route from Swiss Cottage to the O2 Centre the 13, 113 and 187 parallel the 268 and would have taken any waiting passengers.
This really did not give passengers the experience they deserve. Having cut the 268 frequency and now having a poor diversion that leaves out the places many passengers want to travel to is going to do nothing to help patronage. The further regulation of the service only adds insult to injury, there really should have been a temporary timetable to take the diversion into account. TfL then wonder why buses are losing patronage !!!!
This 'regulation of service' malarkey is really getting out of hand and, to use the phrase of the day, is casting an ''existential threat'' to bus services, particularly in certain areas it would seem. If it's being used by bus companies in the same way that schools inflate their position in league tables, by subterfuge and the rest, then it's reprehensible. I don't blame the bus companies, they just do what TfL ask. If the route has performance incentives in keeping to time or having exactly even headways, no matter how silly it appears, that's what the bus companies will do. TfL need a little more flexibility in the system. For the 268 as a low frequency low, keeping to time is very important, particularly on sections it is the only bus route, but speeding up the route with a diversion and then making all the passengers wait is palpable nonsense - a revised timetable is needed. It wouldn't be difficult either, just time the buses a few minutes earlier and give them back the few extra minutes on stand. Also the performance regime doesn't consider that other parallel routes going to all the same destinations can the take any waiting passengers, so no need to delay passengers en route.
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Post by Hassaan on Aug 9, 2018 17:25:53 GMT
The X26 timetable really is a shambles. I constantly find myself, on an X26, waiting at bus stop for 3-6 minutes because it is too early. The driver has to repeatedly play the ‘bus will wait for a short time’ at every stop, causing passengers to get angry & frustrated, wondering why we’re waiting at certain bus stops all the time. I really do think, at particular times of the day, TfL need to shorten some times between stops, especially during the week when they leave gaps of 10 minutes for example to travel between Cheam and North Cheam, or 12 minutes for Sutton and Carshalton. Has anyone else experienced this before on the X26? I totally agree. I sometimes see a bus waiting for about 10 minutes at Hatton Cross station which is obviously a cunning way for GAL to ensure all of their buses are on time. Many other companies seem to be doing the same particularly Metroline who have ruined the 482 during the day (however early mornings and late evenings are superb). The 482 is that it is low frequency so it must be on time (no more than about 2 minutes early or 5 minutes late). The problem is that traffic in Southall (Western Road, King Street, The Green, South Road) and in Hounslow West (Henlys Roundabout) is unpredictable. Some days you'll get through there fine and other days you'll get stuck, and there is no obvious pattern of which particular days it will happen. So Metroline have assumed there will be some traffic, and being cautious gives them have a better chance of meeting the targets. Although it hasn't worked as they have only met the on-time figures in one period out of the last 26  bus.data.tfl.gov.uk/boroughreports/routes/performance-route-482.pdf . A significant amount of that has had roadworks on South Road which is a bit unlucky, but the Sunday shopping hours have never had enough time to take into account traffic on Western Road and in Hounslow West  |
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Post by met120 on Aug 9, 2018 18:48:08 GMT
I totally agree. I sometimes see a bus waiting for about 10 minutes at Hatton Cross station which is obviously a cunning way for GAL to ensure all of their buses are on time. Many other companies seem to be doing the same particularly Metroline who have ruined the 482 during the day (however early mornings and late evenings are superb). The 482 is that it is low frequency so it must be on time (no more than about 2 minutes early or 5 minutes late). The problem is that traffic in Southall (Western Road, King Street, The Green, South Road) and in Hounslow West (Henlys Roundabout) is unpredictable. Some days you'll get through there fine and other days you'll get stuck, and there is no obvious pattern of which particular days it will happen. So Metroline have assumed there will be some traffic, and being cautious gives them have a better chance of meeting the targets. Although it hasn't worked as they have only met the on-time figures in one period out of the last 26 bus.data.tfl.gov.uk/boroughreports/routes/performance-route-482.pdf . A significant amount of that has had roadworks on South Road which is a bit unlucky, but the Sunday shopping hours have never had enough time to take into account traffic on Western Road and in Hounslow West Wow. I’m surprised at the 482. The traffic in Southall has gotten worse and worse lately especially since the new road layout on South Road. The H32 seems to be uneffected most of the time I see it. |
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Post by M1199 on Aug 11, 2018 8:32:13 GMT
Yesterday, I managed to catch a short ride on one of Hallmark's Hotel Hoppa e200's on the 555 (forgot to note the fleet number as I bumped into an old work colleague at the same time!) I know they have different set up to the standard London Spec e200's, but boy, they don't half shift! Even outpacing a Merc from the lights at one point! Kind of similar to how a ZF boxed MAN 12.240 pulled away from a standstill I felt. These Hotel Hoppa's don't have cab doors, with the driver placing his cash tray in his rucksack on the floor where the door should be (as can be seen in the below pic) Certainly leaves himself vulnerable for someone to steal it whilst they are alighting! Surprised drivers are willing to take these out in passenger service like this. If I was a driver, I could handle taking a vehicle out without an assault screen, but I'd have second thoughts if it didn't have a cab door too! www.flickr.com/photos/62959794@N06/30100964618/in/dateposted-public/ |
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