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Post by ronnie on May 18, 2019 23:08:42 GMT
Maybe but for many people time is money, not much point in saving money on fares if it's going straight into the child minders pocket. You do realise some people are on such low pay they can't afford child minders? they have to ask family to help out.
Maybe its me but growing up in a poor part of London in the 80s and 90s has made me appreciate the smaller things in life.
I do sometimes wonder if you are trolling in a very subtle way sometimes.
In an ideal world there would have been more of these express routes. If public transport usage needs to be encouraged one should have more options rather than less so as to reduce car usage. A few trunk routes express services (X25 from Romford or Ilford to Oxford Circus, X15 from barking to Trafalgar Square, X149 from enfield / ponders end to London Bridge, x29 from Trafalgar Square to Enfield?, x123 from Ilford to Finchley and so on would have been pretty good). Unlikely to materialise in the current circumstances however
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Post by Hassaan on May 18, 2019 23:24:32 GMT
I passed the Brook Green on a diverted 190 today and to my horror I saw the stand overflowing with so much congestion around the green proving problematic. There was an Abellio LT and an Abellio Enviro 400 parked up at the stand on the north side of the green. There was then an LT coming around to the stand but the two buses at the stand were occupying the middle and rear spaces consequently this LT was struggling to get around the green with a gap to squeeze into to get to the front of the stand. There was an Enviro 400 on the western arm of the green which was blocking the cars behind it. There was space ahead of this Enviro 400 but I don't know if the bus had broken down or if the driver just hadn't moved forward, my 190 moved to quickly to see. I know the Central Line was closed between White City and West Ruislip/Ealing Broadway today but why oh why did the rail replacement buses use the Brook Green stand. I presume it was because there would be no issues with other routes but really the buses could have used the White City Bus Station/Westfield stand, lower weekend PVRs should have made enough space available. Also using the Brook Green stand requires a longer dead run to reach the stand. Sadly the 27 has taken the Glenthorne House stand so with weekend disruption to the District and Piccadilly lines we may see rail replacement buses using the Brook Green stand. I accept my observation is a one off but it does convey the issues the Brook Green stand has which the Glenthorne House stand doesn't have. Hammersmith Bridge closure means they can fill up the downstairs bus station with rail replacements without worrying about blocking many buses ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by 6HP502C on May 19, 2019 0:22:35 GMT
If no one was using the X68 to get to and from Central London, the route would have been withdrawn by now. Also makes me wonder what makes the people of Croydon different from the rest of London where they can get the only Central London express service and everyone else has the only option of more expensive trains and underground or using all-stopper bus routes that either don’t reach Central London or don’t reach the outer London boroughs so require a change of bus People do use the X68 and it has its purpose. It passes through miles of neighbourhoods remote from railway stations where there is heavy demand for bus services. How much of the route between West Croydon and West Norwood is within a 10 minute walk of a station? It runs along a substantial geographical plateau which can probably never be served by rail. It relieves pressure from the 196 and 468 which for years have been at capacity in the South Norwood area going towards Upper Norwood. Lots of school demand around there and the distance from Central London means commuters and local school students travel at the same time in the morning. Passenger numbers are slightly inflated because despite how the service is advertised, in practice, bus drivers allow the X68 to be used as a normal bus service on both sides of the express section. People are always getting off at Waterloo in the evening and I am amazed at how many time it seems the number of people on the bus from there near precisely match the number of seats. I suspect there would be strong opposition if it were ever proposed to be withdrawn.
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Post by 6HP502C on May 19, 2019 0:52:25 GMT
I was brought up in the world of Routemasters and request stops! I usually put my hand out for a bus, partly out of habit from all the request stops I used, and partly to indicate to the driver that I want his /her bus, and not some other bus. If I don't want a bus, I tend to stand back to try and make it clear to the driver that he / she doesn't need to stop on my behalf. Nowadays buses are much better a pulling up at stops fully aligned. However I am still in the habit if a few buses come together to move towards the second or third bus if that is the one I want. Sometimes that works, sometimes the driver just points me back to go back to the stop. What do drivers appreciate, standing by the stop when you want the third bus in a line, or moving down towards it? As a pragmatist I say do what you need to do to ensure you get on the bus. Most drivers will do the right thing and wait for the buses in front to clear, but some will still be impatient and go. As its impossible to predict which kind of driver it is, there's no point in missing the bus unnecessarily, even if it is because the driver is in the wrong. If I see the bus I want has pulled in behind 2 or 3 buses behind I tend to walk towards it and watch it. If the driver opens either door I waste no time in moving towards the front doors. If not then I keep an eye on it and slowly make my way back to the bus stop.
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Post by sid on May 19, 2019 6:15:51 GMT
I was brought up in the world of Routemasters and request stops! I usually put my hand out for a bus, partly out of habit from all the request stops I used, and partly to indicate to the driver that I want his /her bus, and not some other bus. If I don't want a bus, I tend to stand back to try and make it clear to the driver that he / she doesn't need to stop on my behalf. Nowadays buses are much better a pulling up at stops fully aligned. However I am still in the habit if a few buses come together to move towards the second or third bus if that is the one I want. Sometimes that works, sometimes the driver just points me back to go back to the stop. What do drivers appreciate, standing by the stop when you want the third bus in a line, or moving down towards it? As a pragmatist I say do what you need to do to ensure you get on the bus. Most drivers will do the right thing and wait for the buses in front to clear, but some will still be impatient and go. As its impossible to predict which kind of driver it is, there's no point in missing the bus unnecessarily, even if it is because the driver is in the wrong. If I see the bus I want has pulled in behind 2 or 3 buses behind I tend to walk towards it and watch it. If the driver opens either door I waste no time in moving towards the front doors. If not then I keep an eye on it and slowly make my way back to the bus stop. It's a bit of a lottery really, I appreciate that it's difficult for drivers, sods law if they do open the door the bus(es) in front pull away. It's particularly difficult for the elderly and infirm who aren't very nimble on their feet although a good driver will be vigilant and be ready to stop twice if necessary. Often there are just too many buses trying to serve one stop, south side of Waterloo Bridge for example.
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Post by sid on May 19, 2019 6:30:15 GMT
If no one was using the X68 to get to and from Central London, the route would have been withdrawn by now. Also makes me wonder what makes the people of Croydon different from the rest of London where they can get the only Central London express service and everyone else has the only option of more expensive trains and underground or using all-stopper bus routes that either don’t reach Central London or don’t reach the outer London boroughs so require a change of bus People do use the X68 and it has its purpose. It passes through miles of neighbourhoods remote from railway stations where there is heavy demand for bus services. How much of the route between West Croydon and West Norwood is within a 10 minute walk of a station? It runs along a substantial geographical plateau which can probably never be served by rail. It relieves pressure from the 196 and 468 which for years have been at capacity in the South Norwood area going towards Upper Norwood. Lots of school demand around there and the distance from Central London means commuters and local school students travel at the same time in the morning. Passenger numbers are slightly inflated because despite how the service is advertised, in practice, bus drivers allow the X68 to be used as a normal bus service on both sides of the express section. People are always getting off at Waterloo in the evening and I am amazed at how many time it seems the number of people on the bus from there near precisely match the number of seats. I suspect there would be strong opposition if it were ever proposed to be withdrawn. Some drivers stubbornly refuse to open the rear doors at Waterloo in the evening peak, having to struggle off past boarding passengers will hopefully put people off making the same mistake again? Initially it was worked by coach seated Olympians (L166-171 if I recall correctly) but has to make do with standard buses nowadays. There was also once a peak hour 177E worked by specially liveried Titans, TE112/113 if I recall correctly?
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Post by lundnah on May 19, 2019 8:54:29 GMT
According to the TfL website...
...a Sunday service is in operation across the London bus network on Bank Holiday Monday.
Is that normal, highly unusual, or just 100% incorrect?
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Post by kmkcheng on May 19, 2019 8:59:40 GMT
According to the TfL website...
...a Sunday service is in operation across the London bus network on Bank Holiday Monday.
Is that normal, highly unusual, or just 100% incorrect?
I think that is normal that a Sunday service operates on public holidays but with the exception of Good Friday where a Saturday service operates
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Post by wirewiper on May 19, 2019 9:00:41 GMT
Sunday timetables are normal on Bank Holidays. The exceptions are Christmas Day (no services), Boxing Day (Sunday timetables but no early morning service on night/24-hour routes) and Good Friday (Saturday timetable).
It's pretty much the norm outside London too.
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Post by 6HP502C on May 19, 2019 10:48:12 GMT
According to the TfL website... ...a Sunday service is in operation across the London bus network on Bank Holiday Monday. Is that normal, highly unusual, or just 100% incorrect?
It's normal. It's advertised on all relevant timetables at bus stops that a Sunday service operates on bank holidays and a Saturday service operates on Good Friday.
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Post by snoggle on May 19, 2019 10:53:05 GMT
According to the TfL website... ...a Sunday service is in operation across the London bus network on Bank Holiday Monday. Is that normal, highly unusual, or just 100% incorrect?
The service is normal. The fact the TfL website has actually bothered to say this is most unusual. Over recent years they've rarely bothered to tell anyone what bus service level operates on bank holidays.
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Post by Londonbuses54 on May 19, 2019 11:12:40 GMT
What’s the fastest accelerating bus in London?
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Post by shroudoffrost on May 19, 2019 11:17:04 GMT
I took my son to the LT museum today and that meant more trips on the 139. On the way back boarded a surprisingly full bus on the Strand, and we left people behind at Charing Cross station. Clearly following the axing of all the other routes, the 139 could no longer cope...please note TfL. Yes the 139 has become far busier as of late especially since the 10/23 changes. I echo Volvo's sentiments regarding the route; Piccadilly Circus on Fri/Saturday nights are my main gripe due to the vast amounts of Taxi's and PHV's positioned in the incorrect lane trying to go into Shaftesbury Avenue and of course vehicles and other buses crossing Piccadilly Circus blocking the entrance into Regents Street. Before ULEZ it could take 10-20 minutes to go from Haymarket to the next stop, Piccadilly Circus at 2300-0200. Now it isn't as bad but still takes a disproportionate time to make progress through that junction at any time of day. I'm also going to call out some of the 12 and 453 drivers who seem to insist on sticking far to the left while moving forward inviting cars to make an extra lane on their offside. From my experience whenever this happens, the congestion there is at its worst. Regarding the VHs alot of them seem to have a habit of wanting to start of in an inappropriate gear when pulling off resulting in very slow pull-away, not helpful when going across the lights at Finchley Road/Fortune Green. This is why I'm starting to prefer the ADHs overall now because of the smooth and progressive power delivery.
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Post by 6HP502C on May 19, 2019 11:37:40 GMT
I got on the last 99 of the night. Going through Erith Town Centre, there were two slightly drunk men clearly running for the bus, the one at the front's backside fully on display as he shuffled along. Something I really did not need to see. The one at the back was shouting "hurry up, don't stop running or we'll miss it!"
The bus sailed straight past the stop and those shouts turned to angered cries rapidly followed by a series of expletives aimed at the driver. Bit harsh not to stop on the last service of the day - then I checked the timetable and realised the bus was actually running early!
I intended to get off in Bexleyheath Town Centre. I'm not that familiar with the stopping arrangements there and was blissfully unaware that the bus had gone out of service without stopping at the last stop. That stop is in Geddes Place and I'm not sure the bus actually went through that road. It was only when I looked up and saw the cinema that I realised what happened and rapped on the bell a few times before being let off on Watling Street.
Anyway, that particular trip was more than balanced out by a nice ride on the N21, where the driver stopped in Bexleyheath to assist someone who was lost and a bit out of it. The N21 is a fantastic, fast and frequent service and once again I have to compliment Go Ahead's scheduling of night services in South East London. The use of the smooth, nippy EHs is an improvement on the LTs which can't accelerate as quickly and lose time at bus stops thanks to the door arrangements which increase bus stop dwell times. The 53 used to blow the N21 out of the water along the Old Kent Road for this reason.
I found myself wondering if the night services in the area warrant some sort of consolidation without loss of links to North Greenwich or Sidcup Town Centre - the N21, 132 and 321 have some significant parallels but I guess this is complicated by there being no demand out of NG on weekday nights.
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Post by sid on May 19, 2019 11:47:23 GMT
I got on the last 99 of the night. Going through Erith Town Centre, there were two slightly drunk men clearly running for the bus, the one at the front's backside fully on display as he shuffled along. Something I really did not need to see. The one at the back was shouting "hurry up, don't stop running or we'll miss it!" The bus sailed straight past the stop and those shouts turned to angered cries rapidly followed by a series of expletives aimed at the driver. Bit harsh not to stop on the last service of the day - then I checked the timetable and realised the bus was actually running early! I intended to get off in Bexleyheath Town Centre. I'm not that familiar with the stopping arrangements there and was blissfully unaware that the bus had gone out of service without stopping at the last stop. That stop is in Geddes Place and I'm not sure the bus actually went through that road. It was only when I looked up and saw the cinema that I realised what happened and rapped on the bell a few times before being let off on Watling Street. Anyway, that particular trip was more than balanced out by a wonderfully lively ride on the N21. It is a fantastic, fast and frequent service but I found myself wondering if the night services in the area warrant some sort of consolidation without loss of links to North Greenwich or Sidcup Town Centre - the N21, 132 and 321 have some significant parallels but I guess this is complicated by there being no demand out of NG on weekday nights. Bang out of order running early on the last bus although I can understand the driver not stopping for such vile individuals. From what I've seen of the N21 it's invariably empty between Eltham and Bexleyheath. I would have thought the Fri/Sat night 132 was adequate and the N21 could be rerouted to Foots Cray replacing the 321.
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