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Post by DE20106 on Jul 18, 2024 15:57:46 GMT
TfL has published details of the 65/N65 tender awarded in April 2024. As some had previously speculated, the results page shows that London United was indeed the sole operator to submit a bid. The award was "part of a joint bid with routes 33/N33, 71, 281/N281/681, 290, 371, 406/418 and K5 totalling £45,826,836 pa". The 2024 65/N65 tender was awarded with a cost per mile of £9.84. That compares with the cost per mile of £6.22 under London United's previous successful bid for the route in November 2020, indicating a 58% increase in this figure under the new 2024 contract. Yet in reality revenue since 2021 on the route probably hasn't gone up 58% in terms of actual money the route takes. Less if anything, although usage is obviously much greater than 2020/2021, general bus usage is considerably less (about 80-90%) of usage pre Covid. And as we know usage had already been on the slide up to 2019 anyway
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Post by southlondonbus on Jul 18, 2024 17:06:19 GMT
Yet in reality revenue since 2021 on the route probably hasn't gone up 58% in terms of actual money the route takes. Less if anything, although usage is obviously much greater than 2020/2021, general bus usage is considerably less (about 80-90%) of usage pre Covid. And as we know usage had already been on the slide up to 2019 anyway Not to mention an aging population could potentially result in more freedom pass users in the years ahead. 1964 was the highest year for births and no year since then has had as many.
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Post by Volvo on Jul 19, 2024 7:16:51 GMT
DLEs are now officially being allowed on the 326. Aren't the ex 223 MMCs still spare right now? The 326 could get a hold of them. Idk but it's about time some DLEs went on the 326. If they are to replace the dreadful DMEs then yes, if they are to replace the DEs then no. I honestly don't know how the DMEs and DLEs are basically the same bus but the acceleration and braking on the DMEs are far worse.
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Post by COBO on Jul 19, 2024 7:20:16 GMT
Aren't the ex 223 MMCs still spare right now? The 326 could get a hold of them. Idk but it's about time some DLEs went on the 326. If they are to replace the dreadful DMEs then yes, if they are to replace the DEs then no. I honestly don't know how the DMEs and DLEs are basically the same bus but the acceleration and braking on the DMEs are far worse. Where could the DMEs go?
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Post by Volvo on Jul 19, 2024 7:36:49 GMT
DLEs are now officially being allowed on the 326. very surprised! Do you know the reason behind, and what stopped that for years? The 326 needed DLEs as much as the 143 needs DDs in that areas. Just simply they deemed the DLEs too long for the 251 & 326. Don't get me wrong I get it because there are some areas on the 251 that are a bit tight, like Watling Avenue between Orange Hill Road & Montrose Avenue on the 251 (this section now has traffic islands to help with that). Also Lawrence Street, junction with Highwood Hill and finally Whetstone Griffin left turn onto Totteridge Lane. Watling Avenue you could actually get stuck with a DLE as they are not as manouvreavable as a DE. There part of the 326 that were/are a concern are Nether Street between Dollis Road and Eversleigh Road would have been an issue until about one year ago because there was a crest in the road and a bend with trees in someone's garden meaning where the road bended you couldn't see what was coming on the other side and also Courthouse Gardens/Courthouse Road, as again there are crests/bends meaning you cannot see what's coming the other way, now whilst I always approach slowly incase another 326 or a lorry is coming. Others are not so cautious and I have met with another bus a few times and luckily one of us/both of us had a DE and were able to get into the space between the cars, to let the other bus pass. Now on these occasions had we both had a DLE or one of us had a DLE, we would not have made it due to the extra length of the wheelbase. Other places on the 326 which are a bit tight but just requires you to adjust your turning angle and speed of the turn are: The left turn from Totteridge Lane onto Whetstone High Road The left turn from Barnet Hill onto Underhill then immediately the bendon Underhill (both ways) The left turn from St Alban's Road into Stapylton Road Finally the right turn from Salisbury Road into Barnet High Street.
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Post by Volvo on Jul 19, 2024 7:37:53 GMT
If they are to replace the dreadful DMEs then yes, if they are to replace the DEs then no. I honestly don't know how the DMEs and DLEs are basically the same bus but the acceleration and braking on the DMEs are far worse. Where could the DMEs go? Back to RP, swap them with 9 of the DLEs that came off the 223. No driver will miss those awful machinery.
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Post by COBO on Jul 19, 2024 7:53:38 GMT
Back to RP, swap them with 9 of the DLEs that came off the 223. No driver will miss those awful machinery. As the 224 is the only single deck route at RP I wouldn’t put them on the 224. They were originally bought for the 272 they can go to V and go onto the 272.
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Post by serviceguru on Jul 19, 2024 17:46:07 GMT
Question time…
Why are many routes all terminating short of their destination? Seems as though 1 bus goes through for the hour? I’ve seen 79s finishing at Wembley Central, 125s finishing at Southgate, even the 183s at Hendon Bell.
The old London Sovereign ran their routes better, IMO.
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Post by VMH2537 on Jul 19, 2024 18:03:39 GMT
Question time… Why are many routes all terminating short of their destination? Seems as though 1 bus goes through for the hour? I’ve seen 79s finishing at Wembley Central, 125s finishing at Southgate, even the 183s at Hendon Bell. The old London Sovereign ran their routes better, IMO. It's called RATP's spectacular diarrhoea operation. 'Exclusively awarded by TfL, the DtF and Sadiq Khan '
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Post by DT 11 on Jul 19, 2024 18:13:43 GMT
Question time… Why are many routes all terminating short of their destination? Seems as though 1 bus goes through for the hour? I’ve seen 79s finishing at Wembley Central, 125s finishing at Southgate, even the 183s at Hendon Bell. The old London Sovereign ran their routes better, IMO. Most operators do this now it’s the 30% Rule.
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Post by serviceguru on Jul 19, 2024 18:42:18 GMT
And TFL allow this so easy? I’m sure they’re manipulating it too much.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Jul 20, 2024 5:59:11 GMT
That’s what I said to the duty supervisor. Apparently no one wants the route ’No one wanting the route’ is probably a bit of canteen gossip, although plausible given the number of resources it would require for another operator (ie only Metroline really) to take on. I would guess it’s more to do with certainty over how the route will convert to EV operation given RP is only on lease until 2026, meaning RATP won’t be able to submit an EV bid with any certainty and TfL have to tender the route fairly. It could give Metroline an unfair advantage, and if they don’t want the route then TfL are out of options. So this extra 2 year extension does make a lot of sense EDIT : Although on further reflection it’s entirely plausible RATP wanted to wash their hands of the route completely and no one put a bid in While there is no way route 18 faces replacement by another route, it could be another route 168 which is extended beyond its original 2 year extension.
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Post by Volvo on Jul 20, 2024 7:28:31 GMT
Back to RP, swap them with 9 of the DLEs that came off the 223. No driver will miss those awful machinery. As the 224 is the only single deck route at RP I wouldn’t put them on the 224. They were originally bought for the 272 they can go to V and go onto the 272. From time to time they do go on the 224 and on paper they have the same capacity as the DLEs anyway.
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Post by Volvo on Jul 20, 2024 7:33:59 GMT
Question time… Why are many routes all terminating short of their destination? Seems as though 1 bus goes through for the hour? I’ve seen 79s finishing at Wembley Central, 125s finishing at Southgate, even the 183s at Hendon Bell. The old London Sovereign ran their routes better, IMO. Well these days there are alot of roadworks everywhere and general traffic, which also do not help I can tell you that first hand on the 125 if you leave Colindale around 0800 by the time you have crossed the A41 at Aerodrome Way, your already 5 mins late, then you sit in traffic all the way up Greyhound Hill to Crouch End, then again as you cross the A1 there is more Traffic on Hendon Lane, by the time you have reached North Finchley you can already be 12 mins late and that's without any temporary lights, just normal peak traffic and alot of people going to work and school. The 125 between 0730-0930 and I've been told in the evenings aswell is just full of traffic hotspots. The 79 also has alot of traffic hotspots too as does the 183. North west London just has alot of traffic congestion and alot of narrow roads.
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Post by abellion on Jul 20, 2024 8:20:00 GMT
I just saw a photo of DE20177 with a lot of damage to its front on the 326 along Longland Drive apparently happened last night
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