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Post by vjaska on May 15, 2011 11:19:15 GMT
On the last few days of the 407, they were putting out a blue coloured LDV van in service. Surely the only route in the SE of England operated by a van rather than a bus ? Shows you how bad they are that they have to stick an ancillary vehicle out  |
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Post by jay38a on May 15, 2011 15:05:04 GMT
Surely thats against the rules, but also how can run a school route with that, as the 407 is a school bus between New Ash Green and Sevenoaks before it went onto run the off peak duties between Swanley and New Ash Green
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Post by vjaska on May 15, 2011 15:37:14 GMT
Surely thats against the rules, but also how can run a school route with that, as the 407 is a school bus between New Ash Green and Sevenoaks before it went onto run the off peak duties between Swanley and New Ash Green Griffin Bus never stuck to the rules anyway, drivers would regularly allow school children to sit on the dashboard on the passengers side which is dangerous if the bus crashes. |
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Post by jay38a on May 15, 2011 21:20:07 GMT
I have seen many buses in London with standees right up to the door (even though i know its not allowed) but theres most times theres a gap so the driver can see the near side mirror, but never seen people sitting on the dashboard. At least if you have people standing by the dashboard normally there is a handle that they can hold onto, if they are sitting on the dashboard, the only thing thats keeping them safe and upright is a peice of glass.
I couldnt see also how they could run the 408 and 419 with Double Deckers when there was quite often not more then 5 people on each bus. The Enviro 200 that Kent Top Travel used on the 427 was more suitable. At least Arriva are now using a more suitable bus on the 408, normally N237 VPH, an Dennis Dart SLF/Spryte, however Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse, BG59 FWP has also been out.
Until 2004, Arriva ran Route G2 which ran between Dartford and West Kingsdown Daily, every 2 hours 25 mins using Metroriders. In 2004 Sevenoaks District Council wanted to withdraw the G2 completely without replacement to save money, which people kicked up some fuss about. Sevenoaks District Council evenually gave in and the 427 was born running every 2 hours between West Kingsdown and Swanley with 2 Saturday journeys extending to Dartford, in 2009 the 427 was withdrawn and Routes 408 and 419 were introduced. Then in April 2011 Route 419 was withdrawn and Route 408 doubled to an hourly frequency between West Kingsdown and Swanley and extended to Dartford on Monday to Friday but withdrawn between West Kingsdown and Borough Green. But now Arriva are running the 408 between West Kingsdown and Swanley only, all very confusing to Passengers who had a direct to Dartford with the 408 for a whole 3 weeks before it vanished.
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Post by londonbusboy on May 16, 2011 19:18:03 GMT
L3 was supposed to go for scrap yesterday but someone saved her at the last minute. The new owner apparently has a Gardner engine and gearbox!
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Post by Ted Barclay on May 16, 2011 22:31:33 GMT
Some months ago (before Christmas) a friend and I travelled on the 407 to Swanley and then the 408 to Borough Green. The 407 went straight past the stop we were waiting at, but the driver eventually stopped. I was greeted with the friendly words "You have to put your hand out to stop this bus, I don't usually pick up anybody here". Well it was a quiet stop - only in front of Longfield Station so not at all busy. Neither of us received a ticket as apparently the ticket machine was "broken". Mmm possibly two fares for the driver and none for the company? But things got better  On boarding the 408 in Swanley, there were a load of engineer's tools in the luggage pen of the Metrobus (bus type not the company) we boarded. When asked for two to Borough Green the driver asked what we usually paid! As it was the first time we had made the journey (and as it turns out the last), we didn't know, so the driver decided to charge us £2.95 each. But he couldn't issue us with a ticket as there was no ticket machine - in fact there wasn't even a base plate! Possibly yet another two fares for the driver and none for the company. To be honest it is amazing that this poor excuse for a bus operator lasted as long as it did! Ted B |
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Post by vjaska on May 16, 2011 23:08:43 GMT
L3 was supposed to go for scrap yesterday but someone saved her at the last minute. The new owner apparently has a Gardner engine and gearbox! Whoever saved her deserves a big pat on the back. It's just a shame Travel Surrey had to let go of L2 & L3 due to the introduction of the LEZ zone as they were mechanically sound under them. |
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