Route 599 and 455

[jay38a]

Hi all

Due to roadworks Route 455 is cut back from the top of Old Lodge Lane to Reedham Station/Brighton Road. But a free replacement Route 599 is operating between the other side of Reedham Station to Old Lodge Lane. Its being run by Abellio. Looking at the maps on TfLs map, the 599 is using the little road to the east of Reedham Station that does look a little narrow for a bus, and the turning circle is just a little mini roundabout. The connection between there and the other side is pretty poor too as its via the Station which has around 50 odd steps then its still quite abit of walk to the main stops on the Brighton Road for the 455 etc, so no good for the elderly, disabled or people with prams. Surely as the 599 is using smaller buses it would make sense for it to go to Purley via some other back roads and terminate at the one way system. Also with the current terminating places the 455 has to go up to Coulsdon to turn round.

[Steve80]

Yes, the 455 terminates outside some motorbike shop in coulsdon. I find out more when I do it tomorrow.

Looking at a map, the 599 could go to purley by diverting via Hartley down and stoat nest road but they would probably have to run more buses on the route. I guess cost is a factor

[Steve80]

Last Friday, I was on the 455 and got to the purley tesco stop. There was already a 405 and a 166 at the stop, and a 466 was directly behind me, yet three passengers put out their hand specifically for my bus Currently the 455 terminates at reedham station so theres no need to wait for the 455 as the last stop (brighton road, old lodge lane) is served by all the routes running along brighton road towards coulsdon Seriously, do people actually think that by getting any other bus would mean there would be complications on transferring onto the free shuttle 599 bus route

And last night I was doing the 599 route for the first time doing over 20 trips between reedham station and the end of old lodge lane taking around 6 minutes in one trip. I noticed when I get to reedham station, ibus would announce - change here for route 455 to Croydon town centre How daft is this?! To transfer onto the 455 you would have to go to the old lodge lane stop which is also served by 60, 166, 405 and 466. All these routes are more direct than the 455 although the 455 is sometimes quicker to get to south croydon (apart from the 405 as it runs the same route) as theres less traffic along pampisford road.

To leave on a good note, I had y-reg 8062 which was decent to drive although the suspension wasn't all that great so was taking my time going over the humps. Also, two fire engines were dealing with a fire incident so I was trapped at the burcott stop for 30 minutes. By the time I got through I should of being making my trip towards reedham despite not completing my previous trips to reedham and back to old lodge lane.

Then coming back, an ambulance blocked the road again so sat there for another 10 minutes when a passenger decided enough was enough and demanded the ambulance driver to move Arrived 17 minutes late so went straight out of old lodge and again at reedham before making my time.

When finishing, I ran light via burcott road going up an extremely steep hill, higher drive, foxley lane to purley and straight to BC

[snoggle]

Aug 5, 2013 5:05:28 GMT Steve80 said:

Last Friday, I was on the 455 and got to the purley tesco stop. There was already a 405 and a 166 at the stop, and a 466 was directly behind me, yet three passengers put out their hand specifically for my bus Currently the 455 terminates at reedham station so theres no need to wait for the 455 as the last stop (brighton road, old lodge lane) is served by all the routes running along brighton road towards coulsdon Seriously, do people actually think that by getting any other bus would mean there would be complications on transferring onto the free shuttle 599 bus route

I suspect that there is no information to explain to people how the ticketing (or lack thereof) works for the free shuttle. I can completely understand why people might think they need to take their usual 455 in order to be entitled to use the 599 shuttle. After all they can't normally use any old bus route and then interchange for zero cost [1] on to the 455 when it runs its normal route. People are also creatures of habit so they'll probably just do what they always do

[1] obviously some tickets and passes do give a free interchange but PAYG wouldn't unless the cap had been reached.

[Deleted]

Do you finish the last trip about 00.30 and then run light via Burcott Road(14% Hill) and then Higher Drive and then down Foxley Hill Road coming out by the Shell Petrol Garage.

I saw 8062 doing this journey on Higher Drive on Saturday Night around 00.40.

Must be the most boring route ever to do!

[Deleted]

Sorry only just read the light route you took!!! Surprised you didn't do a left before Reedham Station rail bridge then via Old Coulsdon and then follow the 466 route to Purley, would be easier than doing part of the 434 route to reach Purley and then BC

[Steve80]

Aug 5, 2013 17:21:53 GMT @mwhite43306 said:

Do you finish the last trip about 00.30 and then run light via Burcott Road(14% Hill) and then Higher Drive and then down Foxley Hill Road coming out by the Shell Petrol Garage.

I saw 8062 doing this journey on Higher Drive on Saturday Night around 00.40.

Must be the most boring route ever to do!

It is the most boring route lol One driver has ask to come off it as he can't take it any more. Unfortunately, I got this route till wednesday and again next week monday - wednesday. The usual late shift driver will be back from his holiday by then.

The late duty on the 599 is strange as the you leave reedham station at 0010 reaching old lodge at 0017 then you run light to reedham, reaching there at 0022 and then sit there till 0040, which you then run in service back to old lodge, reaching there at 0047 and then finally you run light back to BC. The official light running route is to go via bencombe road but burcott road has less parked cars so I go through there instead.

As for going via the 466 route, I gone there via the ferry vehicle when making my way towards old lodge on sunday. Didn't fancy going through all the speed humps on Hartley down road with the bus and there's a sharp turn from there going into coulsdon. Also the 90 degree turn at the railway bridge in coulsdon road put me right off. I wonder how the 466 drivers deal with this especially if two are coming towards each other.

[Steve80]

Aug 5, 2013 17:17:22 GMT snoggle said:

Aug 5, 2013 5:05:28 GMT Steve80 said:

Last Friday, I was on the 455 and got to the purley tesco stop. There was already a 405 and a 166 at the stop, and a 466 was directly behind me, yet three passengers put out their hand specifically for my bus Currently the 455 terminates at reedham station so theres no need to wait for the 455 as the last stop (brighton road, old lodge lane) is served by all the routes running along brighton road towards coulsdon Seriously, do people actually think that by getting any other bus would mean there would be complications on transferring onto the free shuttle 599 bus route

I suspect that there is no information to explain to people how the ticketing (or lack thereof) works for the free shuttle. I can completely understand why people might think they need to take their usual 455 in order to be entitled to use the 599 shuttle. After all they can't normally use any old bus route and then interchange for zero cost [1] on to the 455 when it runs its normal route. People are also creatures of habit so they'll probably just do what they always do

[1] obviously some tickets and passes do give a free interchange but PAYG wouldn't unless the cap had been reached.

That's understandable. Even so, I only had one passenger that scanned their pass on my bus today (I don't recall any doing it on sunday). Everyone else just jumped on. Regarding these creatures of habit , the other strange thing was when I got to reedham station, I would turn the engine off and leave the doors open and most would get on and sit. Others and especially the group of kids would wait outside until one gets on board, or if I start the engine which by then they would all board

[Deleted]

Seen the same driver on this running light from Old Lodge Lane back to BC via Higher Drive for the past three days. 8015 was on yesterday, but blind showing 152!! Driver Tall and youngish

[Danny]

Aug 27, 2013 13:16:28 GMT @mwhite43306 said:

Seen the same driver on this running light from Old Lodge Lane back to BC via Higher Drive for the past three days. 8015 was on yesterday, but blind showing 152!! Driver Tall and youngish

The blinds are never set to blank on this route for some reason ...

[Deleted]

Saw the (old) Abellio white Ferry van yesterday on Higher Drive. Was it presuambly going to the 599 stop? Driver dark hair, glasses an beard.

[Steve80]

Yes, they do their changeovers at the stand on purley old lodge lane. When I first did it I thought we did the changeovers at reedham station. The duty cards were a little deceiving as on the back, it was telling me the light running route from purley station to reedham station. When I checked my duty card properly, it said I start at purley old lodge lane As a result, I picked up my bus about 5 minutes late!

I believe the tall, youngish driver does the 599 regularly in the evenings.