The Red Book - July 1967

[Deleted]

A few things I noticed about 1967's red bus services

1. Some routes were very long but in many cases, no one timetabled service operated over the entire route
2. There were several very short routes (20-25 minutes) - such as the 121 Enfield-Chingford or 295 East Acton-Hammersmith
3. Many routes began considerably later and ended much earlier than today's equivalent, especially on a Sunday when some 1967 routes didn't start up until 09:00
4. Some "A" and "B" variations involved nothing more than a slight diversion from route to a large factory or car plant
The biggest surprise for me was the peak hour extension on the 260 (Willesden Garage-Hammersmith) which simply followed the 266 between the two points (why didn't they simply increase the pead hour frequency on the 266)

[snoggle]

Sept 22, 2013 16:00:33 GMT @harlesden said:

A few things I noticed about 1967's red bus services

1. Some routes were very long but in many cases, no one timetabled service operated over the entire route
2. There were several very short routes (20-25 minutes) - such as the 121 Enfield-Chingford or 295 East Acton-Hammersmith
3. Many routes began considerably later and ended much earlier than today's equivalent, especially on a Sunday when some 1967 routes didn't start up until 09:00
4. Some "A" and "B" variations involved nothing more than a slight diversion from route to a large factory or car plant
The biggest surprise for me was the peak hour extension on the 260 (Willesden Garage-Hammersmith) which simply followed the 266 between the two points (why didn't they simply increase the pead hour frequency on the 266)

Those things reflect the different times back then. Peak hours were more concentrated with some significant factory flows warranting special routes or journeys. Traffic conditions, although worsening, were not as horrendous today as car ownership and usage was low. This meant some routes could be traversed in a short time while longer ones were far more feasible given the ability to roster sensibly and to use multiple garages on long routes. Sectional working was common place and probably reflected a mix of coping with localised demand, localised peak flows and the ability to sensibly roster crews and garage vehicles.

You only have to look back at photos taken in the 60s and 70s on Sundays to see that very little happened - restricted licensing hours, limited leisure and next to no shopping activity meant there was no need for early starts. However even back in the 1990s the start of service on the 212 and 275 was only about 0830 on a Sunday which was a complete pain in the posterior. Thankfully both routes now have earlier and more sensible starts.

London's employment and leisure activity has changed enormously over recent decades creating considerable changes in demand for transport. Also we have been through decades of varying social change which has altered why people travel and how they travel (advent of television, pub licensing hours, eating out, car ownership etc).

EDIT - the other major factor is changes to the tube and rail network. Tube extensions have had quite big impacts on the bus network while rail services have generally improved thus shifting people from bus to rail. Buses have turned more into feeders to the tube and rail network barring those areas where only buses cover the major flows - for example Essex Road or Camden Road into the central area. Of course we are now in the position with tube and rail overcrowding that buses are picking up excess demand from the rail network where services are packed beyond capacity.

[Deleted]

Thank you for your wonderfully detailed response, snoggle.
I myself am grateful for the early Sunday start on the 260 (04:25 White City-Golders Green Station) although I am amazed it survives as it is never has more than a 10%-15% loading and duplicates the 24-hour 266 route all the way from Harlesden Jubilee Clock to Cricklewood.
I guess the through early Sunday morning journeys are more cost effective than short journeys at each end
260 White City-Harlesden Jubilee Clock - the Harlesden-Cricklewood stretch serviced by the 266 - 260 Cricklewood Broadway-Golders Green Station

[snoggle]

Sept 26, 2013 21:12:44 GMT @harlesden said:

Thank you for your wonderfully detailed response, snoggle.
I myself am grateful for the early Sunday start on the 260 (04:25 White City-Golders Green Station) although I am amazed it survives as it is never has more than a 10%-15% loading and duplicates the 24-hour 266 route all the way from Harlesden Jubilee Clock to Cricklewood.
I guess the through early Sunday morning journeys are more cost effective than short journeys at each end
260 White City-Harlesden Jubilee Clock - the Harlesden-Cricklewood stretch serviced by the 266 - 260 Cricklewood Broadway-Golders Green Station

Given the average loading per bus, taken across the entire TfL network, is about 16 passengers (last time I heard the number disclosed) I would say a 10-15% loading on such an early journey is pretty decent as it equates to about 8-12 people. It is also worth bearing in mind that the TfL average loading is vastly higher than the average elsewhere in the UK. So when people complain about "empty buses" that have 16 people on them it's worth remembering that equals the TfL network average. Anything higher is doing well for London and vastly better than buses elsewhere in the UK.

I recall seeing an the first w/b Sunday morning journey on the 123 and it was full at about 0600. Goodness knows where everyone was going but that's pretty exceptional - equivalent to a MF peak loading.

[Hassaan]

Sept 26, 2013 21:22:33 GMT snoggle said:

Sept 26, 2013 21:12:44 GMT @harlesden said:

Thank you for your wonderfully detailed response, snoggle.
I myself am grateful for the early Sunday start on the 260 (04:25 White City-Golders Green Station) although I am amazed it survives as it is never has more than a 10%-15% loading and duplicates the 24-hour 266 route all the way from Harlesden Jubilee Clock to Cricklewood.
I guess the through early Sunday morning journeys are more cost effective than short journeys at each end
260 White City-Harlesden Jubilee Clock - the Harlesden-Cricklewood stretch serviced by the 266 - 260 Cricklewood Broadway-Golders Green Station

Given the average loading per bus, taken across the entire TfL network, is about 16 passengers (last time I heard the number disclosed) I would say a 10-15% loading on such an early journey is pretty decent as it equates to about 8-12 people. It is also worth bearing in mind that the TfL average loading is vastly higher than the average elsewhere in the UK. So when people complain about "empty buses" that have 16 people on them it's worth remembering that equals the TfL network average. Anything higher is doing well for London and vastly better than buses elsewhere in the UK.

I recall seeing an the first w/b Sunday morning journey on the 123 and it was full at about 0600. Goodness knows where everyone was going but that's pretty exceptional - equivalent to a MF peak loading.

Where along the route was that seen? (I'm guessing Blackhorse Road or something )
Around 2 weeks ago I got the last N551 towards Trafalgar Sq on a Sunday morning, by the time I got off at Tower Gateway Stn there were around 40-50 people on it (most downstairs seats and around half of upstairs seats filled, and a few people standing). Until Canning Town you would go a few stops without anyone there before finding one with several people waiting. And one Saturday morning last year I got the 120 towards Northolt at around 06:35 and by Norwood Green that also had the same number of people on there as the N551 (many got off at Southall Broadway).

[Deleted]

Woolwich on a Sunday at 0700 is almost as busy as a weekday morning. Quite amazing seeing 53's leaving London bound fully loaded and standing space only on the DLR.
It says alot about the communities London relies upon to keep going

[overgroundcommuter]

I remember two buses per hour on the main routes in my area on Sundays, which have steadily increased to at least five buses per hour.

There are still some single decker routes which have a PVR of 4, such as the P13 and 356, but with much earlier starts.

Boxing Day until more recently used to have at least two buses per hour and special routes, some extended to cover other routes, but is now the standard Sunday timetable with a late start (except for Heathrow routes).