London is better with diverse bus types

[rmz19]

I honestly think London would be a better place if the bus network had alot more bus types, too much of a few bus types would be a boring sight, which is where London might be heading with the influx of NB4Ls and the sufficiently ubiquitous Enviros. Personally I would cap the NB4L orders at 350, and I would split the rest of the orders (and then some) between the Gemini 3 B9TL (conventional type), Volvo MCV B9TL, new Enviro 400, Wright Streetdeck, Optare Metrodecker, and ambitiously Tri-Axle buses!. Oh and I would keep the Olympus, Omnicities and Vykings .
Which bus types would you like to see more of within London's bus network?

[vjaska]

Oct 8, 2014 1:18:50 GMT rmz19 said:

Which bus types would you like to see more of within London's bus network?

Lots of step entrance stuff like Titans, Olympians & Metrobuses but that time has gone.

I'd like to see more Solos, Tempos, Citaros, Versas & Metrocitys as well as some dual door Enviro 300's rather than just a constant stream of Enviro 200's.

[snoggle]

Oct 8, 2014 1:18:50 GMT rmz19 said:

Which bus types would you like to see more of within London's bus network?

Bristol REs
Leyland Nationals
Leyland Atlanteans
Scania Metropolitans


More seriously I would just say that where we have busy single deck routes that can take double deckers then they should get them. If we have busy single deck routes that can take bigger single deck buses then there should be bigger buses provided. This helps improve the efficiency of the network - more passengers per bus - and should hopefully ease overcrowding and allow people a chance of getting on the first bus. I am not overly fussed about particular bus types - I just like a bus to be clean, have comfy seats and reasonable legroom at all seats.

[wivenswold]

I agree that London is better for having many types of bus. I didn't like it so much in the 80's when it was wall-to-wall Titans in my area. That's not to say I don't miss the old things though.

[Deleted]

I'd like to see way more Omnicities and Olympuses. Personally I'd like to see less Gemini 2's (particularly on B9TL chassis) but hey, that's just me.

I'd also like to see more ALX400/Tridents come back, though only if their emissions are greatly reduced. More Presidents would also be nice- on both Trident and B7TL chassis.

For single-deckers, in my area (Tower Hamlets) it's almost completely E200s with a few Pointers on the 100, 2 Marshall Capital's for the 339 which I think are horrible, the old-style Solos for the 309 and the 108's buses. For the E200s you've got the 100, 276, 339, 488, D3, D6, D8. So yeah, some more variation would be nice. Some Versas and Solo SRs would be nice. Possibly Tempos as well.

[M1199]

Oct 8, 2014 10:02:39 GMT vjaska said:

Oct 8, 2014 1:18:50 GMT rmz19 said:

Which bus types would you like to see more of within London's bus network?

Lots of step entrance stuff like Titans, Olympians & Metrobuses but that time has gone.

I'd like to see more Solos, Tempos, Citaros, Versas & Metrocitys as well as some dual door Enviro 300's rather than just a constant stream of Enviro 200's.

If TfL started asking for larger single decker routes, I've often wondered whether ADL would be tempted to chuck a rear door on the Enviro300.

I would like to see more MAN 12.240's, Scania OmniCitys, Citaros and Tempos - Had my first ride on one of those recently on the 203, I was quite impressed.

[COBO]

I would like too see more Optare Versa, Optare MetroCitys, MCV Evolutions (If they are still being made) and Wright StreetLites because there needs to be more variety when it comes to single deckers. How come all the operators in London only choose Enviro200s? What's so great about Enviro200s? At least chose something different once in a while.

In the past there was variety when it comes with single deckers like e.g. Marshall Capitals, Plaxton Pointers, Alexander ALX200 and Wright Cadets not now.

[ohdear]

I do not think the time will come when operators change their purchases to end the boredom of enthusiasts.

[jay38a]

Oct 8, 2014 19:59:47 GMT COBO said:

I would like too see more Optare Versa, Optare MetroCitys, MCV Evolutions (If they are still being made) and Wright StreetLites because there needs to be more variety when it comes to single deckers. How come all the operators in London only choose Enviro200s? What's so great about Enviro200s? At least chose something different once in a while.

In the past there was variety when it comes with single deckers like e.g. Marshall Capitals, Plaxton Pointers, Alexander ALX200 and Wright Cadets not now.

Enviro 200s are very reliable vehicles, which is why companies buy them. They are actually very nice to drive too, with everything the driver needs in easy reach of the driver.

[vjaska]

Oct 8, 2014 20:18:05 GMT ohdear said:

I do not think the time will come when operators change their purchases to end the boredom of enthusiasts.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that they will - the thread is more for fantasy ideas and what you'd like to see.

[Deleted]

I'd like to see way more Omnicities and Olympuses. Personally I'd like to see less Gemini 2's (particularly on B9TL chassis) but hey, that's just me.

I'd also like to see more ALX400/Tridents come back, though only if their emissions are greatly reduced. More Presidents would also be nice- on both Trident and B7TL chassis.

For single-deckers, in my area (Tower Hamlets) it's almost completely E200s with a few Pointers on the 100, 2 Marshall Capital's for the 339 which I think are horrible, the old-style Solos for the 309 and the 108's buses. For the E200s you've got the 100, 276, 339, 488, D3, D6, D8. So yeah, some more variation would be nice. Some Versas and Solo SRs would be nice. Possibly Tempos as well.

Edit: Whoops, forgot the 323, that also uses E200s. And it's not that I don't like the E200. It just gets a bit boring.

I don't imagine vjaska would have a particularly good time getting around in Tower Hamlets (unless I've confused you with someone else who doesn't like E200s).

What about Optare Spectras? Were they any good? Why aren't there any left?

PS: I know I posted most of this already but I had a few stuff to add (everything below Edit) and when you edit a post, no one really knows about it so no one replies to any questions or quotes you.

[vjaska]

Oct 8, 2014 20:57:25 GMT @safwaanf1 said:

I'd like to see way more Omnicities and Olympuses. Personally I'd like to see less Gemini 2's (particularly on B9TL chassis) but hey, that's just me.

I'd also like to see more ALX400/Tridents come back, though only if their emissions are greatly reduced. More Presidents would also be nice- on both Trident and B7TL chassis.

For single-deckers, in my area (Tower Hamlets) it's almost completely E200s with a few Pointers on the 100, 2 Marshall Capital's for the 339 which I think are horrible, the old-style Solos for the 309 and the 108's buses. For the E200s you've got the 100, 276, 339, 488, D3, D6, D8. So yeah, some more variation would be nice. Some Versas and Solo SRs would be nice. Possibly Tempos as well.

Edit: Whoops, forgot the 323, that also uses E200s. And it's not that I don't like the E200. It just gets a bit boring.

I don't imagine vjaska would have a particularly good time getting around in Tower Hamlets (unless I've confused you with someone else who doesn't like E200s).

What about Optare Spectras? Were they any good? Why aren't there any left?

PS: I know I posted most of this already but I had a few stuff to add (everything below Edit) and when you edit a post, no one really knows about it so no one replies to any questions or quotes you.

Yep, it's me who hates most Enviro 200's - I'd still ride them if I have to though.

As for Spectras, London only had one low floor batch of Spectra's brought new for Capital Logistics on the 60. They were T reg and were the only dual door and bonded glazed Spectras built. I believe they were ended up with London Sovereign to cover a vehicle shortage and left in the mid 00's, most likely due to being non standard.

London Central had a batch of K reg Spectra's for the 3 but they only lasted until 1999 due to the 3 being won by Connex and the fact that the batch was very unreliable.

[Deleted]

Oct 8, 2014 21:07:31 GMT vjaska said:

Oct 8, 2014 20:57:25 GMT @safwaanf1 said:

I'd like to see way more Omnicities and Olympuses. Personally I'd like to see less Gemini 2's (particularly on B9TL chassis) but hey, that's just me.

I'd also like to see more ALX400/Tridents come back, though only if their emissions are greatly reduced. More Presidents would also be nice- on both Trident and B7TL chassis.

For single-deckers, in my area (Tower Hamlets) it's almost completely E200s with a few Pointers on the 100, 2 Marshall Capital's for the 339 which I think are horrible, the old-style Solos for the 309 and the 108's buses. For the E200s you've got the 100, 276, 339, 488, D3, D6, D8. So yeah, some more variation would be nice. Some Versas and Solo SRs would be nice. Possibly Tempos as well.

Edit: Whoops, forgot the 323, that also uses E200s. And it's not that I don't like the E200. It just gets a bit boring.

I don't imagine vjaska would have a particularly good time getting around in Tower Hamlets (unless I've confused you with someone else who doesn't like E200s).

What about Optare Spectras? Were they any good? Why aren't there any left?

PS: I know I posted most of this already but I had a few stuff to add (everything below Edit) and when you edit a post, no one really knows about it so no one replies to any questions or quotes you.

Yep, it's me who hates most Enviro 200's - I'd still ride them if I have to though.

As for Spectras, London only had one low floor batch of Spectra's brought new for Capital Logistics on the 60. They were T reg and were the only dual door and bonded glazed Spectras built. I believe they were ended up with London Sovereign to cover a vehicle shortage and left in the mid 00's, most likely due to being non standard.

London Central had a batch of K reg Spectra's for the 3 but they only lasted until 1999 due to the 3 being won by Connex and the fact that the batch was very unreliable.

So why were only a few ordered? What was the reason why not many were ordered? It was the first low-floor double decker available in the UK, wasn't it? Or was it just that particular bus that entered service a few hours early?

I think I saw an Optare Spectra on Sunday with the Big Bus Tours, it looked kind of familiar and I've seen pics of the Spectra. Can anyone confirm that they have one? I've seen it two Sunday mornings in a row now on Embankement W/B just before Parliament Sq/Westminster Bridge.

[Nathan]

I'd like to see a Gemini/Trident combination. I'm sure @safwaanf1 would agree that would be perfect for Stagecoach to order

[twobellstogo]

The enthusiast in me says yes, lots of different types please! The realist in me says a minimal amount of types is probably better, so long as they are high quality vehicles.

Snoggle : oh yes, more Metropolitans and Bristol RELLs please