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Post by greenboy on Jan 27, 2022 7:54:56 GMT
I would have thought the W7 was ideal for LT's, faster unloading at Finsbury Park. Will 9 be enough? A partial conversion until more LTs become available.
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Post by WH241 on Jan 27, 2022 9:49:10 GMT
I wonder where those LT's will go No idea but an interesting thing to note is the ones from the 15 cut haven’t been used yet and LTs are usually redeployed quickly.
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Post by M1104 on Jan 27, 2022 10:10:47 GMT
I wonder where those LT's will go No idea but an interesting thing to note is the ones from the 15 cut haven’t been used yet and LTs are usually redeployed quickly. Could they be saved for a possible tender award? (whenever announcements recommence)
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Post by busman on Jan 27, 2022 10:27:48 GMT
You clearly have no idea just how much some people struggle do you! Imagine if you are a low paid worker for example! I know in your ideal world everyone can work from home on a laptop but you need to realise there are plenty of other jobs that go unnoticed like cleaner, shop workers, back off support, catering the list goes on. Not everyone is as fortunate as you seem to come across with your views. A lot of the comments about the 53 apply to the 25 and the same reason people used use that route from Ilford to Oxford Circus. I agree I ventured out on various night bus runs on n15 n9 n1's n8's amongst others and they were heaving with low paid workers heading into town to save money cleaners ands similar on minimum wage don't use trains if they can help it Exactly this. The 18, 25, 53 (albeit with a dash for the 453 for the hopper fare) and other trunk routes into central share a similar story. I’m fortunate to be able to afford train, but I certainly haven’t forgotten about the days when I couldn’t afford the train. A return trip, 5 days a week is simply unaffordable for many people.
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Post by busman on Jan 27, 2022 10:40:01 GMT
The 53 is probably busiest between Elephant & Castle and Blackheath and again between Woolwich and Plumstead Common at peak times, I doubt if there are many end to end journeys. The 53 does frequently leave the Elephant & Castle full and sets down a few people at stops down the Old Kent Road. More get off at New Cross Garage but are replaced by new passengers. This is mainly people changing from buses from Peckham. Deptford Bridge (where the 453 terminates) is another loading point. Buses then run fairly full to Charlton Village (which is about a 10 minute walk from Charlton station) and into Woolwich. Lots of people do board in Woolwich to travel up to the Plumstead Common area. Quite a few through journeys beyond Woolwich to Plumstead too. Unlike the 161, the 53 doesn’t empty out at Woolwich - hence why extra capacity was needed on the 291 in addition to the 51. Not sure where this discussion is going anymore, but the 53 is fine as it is. It really doesn’t need chopping back any further!
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Post by mark on Jan 27, 2022 11:29:49 GMT
No idea but an interesting thing to note is the ones from the 15 cut haven’t been used yet and LTs are usually redeployed quickly. Could they be saved for a possible tender award? (whenever announcements recommence) A refurb float?
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Post by vjaska on Jan 27, 2022 12:34:10 GMT
I tend to use it heading away from County Hall and once you factor in the time taken getting to and from the station, and often needing to change at London Bridge, it's surprisingly competitive on time from Blackheath and Charlton. Coming into town can be a little erratic. On my last journey, the bus ran slow and packed up at New Cross. What was noticeable was how many people then opted to switch to the 453 as opposed to the 53 directly behind. That does suggest to me, when combined with the significant numbers who board at Lower Marsh on the return, that the 53 doesn't quite get far enough into the centre and there is still a desire for those journeys. That is a bit of a dilemma that the 53 doesn't quite go far enough into the central area and didn't when it terminated at Whitehall just short of so many objectives. Would a return to Oxford Circus be a viable possibility? Oxford Circus is no longer viable in this day and age for the 53
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Post by southlondonbus on Jan 27, 2022 12:52:08 GMT
That is a bit of a dilemma that the 53 doesn't quite go far enough into the central area and didn't when it terminated at Whitehall just short of so many objectives. Would a return to Oxford Circus be a viable possibility? Oxford Circus is no longer viable in this day and age for the 53 Not to mention I dount it will be able to easily reach it when the Piazzas open up with the 22 reported being cut to Conduit Street.
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Post by evergreenadam on Jan 27, 2022 13:07:48 GMT
In some cases thou some people are still happy to do an e2e by bus for their journey rather than changing from a bus to the train. One of the more prominent examples I can give is probably the 134, plenty of crowd travelling from Muswell Hill / Colney Hatch into Camden / Warren Street & before it’s cutback it used to have a very steady peak time commuter flow from New Oxford Street towards North London. Even when you walk around Central London the 94 / 139 / 159 are always carrying high loadings and those normally have the options of the Central, Jubilee & Victoria lines. Have commuted home on many occasions for various reasons on the 94, getting on at Oxford Street usually, even though I'm typically riding it for enthusiast purposes (rather than the tube) there is a sizeable proportion of passengers who get on in the West End who stay on past Shepherds Bush, sometimes as far as Turnham Green Station. This is why I was particularly frustrated that they are seemingly (although with no concrete date) slicing the 94 back to where it is inaccessible or difficult for many West End workers. The 94 is very convenient from Chiswick to Oxford Street, it just zooms down the Bayswater Road and off-peak journey times are competitive with the tube as well as being cheaper. Have often thought that part of the service on route 94 should be renumbered and rerouted to serve Chiswick High Road which would make it even more popular.
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Post by evergreenadam on Jan 27, 2022 13:09:56 GMT
Oxford Circus is no longer viable in this day and age for the 53 Not to mention I dount it will be able to easily reach it when the Piazzas open up with the 22 reported being cut to Conduit Street. I have often thought that the diversion of route 22 to Oxford Circus was one of the worst decisions made recently. Is the route busy to/from Oxford Circus?
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Post by greenboy on Jan 27, 2022 13:26:34 GMT
Not to mention I dount it will be able to easily reach it when the Piazzas open up with the 22 reported being cut to Conduit Street. I have often thought that the diversion of route 22 to Oxford Circus was one of the worst decisions made recently. Is the route busy to/from Oxford Circus? Not from what I've seen although I don't recall the C2 being much busier off peak.
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Post by southlondonbus on Jan 27, 2022 13:28:33 GMT
Not to mention I dount it will be able to easily reach it when the Piazzas open up with the 22 reported being cut to Conduit Street. I have often thought that the diversion of route 22 to Oxford Circus was one of the worst decisions made recently. Is the route busy to/from Oxford Circus? I think it was partly to maintain a Oxford Circus to Knightsbridge link but arguably I think Berkely Square is better served with a Victoria link personally after the long history of the 25/8/C2 which was why I thought the 311 route in principal was a good idea
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Post by Green Kitten on Jan 27, 2022 13:37:13 GMT
At £4.80 off peak and £6.10 peak. I’d probably opt for the 53 over southeastern train. I've done Plumstead to Central London on the 53 numerous times, even Camden Town/PHF back in the day, but unless I particularly fancied a bus ride it would be the train for me off peak. Even peak times does anybody really want to spend nearly two hours extra on their daily commute just to save £3? I did this sort of thing many a time to get to work, I avoided the Great Northern completely to get from Potters Bar to LI, and went for a commute which took longer and required 4 changes (298, Pic, Vic, Overground, 308/W15). That £3 daily adds up (in my case it would be up to £1,650 or so a year for the yearly ticket from Potters Bar to Finsbury Park).
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Post by greenboy on Jan 27, 2022 13:49:48 GMT
I've done Plumstead to Central London on the 53 numerous times, even Camden Town/PHF back in the day, but unless I particularly fancied a bus ride it would be the train for me off peak. Even peak times does anybody really want to spend nearly two hours extra on their daily commute just to save £3? I did this sort of thing many a time to get to work, I avoided the Great Northern completely to get from Potters Bar to LI, and went for a commute which took longer and required 4 changes (298, Pic, Vic, Overground, 308/W15). That £3 daily adds up (in my case it would be up to £1,650 or so a year for the yearly ticket from Potters Bar to Finsbury Park). Going back to the original point of Plumstead to Waterloo, a monthly on Southeastern is £146.40 (and can be used at weekends) whilst 28 days on the 53 would be £86.80 so you pays your money and takes your choice, £59.60 savings a month for around 40 hours extra commuting time a month.
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Post by WH241 on Jan 27, 2022 14:29:11 GMT
I did this sort of thing many a time to get to work, I avoided the Great Northern completely to get from Potters Bar to LI, and went for a commute which took longer and required 4 changes (298, Pic, Vic, Overground, 308/W15). That £3 daily adds up (in my case it would be up to £1,650 or so a year for the yearly ticket from Potters Bar to Finsbury Park). Going back to the original point of Plumstead to Waterloo, a monthly on Southeastern is £146.40 (and can be used at weekends) whilst 28 days on the 53 would be £86.80 so you pays your money and takes your choice, £59.60 savings a month for around 40 hours extra commuting time a month. That £60 could be what is providing food for some families.
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