Heritage RM's

[Deleted]

Does anybody know what has happened to the batch from the 9? There were various ideas when the 9 was discontinued earlier in the year but none of them have reappeared on the 15 as yet.

[Deleted]

Jan 3, 2015 9:57:55 GMT @abc123 said:

Does anybody know what has happened to the batch from the 9? There were various ideas when the 9 was discontinued earlier in the year but none of them have reappeared on the 15 as yet.

Was quoted in this months LOTS that they have been put up for sale. The money from the sales will be used to refurbish the existing RM's on route 15H. 

[Deleted]

Thanks. Shame since there's so few of them around that the best ones couldn't have been kept for further tfl use.

[Deleted]

Jan 3, 2015 10:05:29 GMT @abc123 said:

Thanks. Shame since there's so few of them around that the best ones couldn't have been kept for further tfl use.

This was the original plan, not sure what changed? 

[Deleted]

Jan 3, 2015 10:11:24 GMT @dan said:

Jan 3, 2015 10:05:29 GMT @abc123 said:

Thanks. Shame since there's so few of them around that the best ones couldn't have been kept for further tfl use.

This was the original plan, not sure what changed? 

I suspect the TFL budget! I was a bit suspicious as they left it a long time before doing anything with them - probably hoping people would have forgotten.

[twobellstogo]

I believe the original plan was to refurbish the best of the 9's fleet and the best of the 15's fleet, up to a total of 10 Routemasters. All that appears to have changed is that the 10 Routemasters to be retained will all be from the current route 15 fleet, though of course time will tell...

[Deleted]

Realistically speaking, how long will it be before the 15H is withdrawn without a replacement?

[snoggle]

Jan 5, 2015 0:09:10 GMT @safwaanf1 said:

Realistically speaking, how long will it be before the 15H is withdrawn without a replacement?

New contract starts next year so could run to 2020. More realistically I suspect it will be reviewed in the light of whatever financial settlement is set out in Autumn 2015 when the new government concludes the Spending Review. If, as expected, there are more cuts to TfL's revenue grant then the 15H has to be a contender for the chop as it is a costly operation.

A new Mayor in 2016 may also take a very different view of things - either for or against the 15H. There are already rumblings that a new Mayor will have to take an axe to TfL's existing senior management because so many people are fed up with TfL's performance on politically sensitive initiatives. The politicians (of all parties) who are fed up with the current TfL will use the Mayoral Election process to demand "TfL Heads on a platter" as the price for endorsing particular candidates. I expect much of this will be behind closed doors but will become public in May 2016. Making radical change at the top of TfL will, of course, cause a dislocation to the organisation because of the inevitable uncertainty that results from change. If policy and funding also changes then expect to see up to a year's slow down in a wide range of initiatives while the organisation adjusts. Of course some of the senior people may opt to go before May 2016 before a new Mayor can change the terms of their "departure package".

One thing I will say is that the 15H does add some valuable capacity at Tower Hill as buses start from there and ease the never ending crush of tourists wanting a bus. If it is withdrawn then TfL will have to do something to the 15 to replace the lost capacity so it's not just a case of withdrawing the 15H and walking away.

I suspect reality will be different from the above but none of us can predict how things will go.

[Deleted]

Jan 5, 2015 0:09:10 GMT @safwaanf1 said:

Realistically speaking, how long will it be before the 15H is withdrawn without a replacement?

Sooner the better - Big fan of Routemasters but the tender is just a waste, could be better spent elsewhere.


I am sure boosting the 15 (Even with short working Aldgate Trafalgar Sq) would be much more cost effective.   Convert the 15 to LT and run the Aldgate - Trafalgar Sq shorts using heritage Tridents 

[snoggle]

Jan 5, 2015 20:52:06 GMT @dan said:

Jan 5, 2015 0:09:10 GMT @safwaanf1 said:

Realistically speaking, how long will it be before the 15H is withdrawn without a replacement?

Sooner the better - Big fan of Routemasters but the tender is just a waste, could be better spent elsewhere.


I am sure boosting the 15 (Even with short working Aldgate Trafalgar Sq) would be much more cost effective.   Convert the 15 to LT and run the Aldgate - Trafalgar Sq shorts using heritage Tridents 

Perhaps 17001 with the occasional special appearance by DLA1? Perhaps the new Mayor could buy back some of the original Stagecoach Tridents and paint them red again and use those?

[wivenswold]

Whatever happens in the short term the RMs are not going to last forever. I think heritage running days will be the way forward. Oh and tube strikes.