"Don't do it"

[VPL630]

Last night and tonight I'm the last bus on the R7, I quite like the route, I'd like it more if the running time wasn't so excessive but I can't really moan about having too much time can I ? Yesterday was the first time I have driven the route from Chislehurst as previously when I've driven it, it's been curtailed to Bickly.

On my first trip I left Chislehurst about 2 late, by the time I got the Station I was near 3 early, so I sat there for 5mins (I did make an announcement to the thin air on my bus (Practising my PA skills #HelloLondon )), anyway this was the same story most of the night, waiting out time at bus stops ect, I tried everything to lose time, the only place that I found was possible to lose time was Orpington High Street, but then going 4 stops down the road you'll make up all the time you lost, it's like a mission to lose time on this route, anyway, my last trip proved this, I left Chislehurst 4 mins late, and served every single bus stop along the route and lowered the bus at every single stop and I was still gaining time somehow  ?!?!?!?!? at orpington I was 2 mins late, by the time I was at Chelsfield I was only 30 seconds late. The times just seem a little excessive to me really, if we actually had any passengers it wouldn't really be a problem and I wouldn't be moaning but we don't, the last R7, I didn't pick anyone up and that wasn't because I was driving past them , I stopped at every single stop, even at orpington station I couldn't entice anyone to take a trip on the great and wonderful R7 anyway, I do actually like the route, the people are nice and it's nice to drive, pleasant and easy.

[snoggle]

Jul 5, 2017 10:38:00 GMT VPL630 said:

Last night and tonight I'm the last bus on the R7, I quite like the route, I'd like it more if the running time wasn't so excessive but I can't really moan about having too much time can I ? Yesterday was the first time I have driven the route from Chislehurst as previously when I've driven it, it's been curtailed to Bickly.

On my first trip I left Chislehurst about 2 late, by the time I got the Station I was near 3 early, so I sat there for 5mins (I did make an announcement to the thin air on my bus (Practising my PA skills #HelloLondon )), anyway this was the same story most of the night, waiting out time at bus stops ect, I tried everything to lose time, the only place that I found was possible to lose time was Orpington High Street, but then going 4 stops down the road you'll make up all the time you lost, it's like a mission to lose time on this route, anyway, my last trip proved this, I left Chislehurst 4 mins late, and served every single bus stop along the route and lowered the bus at every single stop and I was still gaining time somehow  ?!?!?!?!? at orpington I was 2 mins late, by the time I was at Chelsfield I was only 30 seconds late. The times just seem a little excessive to me really, if we actually had any passengers it wouldn't really be a problem and I wouldn't be moaning but we don't, the last R7, I didn't pick anyone up and that wasn't because I was driving past them , I stopped at every single stop, even at orpington station I couldn't entice anyone to take a trip on the great and wonderful R7 anyway, I do actually like the route, the people are nice and it's nice to drive, pleasant and easy.

Clearly Stagecoach and TfL took a "risk averse" view on the run times for what was a fairly radically restructured route. It's only been 3 months since the changeover so it will take time for new and extra passengers to emerge in what is a pretty quiet, low use part of the network. I dare say things will improve and once there's a decent amount of route performance data then the schedule may well get tweaked a bit to remove some of the "flab". Shame it's so far away as I need to fill in my various Orpington "gaps".

[sid]

Jul 5, 2017 10:38:00 GMT VPL630 said:

Last night and tonight I'm the last bus on the R7, I quite like the route, I'd like it more if the running time wasn't so excessive but I can't really moan about having too much time can I ? Yesterday was the first time I have driven the route from Chislehurst as previously when I've driven it, it's been curtailed to Bickly.

On my first trip I left Chislehurst about 2 late, by the time I got the Station I was near 3 early, so I sat there for 5mins (I did make an announcement to the thin air on my bus (Practising my PA skills #HelloLondon )), anyway this was the same story most of the night, waiting out time at bus stops ect, I tried everything to lose time, the only place that I found was possible to lose time was Orpington High Street, but then going 4 stops down the road you'll make up all the time you lost, it's like a mission to lose time on this route, anyway, my last trip proved this, I left Chislehurst 4 mins late, and served every single bus stop along the route and lowered the bus at every single stop and I was still gaining time somehow  ?!?!?!?!? at orpington I was 2 mins late, by the time I was at Chelsfield I was only 30 seconds late. The times just seem a little excessive to me really, if we actually had any passengers it wouldn't really be a problem and I wouldn't be moaning but we don't, the last R7, I didn't pick anyone up and that wasn't because I was driving past them , I stopped at every single stop, even at orpington station I couldn't entice anyone to take a trip on the great and wonderful R7 anyway, I do actually like the route, the people are nice and it's nice to drive, pleasant and easy.

The R7 seems a lovely little route to me when I've ridden it, I did hear one driver complaining about insufficient running time although this was during the daytime.

[VPL630]

Jul 5, 2017 10:43:50 GMT snoggle said:

Jul 5, 2017 10:38:00 GMT VPL630 said:

Last night and tonight I'm the last bus on the R7, I quite like the route, I'd like it more if the running time wasn't so excessive but I can't really moan about having too much time can I ? Yesterday was the first time I have driven the route from Chislehurst as previously when I've driven it, it's been curtailed to Bickly.

On my first trip I left Chislehurst about 2 late, by the time I got the Station I was near 3 early, so I sat there for 5mins (I did make an announcement to the thin air on my bus (Practising my PA skills #HelloLondon )), anyway this was the same story most of the night, waiting out time at bus stops ect, I tried everything to lose time, the only place that I found was possible to lose time was Orpington High Street, but then going 4 stops down the road you'll make up all the time you lost, it's like a mission to lose time on this route, anyway, my last trip proved this, I left Chislehurst 4 mins late, and served every single bus stop along the route and lowered the bus at every single stop and I was still gaining time somehow  ?!?!?!?!? at orpington I was 2 mins late, by the time I was at Chelsfield I was only 30 seconds late. The times just seem a little excessive to me really, if we actually had any passengers it wouldn't really be a problem and I wouldn't be moaning but we don't, the last R7, I didn't pick anyone up and that wasn't because I was driving past them , I stopped at every single stop, even at orpington station I couldn't entice anyone to take a trip on the great and wonderful R7 anyway, I do actually like the route, the people are nice and it's nice to drive, pleasant and easy.

Clearly Stagecoach and TfL took a "risk averse" view on the run times for what was a fairly radically restructured route. It's only been 3 months since the changeover so it will take time for new and extra passengers to emerge in what is a pretty quiet, low use part of the network. I dare say things will improve and once there's a decent amount of route performance data then the schedule may well get tweaked a bit to remove some of the "flab". Shame it's so far away as I need to fill in my various Orpington "gaps".

I totally agree and I don't blame stagecoach or tfl for having such a slack timetable, it's just a bit of a bore at the moment

[Paul]

Jul 5, 2017 11:42:06 GMT sid said:

Jul 5, 2017 10:38:00 GMT VPL630 said:

Last night and tonight I'm the last bus on the R7, I quite like the route, I'd like it more if the running time wasn't so excessive but I can't really moan about having too much time can I ? Yesterday was the first time I have driven the route from Chislehurst as previously when I've driven it, it's been curtailed to Bickly.

On my first trip I left Chislehurst about 2 late, by the time I got the Station I was near 3 early, so I sat there for 5mins (I did make an announcement to the thin air on my bus (Practising my PA skills #HelloLondon )), anyway this was the same story most of the night, waiting out time at bus stops ect, I tried everything to lose time, the only place that I found was possible to lose time was Orpington High Street, but then going 4 stops down the road you'll make up all the time you lost, it's like a mission to lose time on this route, anyway, my last trip proved this, I left Chislehurst 4 mins late, and served every single bus stop along the route and lowered the bus at every single stop and I was still gaining time somehow  ?!?!?!?!? at orpington I was 2 mins late, by the time I was at Chelsfield I was only 30 seconds late. The times just seem a little excessive to me really, if we actually had any passengers it wouldn't really be a problem and I wouldn't be moaning but we don't, the last R7, I didn't pick anyone up and that wasn't because I was driving past them , I stopped at every single stop, even at orpington station I couldn't entice anyone to take a trip on the great and wonderful R7 anyway, I do actually like the route, the people are nice and it's nice to drive, pleasant and easy.

The R7 seems a lovely little route to me when I've ridden it, I did hear one driver complaining about insufficient running time although this was during the daytime.

During the day it's almost impossible to get through Orpington on time. I generally find that Chislehurst to Orpington Station isn't too bad although the running time could be tweaked a little. You then run late through Orpington and are late at Chelsfield. Little recovery time at Chelsfield generally means you leave there late and then lose more time going back through Orpington. By the time you're back at Orpington Station you're probably 5-8 minutes late but the running time through to Chislehurst mean you can get back to Chislehurst only a couple of minutes down and then leave there on time again

Dave is right about the late trips through - very, very lightly used and lots of hanging around. I've found that we're really only carrying people between Orpington Station and Chelsfield on those really late trips (if we pick anyone up at all)

I do like the new extensions though but I've always preferred longer routes anyway

[VPL630]

Jul 6, 2017 8:48:51 GMT Paul said:

Jul 5, 2017 11:42:06 GMT sid said:

The R7 seems a lovely little route to me when I've ridden it, I did hear one driver complaining about insufficient running time although this was during the daytime.

During the day it's almost impossible to get through Orpington on time. I generally find that Chislehurst to Orpington Station isn't too bad although the running time could be tweaked a little. You then run late through Orpington and are late at Chelsfield. Little recovery time at Chelsfield generally means you leave there late and then lose more time going back through Orpington. By the time you're back at Orpington Station you're probably 5-8 minutes late but the running time through to Chislehurst mean you can get back to Chislehurst only a couple of minutes down and then leave there on time again

Dave is right about the late trips through - very, very lightly used and lots of hanging around. I've found that we're really only carrying people between Orpington Station and Chelsfield on those really late trips (if we pick anyone up at all)

I do like the new extensions though but I've always preferred longer routes anyway

I only do late jobs so I've no idea what it's like before 4pm really, what I do know is the world and his wife wanted my bus yesterday and on my first rounder I picked up more people that I did throughout the entirety of the day before, I had 36306 and oh wow this bus was good, was like a little rocket, the flip out ramps are pretty cool too.

[VPL630]

So first day back at Leyton, done 2 code reds, got stuck in 2 road closures, 2 diversions separate to all this, all in 3 rounders on the 56, ah well, let's see what the 55 brings tomorrow

[VPL630]

Looks like I’m on the 257 rota from the first day, no mention of when route learning will happen, Drivers are currently being cab familiarised

[VPL630]

So I’m on the 498 today the most easternly route we operate on the north side and tomorrow I’m on the 96 which is the most easternly route on the south side

[john]

Oct 4, 2017 13:11:43 GMT VPL630 said:

So I’m on the 498 today the most easternly route we operate on the north side and tomorrow I’m on the 96 which is the most easternly route on the south side

Is the 498 the most easterly?? 372 can't be far off surely?

[nickfreckle]

I had a butchers on a map earlier - Brentwood Sainsbury just shades it over Lakeside. Not much in it though. If we had the 370, that would be the winner!

[john]

Oct 5, 2017 15:16:49 GMT nickfreckle said:

I had a butchers on a map earlier - Brentwood Sainsbury just shades it over Lakeside. Not much in it though. If we had the 370, that would be the winner!

I was praying we would get the 370, my local route 😂😂😂 such a cool route to drive with the lanes too

[nickfreckle]

Oct 5, 2017 21:40:06 GMT john said:

Oct 5, 2017 15:16:49 GMT nickfreckle said:

I had a butchers on a map earlier - Brentwood Sainsbury just shades it over Lakeside. Not much in it though. If we had the 370, that would be the winner!

I was praying we would get the 370, my local route 😂😂😂 such a cool route to drive with the lanes too

Was my local route too as a kid. Although back then it was Romford - Tilbury Ferry, then Tilbury Asda Store, then cut back to Grays, eventually becoming a shadow of it's former self today to Lakeside - not forgetting it's sister 371, which was line of route to Ford Place in Ockendon where it turned left towards Aveley, then right past Belhus shops, right down Arisdale Avenue, right to West Road and Ockendon Station, when it then it rejoined the 370 route where it turned left in to North Road South Ockendon. 

I don't really count 373 as it's sister as that was Chadwell St Mary Brentwood Road Estate start, and went all around the houses to Romford, barely meeting the 370 route at all. 

I'm even old enough to remember when it went straight up through Hornchurch past the old RD Bus Garage instead of the arse about face way it now goes through Emerson Park. 

[john]

Oct 6, 2017 7:12:01 GMT nickfreckle said:

Oct 5, 2017 21:40:06 GMT john said:

I was praying we would get the 370, my local route 😂😂😂 such a cool route to drive with the lanes too

Was my local route too as a kid. Although back then it was Romford - Tilbury Ferry, then Tilbury Asda Store, then cut back to Grays, eventually becoming a shadow of it's former self today to Lakeside - not forgetting it's sister 371, which was line of route to Ford Place in Ockendon where it turned left towards Aveley, then right past Belhus shops, right down Arisdale Avenue, right to West Road and Ockendon Station, when it then it rejoined the 370 route where it turned left in to North Road South Ockendon. 

I don't really count 373 as it's sister as that was Chadwell St Mary Brentwood Road Estate start, and went all around the houses to Romford, barely meeting the 370 route at all. 

I'm even old enough to remember when it went straight up through Hornchurch past the old RD Bus Garage instead of the arse about face way it now goes through Emerson Park. 

The oldest I remember it was just after it got sent via Slewins Lane but still had the Atlanteans. Think I rode them once in my life lol. I, however, had my childhood in Harold Hill so had the delights of the 87, 174 and 296 in my very young days PLUS the 151. Obviously that all changed to 174, 374, 496 and 551/751 but still, got some good days lol. Also remember the 2, Southend to Walthamstow. Now that was one hell of a route!!!

[VPL630]

Oct 6, 2017 8:00:20 GMT john said:

Oct 6, 2017 7:12:01 GMT nickfreckle said:

Was my local route too as a kid. Although back then it was Romford - Tilbury Ferry, then Tilbury Asda Store, then cut back to Grays, eventually becoming a shadow of it's former self today to Lakeside - not forgetting it's sister 371, which was line of route to Ford Place in Ockendon where it turned left towards Aveley, then right past Belhus shops, right down Arisdale Avenue, right to West Road and Ockendon Station, when it then it rejoined the 370 route where it turned left in to North Road South Ockendon. 

I don't really count 373 as it's sister as that was Chadwell St Mary Brentwood Road Estate start, and went all around the houses to Romford, barely meeting the 370 route at all. 

I'm even old enough to remember when it went straight up through Hornchurch past the old RD Bus Garage instead of the arse about face way it now goes through Emerson Park. 

The oldest I remember it was just after it got sent via Slewins Lane but still had the Atlanteans. Think I rode them once in my life lol. I, however, had my childhood in Harold Hill so had the delights of the 87, 174 and 296 in my very young days PLUS the 151. Obviously that all changed to 174, 374, 496 and 551/751 but still, got some good days lol. Also remember the 2, Southend to Walthamstow. Now that was one hell of a route!!!

]

I remember the 151 351 551 and 751, Those Darts earned there living for sure