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Post by rmz19 on Aug 11, 2016 11:22:46 GMT
Now that TFL are stupidly proceeding with their monumentally pathetic idea of rerouting the 436 to Battersea Park, have they even considered that their intention of increasing the 36's frequency to x4 mins off peak and x5 mins off peak might be a bit excessive for the route's northern end? Alternate journies being out of the question (something I don't advocate anyway), I wonder how TFL are going to approach this matter. Perhaps there'll be short journeys to Paddington in the timetable. Slightly annoyed that Lewisham loses a direct link but more 36 buses from NX will make up for that I guess. Ah so back to the old days of alternate journies I suppose...the irony  |
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Post by rmz19 on Aug 11, 2016 11:16:19 GMT
Now that TFL are stupidly proceeding with their monumentally pathetic idea of rerouting the 436 to Battersea Park, have they even considered that their intention of increasing the 36's frequency to x4 mins off peak and x5 mins off peak might be a bit excessive for the route's northern end? Alternate journies being out of the question (something I don't advocate anyway), I wonder how TFL are going to approach this matter.
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Post by rmz19 on Aug 11, 2016 0:42:14 GMT
Perhaps it's the yellow outline surrounding the upper deck rear and side windows that gives the illusion of a less 'bulbous' and more angular appearance? Actually those grilles are what makes the E400H City look great, very modern and sleek, much like the MMC. I agree with you regarding the placement of the upper tail lights , it looks more pleasant with them positioned further up just below the upper rear window. I think it might be the position of the rear number display and additional black area in the Blackpool livery that makes them look a bit different Good points, I agree. Having analysed the differences in detail, I do prefer the rear layout of the Blackpool variant. It looks neater and the position of the rear blinds, upper tail lights and black surrounds suits the City's design very well. Just to add, the difference in appearance is perhaps exacerbated by the lighting and the photo angle somewhat obscuring a part of the upper rear window of the Blackpool variant, whereas on the CT plus version it appears more prominent. |
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Post by rmz19 on Aug 9, 2016 11:32:31 GMT
Due to other routes serving different parts of Heathrow Airport i.e. Terminals 4 and 5, it would've been more logical to display: 'Heathrow Airport CENTRAL' for the sake of accuracy. For all we know, one may assume the 140 serves the entire airport when it doesn't.
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Post by rmz19 on Aug 9, 2016 2:18:46 GMT
But there is no difference, it is the same  Only difference from the rear is the exhaust pipe. Maybe its the angle of the photo but the rear doesn't look so bulbous, it also doesn't have them ugly grilles and the upper deck rear lights are better situated just stating my opinion. Perhaps it's the yellow outline surrounding the upper deck rear and side windows that gives the illusion of a less 'bulbous' and more angular appearance? Actually those grilles are what makes the E400H City look great, very modern and sleek, much like the MMC. I agree with you regarding the placement of the upper tail lights , it looks more pleasant with them positioned further up just below the upper rear window. |
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Post by rmz19 on Aug 8, 2016 16:52:56 GMT
Me being very selfish, the longer the better so I can get a ride on a EI at some point in case they depart once the new BYD's enter service  The Ei's are much better than the EB's in my opinion, they have that lethal acceleration d*mn. On the other hand I feel the EBs are heavy and they seem to have a very very low top speed Both BYD EIs and EBs are great vehicles, they're both brilliant buses in their own right. However I prefer the latter as they are more akin to full size SDs in comparison, their longer and more cumbersome appearance make them look more appealing. As for ride quality, they're both great in that department. |
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Post by rmz19 on Aug 5, 2016 18:15:34 GMT
I'm on Boilmaster and it is living up to it's nickname. This bus is boiling. I wish TFL did something with the air conditioning. Haven't heard that one before  Did you take the fleet number and report it to TfL? Just to redress matters slightly I had a ride on LT490 earlier from Tottenham Court Road to Islington and it was fine, I didn't hear one person complaining  Not to sound harsh, but you don't really have to 'hear one person complaining' to deduce that the Air Cooling systems on LTs aren't working properly. You're not really going to hear a passenger complaining and yelling out "It's so hot!" for instance are you. It may have been 'fine' for you on LT490, but things being fine is besides the point. Either their Air Cooling systems work properly or don't, and from my frequent observations most don't, only a select amount do. |
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Post by rmz19 on Aug 5, 2016 11:19:30 GMT
Several Abellio QB buses are in service with a sign in the rear window saying "On test for TFL". They are on several different routes but appear to be only on a few buses. Anybody know whats going on. From TfL: From today (Friday 5 August), a number of buses on route 344 are displaying real-time traffic information using digital information boards. This innovative technology will be trialled on buses between Clapham Junction and Liverpool Street to help drivers avoid congestion and improve their journeys. The buses have been fitted with electronic boards by Equitech IT Solutions, which use GPS technology to give accurate and up-to-date traffic information. The information is taken from the TfL Variable Message Sign network, which is fed from the 24-hour traffic control centre. The trial will be introduced on a further bus route – route 415 between Tulse Hill and Liverpool Street – in the autumn. The digital information boards will not carry advertisements - have been installed without reducing the advertising potential of the buses. I see the potential for this to be a successful feature on buses, providing essential real time info that could also potentially benefit the public. However this should not be at the expense of blocking up the rear window, otherwise this defeats the purpose of having a rear window in the first place  The "ah we'll stick em ere" attitude suggests that this concept hasn't been well thought out. On the other hand, if TFL utilised LED blinds on buses then this idea wouldn't require that much effort, or cost for that matter. |
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Post by rmz19 on Aug 2, 2016 23:27:04 GMT
By 'direct'' I meant down Finchley Road and not via West Hampstead. I can remember the last time the 139 ran from Golders Green and the longer journey times it involved. What many of my neighbours are concerned about is the reduction of buses from GG to stops on Finchley Road. There are several schools on that section and many people take the bus to Finchley Road station and continue by train. I think that is just it, many people take the bus to Finchley Road station and continue by train. I was at Lords cricket ground recently and made a point of checking loads on passing buses and there was quite a bit of spare capacity. I suggested on another thread withdrawing the 13, increasing the 113 to 8bph (giving 16bph with the 82) and rerouting the 414 up Edgware Road to Kilburn High Road station then via the 31 to Swiss Cottage and the 13 to Golders Green. New links and maintains capacity between Golders Green and Finchley Road station. I agree with rerouting the 414, however Golders Green is too distant and the 414 would run into reliability issues with such a routing. My take on this would be to reroute the 414 via St. John's Wood Road and Prince Albert Road to Camden Town, introducing new links between Camden Town and Edgware Road/Knightsbridge etc. Also, this would provide St. John's Wood Road a service. Alternatively, the 414 could be terminate at Kilburn High Road instead to assist the 16. |
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Post by rmz19 on Jul 31, 2016 23:20:25 GMT
As far as I'm aware, Quality Lines single decker fleet all have certain speed restrictions - the OP's are limited to 27mph & the OV's to 35mph. The SD's are also probably limited to 27 & the OM's probably limited to 35 though I can't 100% confirm. 27mph?! That's borderline stationary |
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Post by rmz19 on Jul 29, 2016 11:15:15 GMT
OK I'll stop bashing the Omnicities if people do likewise for the NRMS! Not much chance of that eh! Seriously though all respect to you for your opinion. Even in my eyes they do have some redeeming features. The external styling ain't bad, but best of all I've found them to be just about the only bus (plus maybe the MMCs) that has air cooling that really works on a hot day. If only the bus companies world strip out the horrible seats and replace them with the same seats that most Stagecoach buses have, that would be a vast improvement. In the meantime TfL should be advising passengers to bring their own cushions if they wish to take a long journey on one. I remain sir, a huge NRM fan. It's not the seats that are the issue really. If you sort the suspension, you instantly improve the ride massively - there's a few Omnicitys I've used where the suspension seems to have been modified in this respect. Also, Stagecoach's & London United refurbed Omnicity DD's have more padding than originally and so are more comfortable.So it's the seats rather than the suspension that are responsible for the Omnicity's comfortable ride or lack thereof?  Perhaps it's both that are responsible for its notoriously tough ride. Whereas the Olympus had comfortable padded seats, and that made a slight difference as their seats somewhat absorbed bumps and shocks. However, I agree that there needs to be a bit of give in the suspension of the Scania chassis to enable a smooth ride regardless of seats. |
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Post by rmz19 on Jul 28, 2016 22:45:48 GMT
I've not been to LOB for a while but surely with the works at London Bridge transferring to the north side of the station from the end of August that should allow use of the bus station to return to normal? The new NR concourse partly opens then meaning temporary ticket offices and other things can be removed from the bus station area. Walking routes will also change with the new entrance to the south side of the station plus different routes from the tube. Happy to be corrected if it's not NR works that are the issue in the bus station. If they put Deathmasters on the 48 it's just another reason not to use buses any more. I'm now very philosophical about all this - if the buses are crap then I stop using them and stop travelling as much. If TfL keep deploying buses I won't use then I don't use them. Pretty simple really. I'm half expecting TfL to put them on the 123 and the W11 as well just so all my bus travels are ruined.   Clearly "Weston's Revenge" (he said in a mood of extreme paranoia  ). If the existing Omnicities on the 48 haven't put you off travelling by bus for life, nothing will! I assure you it's the total opposite for me! Omnicities only make me want to travel by bus even more, save the tough suspension I can't say anything negative about them, ditto the O lympus  |
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Post by rmz19 on Jul 28, 2016 11:41:42 GMT
Just a thought - with the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street in mind, Cavendish Square could be redeveloped into a major bus hub to save all routes currently terminating at Oxford Circus. Terminating routes could use Wigmore Street and through routes could be rerouted via Brook Street to avoid congesting either roads. If my desire of TFL consulting this idea actually happens, then this would be the only instance I would agree with them not giving a crap about opposition from the public just as they usually do |
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Post by rmz19 on Jul 28, 2016 11:33:34 GMT
If it is the proposed plan that has been mentioned the famous route 13 will be saved and will be sent safely to Victoria. I think now it is confirmed Oxford street is being pedestrianised the route will ultimately have to go and there is no way tfl will send every Oxford street to Aldwych routes on diversion along other roads and the 13 has arguably less purpose as opposed to the 139 to waterloo and the 6 that it would seem carries more outside zone 1 then the 13 means the current 13 will likely go come 2020 anyway. Personally, I would go to the extent of curtailing the 82 to Marble Arch and extending the 13 to Victoria just to save the latter route. The Finchley Road corridor needs all the capacity it can get and reducing frequencies wouldn't do any justice whatsoever. Otherwise the 13 should still continue to terminate at Aldwych with a reduced frequency, or it could be curtailed to Piccadilly Circus to arguably avoid duplicating the 6/23/139. |
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Post by rmz19 on Jul 26, 2016 22:21:36 GMT
I don't really look at the charts. The way I find my music now is on the Radio, YouTube, Social Media and I actively follow current activities of musicians I'm a fan of online.
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Only difference from the rear is the exhaust pipe.
The "ah we'll stick em ere" attitude suggests that this concept hasn't been well thought out. On the other hand, if TFL utilised LED blinds on buses then this idea wouldn't require that much effort, or cost for that matter.
Perhaps it's both that are responsible for its notoriously tough ride. Whereas the Olympus had comfortable padded seats, and that made a slight difference as their seats somewhat absorbed bumps and shocks. However, I agree that there needs to be a bit of give in the suspension of the Scania chassis to enable a smooth ride regardless of seats.
Clearly "Weston's Revenge" (he said in a mood of extreme paranoia 
).