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Post by rmz19 on Jun 13, 2016 16:18:41 GMT
The rear overhang on these is a nuisance, ditto the MMC version, it's down to the B5LH chassis. The great MAN MCV SD is also a culprit of this problem. If you analyse the rear end of every B5LH bus in London you will find a lot of them are either dented or scratched one way or another. It's a shame knowing the fact that when new it's only a matter of days for these imperfections to appear and ruin their appeal, in turn incurring costs for cosmetic repair. It isn't that bad. The Scanias also have a long rear overhang. I don't hear of the horror stories at other garages that have the B5LH that you mention. Just have to use a bit of care taking tight turns and drive defensively. Yes it isn't that bad in general. However on the Omnicity the distance between the front and rear axle is longer, it also has a more equal balance between the front and rear overhang whereas on the B5LH it's shorter and relatively imbalanced respectively, hence the increased tailswing with the latter.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 12, 2016 11:10:30 GMT
The rear overhang isn't as bad as you think tbh. We have a couple of routes with tightish sections (248 and 365, more so the 365) and they get round with no issues It is on these babies. (not my picture - robbed from Flikr) Only PD and TL have them. theres always one in the bay having the back end repaired... The rear overhang on these is a nuisance, ditto the MMC version, it's down to the B5LH chassis. The great MAN MCV SD is also a culprit of this problem. If you analyse the rear end of every B5LH bus in London you will find a lot of them are either dented or scratched one way or another. It's a shame knowing the fact that when new it's only a matter of days for these imperfections to appear and ruin their appeal, in turn incurring costs for cosmetic repair.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 11, 2016 23:58:13 GMT
Looks like the Central Line RRS is going swimmingly.
This sort of reminds me of the London Overground RRS I was on between Willesden Junction and Gunnersbury last Summer, it was on a Sunday with a half hourly service. The driver got lost in the Park Royal area heading s/b despite there being adequate signage as well as a few passengers (myself incuded) giving directions towards Acton Central. After a narrow escape from a low bridge, a few dashes along the A40, a triple run through East Acton, an awkward U-Turn and a nice detour around White City and Shepherd's Bush we eventually got to Gunnersbury...oh and the RRS behind caught up to us at Gunnersbury! There must be something about the roads in West London
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 11, 2016 11:00:24 GMT
Both pedestrians involved in 2 collisions on Oxford Street within two days have now sadly passed away, the second fatality being in the early hours of this morning. Very sad indeed, my deepest sympathies go to their families and loved ones. I suppose pedestrianising Oxford Street couldn't be more justified now ...athough I still oppose it.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 9, 2016 0:24:26 GMT
Currently, there are 8 lengths of Enviro 200 MMC available - 8.9m, 9.7m, 10.4m, 10.7m, 10.8m, 11.1m, 11.5m & 11.8m with 8.9m, 9.7m & 10.8m examples (can't remember if there is any 10.4m ones in London) already present in London. The 10.7m (this is the 6 cylinder version of the 10.4m) & 11.5m ones, at a guess, are more for the provincial operators which may suggest that both the 11.1m & 11.8m (another 6 cylinder version, this time of the 11.5m) ones could possibly be the trial vehicles in question though surely, the BYD MMC Enviro 200's due for the 507 & 521 this summer are around the 11.8m length. Strangely enough, the 11.1m version hasn't got a seating configuration shown on the brochure on ADL's website unlike the other lengths mentioned. As the 507 and 521 are getting more new buses, this means there will be a total of four different types that will operate/have operated on both routes in a relatively short space of time i.e. the MEC/BYD/Irizar/BYD MMC which I believe are all 12m in length, although the Irizar appears somewhat shorter for some reason. So what will happen to the former three types?
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 6, 2016 19:35:41 GMT
Hi 'phoenixcronin' and welcome to the forum I'm glad you've mentioned this as I thought I was the only one who noticed it. It may be minor, but I also wondered why Stagecoach's examples still have the older headlight design without the groove yet other E200/E400s started to have them since 2011. Perhaps it is simply down to aesthetic reasons on Stagecoach's behalf? I prefer the newer design as it adds a difference to an otherwise relatively bland headlight design.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 6, 2016 0:10:56 GMT
I don't see the 53 as being particularly vulnerable to cutting. My 'worst case scenario' plans I haven't published have the 53 restored to Whitehall with enhancement between there and Deptford, and the 453 withdrawn : no point really in this route existing with no quick access across Oxford Circus... Eeek! Hope that doesn't happen. The 453 is a major route for South London. I don't even what to imagine what the 53 will be like between New Cross and Elephant... Indeed. Cutting the 453 is a very bad idea, witnessing rammed 453s on a regular basis justifies its existence.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 5, 2016 23:22:51 GMT
I think lambeth north is a pointless terminal point. Either restore it to Whitehall or cut it to Elephant and used the saved resources to provide a better service for the rest of the route that still gets very busy through. Or divert it at County Hall to go past St Thomas to vauxhall as that area develops. Agreed. Although TBH I also thought the 53's original terminus was a slightly random one given that Trafalgar Square is only metres away. Despite its close proximity to Trafalgar Square, I'd rather the 53 go up Whitehall and serve Trafalgar Square to allow passengers to alight there. The 53 could then return via Northumberland Avenue and Great Scotland Yard, a bus stop for the s/b 53 could be situated on the latter just before turning left on to Whitehall, consequently the 53 wouldn't have to serve the following Whitehall, Horse Guards stop.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 5, 2016 0:13:17 GMT
Ive heard that there will be a consultation soon on Oxford Street pedestrianisation in the Autumn with various options like part-pedestrianisation, full, removing taxis and some buses with some routes using adjacent back roads. Can anyone confirm this? I get the feeling it wont be until late 2017 before anything actually changes. I believe the middle underground section of Crossrail opens then as well so they could coincide it with that. Wigmore Street is bad enough all ready, God knows what it will be like then That's what I was thinking. Perhaps Brook Street on the opposite side could become bi-direcitional or be modified to accommodate a contraflow bus lane for the rest of the routes instead of confining all buses along Wigmore Street.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 4, 2016 1:15:40 GMT
Sir Peter Hendy has been mentioned in Evening standard as saying that Sadiq Khan will have to cut buses to meet his fares pledge Evening Standard linkThe increasingly likely pedestrianisation of Oxford Street will take care of a number of buses sadly. I decided to have a go at planning a new zone 1 bus network using 'worst case scenario' (closure of Oxford Street from Marble Arch - TCR, including right across Oxford Circus, meaning all the buses in Regent Street go too). An awful lot of buses, and quite a number of whole routes would vanish down the ether I won't publish it here, because you'll all hate me lol I'm guessing your Zone 1 bus network plan resembles a giant Sinkhole in the middle of a city...all bus routes leading to the edge of Central London and Zone 1 being completely void of buses
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Post by rmz19 on May 31, 2016 11:29:05 GMT
Sadly it's by no means uncommon, of course the rest of the country has moved on to the far more reliable LED's but I digress. LEDs are just as unreliable as Smartblinds - you think the amount of Smartblinds you actually see broken isn't really that many in the grand scheme of things. I would say equally as many LEDs have failed or had something go wrong with them. Just to give an example look what I saw yesterday: The bus came in on the 1 to High Wycombe and left on the A40 to Heathrow but only half the sign changed leaving this rather amusing '1 High Wathrow' display. All of you who moan about London using blinds and everywhere else using LEDs fail to see both how much better blinds look and the fun in seeing what's on them. I agree that there can be impracticalities like buses not blinded for certain routes but really that's down to an operator and not necessarily the blinds themselves. As for failures - like I say - it's just as common with LEDs. There is no denying that LED blind failures are also a common occurence and aren't perfect (nothing is!). But the fundamental difference between LED and Smartblind technology is when the former fails it is much less costly to rectify as opposed to the latter. LEDs are digitally generated whereas Smartblinds are mechanically controlled, so imagine if the automatic Smartblind scrolling mechanism goes bust, the blinds themselves break or the backlight fails to function? I'll leave it down to you to decide which is more cost effective On a personal note, while Smartblinds look neat and professional, LED blinds look more aesthetically appealing and can be enhanced by the added bonus of displaying useful dynamic information (all in white of course ) Additionally, LED blinds saves the added hassle of implementing specific blinds for different operators, the irony is evident in this completely unnecessary practice considering how TFL are so stringent on cost effectiveness these days.
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Post by rmz19 on May 30, 2016 19:58:10 GMT
Actually I would say the N VLAs are quieter in comparison. That particular VPL's roar is unlike the typical roar most buses emit, I forgot to mention that it was emitting the same sound when stationary as well! I remember seeing a similar VPL on the 17 last year but not sure if it's the exact same one or not. I know the VP you're speaking, it's a high end 400 series vehicle and it's very distinctive, the fan bellows and reminds me a little of a road sweeper when idle. In fact it was a LWB VPL I saw on both occasions. IIRC VPL596 was the vehicle I saw on the first occasion, my familiarity with this particular vehicle may be down to its distinctive cooling fan noise although I'm uncertain.
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Post by rmz19 on May 30, 2016 11:05:26 GMT
There was one ridiculously loud unidentified VPL operating on the 17 last Wednesday afternoon. It was sitting in traffic at London Bridge and the cooling fan turned on, it sounded like what can only be described as a mix between a jet engine and a wind turbine with a distinctive medium pitched whine. This was heard from across the bridge in heavy traffic, just to give you a sense of perspective The N VLA's are exactly like that, absolute loud buggers. I heard one the other on Leigham Court Road about 15-20 seconds before I saw it - I was a quarter of a mile up the road Actually I would say the N VLAs are quieter in comparison. That particular VPL's roar is unlike the typical roar most buses emit, I forgot to mention that it was emitting the same sound when stationary as well! I remember seeing a similar VPL on the 17 last year but not sure if it's the exact same one or not.
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Post by rmz19 on May 30, 2016 0:46:42 GMT
I think it's likely to do with the cooling fans instead? Haven't all the VPs and VPLs been fitted with quieter fans? The ones from AC certainly have. I can't remember the last time I heard a loud VP/VPL to be honest. There was one ridiculously loud unidentified VPL operating on the 17 last Wednesday afternoon. It was sitting in traffic at London Bridge and the cooling fan turned on, it sounded like what can only be described as a mix between a jet engine and a wind turbine with a distinctive medium pitched whine. This was heard from across the bridge in heavy traffic, just to give you a sense of perspective
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Post by rmz19 on May 29, 2016 11:08:53 GMT
LT239 is getting a revamped Rainbow livery.
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