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Post by rmz19 on Nov 23, 2015 21:40:59 GMT
Well as it's a test bus perhaps it's just an addition to the PVR? If this is the case then it's a good thing It's not an addition to the schedule. It just works NX175 which runs M-F peaks. The schedule is in TfL's new search facility. Ah ok I shall check the schedule online, thanks for the clarification.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 23, 2015 20:24:51 GMT
Was it a good idea to put the small Optare Electric Hybrid test bus on a route like the 108? I forsee overcrowding and breakdowns in the Blackwell Tunnel... Well as it's a test bus perhaps it's just an addition to the PVR? If this is the case then it's a good thing
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 23, 2015 12:17:30 GMT
What a smart looking bus, I like the simplicity and cleanness of its design. My only issue is the front lower windscreen, it would look better if it's larger by accommodating the space below where the 'Volvo' and 'EvoSeti' logos are, or at least if a black surround/bonded glass is implemented. Nevertheless it is among my favourite looking buses.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 20, 2015 13:05:50 GMT
Annoyingly all of those awful 08 reg Es on the 36 always have their blind box lights off which makes it difficult to see what's coming at night, unless they're ridiculously dim.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 20, 2015 2:28:14 GMT
I had a briliant journey home from an event at The O2 today which ended in the late evening, as there was time on my hands I decided to take the bus all the way home, which meant coming from the east and heading towards the west crossing right through Central London. I never ever could've imagined the journey taking just over an hour and twenty mins! This was thanks to the prompt arrivals and delightfully speedy journeys of both the 188 and 6, especially the former with the brilliant Euro 5 E40H being thrashed to the max The VWH on the latter was also a auick and comfy journey in which I nearly nodded off on, even it filling up didn't faze me or the speedy driver for that matter. A great journey home to end an otherwise busy day
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 16, 2015 12:34:40 GMT
I'm not sure about the layout of the roads along the 192 route, the last time I've used it was a few years back between Angel Road Superstores and Enfield a few times and I recall it was slightly busy back then, although not overcrowded as it was around noon. Can the route accommodate 9.6m/10.2m SDs? If so then that coupled with a frequency increase to x8-10 mins could solve the overcrowding situation and it's good riddance to those hideous 8.8m Streetlites. Extending the W8 from Picketts Lock to Tottenham Hale via Meridian Way and the 192 could also help, however this may not make a considerable difference to the 192 situation alone so it might be a welcoming addition to the 192 receiving either a capacity or frequency increase, having both (if possible) might be excessive.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 13, 2015 23:38:55 GMT
Very shocking and sad news, my deep thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones So much for increased security in Paris since last January...
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 13, 2015 17:40:45 GMT
As others have said, I think diverting the 185 wouldn't work as it would break too many links - at least this change only breaks the link east of New Cross. I'm still not keen on this proposal although I can see the value in providing a cross-Vauxhall link on this axis. Could the 156 be extended instead to say Camberwell or Peckham? On reflection, I can see that the 36/436 corridor needs a bit of tweaking but I would have said the core was the Paddington to Lewisham bit (ie the 436). What is demand like from Queens Park? Victoria or Vauxhall has always looked the natural place to end this leg but I assume that's not what the data says. There is plenty of demand to and from Queen's Park, especially in the Bayswater/Harrow Road area. However the 36's current frequency is a bit high for the route's western section so the sensible thing is to reduce it and curtail it to Peckham. Extending the 156 is questionable, while it provides a more direct alternative to the 345 to Battersea it would also overbus the Camberwell Green - Vauxhall section and wouldn't be a South London cross route. Another route that could cover the extension would be the 484, its lower frequency and capacity wouldn't add much to the common section in comparison to the 156, albeit it wouldn't seem like an ideal cross route either. Diverting the 185 may break the valueable Victoria link but if this ridiculous proposal is being prioritised then the 185 or even 484 seem like the more sensible choices. On the other hand, if I had a choice I wouldn't choose any of them and scrap this proposal leaving everything as they are with the exceptions of tweaking the 36/436 frequencies and curtailing the 36 to Peckham.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 13, 2015 13:09:48 GMT
The 436 appears to be the least worst option in comparison to the 185 which would have seen Denmark Hill, East Dulwich, Forest Hill and Catford lose their direct bus service to Victoria, where as the 436 only a small section between New Cross Gate and Lewisham would lose their direct service as the rest of the route is covered by the 36. I would say the 185 was the least worst option, I can't imagine many people travel on it from Catford to Victoria because it is so indirect and the other points on the route have alternative bus routes into Central London. The best option I think would be to leave things as they are and just reroute the 452 to Camberwell Green or Herne Hill with a modest reduction on the 36 from 10 to 8bph in line with the 436, in fact I've never understood why the 36 is more frequent than the 436, ideally they should both should have the same frequency but if anything the 436 should be more frequent as the Lewisham end is far busier than the Queens Park section. I agree with you regarding the 36/436 frequencies, It would be sensible to reduce the frequency of the 36 to x7-8 mins and increase the 436's to x6-7 mins, in essence swap frequencies to supply sufficient demand across both routes.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 13, 2015 0:36:32 GMT
I have no major issues regarding the 452 proposal, but I find the 436 consultation absolutely ridiculous. The reason of the introduction of the 436 was to allow the 36 to be reduced in length resulting in enhanced reliability as well as supporting it between Paddington and New Cross Gate, while still maintaining the Lewisham link. I don't see why the 436 should be rerouted to Battersea as it would prove useless and just place more pressure on the 36 with the pathetic anticipation of an increased frequency to x4 mins! The 436 should be left as it is. On a side note for any concerns regarding the 36's reliabilty, which is perfectly fine, curtail it to Peckham or more controversially Camberwell Green. I don't think a cross-south London link from the borough of Lewisham out to Battersea is a bad idea - we rather lack such links in South London - there's the 37, the P4 and not an awful lot else, so in that way, the 436 idea is decent. What is a bit of an issue is the lack of a Lewisham - Weat End link, hence my ideas above. If TfL were to, as typical, push these changes through in their entirety, an extension of the 453 to Lewisham would go some way to mitigate the loss of the 436 link. In that respect, a cross-south London link would be a good idea and I can see your point as the rerouted 436 would be an ideal representation of such a link. However as you've mentioned in one of your ideas which i'm fond of, the 185 would be a good choice to reroute to Battersea as this would form a cross-south London link while leaving the 436 to serve its purpose well. Also, extending the 453 to Lewisham would be a great idea as there would be a link between the West End and Lewisham.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 12, 2015 23:52:48 GMT
I have no major issues regarding the 452 proposal, but I find the 436 consultation absolutely ridiculous. The reason of the introduction of the 436 was to allow the 36 to be reduced in length resulting in enhanced reliability as well as supporting it between Paddington and New Cross Gate, while still maintaining the Lewisham link. I don't see why the 436 should be rerouted to Battersea as it would prove useless and just place more pressure on the 36 with the pathetic anticipation of an increased frequency to x4 mins! The 436 should be left as it is. On a side note for any concerns regarding the 36's reliabilty, which is perfectly fine, curtail it to Peckham or more controversially Camberwell Green.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 11, 2015 13:31:11 GMT
Sunray Avenue strikes me as a random terminus point for the 42 so I'm definitely for the 42 gaining a southern extension, but it's mentioned that this will "offer direct access from Dulwich to King's College Hospital", don't the 40/176/185 already provide this link? The 42's proposed extension will also form a somewhat awkward and indirect U-shape at the route's southern end.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 9, 2015 1:35:10 GMT
Argos reduced the price of the LG G3 for £199 recently! Not anymore. The LG G3 is probably the best affordable Smartphone you can get at the moment, and you won't be disappointed as it's pretty future-proof and rivals the majority of Smartphones out there. I know it's over your budget, but if you're willing to stretch to it you can still get one from CeX for around £200, this price reduces nearer to your desired budget depending on the condition and if it's locked to a network. Also have a browse through Ebay, the LG G3 is much more affordable online too
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 8, 2015 11:57:18 GMT
It looks like the 83 would be receiving a massive length reduction of over 4 miles, I suppose it's a sensible idea as it's running time can reach as much as 105 mins! The proposed 483 introduces a much needed link between Harrow and Ealing Broadway, however I can't see TFL neglecting the section between Ealing Broadway and Ealing Hospital so perhaps the 483 would replace the 83 along this stretch if this proposal becomes official. Regarding this proposal, I would extend the 483 to Southall as COBO mentioned, this would link Southall and Alperton/Harrow and provide assistance to the 207/427 along the common section. I would also curtail the 83 to Ealing Broadway only, it's a useful terminus for interchanging to/from the 83 and removing this link wouldn't go down well, this would make Hanger Lane overbussed but perhaps it's a small price to pay for something very beneficial.
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Post by rmz19 on Nov 5, 2015 13:04:31 GMT
I think we all knew the 7's permanent curtailment to Oxford Circus was coming, but this isn't a justified excuse to "help improve reliability by shortening the route". The route was fairly short anyway and hardly had reliability issues so I find this point invalid, whereas if TFL stated that they want to reduce buses along New Oxford Street than that would make sense because let's face it, this seems like the real reason. Regardless, it's a good proposal nonetheless.
The 10 is a logical choice to reroute via Russell Square, linking a wealth of tourist attractions including The British Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Olympia and not too far from the Science/Natural History/V&A museums, although this modification would make the route slightly busier than usual so the frequency should be increased to x7-9 mins. However it's debatable as to which is the best choice between the 10 and 390, the 10 loads quite well at Euston Square Station and along Gower Street in the peaks heading towards Knightsbridge/High St Ken/Hammersmith and supplements the 73 additionally to and from Hyde Park Corner and Park Lane. Then again the 390 is the slightly busier route (but not entirely) between Kings Cross and Marble Arch as it arguably provides more exclusive links at both ends of the common section, it also has a higher frequency than the 10 providing better assistance to the 73. I personally agree with rerouting the 10 instead of the 390. I'm also glad the 98 is returning back to Holborn as it has always been a useful and popular terminus.
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