Route 12 - bendy bus? Any more routes?

[Fossil]

Saw some route 12 buses were the bendy types today.. didn't see them a
couple of days earlier. Any more routes to become 'bendy'?


Thanks

Fossil

[Sunil Sood]

Post by Fossil
Saw some route 12 buses were the bendy types today.. didn't see them a
couple of days earlier.

Yes, I got an email from TfL about this last week:

"Route 12 will be changing from Saturday 6 November 2004 when new, modern
Bendy buses will replace the existing Routemasters. The buses will now
operate between Oxford Circus and Dulwich only. If you wish to travel on to
Notting Hill Gate, the route 94 and 390 have been extended to run from
Marble Arch. Marble Arch to Notting Hill Gate is also served by the 148,
which will now be running more often."

Since I have only been on Route 12 twice in my life - though very recently..
I guess they just scanned their database of Oystercard users for customers
who used them and they had an email address for.

Regards
Sunil

[Paul Corfield]

On Mon, 8 Nov 2004 01:48:18 -0000, "Sunil Sood"

Post by Sunil Sood

Post by Fossil
Saw some route 12 buses were the bendy types today.. didn't see them a
couple of days earlier.

"Route 12 will be changing from Saturday 6 November 2004 when new, modern
Bendy buses will replace the existing Routemasters. The buses will now
operate between Oxford Circus and Dulwich only. If you wish to travel on to
Notting Hill Gate, the route 94 and 390 have been extended to run from
Marble Arch. Marble Arch to Notting Hill Gate is also served by the 148,
which will now be running more often."

And the above goes to show that TfL know little about their own bus
network.

Route 94 has run down the Bayswater Road beyond Marble Arch for years
and years since taking over from the 88. The only problem is that the 94
is so full by the time it reaches Notting Hill Gate that you cannot get
on it. Route 390 is the only route that has been extended to cover for
the 12. It is correct that the 148 is being enhanced in frequency as it
offers a non Oxford St link from south London to the Bayswater Rd area
and parallels quite a lot of the 12.

[Mrs Redboots]

Post by Fossil
Saw some route 12 buses were the bendy types today.. didn't see them a
couple of days earlier. Any more routes to become 'bendy'?

Oh b*gg*r. I do hate bendies, and the 12 was often a good route to
Peckham for me, as a change from the 436. And sometimes in summer they
ran it open-topped, which was glorious.

[Tim Scott]

Gather 36 is going PVL subject to if they can have the PVL's made for them.

As for the 19, 38, 13, 14 and 22 who knows.

Post by Fossil
Saw some route 12 buses were the bendy types today.. didn't see them a
couple of days earlier. Any more routes to become 'bendy'?
Thanks
Fossil

[Mrs Redboots]

Post by Tim Scott
Gather 36 is going PVL subject to if they can have the PVL's made for them.
As for the 19, 38, 13, 14 and 22 who knows.

What is PVL, and what about the 159?

[Paul Corfield]

On Tue, 9 Nov 2004 14:25:15 +0000, Mrs Redboots

Post by Mrs Redboots

Post by Tim Scott
Gather 36 is going PVL subject to if they can have the PVL's made for them.

The official date for conversion is 29 Jan 2005. The buses are being
built now and the first 4 are due for delivery imminently. It is highly
likely that they will be placed into service quickly so as more arrive
the Routemasters will dwindle away. Get your pictures and Routemaster
rides now.

Post by Mrs Redboots

Post by Tim Scott
As for the 19, 38, 13, 14 and 22 who knows.

Err the 19 has been announced - it is getting double decks that are
identical to the ones on the 137. Conversion date is some time in April
2005 when the new contract starts.

There are rumbling rumours about the 13 going sooner rather than later
while the 14 and 22 are also rumoured for the earlier half of next year.
The 22 should have been placed out to tender by now but hasn't been - no
one (outside of TfL) knows why.

Post by Mrs Redboots
What is PVL, and what about the 159?

PVL is the code for a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7 low floor double
deck - similar to the buses that run on the 35 or 45.

No announcement yet on the 159.

[Mrs Redboots]

Post by Paul Corfield
PVL is the code for a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7 low floor double
deck - similar to the buses that run on the 35 or 45.

Thank you. Nice buses, those. But they aren't Routemasters.....

Post by Paul Corfield
No announcement yet on the 159.

Good. Long may it last! I have an American friend visiting next week,
and she's bound to want to go on a Routemaster, they all do!

[Paul & Meloney Dredge]

Post by Tim Scott
Gather 36 is going PVL subject to if they can have the PVL's made for them.
As for the 19, 38, 13, 14 and 22 who knows.

Post by Fossil
Saw some route 12 buses were the bendy types today.. didn't see them a
couple of days earlier. Any more routes to become 'bendy'?
Thanks
Fossil

Going PVL (double deck Volvo's) early in new year. First buses already
reported ready for delivery to London. None of the other routes including
159 announced yet.

Paul

[Tim Scott]

Gather 4 have already been made at Wigan.

I wonder if Putney is going to go WVL or MAL? Interesting if it went bendy
Putney is full as it is

Post by Paul & Meloney Dredge

Post by Tim Scott
Gather 36 is going PVL subject to if they can have the PVL's made for them.
As for the 19, 38, 13, 14 and 22 who knows.

Post by Fossil
Saw some route 12 buses were the bendy types today.. didn't see them a
couple of days earlier. Any more routes to become 'bendy'?
Thanks
Fossil

Going PVL (double deck Volvo's) early in new year. First buses already
reported ready for delivery to London. None of the other routes including
159 announced yet.
Paul

[Colin Rosenstiel]

Post by Tim Scott
Gather 4 have already been made at Wigan.
I wonder if Putney is going to go WVL or MAL? Interesting if it went
bendy Putney is full as it is

Chelverton Road please! Has it got room for bendies? The access to and
from the High St would be fun for bendies.

[Mait001]

Post by Tim Scott
I wonder if Putney is going to go WVL or MAL? Interesting if it went

Post by Tim Scott
bendy Putney is full as it is

Chelverton Road please! Has it got room for bendies? The access to and
from the High St would be fun for bendies.
--
Colin Rosenstiel

Colin,

"Fun" is hardly the word!

Having recently bumped my head on the window of a "bendy"as it went over a
kerbstone making the left-hand turn into the terminal point at Waterloo Road, I
went to remonstrate (politely) with the driver that this was not an acceptable
standard of driving.

He agreed and apologised. We were then joined by the travelling tciket
inspector (or whatever they are called) who suggested that we (he, the driver
and myself) form an action group to ban these ridiculously inappropriate buses!


So, it would seem, that even some (or indeed many) staff are hardly fans of
these monstrosities whose only fans seem to be that twit Londoner's stupidly
elected as Mayor for the second time, and his acolyte Peter Bendy Hendy.

Marc.

[Jonn Elledge]

Post by Mait001
Having recently bumped my head on the window of a "bendy"as it went over a
kerbstone making the left-hand turn into the terminal point at Waterloo Road, I
went to remonstrate (politely) with the driver that this was not an acceptable
standard of driving.
He agreed and apologised. We were then joined by the travelling tciket
inspector (or whatever they are called) who suggested that we (he, the driver
and myself) form an action group to ban these ridiculously inappropriate buses!
So, it would seem, that even some (or indeed many) staff are hardly fans of
these monstrosities whose only fans seem to be that twit Londoner's stupidly
elected as Mayor for the second time, and his acolyte Peter Bendy Hendy.

For what it's worth (not much, I know) I rather like the bendies. There are
some problems on some routes with bunching (73 and 25 seem to be the main
problems), but I think they're generally - when not running over kerbs at
least - a smoother and faster ride than other types of bus.

But then I always thought RMs looked good but were cramped and
uncomfortable, and would be perfectly happy never to travel on one again.

I realise I'm going against the grain here, but hey.

Jonn

[Mrs Redboots]

Post by Jonn Elledge
But then I always thought RMs looked good but were cramped and
uncomfortable, and would be perfectly happy never to travel on one again.
I realise I'm going against the grain here, but hey.

My main problems with the bendies is that they don't have an upper deck!
I do hate standing on a bus, and you so often can't get a seat on
single-decker buses. And then I end up not being able to see out of the
front window, and feeling rather car-sick. Which also applies if I sit
in the extension. I'd far, far rather haul myself up the stairs of a
double-decker for a journey of any length.

[Helen Deborah Vecht]

Post by Mrs Redboots
My main problems with the bendies is that they don't have an upper deck!
I do hate standing on a bus,

I am a liability standing...

Post by Mrs Redboots
and you so often can't get a seat on
single-decker buses.

True. I *hate* asking but have to do this sometimes.

Post by Mrs Redboots
And then I end up not being able to see out of the
front window,

I rather like to know where I am, which is really difficult in some
places on many buses.

Post by Mrs Redboots
and feeling rather car-sick. Which also applies if I sit
in the extension. I'd far, far rather haul myself up the stairs of a
double-decker for a journey of any length.

I'd rather haul myself upstairs than either go without a seat or have to
ask for one. Frankly, I'd rather do neither but the fit young things
occupying the 'Priority' seats don't seem to have a clue. Talking of
which, the 'Priority Seat' stickers seem to be disappearing, making it
even more difficult for me to ask for a seat. Does anyone know why? I'm
sure some are being picked off, but there's no trace of some where there
really ought to be.

I will only go upstairs for a long trip (it was my choice yesterday to
watch the sunset from Edgware to St John's Wood yesterday) but I had to
go upstairs for my return trip (Gloucester Place to Golders Green) to
get a seat.

I am reasonably safe on stairs but really, I should not be going up...