On 3 Feb, 21:34, Paul Corfield wrote:
On Thu, 3 Feb 2011 02:32:42 -0800 (PST), George

wrote:
I'm not sure how I've ignored 98% of what you've said but anyway, the
one or two hybrids on trial is one thing but the amount we have in
London is ridiculous, I notice those 'electric buses' that used to
operate on the 129 very rarely leave Walworth Garage nowadays.

Oh dear - a classic "one example means everything is crap" response.
Please explain why the problems with the Electrocities completely
override the undoubted success of the many Volvo, Optare, Wrightbus and
Alexander Dennis hybrids that are providing sterling daily service on
key radial routes like the 16, 24, 139, 76 and 141 plus single decks on
the 276, 371 and E8?

I am not aware of endemic problems with these later vehicles. Someone
has to take some risk in championing new technology and really only TfL
is big enough to help support the R&D efforts of bus manufacturers. I
will give a thumbs up to Stagecoach who have taken steps on their
commercial networks to pioneer bio-fuel vehicles and now hybrid deckers
for Oxford, Manchester and shortly for Newcastle and Sheffield. *These
have, of course, had government funding support.

If Oyster worked properly it would be great but quite clearly it
doesn't.

Oyster quite clearly does work. If it did not then millions of
transactions would go wrong every day and rather a lot of people would
have been sacked by now. The resultant chaos would not be tolerable
operationally or politically. I agree that there are particular issues
that require resolution. You know my views on that and they have not
changed for many months.

--
Paul C


Yes I won't deny that some hybrid types seem to be very reliable
(those on the 16 and 24 for example) but whether that justifies the
expense of them is another matter, yes they are interesting for
enthusiasts but not for the average passenger.

I think there are quite a few issues be resolved with Oyster as recent
news reports of pasengers being overcharged have highlighted.