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Paul Corfield · September 10th 04, 06:00 PM posted to uk.transport.london

On 10 Sep 2004 08:14:46 -0700, (Boltar) wrote:

(Mait001) wrote in message ...
Interesting alternative viewpoint re. the bendies.

Don't think the majority would agree with you though, somehow I think most
people will
continue to lament the passing of the Routemasters by the products of the
devil's
engineering works.......A double decker bus journey across London will
*always* be
preferable to any single decker cattle truck (bendy or otherwise).

Bring back the double deckers!

I wholeheartedly agree.

Marc.

I can't see any reason why there couldn't be double decked bendy buses
albeit the front section of the bus only (as I suspect though you could
articulate 2 decks it would be a bit hairy engineering wise).

There have been double deck bendy coaches produced by Neoplan for long
distance touring type holidays.

I think the main issue about double deck bendies would be that dwell
time at stops and termini would be much longer than with normal double
decks or single deck bendies. You then need far more vehicles to
maintain a given frequency or else the route has to become less
frequent. This is already the case to a limited extent with the bendy
bus conversions relative to double deck operation but that is more to do
with the fact that the same capacity can be provided with fewer buses
while not incurring longer dwell times. Part of TfL policy is to crush
more people into buses during the peaks as expansion of peak capacity
cannot really be afforded.

In another place a MD of one company that uses bendy buses in London
said very clearly that they had big advantages compared to say Hong Kong
style 12m double decks. One of big issues was over dwell time at stops -
particularly in busy places like Oxford Street where bus stop capacity /
occupancy is a key issue. While I understand the point he made I am not
100% convinced as big buses work in Hong Kong although given the very
high frequencies it is not uncommon to have for buses to queue to get
onto a stop.
--
Paul C

Admits to working for London Underground!