On Mon, 19 May 2008 00:17:49 +0100, James Farrar
wrote:

On Sun, 18 May 2008 22:58:54 +0100, Paul Corfield
wrote:

Boris Johnson, the new
Mayor, wants to consign all of these to the scrap yard.

Is that actually true, or does he just want to stop using them on TfL
services?

It was a turn of phrase. What I understand is the "policy" position is
that bendy buses would be withdrawn from use on TfL services. What is
very unclear is how and when this will be done. The other aspect that
is unclear is whether the "new Routemaster" scheme is linked to the
bendy bus issue or not.

Only a few bendy routes are those previously run by RMs and thus we get
to an interesting issue about whether the new RM, if it is ever built,
would replace standard double decks on routes like the 13, 14, 19, 22,
390. Would they be deployed on routes like the 253 or 254 which are
very, very busy and were run with RMs years before but which could
justifiably be a stronger candidate for conversion back to crew than
some other routes? Would the new RM be put onto routes like the 18 or
29 which are bendy now but were OPO double deck for years before
conversion but which were frankly spending more time standing still at
stops than going anywhere.

None of this has been considered as far as I am aware - if it has then a
very tight lid is being kept on the details for probably understandable
reasons. You can imagine the campaigns to get the new RM on your local
service - bang goes the budget for the scheme.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!