On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 23:13:55 +0000, Robert Woolley
wrote:

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 19:47:37 +0000, Paul Corfield
wrote:

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 20:55:16 +0000, Robert Woolley
wrote:

[route 25 and getting to Whitechapel easily]

Well, you'll be glad to hear that Route 25 will receive articulated
buses in 2004 - which should help solve the crowding problems....

Rob

do you *really* believe that artics on the 25 will solve the crowding
problems for someone who has clearly stated they have real problems with
using the current low floor buses?

The 25 has ongoing problems with crowding.

Oh I know - I don't use it very often but it is horrifically overcrowded
at times.

The artics have fewer seats than a double decker and obviously a much
greater standing capacity - all my anecdotal evidence suggests you just
get a long single deck crush on artics on busy routes. I don't call that
a solution to crowding problems for the mobility impaired.

unless capacity goes up. I can't remember the headways on the 25 in
the am peaks but I'd be interest to see how the artics pan out.

But it is the way that capacity is delivered that is the issue here. I
have a very real concern that artics are not an adequate option in terms
of raising bus service quality on really busy trunk services like the 25
(or 18 or 12 or 73). I know it can be argued there are equal issues with
double deckers but at least there are more seats overall than on an
artic. I just think TfL have opted to provide rubber tired, diesel
powered shrunken tube trains on busy bus routes without trying other
options which would bring a real qualitative improvement to the bus
network.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!