London Buses.

[PM]

The reason that this has not happened, nor will ever happen, is that it would trigger a bunfight which would make the worst competitive excesses of the post-deregulation years look tame.

Competition is always good for passengers though, if it led to lower fares, perhaps route specific returns and quality incentives then that would only be a good thing. Competition, rarely excessive, no one should have any issue with provided it's not being paid for by the public purse, which it wouldn't be!

[Stuharris 6360]

TFL at it again, how long before you can't pay a taxi fare in cash!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34928601

[PM]

TFL at it again, how long before you can't pay a taxi fare in cash!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34928601

Yet more TfL inteference....

[barry619]

Competition is always good for passengers though, if it led to lower fares, perhaps route specific returns and quality incentives then that would only be a good thing. Competition, rarely excessive, no one should have any issue with provided it's not being paid for by the public purse, which it wouldn't be!

OK, so if it's such a good idea and would save lots of money why hasn't TfL implemented it?

The answer is that because it would lead to Oxford Street-esque bus jams throughout the capital as all and sundry chased passengers, coupled with the inevitable drop in standards with the removal of most effective regulation. It is just not happening, ever.

[winston]

I see that the Optare Metrocity EV demonstrator (100% fully electric vehicle) - YJ65 EOV - is currently be demonstrated with Go Ahead London on the route 108 service. I am guessing that this bus will probably get demonstrated with other operators in London and the UK as well.

Arriva & London United already have there own small fleets of them & have had 12months

[barry619]

I see that the Optare Metrocity EV demonstrator (100% fully electric vehicle) - YJ65 EOV - is currently be demonstrated with Go Ahead London on the route 108 service. I am guessing that this bus will probably get demonstrated with other operators in London and the UK as well.

Putting electric buses on the 108s would make sense, if that's the intention. The existing stock on there is a variety of sometimes very care-worn old junk, and I imagine that air quality in Blackwall Tunnel is very poor (and breathed in by many, given the state of traffic throug there), which the use of electric buses would go a small way to mitigating.

[JoNi]

TfL launch team to cracking down on congestion
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/november/test1

[Stuharris 6360]

TfL launch team to cracking down on congestion
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/november/test1

Lol, another waste of tax payers money.

[Stuharris 6360]

Don't know if anybody is in London tomorrow, but RM 903 will be operating extra journeys on the 139.

Timetable attached.

[Adam 404]

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/motoring/motoring-news/watch-bus-solihull-confuses-londoners-10565895
London Bus going to Solihull as part of a Land Rover Video.

[Tony]

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/motoring/motoring-news/watch-bus-solihull-confuses-londoners-10565895
London Bus going to Solihull as part of a Land Rover Video.

A little ironic that the bus was not a genuine London bus, but one new to Birmingham based Rotala!

[Stuharris 6360]

The following TfL contracts have been announced today:

Tranche 527

    72 re-awarded to London United with new Euro VI battery hybrid double decks (subject to removal of weight restriction on Hammersmith Bridge) PVR 18, start date 3 September 2016

Tranche 531

    148 (24 hour) re-awarded to London United with existing Euro 5 New Routemaster, PVR 25, start date 1 October 2016
    156 re-awarded to Abellio London with Existing Euro V diesel double decks, PVR 17. Start date 10 September 2016
    690 re-awarded to Arriva London South with Existing Euro III + SCRT and Euro V diesel double deck. PVR 0 - one bus from 133 allocation and one bus from 176 allocation. Start date 3 September 2016

Tranche 533

    137/N137 re-awarded to Arriva London South with Existing Euro V New Routemaster double deck. N137 operated by Euro VI hybrids from 319 allocation. PVR 31, start date 17 September 2016
    160 re-awarded to Arriva Kent Thameside with existing Euro V diesel double deck. PVR 12, Start date 17 September 2016
    199/N199 re-awarded to Stagecoach Selkent with Existing Euro V diesel and three new Euro VI diesel double deck, PVR 12. N199 allocation battery hybrid taken from day routes 47, 54 & 75. Start date 17 September 2016.
    381/N381 re-awarded to Abellio London with existing Euro V battery hybrid double deck vehicles currently allocated to routes 3& 211. PVR 19, start date 8 October 2016.
    660 awarded to Arriva Kent Thameside (currently Stagecoach Selkent) with one double deck from 492 allocation. Start date 17 September 2016
    P13 re-awarded to Abellio London with existing Euro V plus five new Euro VI single decks, PVR 11. Start date 8 October 2016.

[JoNi]

Sampled a couple of the new Enviro 400 City today.
Open airy and vastly better than Borismaster, well done ADL
Great view out the front, Cumfy seats, next stop info including "there will be a slight delay while the drivers change over at the next stop", don't get that on Platinum in Deritend! https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/b07aYh
https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/Hi4q6a

Be nice to have some in the West Midlands with local moquette.

[Stuharris 6360]

http://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/15/heatherwick-new-routemaster-london-bus-copying-enviro400h-alexander-dennis-limited/

[Kevin]

Sampled a couple of the new Enviro 400 City today.
Open airy and vastly better than Borismaster, well done ADL
Great view out the front, Cumfy seats, next stop info including "there will be a slight delay while the drivers change over at the next stop", don't get that on Platinum in Deritend! https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/b07aYh
https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/Hi4q6a

Be nice to have some in the West Midlands with local moquette.

What routes are they used on? Need to go have me a sample