The Last of the Bendy Buses
I’ve only travelled on a bendy bus once in London.
Route 29 Bendy Bus
As a passenger I don’t like single decker buses, as wherever you sit, you usually find that there is a lot of junk on the floor like cases, buggies and children. So when your eyesight like mine isn’t 100%, it’s better to get out of the way on a double-decker and only come down, when you want to get off.
So I sometimes wonder why Ken introduced these buses, if passengers don’t like them.
I’ve heard two theories.
In the first, the length is ideal for blocking junctions and slowing motorists.
And in the second, because they have multiple entrances, it means that a lot of revenue is not collected and that helps with reducing the cost of public transport to the general public.
I don’t know enough to judge why these buses were introduced. I don’t think many except fare dodgers are mourning their passing. As I took the picture, several people did get on the bus through the wrong door.
There’s a detailed article on the BBC about their problems.
Incidentally, I used to use the route 29 to get to school and sometimes to my father’s print works in Wood Green. But those buses were good old-fastioned RT‘s.
Camden Road Station
I ended up at Camden Road, where I raided the local Sainsburys to get some supplies for my journey to the football at Ipswich.
Camden Road is a typical Victorian station with some nice features including a proper tiled floor.
Let’s hope that they modenise it sympathtically.
A North London Line Panorama
The North London Line from Caledonian Road and Barnsbury to Camden Road is one of those journeys that every visitor to London should go on!
You travel across the city behind King’s Cross and St. Pancras stations, seeing all the new development for the High Speed Line to France and the buildings behind the station.
This video was taken on the trip I took yesterday.
For the best views sit on the south side of the train.
The North London Line is one of London’s hidden treasures, in that it links Stratford and the Olympic Park to Camden with its Market and on to Hampstead Heath, Kew Gardens and Richmond by the River Thames. The best place to start an adventure is from Highbury & Islington station which is also on the Victoria Line.
And to think the line was nearly closed in the 1960s Now that it has been upgraded with new trains, it is a real asset to London.
South From Tottenham Hale and Over the River Lee
Ever since I moved to West Suffolk and have been travelling to London, I’ve been fascinated by the view as the train goes over the marshes south of Tottenham Hale and over the River Lee, before disappearing amongst the houses, buildings and factories of East London.
So yesterday, I took a video from the train.
It looks a good place for a walk and there seem’s to be a propwe pub by the water. But how do you get there?
Returns at GAP
A couple of months ago, I bought a bag in GAP in Islington. Unfortunately, it had started to come apart at one of the seams. So I took it back yesterday and I was surprised to get a refund, as I didn’t have the receipt. So I spend the refund in the shop on a jumper for the winter!
The Anonymous Widower 