The Troubles With HMS Astute
These are reported in several papers like here in the Telegraph.
But then this is always the case with new defence projects. I always remember a non-working radar for the Tornado, that was known as Blue Circle, because it was just a concrete dummy. The story is in the Wikpedia entry for the aircraft.
Because of some delays to the radar, some development aircraft flew with a concrete weight in place of the radar assembly. In a nod to some other radar names of the day (Blue Parrot, Blue Fox) this was nicknamed Blue Circle – cynics suggested that at leastBlue Circle gave more consistent results. Unfortunately, the ‘Blue’ series radars were made by Ferranti – and the AI24 Foxhunter for the Tornado was made by GEC. At least one senior civil servant thought that the AI24 was a Ferranti-made radar as a result… (Ferranti made the antenna mounting assembly as a subcontractor to GEC. At least that bit was delivered on time and to budget, although they later discovered that GEC was blaming them for delays. Cute trick.)
British defence contractors never seem to get it right first time.
On the other hand new products usually don’t work a hundred percent of the time. I’ve seen a New Bus for London, that has broken down and they are rumoured to have the odd air-conditioning problem.
But then you could probably get 5,000 New Buses for London for the price of HMS Astute. And anyway with the bus, there’s usually another along in a few minutes.
Someone Who Doesn’t Like The New Bus for London
Yesterday, I met someone, who doesn’t like the New Bus for London. He was a bus controller at a main station, where there was a bit of chaos because of the diversions due to the Remembrance Day Parade.
He said they were unreliable, with particular problems with the air-conditioning. As they are a new product this is probably to be expected. And I do know that the air conditioning was rather a difficult thing to design and fit.
On the other hand, passengers and staff with direct experience of the New Buses for London, all seem to love them.
The Friendly Bus
New Buses for London get little criticism, except from those on the left, who think Boris should be running a whelk stall.
I travelled to the Angel today and wanted to get a 30, so I could go for breakfast at Carluccio’s. As I was waiting I got talking to a mother, with two young children, who were waiting for a 38. She said that her kids liked the new buses and often waited for one.
Does this mean that these buses are creating a whole new generation of bus travellers, just like the original Routemaster did in the 1960s. Let’s hope so, as we all know what is the greenest way to travel. And in cities like London, buses are often quicker from point to point.
After breakfast, whilst walking to Waitrose, a New Bus passed and I thought I’d go to the bigger shop at the Brunswick Centre. So I jumped on at the lights. After a couple of stops, several of us were sharing bus stories of our childhood with the driver/conductor.
Only New Buses for London get people talking like this.
A Stylish Clock At London Bridge
This clock is in the new bus station at London Bridge station.
A Stylish Clock At London Bridge
We need more of these at important bus stops.
Where’s The Middle Door?
I took this picture of one of Birmingham’s many buses.
Where’s The Middle Door?
Outside of London, buses rarely have the second door, that all London buses do.
Two door buses have the advantage of much quicker loading and unloading, especially for buggies and wheelchairs, which results in a faster service.
A Manchester bus driver told me that the low life hangs around the driver trying to nick his money on a one-door bus, but with two doors in London you never see this behaviour, as they leave the driver to get on with his job.
The image of bus travel could be greatly improved by making every one two doors, as the service would be faster and less hassle.
And whilst they’re at, why do drivers outside of London issue me with a ticket despite the fact I have a free bus pass?
An Old London Bendy Bus In Liverpool
I saw this example of one of the dreaded London bendy buses in Liverpool.
An Old London Bendy Bus In Liverpool
It was being used to take students to and from accommodation.
Note the wi-fi.
A Poppy Covered Bus
For Poppy Day, TfL have decorated two buses appropriately.
A Poppy Covered Bus
This picture shows one on route 55 at the Angel, Islington.
No Football Today
Ipswich are at home and there’s rail replacement buses both way. I’ve normally nothing against buses, but rail replacement ones generally have a standard that leaves a lot to be desired and given the weather they’ll probably be icy.
The Cheeky Conductor
I got a New Bus for London home from the Angel this morning. I’d not seen him before or the route and I suspect, he could have been someone training to do the job.
He was certainly enjoying himself balancing on the platform watching the street.
I used the expression cheeky in the title, as at one set of lights, whilst the bus was stationary and waiting for the green, he dismounted and went and looked in a shop window, before getting back on the bus well before it moved away.
A couple of conductors on New Buses for London have said to me how much they like the job and the interactions with the public. He was only demonstrating this in a direct way.
Hull’s Hybrid Buses
Hull has ten Alexander Dennis Enviro400 hybrid buses.
Note that the transmission is by BAe Systems. See the Hybridrive web site.
The big beasts are showing interest in the field of efficient transport. That can only improve the introduction of more and better solutions.
The Anonymous Widower 