Standing on a New Bus for London
Coming back from the Angel today, I got a New Bus for London. And it was totally packed and so I had to stand.
As I didn’t have a measure with me, I can’t be sure, but it struck me that the central aisle on the lower deck was wider. Or perhaps those with large cases and packages had got a seat.
So I stood all the way to the stop where I got off.
I can’t say I do this often, but I felt it was easier to stand than on a normal London bus. The handrails were in the right place and it struck me that the dynamics of the bus are better. This could be because the bus is longer and slightly wider, but it might be that the placing of the hybrid drive train is better. It could also be that as all the seats were full and the design placed them in the right position for balance, that the passengers were making the bus more stable.
Of course all of these points could apply to any new bus design. So I think it is true to say, that on the subject of ride and vehicle dynamics, there is a lot to be squeezed out. As I’ve said before there is a war out there and it’s the passengers, who’ll win.
As I stood there holding safely to the handrail, it got me thinking. The ride difference between the New Bus for London and the normal Wight or Dennis product, was almost like that between the old Routemaster and it’s predecessor, the RT. That difference was very marked, as the RT had a very simple suspension and a traditional body, but the Routemaster had independent front suspension and a integral body design. The Routemaster was also a lot lighter than the RT, despite carrying eight more passengers.
The Unusual Things You See in Hospital
I’d never realised until I saw it that all London buses have large identfication letters on their roofs, but looking down from my room I could easily see them.
I suppose they are for identification purposes from Police helicopters or the Air Ambulance.
The Old and the New
I took these two pictures of buses on Route 15.
The first is a Routemaster on the Heritage route and the following bus is an Alexander Dennis Enviro 400H Hybrid, but it doesn’t seem to have had the leaves stuck on yet!
I don’t think they’re travelling in a pair in case the other breaks down, but perhaps as the Routemaster only goes half the way, the new bus can pick up the passengers, when the other stops. Or it could be a cheaper way of creating a high-capacity bus, as the total capacity is 64+80 or 144 passengers!
when I was a child, there was always a rumour that one London bus route, always went in convoy for protection, as once one got hit by a German bomb.
The East India Dock Basin
Travelling towards the River Thames, you come to the East India Dock Basin, which is now a nature reserve, is described here.
As you can see, it is well-laid out and has good views of the River Thames. The island in the middle of the basin is growing using the same method that salt marshes do in places like Norfolk. There were quite a few birds about with sheld-duck, tufted duck and coot easily spotted. Apparently, there’s a local kingfisher too! There is a lot of good information. What would Jack Dash have thought?
There are plenty of places to sit and considering how close it is to the end of the 277 bus route and East India station on the DLR, it’s an ideal spot to go for a picnic.
We Need More Canning Town Stations
Canning Town station is a major interchange in East London and will be important in getting spectators to the Olympics.
The Jubilee line, two DLR lines and lots of bus routes meet there.
We need more interchanges like this in London and over the whole country for that matter. As I have said before, Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations should be combined, with a bus station below.
Standing On The Pavement Watching the Bus Go By!
I took this picture today from the New Bus for London.
Standing On The Pavement Watching the Bus Go By!
I know there’s only one at present, but it probably passes here at least half a dozen times a day.
Rear Of The Year 2012
I took this picture of the back of the New Bus for London.
Rear of the Year 2012
I’d just ridden the bus from the Angel. TfL’s Press Officer was on the bus and he said they’d had a lot of positive comments. He said people especially liked the open platform and the conductor.
Incidentally, when I had approached the bus at the Angel, the driver had waved me to the back. So it looks like they’re developing a method of operating the bus to speed it on its way.
Update on May 25th, 2012 – In his talk last night, David Barnett described how New Bus for London had a composite rear end, which gave the whole bus trength, as well as support for the engine/generator and other gubbins inside. So perhaps it could be up for Engineering Rear Of The Year 2012 as well!
Walking To Stepney Green
Today I went searching for the Crossrail site at Stepney Green. It was a pleasant walk from the area of Stepney Green station, although for convenience I’d taken a 25 bus to get to there in the first place.
As you can see there were a lot of flowers in bloom.
The New Bus for London as a Tourist Bus
I said in my post yesterday, that the new Bus for London makes a superb place from which to explore London as a tourist. So here’s most of the pictures I took from the bus, running on route 38.
The best place to board the bus is either at the Angel in Islington or at Victoria station. But as there is only one in service at the present, you could have a long wait. but there will be eight by the end of May.
i think it is true to say that the standard buses on route 38, aren’t bad for sightseeing. They’re all less than two years old and like the New Bus for London, they’ve been built by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland.
If you want to see a different side of London, go all the way to Hackney, getting off at Central. You can pick up a train from there to the Olympic Park at Stratford or even explore some of the buildings like the Hackney Empire, which is one of the largest theatres in London.
The New Bus for London Goes On Its Way
This was the last picture I took yesterday, as it was getting dark.
New Bus for London On Its Way to Hackney Central
It shows the New Bus for London crossing the traffic lights on its way to Hackney Central.
Note the advert saying it’s “Designed for Londoners” It is! And for visitors and tourists too!
The Anonymous Widower 