From Ballymena With Love
According to this article in the Ballymena Times, the New Bus for London will feature in the new James Bond film, Skyfall.
The bus is set to feature in an action scene set in Trafalgar Square involving the 007 spy, played by Daniel Craig.
Surely, the designer of the bus, didn’t envisage it to be James Bond’s latest transport.
It does however mean that there is a lot of scope for film and book titles.
On the Hackney Express is the obvious one, as the buses at present go to Hackney Central on route 38.
Defibrillators on Buses
If you search for defibrillators on buses, you will find that some companies do have them on buses and train staff to use them.
So perhaps where you have a two-man bus, like the New Bus for London, they should be carried and staff should be trained. Note that some of the newer buses have got bigger, so I suspect there might be a space to store a defibrillator.
Guess Who?
On my trip on the New Bus for London, I sat by the rear platform for a time. I took this picture.
Guess Who?
Who is it? I should say that Health and Safety regulations, do not require all passengers to wear a parachute on the rear platform of the New Bus for London. There is always a helpful conductor or as I prefer a Bus Captain there to ensure good behaviour.
I should say, that I had a brief chat with the Bus Captain, who very much liked the bus. I suppose acting as a Rear Gunner chatting to passengers, is better than being shut behind a Plexiglass screen with the money, driving the bus.
If you haven’t identified him yet, here’s a picture after he got off the bus.
Boris on the Stump
It’s only the second time, I’ve ever come across a politician on the stump. The first time, I was under a car fixing the brakes, when I was called out by a lady canvassing for her local party. I voted for her, as she apologised for interrupting me.
The New Bus for London and the Standard Wright Bus Compared
I travelled today from Victoria to Piccadilly on a New Bus for London or NBfL and then an hour or so later, I went from Bank to my home on a 2009-vintage standard Wright Bus or SWB.
So how do they compare and are there any features of the new bus could be fitted in the next generation of buses?
- The sculptured seats of the NBfL are a lot more comfortable and after a quick look under the seats of both buses, it would appear that something similar could be fitted to the SWB. I suspect though that they are a bit more expensive.
- The stairs seem to the top deck easier on the NBfL than the SWB and because there are two sets it gives you a choice when you get on and off. Remember that the two staircases on the NBfL are used to hide the engine and the batteries. Hybrid bus designers will get more and more ingenious about where they hide the drive train, which will reduce weight and make the buses more fuel efficient.
- The ride is much better in the NBfL in my opinion as I said here and lessons learned in the design, might well be able to be employed to improve the ride of the SWB.
- Everybody seems to like the conductor or are they now a Bus Captain? I’ll always remember the look on the faces of an elderly couple as they got on a NBfL at the rear in the Balls Pond Road.
- I think too, that the Bus Captains enjoy their new role. But then responsibility is always a great motivator to everybody.
- I also like the colours of the NBfL better, as they are calming and seem to bring out the best in everybody. You can definitely have too much yellow.
But I suppose the biggest difference, is that a NBfL has a presence, that makes it stand out from the crowd. I thought today with its curved front and the TfL roundel on the front, that it reminded me of the trolleybuses of my childhood. The SWB may be a nice bus, but they don’t stand out.
The only definite thing we can say, is that in ten years time, buses will be more stylish, passenger and crew-friendly and of course more fuel-efficent and quieter than they are today. Let’s hope that those buses are still designed and made in the UK.
Everybody Talks on the New Buses for London
It’s true! I’ve been on one three times now and every time, I’ve had deep conversations with complete strangers.
Poeople discuss the merits of hybrid drive, the style of the seats and the joys of old Routemasters.
This can only be good, as it’s not just the past-it like me, but young kids with a life in front of them.
I think it is true to say, that the old Routemaster and the silver tube trains of the 1960s generated the same enthusiasm.
So long live good design! Or even valiant attempts at it!
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.
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!
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 