London Buses Discussion

[Blindtraveler]

Very much tongue-in-cheek.

 

[H&I]

What are people’s strategies for tomorrow? It looks like the choice is either the first bus through the tunnel with the 129 at 04:45 from Gallions Reach or the first SL4 bus at 05:00 from Grove Park, and I don't know if there is any way to do both.

 

[MPW]

Is google maps still not showing the right stops and route for the SL4? It's showing all stops between grove park and blackheath, and goes through Blackwall tunnel (that bit definitely wrong). I thought it was meant to stop only at a few places like other superloop routes.

Travel time shows as 52 minutes from Grove park to canary wharf. That seems to defeat the purpose of the route as it's still twice the journey time of getting train to Lewisham then DLR. Was I mistaken that it was supposed to relieve capacity on the rail and DLR route?

 

[CyrusWuff]

Is google maps still not showing the right stops and route for the SL4? It's showing all stops between grove park and blackheath, and goes through Blackwall tunnel (that bit definitely wrong). I thought it was meant to stop only at a few places like other superloop routes.

Nope. That's correct. Per diamond geezer's blog post from last week, the non-stop section amounts to the bit through the tunnel and not serving North Greenwich Bus Station.

 

[johncrossley]

Travel time shows as 52 minutes from Grove park to canary wharf. That seems to defeat the purpose of the route as it's still twice the journey time of getting train to Lewisham then DLR. Was I mistaken that it was supposed to relieve capacity on the rail and DLR route?

Apart from the non-stop section it is all stops, so it can't possibly be quick.

 

[MPW]

Thanks both for confirming. Disappointing news though. The route map conflicted with the wording on the TFL website and I hoped it was just poorly written text.

I suppose that's a pretty selfish view point on my part. People living directly along the 'all stops' section must be pretty happy.

 

[Geogregor]

Thanks both for confirming. Disappointing news though. The route map conflicted with the wording on the TFL website and I hoped it was just poorly written text.

I suppose that's a pretty selfish view point on my part. People living directly along the 'all stops' section must be pretty happy.

I don't know if all them are happy. London has stops too closely spaced anyway, that's why bus journeys take forever. I'd rather walk a bit further to a bust stop but then got faster journey.

 

[MotCO]

Is google maps still not showing the right stops and route for the SL4? It's showing all stops between grove park and blackheath, and goes through Blackwall tunnel (that bit definitely wrong). I thought it was meant to stop only at a few places like other superloop routes.

Travel time shows as 52 minutes from Grove park to canary wharf. That seems to defeat the purpose of the route as it's still twice the journey time of getting train to Lewisham then DLR. Was I mistaken that it was supposed to relieve capacity on the rail and DLR route?

I hope it's not through Blackwall Tunnel since it is too low for double deckers in one direction!

 

[Kay_M]

I hope it's not through Blackwall Tunnel since it is too low for double deckers in one direction!

It's definitely through the Silvertown Tunnel.

 

[johncrossley]

I suppose the SL4 is similar to the SL6. The SL6 stops at all stops at either end with a non-stop section in the middle.

 

[LUYMun]

It would appear that there was an incident reported on social media yesterday involving a young bus enthusiast trespassing in Morden Wharf garage and swapping the duty sheet from a VHW onto an unroadworthy, contract-prohibited Enviro400. A bus driver later inadvertently took the Enviro on a round trip on the 188, an act which would likely cost Go Ahead a performance fine for bringing out a non-hybrid bus.

 

[Edvid]

Loads of battery electrics entered into service these past two weeks - routes 151 / D8 / SL6 converted, 129 converted (& PVR trebled), and SL4 introduced.

Included in Monday's tender results (available on the LOTS site) is that the 292 will transfer from Metroline to Uno (!) in December; electric deckers are specified but it doesn't say whether they'll be new or existing builds.

 

[PGAT]

It would appear that there was an incident reported on social media yesterday involving a young bus enthusiast trespassing in Morden Wharf garage and swapping the duty sheet from a VHW onto an unroadworthy, contract-prohibited Enviro400. A bus driver later inadvertently took the Enviro on a round trip on the 188, an act which would likely cost Go Ahead a performance fine for bringing out a non-hybrid bus.

Go Ahead apparently got fined about £7,500 for the working. To make matters worse, the bus EN48 was marked unfit for service but the label was swapped out by the perpetrator as well. Very lucky nobody got hurt

 

[Mikey C]

Loads of battery electrics entered into service these past two weeks - routes 151 / D8 / SL6 converted, 129 converted (& PVR trebled), and SL4 introduced.

Included in Monday's tender results (available on the LOTS site) is that the 292 will transfer from Metroline to Uno (!) in December; electric deckers are specified but it doesn't say whether they'll be new or existing builds.

I missed that change! Not saying "New" suggests rebuilds.

If UNO are to operate London routes, then this one, operating way out to the edge of Borehamwood makes as much sense as any. Indeed it's always struck me as a real oddity why a TfL bus extends so far into a Borehamwood housing estate.

 

[Geogregor]

I decided to test the SL4 route myself, starting from Grove Park:

20250408_152520 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_152607 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Some shots along the way:

20250408_154956 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1012138 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1012142 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_161330 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Entering tunnel:

20250408_161425 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_161741 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Heading back south:

20250408_180207 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_180226 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

We are being overtaken by a coach:

20250408_180411 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_180420 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Video from Geoff:

Overall not a bad experience, apart from the traffic jam in Blackheath, due to roadworks.

 

[MotCO]

Loads of battery electrics entered into service these past two weeks - routes 151 / D8 / SL6 converted, 129 converted (& PVR trebled), and SL4 introduced.

Included in Monday's tender results (available on the LOTS site) is that the 292 will transfer from Metroline to Uno (!) in December; electric deckers are specified but it doesn't say whether they'll be new or existing builds.

The contract is for 7 years which suggests in is definitely electric buses. Does Uno have any existing double deck electrics? If not, I am not sure if there are any second hand electrics on the market, so I assume they are new buses.

 

[Edvid]

Does Uno have any existing double deck electrics?

Four BYDs - two 9-year-old K8SRs, and two City-bodied E400EVs (ex-demos, including a 10.3m version). They're staying for the 699.

 

[telstarbox]

I decided to test the SL4 route myself, starting from Grove Park:

20250408_152520 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_152607 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Some shots along the way:

20250408_154956 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1012138 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1012142 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_161330 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Entering tunnel:

20250408_161425 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_161741 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Heading back south:

20250408_180207 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_180226 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

We are being overtaken by a coach:

20250408_180411 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


20250408_180420 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Video from Geoff:

Overall not a bad experience, apart from the traffic jam in Blackheath, due to roadworks.

Great pics, thanks for sharing these.

 

[Goldfish62]

Four BYDs - two 9-year-old K8SRs, and two City-bodied E400EVs (ex-demos, including a 10.3m version). They're staying for the 699.

I would be extremely surprised if the buses for the 292 weren't also BYD.

 

[37114]

Maybe me but the BYDs look like one person designed the bottom deck, someone else designed the top deck and they stitched the plan together and the white top half/bottom red half livery just accentuates that

 

[Andyh82]

At one time an insult was that someone ‘looked like the back end of a bus’

In the case of these BYDs it’d be ‘you look like the front end of a bus’

They look awful, that overhang looks weird

 

[LUYMun]

I made a trip on the Silvertown Cycle Shuttle bus yesterday to sample the three buses that were out in force (64202, 64203 and 64205). Unfortunately 64203 broke down as its rear door ramp refused to go back in. Otherwise the journeys were smooth, quick and quiet, though may be for the time as heavy traffic is yet to build up.

Numbers wise, the first bus I went from North Greenwich to Royal Victoria was a full load, me joining seven older ladies in a cycling group taking their first rides. The second trip, heading the other way, there were three others. The third leg, again from North Greenwich to Royal Victoria, was just myself.

 

[Sunil_P]

SL4 outside East India on Wednesday. Surprised by how little traffic there was in the tunnel, though I did my journeys around midday.

 

[Class15]

Agreed about the BYDs. Who designed them?

 

[kacper]

Agreed about the BYDs. Who designed them?

BYD

 

[ChilternTurbo]

I've had a few rides on these BD11s and whilst I don't think you could ever call it an attractive bus, I've been impressed by the comfortable ride and build quality seems to be very good. I also think that the Wright StreetDeck Electroliners are impressively rattle free.
I've yet to experience the latest ADL Enviro400EV...

 

[londonbridge]

Last couple of days I’ve seen an S4 towards Waddon Marsh coming up Woodcote Road, then instead of going straight across the lights at the Sainsburys it turned left along Stafford Road. Apparently it’s on a diversion, but if it’s going along Stafford Road and then left down Plough Lane it’s missing out Woodcote Road, the hail and ride section and Roundshaw, which seems rather a large amount of route to be skipping. Have searched but can’t find anything on the TFL website or The Bus Forum, anyone know or any idea what’s going on?

 

[johncrossley]

I went on the T3 from Croydon to New Addington tram replacement service today and the Oyster readers were covered over on all the buses I saw on the route. Are you supposed to tap in at the tram stop or is it effectively free?

 

[londonbridge]

Last time I had to use a tram replacement bus I hadn’t tapped in on the platform and a bus going in the opposite direction pulled up, asked the driver was I meant to tap on the platform reader or the bus and he said you don’t need to tap.

 

[LUYMun]

It would appear that Lord Hendy has got into a bit of hot water recently following him using his mobile phone while driving his vintage bus in London: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24qv74nzq2o

Rail minister admits using phone while driving vintage bus​

The rail minister has admitted using his mobile phone while driving a vintage double-decker bus through London at rush hour.
Lord Peter Hendy was behind the wheel of the old Routemaster for a charity event when he was spotted texting a friend, as first reported by the Sunday Times.
A spokesperson for Lord Hendy said: "Last month Peter Hendy used his phone while driving. He has apologised in full for this error of judgement and has contacted the police."
A source close to Lord Hendy said he would accept the sanction, which is likely to be six points on his licence and a fine.
The incident took place on 28 March during the evening rush hour. Lord Hendy was texting a friend about a prostate cancer test.
He had been giving a tour in the bus, which he owns, as part of a fundraiser for the charity Railway Benefit Fund, of which he is patron. The charity works to support railway workers and their families.
But he was reported to police just days later by one of the passengers.
In a statement, the organisers of the Railway Family Fundraiser said: "None of us would advocate or condone unsafe practices. However, we reiterate that we are not aware of the whole situation, and affirm our hope that any investigation is able to be conducted fairly.
"The organisers regret that a positive and enjoyable event ended in this way and would once again like to express our thanks to Lord Hendy for his support for our event and fundraising."
It is not the first time a government minister has been caught using his phone while driving.
The then security minister and Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat was banned from driving for six months in 2022 after he was caught using his device while behind the wheel.
He received six points on his licence for the offence, added to the six he already had for two previous driving offences. He was also ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, a surcharge of £100 and costs of £110.
The BBC has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.