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Author Topic: New London 'Routemaster' bus (merged topics)  (Read 16572 times)
bobm
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« Reply #30 on: September 20, 2012, 22:39:40 »

Where do bendy buses go to retire?

I am not sure but I saw a number of what appeared to be ex-London vehicles parked in a yard next to Ryde St John's Road station on the Isle of Wight today.  They had been stripped of their destination blinds and I assume were in storage.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #31 on: September 20, 2012, 22:46:55 »

Where do bendy buses go to retire?

I am not sure but I saw a number of what appeared to be ex-London vehicles parked in a yard next to Ryde St John's Road station on the Isle of Wight today.  They had been stripped of their destination blinds and I assume were in storage.

I've travelled on a red bendy-bus on the Isle of Wight, being using during the 2012 IOW Festival.
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JayMac
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« Reply #32 on: September 21, 2012, 00:33:44 »

Where do bendy buses go to retire?

Bristol's Brislington A4 Park+Ride is one place where ex-London Bendies have ended up.
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

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Brucey
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« Reply #33 on: September 21, 2012, 09:27:13 »

Where do bendy buses go to retire?
There are at least a dozen in a compound next to Cranfield University in Bedfordshire.  Never saw them move, so assume they are awaiting new operators.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #34 on: July 20, 2015, 20:49:58 »

From the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Quote
New Routemaster's battery problems mean many run on just diesel


Drivers complain the hybrid system does not work "in 90% of buses" and they "don't feel in control"

Driven by diesel or "clean and green", the 21st Century Routemaster bus is making drivers see red. But while mayoral hopefuls hop on board to join the row, transport bosses say they're on the right road.

I'm told that at the back of a bus depot, there is a large pile of power batteries that no longer work. All have been removed from the new bus for London and are a crucial part of the hybrid system. Drivers say that many buses across London are operating without them in place.

That means in some cases what Transport for London (TfL» (Transport for London - about)) claims is "the most environmentally friendly bus of its type" is running only on diesel.

Leon Daniels from TfL had maintained that: "The New Routemaster is the cleanest and greenest bus of its class and we have seen absolutely no safety problems with its hybrid system." But today he admitted 80 of the new Routemasters are running on diesel generators and in all 200 will have failing batteries replaced under warranty.

I asked Mr Daniels if he was embarrassed about these performance issues. He said he was proud that London was at the forefront of developing new technologies.

In fact the batteries have been a problem for some time. In March, I reported that the batteries were going to be replaced under warranty.

A number of drivers have raised the issue with Christian Wolmar, a transport journalist who is also seeking the Labour nomination for mayor of London. They complain a lack of batteries means the diesel engine cannot cope. The bus is slower than usual and has poor acceleration.

A letter from one driver said: "In about 90% of buses the hybrid system does not work. It is instead running on the diesel engine all the time (not eco-friendly is it?)."

Others said: "The hybrid system does not work", that it is "very slow", "it just cuts out in the middle of the road" and drivers "don't feel in control of the bus".

Mr Wolmar said: "What they have told me is profoundly shocking. These buses do not work properly, the electric motor does not work. They stall quite a lot and there's a danger of them rolling back. Sometimes they go completely out of phase and all the red lights come on and the drivers find it very difficult to control them at times. The drivers say almost nine out of 10 do not have the electric motors working. This bus is a ridiculous throw back. It has been a total waste of money. It's a Boris failure."

The Unite union has also received complaints.

John Murphy, Unite's regional officer, said: "The batteries just aren't fit for purpose. It's not that the technology isn't there it's just the wrong technology. Personally I think this stems from the rush to get through this vanity project. They're not really a practical bus for London. The common practice now is to take the batteries out of the buses so effectively these very expensive environmentally friendly buses are just running on diesel."

These buses cost ^354,000 - a normal hybrid off the peg costs about ^300,000.

At the moment there are 500 operating on the roads. A further 300 will be on the road during 2016.

These have been bought by TfL, not the bus companies.

Some commuters love the look of them, others hate the stifling heat on the top deck that is yet to be resolved.

Mr Daniels said: "An improved battery design was introduced on new deliveries and any older ones which fail are repaired or replaced. This has all been done by the manufacturers within the warranty period, at no cost to TfL, or the fare or tax payer."
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« Reply #35 on: July 20, 2015, 22:58:31 »

From the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Some commuters love the look of them, others hate the stifling heat on the top deck that is yet to be resolved.

I really don't like the front end of these buses. I find them very ugly. I think the sides and rear are more appealing. Internally I have no opinion as I have had no need to travel on one.
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JayMac
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« Reply #36 on: July 20, 2015, 23:01:16 »

Thus far, two trips on the NBfL (New Bus for London).

Both downstairs, and both stiflingly hot.
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Brucey
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« Reply #37 on: July 24, 2015, 20:14:20 »

Thus far, two trips on the NBfL (New Bus for London).

Both downstairs, and both stiflingly hot.
I have also travelled twice.  Once downstairs, once upstairs.  Couldn't say I noticed the temperature.  The only real advantage against normal buses is having Oyster (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) and contactless card readers at all the doors.  Other than this, they are just a bus.
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bobm
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« Reply #38 on: July 28, 2015, 11:26:10 »

The bus is going to get a trial in Reading.

http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/articles/summer-bus-trials-for-reading/

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A taste of London in Reading

With special thanks to Transport for London and the manufacturer Wrightbus the stylish New Routemaster will be in service on the purple 17 route from August 17.  With its three doors for speed of entry we will have a dedicated crew for the bus, including a conductor to take fares when people board!
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