South East London Bus users to get frequent services

"London Bus route 185" by Matthew Black from London, UK - WVL on 185

Uploaded by oxyman. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Transport for London released a press release over the improved bus services in South East London.

Local bus services in south east London are to get a further boost from this Saturday (1 November), as Transport for London (TfL) increases the frequency of the 124, which is

Video: Costa Coffee's DAF LF Truck vehicle indicator announces to turn left

I have captured footage of a Costa Coffee Truck turning left with not only the indicators flashing but also announcing that the left turn in 'voice to passers by and other traffic.

Tyne and Wear bus services to be operated by the council

Bus services in Tyne and Wear are to be controlled by the council as Councillors have backed plans for regulated services under the Quality Contracts Scheme.

In a move which could signal the biggest changes to the way buses operate across the region since de-regulation in the 1980s, members of the North East Combined Authority (neca) have today agreed to submit proposals for the introduction of a Quality Contracts Scheme (QCS) for consideration by a special independent panel. 

The north east is the first part of the country to reach this stage in developing a Quality Contracts Scheme under legislation introduced in 2000. The new scheme would see bus companies contracted to provide routes by Nexus on behalf of the North East Combined Authority, rather than the bus operators deciding which services to run on the basis of market forces.

Quick Report: First day of New Routemaster service on Route 453

The first New Routemaster bus, the 'LT274' has finally begun operating on route 453. It first entered service around 8am this morning on the Deptford Bridge to Marylebone route.

This is the first route to be converted to full 'Euro VI New Routemaster buses', whilst a small number are scattered around various routes served by different bus operating companies. The conversion for Route 453 will be 'phased in' in batches instead of a complete overnight conversion. The route will be 'one man operation' so the rear door will be used as a normal door and no second crew member will be present.

TFL Plans to have 200 more New Routemasters

From Thomas Heatherwick’s website the designer of the New Routemaster.

In the Finance and Policy Committee board papers, it reveals there are plans to have 200 more New Routemasters which would move London a step closer to aspirations outlined in the Mayor’s 2020 vision which is to extend the fleet of 600 New Routemasters to 2,000 by the end of this decade.

Also, a quick follow up to my previous article

The New Tube for London

On the 9^th October 2014, TFL gave a press release regarding the 'New Tube for London' designs which we will see operating in the 2020’s.

The Mayor and London Underground (LU) today revealed stunning new designs for the 'New Tube for London' - the next generation of Underground trains, which will come in to service from the mid-2020s.  The New Tube will be introduced first on the Piccadilly line, followed by the Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City lines. Its innovative design will also allow for air-cooling for the first time on deep-level sections of the Tube.

Stealth Rollercoaster at Thorpe Park (video)

Hywel Williams [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

This is one of my personal favourite rollercoasters because it’s a 'launch coaster' which reaches 80mph in 1.9 seconds.

The rollercoaster first opened on March 15^th 2006 at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England and cost £12 million to build. It was manufactured by 'Intamin' and designed by Werner Stengel.

The ride starts off by propelling you to 80mph, almost instantly and it feels

Route 453 conversion to New Routemaster finally announced by TFL

"London General bus MAL117 (BP57 UJY) 2008 Mercedes-Benz Citaro, route 453, 10 June 2011" by Darren Hall Uploaded by Ultra7. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

London Bus route 453 has been experiencing delays in converting the route to New Routemaster operation. TFL released a press statement (on 2^nd October 2014) regarding the fuel consumption, which I have previously published.

Transport for London (TfL) has today announced that the next bus route to be served entirely by New Routemaster buses will be the 453.

From 18 October there will be phased conversion of the route, which is operated by London General, and runs 24-hours a day between Deptford Broadway and Marylebone station, via Baker Street, Oxford Circus, Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross), Westminster, Lambeth North, Elephant & Castle and New Cross Gate. The route will be running entirely with New Routemaster buses by mid November.

TFL releases fuel consumption figures for the New Routemasters'

Routes 11 and 24 is reported to have the Lowest fuel consumption.

By Au Morandarte from Chiswick/Romford, London, England (So close, yet so far...Uploaded by Ultra7) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

TFL released a press statement on the 2^nd October 2014 regarding Route 453 and it's conversion to the New Routemaster bus. What I find interesting is the fuel consumption figures that TFL have released.

Figures also released today show that the average fuel consumption of the New Routemasters in service is almost 50 per cent better than the buses that operated on the routes before them.

Fuel economy on the following routes has been measured and results have shown a significant increase in their average miles per gallon (MPG)

80 year old London Bus route 137 is due to have New Routemaster Buses

By Chris Sampson (2375-JJD375C 060304 cps) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

London Bus Route 137 is due to have the New Routemaster buses by Mid to late November according to the London Omnibus Traction Society.

Brief History

The route was the first formed which started on the 3^rd October 1934. It first operated between Archway Station and Elmers End Green, via Victoria. Then on the 1^st of November 1964,