suzyscottdotcom (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
suzyscottdotcom) wrote2008-12-19 02:10 pm
suzyscottdotcom) wrote2008-12-19 02:10 pm
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London news
Now, news from Transport for Boris… erm, London. The second grand announcement this month is that the winners for his Design A Bus For London and Imagine A Bus For London contests, and two designs have shared the prize for the former. First thing to say is it’s good that the mayor went through with this, as opposed to his predecessor’s offer of cash for anyone who could find a solution to cooling the Underground in summer 2005, before saying all the suggestions were things that they already had in mind, so the prize was never awarded.
After this post on the partial demise of the bendibuses, I should have added that the 507 (Victoria – Waterloo) will be gaining a weekend service. How many times have you walked by the stand at Victoria on Saturday morning, only for a large queue to be waiting on the 507, with no-one actually pointing out the next one is on Monday, and to go for a 211 instead?
TfL is also considering other options. While putting the breaks on things like the Tramlink extension to Crystal Palace, it was still surprising (I thought) when it was announced that the future of East Thames Buses was up for review. This company did, of course, come into existence when Harris Bus ceased services in December 1999, and was bought back by TfL’s predecessors in 2000. They also took on the 42 and 185, after the… erm… demise of LondonSleazylink Easylink (Durham Travel Services) in 2002. A few years ago, First London gave up the 1, and this went to ETB, when the north of the Thames stuff was retendered, and ETB moved into premises in Walworth. But now, apparently, the operators are all behaving themselves, and performance is better, and the rest… but we shall see. Staff will be protected under TUPE, and it’s good to hear that has been one of the first thoughts on their mind – when Harris Bus went under the first time, the staff shortage did make things so much worse.
I mentioned here last month about The Underground (bar) in Dundee, with publicity material and a map/service guide in a very similar format to that from one of my former employers. Now, The Courier has had word that it’s got to London, and they don’t sound impressed. Still, what can you do when someone else rips off your idea? (see above!)
After this post on the partial demise of the bendibuses, I should have added that the 507 (Victoria – Waterloo) will be gaining a weekend service. How many times have you walked by the stand at Victoria on Saturday morning, only for a large queue to be waiting on the 507, with no-one actually pointing out the next one is on Monday, and to go for a 211 instead?
TfL is also considering other options. While putting the breaks on things like the Tramlink extension to Crystal Palace, it was still surprising (I thought) when it was announced that the future of East Thames Buses was up for review. This company did, of course, come into existence when Harris Bus ceased services in December 1999, and was bought back by TfL’s predecessors in 2000. They also took on the 42 and 185, after the… erm… demise of London
I mentioned here last month about The Underground (bar) in Dundee, with publicity material and a map/service guide in a very similar format to that from one of my former employers. Now, The Courier has had word that it’s got to London, and they don’t sound impressed. Still, what can you do when someone else rips off your idea? (see above!)