http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/list/1 EN Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:31:59 +0000 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:31:59 +0000 SE1 Discussion Phorum 5.1.6 600 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/151196#msg-151196 forum@london-se1.co.uk (james127) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/151196#msg-151196 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:31:59 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/151195#msg-151195 forum@london-se1.co.uk (redalina) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/151195#msg-151195 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:11:01 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/151193#msg-151193 forum@london-se1.co.uk (james127)
And, you're right, the driver change always involves some small talk -- I don't see a sense of urgency.

Let me be clear: I'm not upset at the drivers, but upset at Abellio for forcing this ridiculous situation to occur on their 188 and 172 buses.

If they can't manage to run the routes without this horrible change at a time when the bus is most crowded, they should be forced to give the route to another company.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/151193#msg-151193 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:47:32 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/151192#msg-151192 forum@london-se1.co.uk (maurits)
I took the 188 too many times this week and every single one of them changed drivers at E & C. If they sticked to the 2 minutes that this procedure should take, it would have been bearable, but the drivers really do take their time. And, apart from this inconvenience, the bus very often terminates at either the E &C, Aldwych or Holborn without informing the passengers beforehand. For those on a Pay As You Go Oystercard this means spending another £ 1.35.

Something needs to be done.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/151192#msg-151192 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:06:34 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150652#msg-150652 forum@london-se1.co.uk (james127)
I wonder why the other bus companies running the 1, 168, etc. don't put pressure on Abellio to change their behavior?

Abellio seems to be asking for a lawsuit...]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150652#msg-150652 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:49:24 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150458#msg-150458 forum@london-se1.co.uk (james127)
Abellio, you're fired.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150458#msg-150458 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:12:01 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150454#msg-150454 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Emmesse)
Eastbound
1x188 parked up outside Metro Central Heights, lights off
1x188 with passengers sitting in the bus stop, hazards flashing
2x172 at their bus stop, both with hazards flashing and lots of passengers getting off one of them, presumably to change to the other one.

Westbound
1x188 outside the Coronet, passengers upstairs and no driver in cab

Like looking for Eddie Stobart trucks on the motorway, looking for Abellio traffic jam incidents has become a key part of any bus journey along the NKR.

Also saw from Twitter recently that a 188 crashed in Greenwich and a 172 broke down at the Elephant roundabout, both causing more traffic chaos.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150454#msg-150454 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:54:40 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150415#msg-150415 forum@london-se1.co.uk (james127) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150415#msg-150415 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:29:12 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150411#msg-150411 forum@london-se1.co.uk (antonyb)
Terminate with extreme prejudice.

Maybe this thread can be forwarded to tfl to further the campaign to end Abellio's tenure of these routes.

The 188 and the 172 have become unusable, and Abellio are nothing more than a portable traffic obstacle,double-decker speed-bumps.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150411#msg-150411 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:27:03 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150351#msg-150351 forum@london-se1.co.uk (james127)
I feel bad for the bus driver. He/she obviously wanted to do the right thing, but the trainer persists in spreading mediocrity.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150351#msg-150351 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:48:37 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150348#msg-150348 forum@london-se1.co.uk (LelB)
It gets better ....after being told to drive past the next two stops I heard the driver ask the supervisor how he knew not to stop - the response "you can see from their face if they want the bus"!!!!

So, that explains the times the 188 has sped past the stop when i've been standing there with my arm out, I obviously had my 'waiting for a 47' face on : ).

You couldn't make it up!]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/150348#msg-150348 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:28:32 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149958#msg-149958 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Tis I, Leclere)
However, their website is currently displaying:
[b][i]Thirteen of the Enviro 400 hybrid double deck buses will enter service on route 188, which runs between North Greenwich and Russell Square, in January 2012, replacing standard diesel buses on the route.

Abellio currently has a total of 43 hybrid double deck buses on order, representing an investment of over £14m. The buses are all built by Alexander Dennis and offer fuel and greenhouse gas reductions of 30%.[/i][/b]

So, perhaps things may shortly improve...........]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149958#msg-149958 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:49:03 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149956#msg-149956 forum@london-se1.co.uk (richard_badger) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149956#msg-149956 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:33:25 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149933#msg-149933 forum@london-se1.co.uk (djmills) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149933#msg-149933 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:42:15 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149905#msg-149905 forum@london-se1.co.uk (beingjdc)
Incidentally, Driscoll House, or the grounds, appeared to be full of workmen - is something afoot?]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149905#msg-149905 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:19:50 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149887#msg-149887 forum@london-se1.co.uk (richard_badger) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149887#msg-149887 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:23:47 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149858#msg-149858 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Bel Ludovic) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149858#msg-149858 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:49:56 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149855#msg-149855 forum@london-se1.co.uk (james127)
Today I was late to my meeting because of the (normal) "driver change" at NKR/E&C, followed by slow driving, followed by a "layover"/wait at Old Vic. In no other major city on Earth, I have ever encountered bus "driver changes" in the middle of a route.

The thing that angers me the most is when the drivers of the 188 buses are stopped somewhere and then pull away from the stop just as the next light is turning red -- I swear this is a strategic move to extend the "layover."

I don't blame the drivers, but I do blame the people at Abellio...and TfL for not holding that organization to account for their horrendous service.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/149855#msg-149855 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:57:22 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/138538#msg-138538 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Juptin)
In the past there were plain clothes inspectors that assessed driver's ability and customer service and they had the power to suspend drivers on the spot.

I've tried to complain to an inspector at North Greenwich after being sworn at by a 188 driver as I boarded the bus: I touched in my Oyster card and said "Thank you" to which he replied "F*** Off" and the inspector told me he "doesn't deal with that"!

TFL need to reintroduce driver performance inspectors.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/138538#msg-138538 Sat, 09 Apr 2011 09:29:49 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/138337#msg-138337 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ailbhe)
I take the 78 from Alscot Road but I've never seen them change drivers there, when I've been on the bus, the change happens always at Aldgate station in both directions. Very frustrating when they do this at morning rush hour when you are trying to get to work. This is also a route that suffers from the "regulate the service" technique, and therefore regularly travels as slowly as possible along Tower Bridge Road only to find some valid traffic situation to hold it up later & make it late. Otherwise they get to the stop before Aldgate and wait there for up to 5minutes often not even telling passengers that there will be a delay.

As someone said above, it's a no -win situation for passengers as when the bus is late you end up very late and when it's early you are forced to wait as the service is regulated.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/138337#msg-138337 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:37:14 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/123400#msg-123400 forum@london-se1.co.uk (angelikarobinson)
I'm surprised that more bus drivers don't end up hanging from lamp posts.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/123400#msg-123400 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:51:31 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/123331#msg-123331 forum@london-se1.co.uk (James Hatts)
[b]Valerie Shawcross[/b]: How long should passengers aboard routes like the 188 and the 1 be expected to wait on a stationary bus while drivers changeover mid route?

[b]Boris Johnson[/b]: TfL would expect for driver changeovers to be conducted smoothly, and for passengers to wait for no more than two minutes.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/123331#msg-123331 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:38:13 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122575#msg-122575 forum@london-se1.co.uk (collfio)
[i][b]Route 188 Russell Square - North Greenwich[/b]
Usage is growing on this route and we are proposing to increase the Sunday and evening frequency from buses running every 12 minutes to buses running every 10 minutes.

Comments and suggestions regarding these proposals should be received by Friday 18 March 2010 to STEngagement@tfl.gov.uk[/i]

So this is a good time to send in comments and complaints about the service. They are also doing the 78, see the 78 thread.

Regards

Fiona Colley
Researcher for Valerie Shawcross AM]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122575#msg-122575 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:59:20 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122409#msg-122409 forum@london-se1.co.uk (dee dee) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122409#msg-122409 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:08:04 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122405#msg-122405 forum@london-se1.co.uk (ajyap)
I had to reach London Bridge station at 4am on a Saturday for Gatwick Airport. The bus serving the route from York Road was N381. The bus timetable showed it was to come at 3.42am. It didn't arrive until 4.05am. That's a good 20-minute delay! I missed the train. Why are the buses from Waterloo so hopeless???]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122405#msg-122405 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:41:49 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122358#msg-122358 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Busylizzy)
Then there was the time a gang of boys threatened to stab me and the driver did nothing (I'm a middle aged female with four bags of shopping, not a boy from the 'hood, know what I mean?). I got the MP involved in that one.

In short, I have to use this route all the time between Southwark, Bermondsey & Greenwich and I now either walk, use the tube or the BR rather than take the dratted bus. It's expensive but at least I feel safer!]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122358#msg-122358 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:36:00 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122344#msg-122344 forum@london-se1.co.uk (fortyfive) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122344#msg-122344 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:34:37 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122330#msg-122330 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Tis I, Leclere)
When it was "good old London Transport", it was common for more than one garage to operate on routes - quite often one at one end of the route, the other in the middle [53: Plumstead & New Cross; 177: Abbey Wood & New Cross; 1: Bromley, Catford, New Cross & Willesden]

These days the location of the garage seems to have no relation to the actual route - just who offers the cheapest tender price. Hence, the 78 from Dagenham, and when First operated the 1 it originally came from their depot in Dagenham and the 453 from SELKENT's Plumstead garage before being re-allocated to GAL at Mandela Way.... In these cases, numerous empty buses would travel back and forth when drivers started/finished their duties - a wicked waste of fuel.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122330#msg-122330 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:37:38 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122295#msg-122295 forum@london-se1.co.uk (vbob)
When waiting so long for a bus and seeing two coming at the same time can be just as frustrating as being held on a bus being 'regulating'.

Actually, I'd take being held at a bus stop whilst onboard than having to wait double time for two coming at once.

Just my preference.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122295#msg-122295 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:19:57 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122181#msg-122181 forum@london-se1.co.uk (darrenm) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/122020/122181#msg-122181 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:33:13 +0000