London Transport Withdrawals.
The concept of the so called Boris bus/Wrightbus New Route Master (2013) was a good idea at the time, but it was soon found to have two serious flaws? Planned as a reintroduction of the famous RM RML series in modern service it promised London charm and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson believed it would impact on a rise in tourism?
The first flaw was the open deck-stairwell at the rear, allowing Oyster card holders to jump the fares to the rear and upper deck. The second was that the back of the bus upstairs having no rear window made it very dark, the problem was the expense to rectify and thus it was decided that it was cheaper to replace them from this year.
London transport has opted for an Italian Electric bus instead which is more environmentally friendly, after the initial trials of ten this is now to be massed introduced!
Showing posts with label Bus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bus. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Railcars and Railbuses.
British demand For.
One cannot speak for other nations, but it would seem that the 'Railcar is something unique to the British railway system. The first cars with twin cabs were built for the Great Western and saw service between Bristol and Swindon from the late 1940' to the early 50's, despite their popular appeal nothing more was done to improve them.
The 1950's saw the re-introduction of these one coach units operating on small lines, some where termed rail buses rather than cars and they were an essential link prior to Beaching. The Class 101 got the idea off with two to three car Diesel Multiple Units (DMU's), but the 117/121 were demanded for sharper bends in Cornwall.
Past smaller steam locomotives and limited stock could work these lines, but the newer carriages and locos were to long. By the 1970's plans where in progress for the Pacer Class 150 and 153 units, which is some cases were nothing more than a Leyland bus on a carriage chassis.
Northern-Ireland railways had developed a spread of single and multiple rail cars from the 1930's, many of these originated on the various narrow gauge lines that were still in operation in the province of Ulster. Some were sold to the Isle of Man, but very little was shared I believe with the mainland. NIR did by some unusual vehicles from the Southern Railway one-offs built at Norwood Junction?
One cannot speak for other nations, but it would seem that the 'Railcar is something unique to the British railway system. The first cars with twin cabs were built for the Great Western and saw service between Bristol and Swindon from the late 1940' to the early 50's, despite their popular appeal nothing more was done to improve them.
The 1950's saw the re-introduction of these one coach units operating on small lines, some where termed rail buses rather than cars and they were an essential link prior to Beaching. The Class 101 got the idea off with two to three car Diesel Multiple Units (DMU's), but the 117/121 were demanded for sharper bends in Cornwall.
Past smaller steam locomotives and limited stock could work these lines, but the newer carriages and locos were to long. By the 1970's plans where in progress for the Pacer Class 150 and 153 units, which is some cases were nothing more than a Leyland bus on a carriage chassis.
Northern-Ireland railways had developed a spread of single and multiple rail cars from the 1930's, many of these originated on the various narrow gauge lines that were still in operation in the province of Ulster. Some were sold to the Isle of Man, but very little was shared I believe with the mainland. NIR did by some unusual vehicles from the Southern Railway one-offs built at Norwood Junction?
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Buses and Coaches. Part-One.
From the Charrabang.
It all started from some rich and well too do people wanting to go out for the day. With the introduction of the Charrabang a open coach based on a lorry, so began modern coaching and that is how it stayed up to at least the 1960's.
The Bus has a different history in that it developed from the horse drawn tram and was more of a Metropolitan mass mover of people, light goods and animals. With the advent of the 1920's and a surplus fleet of vehicles, after World War-I (1914-18) the motor engine bus came to the fore. Early vehicles like their cousins the Electric trams started with open roofs on the top deck.
It all started from some rich and well too do people wanting to go out for the day. With the introduction of the Charrabang a open coach based on a lorry, so began modern coaching and that is how it stayed up to at least the 1960's.
The Bus has a different history in that it developed from the horse drawn tram and was more of a Metropolitan mass mover of people, light goods and animals. With the advent of the 1920's and a surplus fleet of vehicles, after World War-I (1914-18) the motor engine bus came to the fore. Early vehicles like their cousins the Electric trams started with open roofs on the top deck.
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
London Transport.
The Route Master Replacement.
They have called it the Boris bus, after the Mayor of Greater London Boris Johnson. Some have called it 'the toy town bus, apart from other things. London Transport did replace 'Old Faithful' with the Mercedez bendy bus, but over time it has had teething problems in traffic and taking corners.
Every city, wither in the UK or in any country needs a iconic symbol for their respective transport networks. We had the famous red bus, the route master, now we may have just a longer version of it.
The glass stairwell was designed in such a way as any assaults on passengers by others would be seen from the outside. This part of the bus was always a problematic area.
They have called it the Boris bus, after the Mayor of Greater London Boris Johnson. Some have called it 'the toy town bus, apart from other things. London Transport did replace 'Old Faithful' with the Mercedez bendy bus, but over time it has had teething problems in traffic and taking corners.
Every city, wither in the UK or in any country needs a iconic symbol for their respective transport networks. We had the famous red bus, the route master, now we may have just a longer version of it.
The glass stairwell was designed in such a way as any assaults on passengers by others would be seen from the outside. This part of the bus was always a problematic area.
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