tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post6559281266982406730..comments2024-03-29T08:14:43.839+00:00Comments on Public Transport Experience: Weekend Collection Over-runfatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-63047281278734956212018-03-13T14:45:00.635+00:002018-03-13T14:45:00.635+00:00SC also have a new Exeter depot at Matford (on out...SC also have a new Exeter depot at Matford (on outskirts) with big maintenance & paint shop. Even with Megabus the size of Plymouth one was an overkill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-54731749287010016582018-03-12T21:28:57.143+00:002018-03-12T21:28:57.143+00:00The Norwich route is also subcontracted, at least ...The Norwich route is also subcontracted, at least in part> I regularly see one journey which is run by Freestones. <br />The impending changes to the low emission zone may also have something to do with it, especially if newer coaches cannot be justified. LWBMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-47377226442551715712018-03-12T19:54:45.226+00:002018-03-12T19:54:45.226+00:00I don't know, but it is highly possible that t...I don't know, but it is highly possible that the traffic in London has now reached the stage that the Norwich Megabus service can't be provided with the current PVR. I somehow doubt the Megabus concept has the financial strength to produce an additional PVR for now extra revenue, so rather than being some conspiracy to withdraw the route it might actually be an attempt to save it.<br /><br />Who are Megabus competing with? National Express, who do offer Victoria and Abellio Greater Anglia, who offer Liverpool Street.<br /> <br />Whatever the reason for the revised route, and whatever other options were considered and rejected, does a commercial business really make changes deliberately to lose custom and so that it can then justify closing the operation at a later date? <br /><br />Maybe the strap line should be "if you see Sid, ask him".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-35790088411246777342018-03-12T17:10:22.608+00:002018-03-12T17:10:22.608+00:00I find when researching transport changes, that so...I find when researching transport changes, that some of it doesn’t make sense to me. Mostly that’s because I am considering it against memory from a long time ago and the marketplace has changed.<br /><br />The above blog starts with replicating a mistake given on another blog. Namely that the altered Megabus M16 will use the existing setting down point at Stratford International rather than the reality of it being diverted to end at Stratford Bus Station. (On Megabus book a Norwich to London journey for any date in June and see what is offered.) Stratford Bus station is well connected and used by National Express for its A9 shuttle to Stanstead Airport every 30 minutes, 24 hrs a day. Ending journeys in east London is nothing new. 50 years ago the LT Greenline Coaches from Essex (720,721,723,..) all terminated at Aldgate Minories Coach Station rather than going through to Victoria. More recently other commuter routes have picked similar end points.<br /><br />Cash single fares in London are a very rare survival from the old days and not much used. In London you pay by card (Oyster or Bank debit) by area and by day/week/month. Buses only take cards (No Cash) and the young, old, disabled, get their discounts via special versions of Oyster card. The Kent High speed trains into St Pancras have always charged premium fares throughout.<br /><br />In all cases who is travelling and what is the whole journey. Children from home to school, adults home to work / shops / or may be on holiday or visiting friends. It is unlikely to be station to station with a walk at both ends. Victoria Coach Station is not a destination in its own right for most people. It is not even an interchange for that many and doesn’t form a hub particularly for Megabus. People arriving in London want to go all over the place. I am reminded that on the Hertford East to London Liverpool Street local trains, about half the off peak passengers get off at Tottenham Hale and change on to the Victoria Line rather than go all the way into London.<br /><br />Megabus serves many universities and that age group was, at least initially, their target audience. The north Devon, Bristol, Bath and Cardiff Megabus routes are mainly run by South Gloucestershire Bus and Coach, not Stagecoach. Stagecoach’s Plymouth depot not running Megabus may be they have found a cheaper alternative or one based nearer Falmouth for the Cornish services. Wait and see. The Falcon service is not Megabus, but certain connecting journeys accept Megabus bookings. Also Stagecoach South West lost their main depot in Exeter (Council redevelopment) and the Plymouth Depot now provides the big maintenance facilities, like paint shop, for Devon.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-62583048629228752332018-03-12T11:09:10.698+00:002018-03-12T11:09:10.698+00:00Not at all Chris. But combined with the closure of...Not at all Chris. But combined with the closure of Megabus work at Plymouth this is NOT a good sign. And to anon above - which of the facts above in incorrect? If I were travelling from Norwich, I would not be a user of a Megabus short working! My prediction is that M16 will be gone by the Summer.fatbusblokehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-31751756514002940292018-03-12T10:06:14.597+00:002018-03-12T10:06:14.597+00:00Guessing you've recently had a run in with the...Guessing you've recently had a run in with the somebody at Megabus? Chris Finchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-88300907653914689192018-03-12T10:01:30.296+00:002018-03-12T10:01:30.296+00:00Don't let facts get in the way of a good rant ...Don't let facts get in the way of a good rant though. <br /><br />He's got to produce one of these every day!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-26339275294136747002018-03-12T08:26:31.752+00:002018-03-12T08:26:31.752+00:001. Anyone wanting central London already incurs on...1. Anyone wanting central London already incurs onward travel costs from Victoria - which as you have pointed out are the same as from Stratford.<br />2. The revised service will stop at Stratford City Bus Station, not the current stop. That is as near to Stratford regional station as it is to the International options.<br />3. The fastest route from Stratford to Victoria Coach Station is not via St Pancras, because of the excessive interchange times at the latter (and an average 7.5 minute wait for a Javelin). Rather it is the Central and District, with an easy cross-platform interchange at Mile End. Even including walking to Victoria coach station, the TfL journey planner suggests this can be accomplished in just under 50 minutes i.e. faster than the coach.<br />4. The change *is* negative if you are one of a handful of people who are connecting with another coach at Victoria, but other services that do this remain available. <br />5. TfL has already indicated that Victoria does not have a long term future, so a suburban terminal may become the norm. This is a useful experiment to gauge the impact of such a change.<br />Travellernoreply@blogger.com