... about a £5 million (sic!) boost to service X78, Sheffield - Rotherham - Doncaster. The vehicles came with seat back branding ...
But then along came the X1. This was originally planned a a "super bus" link between Sheffield and Rotherham, replacing the traditional service 69 but diverted via the Meadowhall shopping centre. It was due to be fast (it isn't), with good real time information at comfortable "tram-style" stops (there isn't and they aren't).
From Rotherham the service takes over the former service 1 and 2 to Maltby - a very "ordinary" service indeed.
In fact the X1 is a really normal bus route throughout, but missing out a few stops in Attercliffe. The X78's Streetdecks were rebranded and duly labelled for the X1 where, up to now, they have operated happily.
Note the exciting (?) grey surround to the destination blind! fbb does not know whether the seat backs have ever been "corrected".
fbb has been informed that the X1 has generated significant extra business from the Maltby destinations to Meadowhell; well done First Bus!
So these attractive vehicles are to be "pulled" - sad, but perhaps a wise move until the purpetrators have been caught. The unhelpful likelihood is the they will start appearing on some of Sheffield's unbranded routes thus devaluing the X1 brand.
Will this reduce passenger numbers?
As a sign of the times, here is an X1 branded bus ...
... on the X78!
A Sound Investment?
Many years ago, you could buy a Hornby model railway loco With realistic chuffing sound"; James May re-assembled one for a TV programme.
fbb thinks the chuff came from a plastic gear and crank rubbing on a piece of sandpaper. Modern Models have DCC (Digital Command Control) which is super smashing and clever ...
... and expensive! In simple terms your feed the electric to the track in one steady lump and then send little digital signals to a confuser chip in the loco which controls speed, forward and reverse etc. But with a more advanced chip and a loudspeaker in the tender you can now tell th loco to emit reliaric sounds. It can chuff, hiss, clank. whistle. squeal on sharp corners with the bonus (?)) of asperity from the train crew.
A loco so-equipped with cost well over £200. Each one to his own, but it is a finaincial and relism step too far for fbb.
A while ago, fbb reported on the offer of a Water Tower (from Dapol) complete with digital sound effects.
It was £50 and it wasn't April 1st.
To add to the fun, Hornby have announced a wagon, also with clever DCC sound ...
... represented, curiously, by the light blue feathery graphic. At first fbb though that this was to hold you loco's sound, useful (?) for small tank engines with insufficient room for chip and loudspeaker. But no; it emits wagon sounds!
Equip your layout with a full train length of these and Hornby (so it has been suggested) will give you a free set of ear protectors so you can't hear the irritating racket.
A sandpaper "chuff" was a lot cheaper!
Milton Keynes; All Is Forgiven
The current (February) edition of Buses magazine has a fascinating article about a new network in Barcelona. The two cites have something in common.
Both cities have their road network as a grid pattern.
But there is another, albeit tenuous connection. Main roads in MK are numbered in two series, H for "horizontal" grid line and V for "vertical. Here is the junction of the H6 and V7 near the city centre shopping "mall" (upper left) ...
... and here is a road sign on the V7, showing the H6 Childs Way east and west from the junction.
The early phase of the new bus network is arranged on a simple (?) grid pattern matching the road network.
Excitingly the bus route numbers are either "H" for horizontal (BLUE) ...
... or "V" for vertical (GREEN). Early publicity for the changes saw buses bedecked in a grid pattern livery.
There is one diagonal route (so far) seen on the lower left of the route map above. Of course this is a "diagonal" service D1 (PURPLE).
At last; Milton Keynes' genius is recognised?
Maybe not.
At last; Milton Keynes' genius is recognised?
Maybe not.
Next Emily blog (at last) : Wednesday 17th January
The seat backs haven't been changed.
ReplyDeleteThe upgrading of the X1 was admirable so far as it went, but was accompanied by a downgrading of the X78, which has suffered a reduced frequency and the loss of its posh kit. This is exacerbated by the use of Streetlites which are too small for the busiest journeys. This seems a strange way to treat a service which has beaten the trend and has grown on patronage and frequency over the last 20 years or so. Not First's finest hour(though the competition for that title is fairly limited......)