Next It'll Be The 123?
It is the last quadrant of Sadiq Khan's Sad Superloop where credibility crumbles into chaos. The first problem is that the diagram loses any sense of geographical reality. We have already seen that the route "right around London" has a significant gap between "Royal Docks" and Bexleyheath.
The actual terminus at "Royal Docks" is not specified but wherever it might be there is a huge gap (above map top left to bottom right) where no Superloop is planned.
Commentators are suggesting that today's stage one is a version of part of the 123 ...
... which will get you from Wathamstow to Ilford as per the loopy diagram. But what then?
Incidentally, do you remember Capital Citibus in yellow?
Continuing south from Ilford beyond the 123 terminus and down the green road would bring you to the Woolwich Free Ferry (see map above).
Frankly, this would not be an attractive way of completing the loop as the ferry is not a particularly attractive ride for foot passengers. There are significant walks from arriving transport at North Woolwich to the ferry deck and similarly on the south bank. It probably wouldn't work to put a bus on the ferry.
Generally it is quicker to use the foot tunnel with its entrance closer to the bus turnround at North Woolwich.
The southern end of the tunnel is less attractive, however, as it is round the back of the Waterside Leisure Centre where they keep the rubbish bins - maybe not quite.
A more sensible option would be to route a bus link through the under-construction Silvertown tunnel ...
... followed by a hefty run south east via Greenwich and the A207 to find Bexleyheath!
Sadly, for the current vision that has so excited much of the media which believes everything a press release releases, this bit of the non looping loop is loopy - or if not deliberately daft, certainly not thought through sensibly.
Now what Mr Khan could do, and what a typically pro public transport French Government would definitely do, is to build a tunnel from Barking Riverside to Thamesmead and make it a tram only tunnel. 
That would be a great help in providing a positive link between two large areas of population both of which are out on a limb public transport wise.
Currently Bexleyheath to Bromley is route 269 ...
... Calling's at Queen Mary:s Hospital on the way. Ironically one of its ancestors did start from Woolwich but then, as now, it is a right dog leg on what is supposed to be a speeded up Superloop.
fbb will not bother his readers with detailed route and timetables because this section is really very speculative and potentially the least satisfactory part of a dubious idea. From a historic point of view the route was once operated by a TfL separate company and in a non London livery.
Like Harrow, it did not last! Todays 269 runs every 12 minutes.
Of course, Bexleyheath to Bromley and Croydon was once the home of the Greenline 725/726 combo which begat the much shorter X26. Which is where we came in.
Last in the Superloop diagram is the link from Bromley to Croydon. Currently the "direct" link is via Hayes on the 119 (Croydon just off the map, bottom left.)
So something more direct would definitely be needed if the result were to be anything like "Super"!
Historically this route once carried Metrobus livery ...
... and now it is still in the hands of Metrobus' owners, GoAhead. Current frequency is, again, every 12 minutes.
Reading back over this series of blogs, fbb is forced to the conclusion that Sadiq Khan's big idea will simply not be capable of delivering what he wants it to. To deliver faster express buses linking the outer London boroughs would need astronomical investment in infrastructure and it is very doubtful that it would provide a great deal of benefit.
Put your money into frequent trams through central London, young Sadiq m'lad, and even the "hard done by Capital's motorists" might be won over. That's how they do it in Sweden!
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What Did He Say About The Vineyard Tenants?
“What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do?” asked Jesus. “He will come and kill those tenants and turn the vineyard over to others."
And there's more. Jesus and his disciples were back on the Mount of Olives overlooking the temple.
One of his disciples said, “Look, Teacher! What wonderful stones and buildings!”
Jesus answered, “You see these great buildings? Not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one of them will be thrown down.”
Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, across from the Temple, when Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him in private. 4 “Tell us when this will be,” they said,.
So he did.
Jesus prophesied the destruction, not only of the Temple itself but of everything in it, including, presumably, those "tenants" (e.g. priests) of God's "vineyard" (nation of Israel) who had failed to fulfil their obligations to Him.
Think Putin and parts of Ukraine; but think total annihilation of the nation of Israel by the Romans.
Of course, the Jewish authorities saw this prophecy as a threat of physical revolt, inspired and possibly led by Jesus.
So he had to go.
It was no longer a matter of "did Jesus deserve to die?" - it now became "when" and "how'.
Jesus crucifixion was no tragic accident; it was part of a plan. God was in charge but "circumstances" were the outworking.
P.S. The State of Israel was not reborn until May 1948.
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Next New Bus Route blog : Thursday 6th April
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