Arriva X1 Brighton 1X Comparison (1)

 

Go back a bit and a visitor to Brighton would hardly notice that there were two different bus companies providing services for the local community. Brighton Corporation had a network concentrated on the original municipal area and their buses (above) were red and cream.

The other company, Brighton and Hove,  was the local branch of the nationalised monster, initially part of the Transport Holding Company, later to become the National Bus Company. B&H buses were red and cream. Spot the difference!

To add to the misconceptions, there was a very complex agreement between the two operators. To balance mileage, costs and revenue, every so often a Corporation route would be run by the Company and vice versa.

For a while, the corporation attempted an independent identity by paining its buses blue - shock horror!

But privatisation led to a merger of the two already working together operations under the name of Brighton and Hove and with a much revised red and cream livery.

Before then, however there is a long and complex history of buses in the area. Here, for example, is a service 9 from Portslade Station to Mile Oak ...

... and a model of a B&H FLF showing 26, also to Mile Oak.

Then we have an obviously THC bus on route 40 to Whitehawk.

And, finally, in these nostalgic nibbles, we get closer to today's set up. Here is a leaflet from an era when the two operators were very much one in branding with a big b - to symbolise their togetherness.

We can welcome a route 1 from Downs Park in the west all the way to Whitehawk in the east. The pattern of today's service is being established.
 

So the 1 and 1A became a major cross town artery from quite early in the development of the privatized Brighton and Hove.

It was also one of the routes that began the policy of route branding. Bus watchers were shocked by the innovation of coloured wedges for some routes, in this case the 1/1A.

Even more shocking, the name "Metro" was applied!

But at this stage only single decks graced this "main line" route ...

... but very much the 1 and 1A from Mile Oak to Whitehawk.

In view of the new 1X variant (tomorrow's blog) one development is worthy of note. For about ten years a limited stop service, branded "Shuttle" shuttled to Mike Oak; and it wore a very outlandish livery ...

You do wonder why it didn't last and why the new 1X has appeared doing much the same as the former route 60? 

We shall see.

A more swirly pink route branding followed to match a more swirly base livery ...

... the extra swirl and the big pink route numbers defining the service's colour on maps and publicity. The detail has varied over the years ...

... but the red and cream plus pink additions has been a constant reminder of the quality and quantity of this bus service.

And they mean quality!

So the 1/1A ran from Mile Oak ...

.. south to Portslade then east via New Church Road and Western Road (but not along the coast road) to the he city centre and on to Whitehawk.

Tomorrow we will look at the recent developments on route 1/1A, including the new 1X.

Bur one question remains ...

... "What has happened to PINK?"

Here are non-pink 1/1A buses at the Mile Oak shops terminus ...

... and just one blue 1 at Whitehawk.

Another operator is ditching its useful and passenger friendly route branding.

M3 Policy?

Motiveless Management Meddling!

 Next 1X blog : Tuesday 16th July 

Satrday Variety

 Here We Go Again!

A recent fbb blog revealed a potential move away from route branding in Glasgow (above); and here is an electric bus in Norwich ...

... and here is an electric bus in York.

And here is a non electric bus in Sheffield.

It stands next to a rather fine bus in the new Sheffield livery. Or might it be the old Sheffield livery?

So what's going on? 

The not quite electric livery is now on a bus which is not new. An electronic display inside, but very much on the streets of Sheffield, makes that clear.

In fact, the Sheffield version ...

... used to look like this:-

It is, of course, a repainted Leeds cast-off but NOT repainted into the Sheffield blue and cream livery.

What's going on?

Some alert bus watchers, perhaps with inside knowledge, have concluded that First is abandoning route branding nationally and reverting to one livery for everyone and everything.

And what a poor livery it is by comparison. When will these mega groups (First less mega than it was) realise that local buses are local. A local identity is important for the passenger as it offers the possibility of local loyalty.

Back we go to a different version of boring Barbie now in boring blue and grey!

The "Three M" policy strikes again.

Doubtfully Digital 

Adding the word "digital" to anything seems to be the way to excite buyers and managers.

All readers will immediately recognise the picture below as the coupler (manufactured by Schafenberg) on a UK South Eastern Railway class 395.

Is it "digital"? This one claims to be.

The picture above shows something that looks very Schafenberg but with some mysterious wires attached. So is there some control electronics which has led some to use the word "digital"?

Whatever the definition, the possible adoption of this technology is the subject of some debate.

If you are going to adopt a new system for freight, you really need to have it on a lot of wagons so that train length can be flexible. So it might well be expensive!

In the end it will be all about the money!

Through A Glass Darkly ...

... derived from a Bible quote. The message is that it is futile to try and undersrtand eveythings about God, Heaven and the like (darkly). We will only undertnd fully when we get there - i.e. to eternity in the presence of God - until which time we must be content with a clouded and incomplete understanding.

But we don't expect such deep spiritual insight, or sight if any kind, on a No. 44 bus ride in Manchester.

You will not see anything from top deck front of this bus! Wiith its previous ownder, seeing out was fine ...

... but the big Little Gem bus is ghastly for its pasegers in Manchester.

You would not see much from anywhere on the bottom deck either.

Such decoration is really an insult to the passengers.

Tme Fo A Rethink?

The collapsed VanHool, European coach builder, has presented some operators with a tough decision. Do you hang on in there in the hope someone else will take on the manufacture of your order, or, do you start again?

National Express are starting again. The Altano looks a very nice motor.

They are big!

Triumph of Technology - Nearly

Mrs fbb's battery had swollen and she and he were concerned about the possibility of a minor explosion and fire. As it is easier (and, apparently cheaper) to start new "deals", the aged twosome decided to replace both their phones via a brief journey along the road to Tesco..

The brief was to replace like for like or as close as possible to like! Mrs fbb had to go back because one of her Apps would not Appear.

Meanwhile fbb's screen suddenly went very dim and, showing similar spirit of dimness, fbb couldn't, at first, undim it. Determination won in the end.

But e-mails are still recalcitrant!

Technical Support (No 3 son) is on holiday but, thanks to the marvels of technology, fbb has emails on the old phone, the tablet and the laptop. So he should manage.

Isn't technology wonderful?

Tomorrow, amongst other stuff, we go to Brighton and Silverstone and look at some bus models! They are green.

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 14th July 

From Mini Metro To Grand Express

The Multi Purpose Metro

One of the aims of M14 (PURPLE) was to offer some relief for the very busy RER Line A (RED) between Gare de Lyon and Chatelet Les Halles, a mega and very scary interchange. Although the map oys diagrammatic it is clear that its non-stop run between the two is exceptional when compared with the "traditional" close stops of Paris' version of the underground.

Another aim was to serve the development area centred on the Biblioljeque Fr Mitterand and Olympiades.

Originally designated Z A C de Tolbiac (development zone) this area has grown in importance.

The northern extension was, in part, designed to offer relief to the busy M13 (PALE BLUE) ...

Indeed, at one stage, the idea was for M14 to take iver one of the two branches of M13, But, as it happened, bigger schemes changed M14's aspirations.

But before the Biggie, (and at last) came the extension to Orly Airport. For ages this important destination was badly served by public transport. The choice was OrlyBus from Denfert Rochereau ...

...which required an RER B (MID BLUE) or Metro connection from central Paris.

It only takes 30 minutes AFTER you have found your way to the bus  terminus!

Then there is the delightfully quirky OrlyVal (LIGHT BROWN) automatic shuttle train ...

... which also connects with RER B st Antony ...

... offering an equally convolutes ride from centralParis.

The next offering was tram T7 (BROWN).

... which is slow and connects with a slow M7 (PINK).

So, clearly the M14 will be quicker overall and much mor convenient.

But those bigger asporations appeat at Orly as they do with the recently opened one stop northern extension. 

M14 now necomes part of the  Grand Paris Express network, parts of which are under under construction and other parts are awaiting the financial and planning go-ahesd.

The southern section of M5 is nearing completion.

(click on the above map for an enlargement)

A decade after declaring this line essential for the public, and following eight years of getting ready and two years after finishing work on this part, a metro has finally run on two kilometres of Metro Line 15 South. This is a big step forward for the Grand Paris Express, one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe.

The current Calendar for M15 is as follows.

2024-2025 : mise en service de Pont de Sèvres à Nanterre ;

Courant 2025 : lancement des travaux de la partie de Nanterre à Saint-Denis Pleyel via La Défense de la section nord ;

Horizon 2025 : mise en service de la partie de Saint-Denis Pleyel à Rosny-Bois-Perrier ;

Horizon 2027 : mise en service de la partie de Nanterre à Saint-Denis Pleyel via La Défense de la section nord ;

Horizon 2030 : mise en service de la partie de Rosny-Bois-Perrier à Champigny Centre de la section nord.

Metro 14 interacts with 15 at  Villejuif Gustave Roussy on its way to Orly ...

... and at its new northern terminus at Saint Denis Pleyel. 

Eventually, the latter will also serve M16 and M17 whilst Otly will have a terminus on M8.

It is a bit like Mr Khan's Superloop network, M14 doesn't loop! fbb guesses that it joins the new "Express" network because of its faster speeds and more limted stops!

For he record, here is a geographical diagram if the full circular Metro 15 route.

(Click on the map for an enlargement) The trains have arrived and are on test runs on the southern section.

And a look inside the M15 trains - with commentary.

It's no longer Paris Metro as we knew it!

Those were the days!

 Next Variety blog : Saturday 6th July