tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post6869095380637852532..comments2024-03-25T19:07:29.729+00:00Comments on Steve's Bus & Train Page: Service UpdateSteve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-87040762303036727442016-02-28T15:28:08.365+00:002016-02-28T15:28:08.365+00:00I'm reminded of the apocryphal - although quit...I'm reminded of the apocryphal - although quite possibly untrue - remark attributed to Maggie Thatcher: "A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure". Nevertheless there is perhaps a certain social demographic which would never think of taking a bus when they can use a car. Even in London I suspect that there are "bus" people and "tube" people.Andrew Kleissnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-46266208825937321522016-02-28T11:16:51.412+00:002016-02-28T11:16:51.412+00:00I've probably the least experience of Stagecoa...I've probably the least experience of Stagecoach, but that contrast is a very interesting point. To me they seem to combine very good commercial acumen with understanding their local market (even when the locals hate them as many do in Cambridge). What you say about Arriva south of the river, is what I'd say about the northern bit too! I did used to see them as son of London Country, a bit of a chip off the old block, though now combined with a bit of the Teutonic ridigity that passes for efficiency (from DB their new owner).<br /><br />I tend to think there's something else too: in some regions customers seem to take to buses and in others they don't as much. Could that partially be the difference between north and south Kent? I'd probably suggest the same between south Suffolk (though not Ipswich itself, which always seemed to me like a different region) and the GY to Norwich corridor; and between mid Herts where despite the affluence they seem to take to buses, in my home area; and east/north Herts, central and north Essex, where they don't so much - though again I think south Essex is different. I suspect with greater mobility the differences are blurring. The differences can't it seems to me to be put wholly down to the operators. It may be why the apparent Stagecoach adaptability is so important.smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-22280989934752830972016-02-27T17:59:12.410+00:002016-02-27T17:59:12.410+00:00I've been wait8ing for you! You have a pretty ...I've been wait8ing for you! You have a pretty good point although I would suggest that Stagecoast have preserved far more of the trunk routes in East Kent than Arriva have in North and West Kent. Maidstone used to be the hub in the West that Canterbury is in the East, but in the last 20 years routes from Maidstone to Hastings, Rye, Sevenoaks, London, Gravesend and Sheerness have all disappeared. For years the Maidstone - Folkestone route was split at Ashford, and even the Maidstone - Faversgam route required a change at Sittingbourne Yes Stagecoach had a goot established network to begin with, but to keep it established, let alone improve it is commendable in this day and age.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-46505081362134305512016-02-27T17:27:37.347+00:002016-02-27T17:27:37.347+00:00Had to comment on that Steve: that sort of ineptit...Had to comment on that Steve: that sort of ineptitude is exactly why I think businesses need to start telling the bus companies what to do, and probably bribing them too - he who pays the piper and all that. Too many managements and local authorities don't seem to have much clue about the real world, do they? (Yes there are some good exceptions; but it's interesting that the southern part of Stagecoach south-east seems to have a much better reputation than the northern home counties bit, and particularly Stagecoach East. Perhaps just confirms my suspicions of the role of history: the bits that were good pre-deregulation seem still good today, and the bits that were poor, remain poor.)smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-73403493999219039952016-02-27T08:49:40.452+00:002016-02-27T08:49:40.452+00:00Judge them after 3 months and see if they still fe...Judge them after 3 months and see if they still feel new then, from my experience of the those in Colchester I would amend that to give it a month, and that's being generous! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-3260414022633769602016-02-26T23:23:59.074+00:002016-02-26T23:23:59.074+00:00Excellent! Saves me the odious task (Lowestoft not...Excellent! Saves me the odious task (Lowestoft not fun this time of year):DSteve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-84746434147889685782016-02-26T23:22:13.216+00:002016-02-26T23:22:13.216+00:00It makes perfect sense Nigel so thanks for that - ...It makes perfect sense Nigel so thanks for that - it certainly seemed a mid length one. Think my brain is still in Kent - didn't pick up on EN being Enviro. The longer E200's always seemed better than the short ones so the MMC's may be the same.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-52582906827371086742016-02-26T23:13:47.938+00:002016-02-26T23:13:47.938+00:00I believe it's the 115 that Suffolk Norse oper...I believe it's the 115 that Suffolk Norse operate in Lowestoft with their minibuses. Good thought, I'd forgotten about them. I'll be out that week to find out!Zak's Plateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10170552139362520636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-24134776224419291472016-02-26T22:50:02.712+00:002016-02-26T22:50:02.712+00:00From what I can work out Arriva London have Enviro...From what I can work out Arriva London have Enviro 200s/E20Ds of various different lengths - I'm willing to be corrected but from shortest to longest they're classed as EN, ENS, ENR, ENL and ENX. On that basis ENR could be Enviro Regular but that's simply conjecture on my part!Nigel Uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03051245836332741168noreply@blogger.com