WLTM Transport Blog

22/07/2013

Temporary Route 588 13/07/13

Route 388 will be extended through the Olympic Park to Stratford City. However, the route cannot be extended immediately, so I went out to see that a temporary route called 588, running from Hackney Wick to Stratford City.

Stratford City bus stop, showing 588 - will be replaced eventually with '388' by December

Temporary route already on diversion due to Wireless Festival.

Stagecoach 18459, Route 588, Stratford City
The driver accidentally went on the diversion route, but she went back on the proper route eventually.

Stagecoach 18462 on Route 588, Stratford Olympic Park

Stagecoach 18459, Route 588, Hackney Wick

Stagecoach 18457, Route 588, Hackney Wick

Stagecoach 18457 on Route 588, Hackney Wick

Stagecoach 18457 on Route 588, Stratford City.
I was speaking to the driver of this bus, and he said that I was his first passenger of the day, and he started at 7am! It was 11am when I covered it, so it wasn't well used!

20/07/2013

My Picture Archive Post 13

I delve into the archives to bring out another scanned photo, from Uxbridge this time.

First London TNL32923 on Route 427, Uxbridge, 2006

Many things have changed since this picture was taken. First don't run TfL buses at Uxbridge, nor have the garage there. 427 is run by Volvo B9TLs now.

These TNLs were purchased initally for the 207, however, in 2005, it was converted to bendy buses to crowd the town centres of Acton*, Southall*, Ealing and Hanwell. It also blocked numerous junctions in Shepherd's Bush, but they were people movers. The quieter section of the split (operationally) 207 was the 427, which runs Acton Town Hall (at the time, Acton Tram Depot) to Uxbridge Station. These buses have since moved on from First London, and the 207/427 are now both double decker. The Uxbridge Road corridor is still too busy, and these buses also had a stint as 607 buses, which also got some 207 buses to convert it to low floor. The busy corridor of Uxbridge Road which is used quite a bit in the blog (including Southall* and White City*) and WLTM is where these routes run. Tram plans came and went, but the buses still carry on, but modernised now. Tatty buses worked as people on the route can sometimes not treat their buses well.

Personally, 427 is "the lesser of three evils" in my opinion, as the corridor needs relief. Crossrail may not be enough, as some stations are to be served by 2tph.