please empty your brain below
|
I like the 549, and sad that the service is being reduced yet again. I can just vaguely remember the only other similar bus service, the 505 from Walthamstow, which was withdrawn a long time ago now.
My story is that the 549 was a lifeline when I lived at Leytonstone and working at Loughton. At that time I could only just afford a Travelcard up to Zone 5, so I had to rush out of the office at 5 pm just in time to catch the bus to Buckhurst Hill which was Zone 5 because I couldn't use the Zone 6 Loughton tube station. The service was so infrequent that the bus driver would actually wait for me if he saw me running for the bus from his rear view window!
Then, when the Hainault Loop zone was changed to 4, I could then take the much more frequent 167 to Chigwell and save money on my Travelcard by only buying up to Zone 4.
Ell | 12.03.22 - 7:55 a.m. | #
|
'...but one has to question why they're operating a bus route more than 15 miles from their depot in South Mimms'.
M25 & M11
With around a 20 minute layover at each end of the route the timetable should be robust, the payoff of having a standard timetable Mon-Sat for departures is worth it, under the old timetable most of the departure times were different on Saturdays compared to Mon-Fri.
Still Anon | 12.03.22 - 8:42 a.m. | #
|
|
Callum's no Martin Elvery though, whose MyLondon articles are becoming the stuff of legend. His pieces about the railways of Watford and Rickmansworth make our Callum seem like Paul Theroux in comparison. Go on DG, you know you want to!
THC | 12.03.22 - 9:07 a.m. | #
|
|
I think this article has too much research and facts behind it to qualify for MyLondon. Needs more speculation!
martin | 12.03.22 - 9:38 a.m. | #
|
|
The “ The only bus route to use the Dartford Crossing with spectacular views of London and the River Thames” story was news to me as I missed/had forgotten your post of 8 years ago.
Bryn Davies | 12.03.22 - 9:46 a.m. | #
|
|
Once we get past all the popouts My London's transport coverage is a lot better than expected.
cjw714 | 12.03.22 - 9:46 a.m. | #
|
|
My body lights up when I see the day's post is a bus post.
Josh | 12.03.22 - 10:37 a.m. | #
|
I remember when the 549 was the 249, with white and aging Bristol REs belonging to a local coach company (Cullinan's? Can't find any record online, photos neither), I think as an Essex County Council contract, just post-deregulation. Those were the days, etc.
#AllTheNicheBusContentYouDidntNeed
Dominic H | 12.03.22 - 11:13 a.m. | #
|
Cullinans or Cullinan's on the 249...
One in b/w & a blurry one in colour.
Still Anon | 12.03.22 - 11:54 a.m. | #
|
|
I'd been expecting a bus post today. However, I assumed it would be your take on TfL's Bus Action Plan announced yesterday. Todays post is more interesting than the plan.
ap | 12.03.22 - 1:18 p.m. | #
|
|
'Shouldn't be spending our taxes on her' sounds like a great sound bite for the Conservative Party
Tones | 12.03.22 - 5:36 p.m. | #
|
|
I've lived near to the 549 for over 30 years and have not used this bus once due to its proximity to the Central Line and the infrequency of the service. Due to TfL's finances and its Essex based route, I fear its days are numbered
Scientist | 12.03.22 - 6:24 p.m. | #
|
|
Given that a new contract started on the 549 today, with its route unchanged, I suspect it's safe enough for now.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 12.03.22 - 6:29 p.m. | #
|
Departure times may be consistent between Mondays to Fridays and Saturdays, but intermediate points mostly are not (though it's better than the seemingly random timetable that's just been replaced).
And I don't suppose TfL are stocking a handy timetable to assist the passengers in remembering the times either.
Paul | 12.03.22 - 7:23 p.m. | #
|
|
Cullinan's Coaches was the first operator of route 249 when it was introduced in 1987 (it had previously been part of route 250 to Waltham Cross). Cullinan's did indeed use two Bristol REs - although a minibus often turned up if one of the REs wasn't available. Essex County Council terminated the contract with Cullinan's in summer 1988, handing an emergency contract to West's Coaches.
Malc M | 12.03.22 - 10:09 p.m. | #
|
|
Paul - we had a small number of locally produced timetables available on the bus.
Dean Sullivan | 13.03.22 - 7:27 a.m. | #
|
|
Dean - good to hear.
Paul | 13.03.22 - 5:56 p.m. | #
|
Callum's actual 549 story on My London...
London's 'least reliable' bus route where you now have to wait an hour and a half between buses
diamond geezer | Homepage | 22.03.22 - 2:25 p.m. | #
|
|
...and a year later Callum's leaving MyLondon to take up a job with Govia Thameslink, so there is at last a vacancy for niche bus content!
diamond geezer | Homepage | 13.06.23 - 5:21 p.m. | #
|
|
|
TridentScan v2.10.0 | Privacy Policy
|
