please empty your brain below
This isn't the first time TfL have provide a bus replacement service, so how can they be so bad at it?

By now it should be a well oiled machine.

Jon Jones | 18.12.22 - 8:06 a.m. | #

New routes/changes to routes/temporary routes etc should be something that Tfl manage well. That isn't happening and reflects badly on it as an organisation

Scientist | 18.12.22 - 8:08 a.m. | #

Two of those numbers brought back memories - 718 & 720 were both London Transport Green Line routes when I lived at Buckhurst Hill in the 1960s. 718 went from Bishops Stortford to Windsor and the 720 from Epping to Aldgate.
One of the few "green painted Routemasters) was on trial on the 720 route for a while.

Rob Gullen | 18.12.22 - 8:12 a.m. | #

718 was most recently used by a temporary route in Mitcham between November 2019 and December 2021.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 18.12.22 - 8:19 a.m. | #

The 718 Green Line did not go to Stortford. After the New Town came about, it started at Harlow. It was a most useful route via Epping, Loughton, Chingford, Walthamstow and Tottenham, and was routinely operated by RMC coaches in the mid-60s. Chingford to Epping was half a crown return; I remember I used it to escape on on World Cup final day 1966.

Crispy | 18.12.22 - 8:28 a.m. | #

Thanks for the info, those are routes I won’t be taking.
P.s. I hope the buses had decent comfy seats. 😉

Jo W | 18.12.22 - 8:48 a.m. | #

There were over 200 green Routemasters: 100 RMLs, 69 RMCs, and 43 RCLs. Among the routes operated by RMCs were
718 Windsor - Harlow (1962-1972)
719 Victoria - Hemel Hampstead (1962-67)
720 Aldgate - Bishops Stortford (1962-64)
720 Aldgate - Harlow (1962-1964)

Timbo | 18.12.22 - 8:53 a.m. | #

Also there seems to have been not enough effort put into the colour blindness considerations for the map.

Kirk | 18.12.22 - 9:14 a.m. | #

A truly miserable experience. An object lesson in how NOT to serve the travelling public.

Come on, TfL, you've go to do better than this - at every level.

Petras409 | 18.12.22 - 9:52 a.m. | #

TfL is lucky that there have been no serious incidents with replacement buses. I can recall twice when I was nervous on a replacement bus.

Once when the bus was so full that there were 20 people standing on the upper deck. They were all swaying whenever the bus went round a corner.

The other time was when the driver got lost and a passenger gave directions down narrow streets. Low bridges were avoided, but I could feel the bus going over pavements. No pedestrians were hurt.

MA | 18.12.22 - 10:36 a.m. | #

On Thursday I turned up at Euston to find no stopping trains. When I got to Harrow on the Hill I saw the bus leaving the bus station. When the next one appeared twenty minutes later it was so crowded people were standing by the driver.

Sprout Eater | 18.12.22 - 10:43 a.m. | #

Oh dear! I fear one of these may feature heavily in my daughter's commute next week! I'd better warn her.
Let's hope the Alternative routes are running!

Cornish Cockney | 18.12.22 - 10:45 a.m. | #

TfL's aversion to LED blinds is doing the travelling public no favours once again.

As for that "map" - can even the designers follow it?

Paul | 18.12.22 - 12:25 p.m. | #

Been on a District Line replacement bus where I had to direct the driver as the roadsigns for the buses hadn't been put up properly and his printed map confused him.

I've never been on a tube replacement bus that had a ticket reader that had been turned on.

ap | 18.12.22 - 2:46 p.m. | #

I work on this rail replacement. Many of those standing in the green worker jackets are pilots who are waiting for a driver to direct, and the reason why they’re all standing there is because drivers have failed to turn up due to strikes. tfl has not specified that destinations should be included, the only operator who has done so has done it out of discretion. Tfl and our issued map have included two different versions of where to stop, online maps say something different.

Anonymous | 18.12.22 - 3:37 p.m. | #

Anonymous I hope you will be tearing a strip off the staff who have made such a pig's ear of these replacement services. Particularly the cretin at Harrow Bus Station who obviously can't be arsed to help the travelling public. A few sacking might put a rocket up some of the staff.

Tones | 18.12.22 - 5:09 p.m. | #

The whole Watford DC line is out, but the replacement buses don't include South Hampstead & Kilburn High. Swiss Cottage is pretty close to South Hampstead.

That said, any replacement buses would have been significantly diverted due to a major water main burst early Sat morning right next to South Hampstead station.

MilesT | 18.12.22 - 7:31 p.m. | #

Tones - alas, unfortunately I don’t have the power to do so. I’m just one of the workers and direct drivers where they need to be. I try to help as best I can but it’s difficult under pressure when people are piling up on you questioning where the bus is going, mistakes happen

Anonymous | 19.12.22 - 12:53 a.m. | #

'Filthwagon'

Love it

Anders | 19.12.22 - 2:35 p.m. | #

I’m not surprised you got so little from the supervisor. I did that boring job for a few months before moving on. Some of the most bitter and angry TfL staff I had ever had the displeasure of meeting.

I started my first week by cleaning out their disgusting office and sorting out the chemical and bin stores - I was accused of trying to make a name for myself. That’s how low the bar was set. You’ve got to laugh haha.

Maxy | 19.12.22 - 8:57 p.m. | #

Apart from South Oxhey / Carpenders Park, most of the stations are under a mile from the Metropolitan line, a reasonable walk for most and far faster than a BRS.

dg writes: get your ruler out and measure again.

For Willesden, a change at Finchley Road and short walk to Frognal, or West Hampstead Jubilee to WH LO will fill in the Willesden triangle.

Nick K | 20.12.22 - 6:06 p.m. | #











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