Bus speeds on current TfL routes

[The0]

Does anyone know what the fastest speed limits are on TfL buses are? I know there's a very short stretch of 50mph on the A3 but buses come off the A3 shortly after, so I'd be surprised if they actually reach 50 at all.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Others will know better than me but aren't most/all TFL buses limited to 37mph (60km/h)? So even on 50mph sections they wouldn't be able to get to that speed anyway.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Others will know better than me but aren't most/all TFL buses limited to 37mph (60km/h)? So even on 50mph sections they wouldn't be able to get to that speed anyway.

I seem to recall seeing the speedometer of an Enviro 400* clock 45 mph on the slip road off Edgware Road coming into Staples Corner on the route 142 one late evening.

*Driven by the most insane driver I've ever had the horror of experiencing.

 

[MotCO]

I remember in the 1980's being on an RT on either route 72 or 152 (they kept messing about with the routes!) going from Claygate to Hook, and on the down hill section, the bus was at full pelt, shaking all its rivets - it must have hit the late 40's or 50 mph.

In more recent times, when the X26 (sorry, SL7) is diverted way from Kingston due to cycling races, it runs down the A3 and M25 - this must be a contender for fastest bus.

 

[MedwayValiant]

There are a few sections of TfL routes which run on roads where the national speed limit applies ie 60 mph on single carriageways. One example, about a mile of the 298 between Hadley Wood and the M25 on the way to Potters Bar.

I seem to remember once reading that the speed limiters used on TfL services disengage if the speed limit is higher than 40 mph, so a bus on one of these sections is free to go up to 60 mph. They won't actually go that fast, but they'd hold up the traffic if they stuck to 37.

 

[mjc]

There are a few sections of TfL routes which run on roads where the national speed limit applies ie 60 mph on single carriageways. One example, about a mile of the 298 between Hadley Wood and the M25 on the way to Potters Bar.

I seem to remember once reading that the speed limiters used on TfL services disengage if the speed limit is higher than 40 mph, so a bus on one of these sections is free to go up to 60 mph. They won't actually go that fast, but they'd hold up the traffic if they stuck to 37.

Except that the 60 limit doesn’t apply to buses (or most vans for that matter, not that the drivers or law enforcement agencies pay much attention!)

 

[Fundee on Tay]

Surely the 66 must hit 40/50mph on the dual section of the A12?

 

[PeterC]

Surely the 66 must hit 40/50mph on the dual section of the A12?

I am most likely to be using that section in late evening so have never really observed the speed of the buses. However stops are at normal spacings except for the short sections of open country so I doubt if drivers could build up much of a speed.

 

[800301]

Not all TfL buses are speed limited, it’s up to the operator who operates them. Metroline, for example, limit most of their fleet to 37 for some reason. I’ve driven many buses that have done 62MPH at Stagecoach; the Boris buses will do 50 for example. In service you’ve got the 292 that goes down the A1 at 50, the 498 that has a 50mph section and a very short NSL (national speed limit) section on the A12 and there are a few odd routes where you can easily get to 50mph in service but that’s the highest you’ll hit really in service. Single carriageway NSL is 50 for a bus.

Anything fitted with ISL (Intelligent speed assistance) will do 1-3mph lower than the limit set.

 

[Deerfold]

Are the buses on the A10 limited? Do they get up to speed on the M4 link to Heathrow?

 

[busesrusuk]

Most TfL buses will be limited. I know that at Go Ahead the telematics was set at 30 which whilst fine for service work was not very helpful when used on rail replacement work. There was also a plan to fit "Intelligent Speed Assist" that used GPS positioning to automatically restrict buses to the speed limit on the road/s they were travelling down. Not sure if that is now in widespread use or not across the TfL network.

Buses that I have driven in the past were capable of reasonable speeds, Metrobuses and Titans normally toped out between 45 and 50 whilst the VC (Volvo D10M) class were capable of doing around 60 - and you knew it when you were on a motorway! Some buses in the Go Ahead London private hire fleet were fitted with high speed diffs, some RM's were so fitted aa was one of the Titans at London Central (can't remember bonnet number now) was also fitted and was capable of 60+. It became a source of angst with the local union rep when we sent it to Newcastle when we went recruiting drivers up there.

I remember the Scottish coaches being particularly quick. I recall catching up with some one evening driving up the M1 and I was doing more than 80 to enable me to overtake them. The M types were known to be quick but the coaches I passed were the Leyland Tiger/Dominant III coaches which I thought looked very smart at the time.

 

[GusB]

Does anyone know what the fastest speed limits are on TfL buses are?

The opening post is referring to the current situation, so let's not go off-topic.