First to their credit, I have to say the DLR trains along with the trams are my favourite mode of transport in London, both of which are reliable, smooth-running and environmentally friendly with nice views (particularly from the former). But their service seems badly lacking when it comes to enabling passengers to easily find alternative transport.
On two occasions, I had trouble finding the right stop for the rail replacement buses, in particular the first one. I can't remember what the station was (but I'm pretty sure I was going to Gallions Reach) but I ended up going on this very long-winded bus ride based on Google Maps directions when I couldn't find the required rail replacement bus stop (I think this was before Google Maps were more attuned to what services aren't running or delayed), eventually walking past such a stop some way from the station en route to my stop and having no idea if it was the right one.
The next occasion which was this morning, Google Maps said I was supposed to wait at Canning Town Bus Station (Stop F), but it soon became clear that RRBs were not stopping there. I asked what seemed to be a TfL member of staff (he was wearing hi-vis) about this but basically he didn't know. Then twice I walked down from this stop as I saw a RRB at stop C, on both occasions being told they were not going to my destination (Gallions Reach again), one of them telling me it was the other side but it was not clear what he meant by that. There was also a whiteboard in the middle of the bus station which was blank - someone could have easily written on it information as to where to catch RRBs for what terminuses, whether Bank, Stratford, Woolwich Arsenal etc. I then realized I was supposed to be waiting at stop B because I'd overlooked in the Google Maps directions that I was supposed to be waiting at "platform B". So why name the whole bus station stop F? Google Maps did show where exactly I was supposed to be waiting but due to the poor weather I was unable to find my bearings based on my location and I assumed that the stop you wait at wasn't necessarily where it's indicated by the circle representing a transport point - it wouldn't have been the first time this had happened. You can blame Google for some of this but maybe TfL are to blame instead for not giving them accurate enough information.
Another occasion was when the trains from Limehouse to Bank weren't running but they didn't give a reason as far as I could see. I had to take a bus to Aldgate after this time Google weren't aware of this and gave me the usual route, so I had to go to the next route (or the first that didn't involve the DLR). No written advice as to what buses to take (or any that was clear) - there was a TfL member of staff who seemed to be telling passengers about alternative routes, but I wasn't confident about asking her as her instructions didn't seem very clear.
I guess the solution to this is to always be well-prepared well before setting off, and that includes knowing exactly where to catch your bus or what the other alternative routes might be? But this wouldn't be necessary if there was sufficient staff and information on hand at the time and place your journey is affected...
On two occasions, I had trouble finding the right stop for the rail replacement buses, in particular the first one. I can't remember what the station was (but I'm pretty sure I was going to Gallions Reach) but I ended up going on this very long-winded bus ride based on Google Maps directions when I couldn't find the required rail replacement bus stop (I think this was before Google Maps were more attuned to what services aren't running or delayed), eventually walking past such a stop some way from the station en route to my stop and having no idea if it was the right one.
The next occasion which was this morning, Google Maps said I was supposed to wait at Canning Town Bus Station (Stop F), but it soon became clear that RRBs were not stopping there. I asked what seemed to be a TfL member of staff (he was wearing hi-vis) about this but basically he didn't know. Then twice I walked down from this stop as I saw a RRB at stop C, on both occasions being told they were not going to my destination (Gallions Reach again), one of them telling me it was the other side but it was not clear what he meant by that. There was also a whiteboard in the middle of the bus station which was blank - someone could have easily written on it information as to where to catch RRBs for what terminuses, whether Bank, Stratford, Woolwich Arsenal etc. I then realized I was supposed to be waiting at stop B because I'd overlooked in the Google Maps directions that I was supposed to be waiting at "platform B". So why name the whole bus station stop F? Google Maps did show where exactly I was supposed to be waiting but due to the poor weather I was unable to find my bearings based on my location and I assumed that the stop you wait at wasn't necessarily where it's indicated by the circle representing a transport point - it wouldn't have been the first time this had happened. You can blame Google for some of this but maybe TfL are to blame instead for not giving them accurate enough information.
Another occasion was when the trains from Limehouse to Bank weren't running but they didn't give a reason as far as I could see. I had to take a bus to Aldgate after this time Google weren't aware of this and gave me the usual route, so I had to go to the next route (or the first that didn't involve the DLR). No written advice as to what buses to take (or any that was clear) - there was a TfL member of staff who seemed to be telling passengers about alternative routes, but I wasn't confident about asking her as her instructions didn't seem very clear.
I guess the solution to this is to always be well-prepared well before setting off, and that includes knowing exactly where to catch your bus or what the other alternative routes might be? But this wouldn't be necessary if there was sufficient staff and information on hand at the time and place your journey is affected...
