Transpora Group

[Russel]

If route B is operating, there are certainly more questions than answers.


How safe is that? Having someone else riding around in the cab? Especially with the cab door open..... What happens on private land I guess is upto the land owner but on a public highway, that would not be deemed safe by police, DVSA or TFL.

Open flap on the bonnet too, though that's only a minor thing.

 

[Megafuss]

If route B is operating, there are certainly more questions than answers.


How safe is that? Having someone else riding around in the cab? Especially with the cab door open..... What happens on private land I guess is upto the land owner but on a public highway, that would not be deemed safe by police, DVSA or TFL.

The esteemed Geoff Marshall filmed inside the cab of a routemaster with non other than former TfL commissioner Sir Peter Hendy a couple of years ago.

 

[CBlue]

Doesn't appear to be any mention of a route B on the website - or a timetable for that matter?

 

[RhysHand]

If route B is operating, there are certainly more questions than answers.


How safe is that? Having someone else riding around in the cab? Especially with the cab door open..... What happens on private land I guess is upto the land owner but on a public highway, that would not be deemed safe by police, DVSA or TFL.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

It appears to be one of the team assisting with training leaning through the ‘slide’ window inside the saloon not sat in the cab.

Regardless, they will be spoken to and reminded of what is contained in the signed off risk assessment for that work activity.

 

[Flange Squeal]

I'm intrigued about the routing of the Londoner A, being in Westminster for work at the mo and having observed it...

Once over Westminster Bridge, why does it not just turn right into Parliament St, as the TfL routes do, instead of going around Parliament Sq? It doesn't go round the Square heading the other way.
Is it to do with it not being TfL?

Possibly to give more of a view of the Houses of Parliament as well as a glimpse of Westminster Abbey? The right turn is indeed marked for ‘local buses’ though.

 

[tjwpsv]

It'll be interesting to see if Transpora decide to reintroduce their other Sightseeing tours as during next year's season (I.e. Leeds, Chester and Birmingham)...

Can you 'reintroduce' a tour that hasn't been operated before? Despite some advanced publicity, did Leeds ever run?

 

[WY Bus Spotter]

Can you 'reintroduce' a tour that hasn't been operated before? Despite some advanced publicity, did Leeds ever run?

No, in a word. Citysightseeing ran a tour via Transdev York about 10 or so years ago, but it had nothing to do with this company.

 

[Russel]

Can you 'reintroduce' a tour that hasn't been operated before? Despite some advanced publicity, did Leeds ever run?

I have to question the viability of sightseeing tours of city's such as Leeds, Birmingham etc, is there really the market for them?

Yes, Birmingham has some nice architecture, but from someone who lived there for over 10 years, I can't see a sightseeing tour working.

"On the left, you'll see the tram extension works that have been ongoing for 10 years and on the right, you'll see Poundland, please ignore the police tape, there was a stabbing last night."

 

[RustySpoons]

I think there could be a market for sightseeing tours in Leeds, Birmingham, etc. if they introduce a unique twist to them. Make them attractive to a new audience.

 

[markymark2000]

I have to question the viability of sightseeing tours of city's such as Leeds, Birmingham etc, is there really the market for them?

Yes, Birmingham has some nice architecture, but from someone who lived there for over 10 years, I can't see a sightseeing tour working.

"On the left, you'll see the tram extension works that have been ongoing for 10 years and on the right, you'll see Poundland, please ignore the police tape, there was a stabbing last night."

To be fair, I think we all thought that about Manchester but that tour is still going.

 

[busesrusuk]

Who'd have thought it. A fairly innocuous picture generated so much comment and got some poor sod a bol***g! I must admit I didn't even notice the other fella in the cab. it does look like he is leaning through the bulkhead window rather than being in the cab with the driver. Back in the day when RM's were used for driving instruction it was not unknown for the Instructor to be in the cab with the trainee as well as giving instruction through the bulkhead window.

 

[bussnapperwm]

I have to question the viability of sightseeing tours of city's such as Leeds, Birmingham etc, is there really the market for them?

Yes, Birmingham has some nice architecture, but from someone who lived there for over 10 years, I can't see a sightseeing tour working.

"On the left, you'll see the tram extension works that have been ongoing for 10 years and on the right, you'll see Poundland, please ignore the police tape, there was a stabbing last night."

Considering CS, Big Brum Tourz and then Catch22Bus have done Birmingham tours over the years, it seems so, especially with it having the "world's biggest Primark" there now, I would assume so for Brum

 

[Russel]

Considering CS, Big Brum Tourz and then Catch22Bus have done Birmingham tours over the years, it seems so, especially with it having the "world's biggest Primark" there now, I would assume so for Brum

If said tours were commercially viable, they would still be operating.

 

[357]

Took a couple of trips yesterday.

The busiest bus I was on had 6 passengers including me.

Route B operates if route A is unavailable due to road closures, according to the conductor.

 

[GusB]

YouTuber JagoHazzard has posted his opinions:

 

[bussnapperwm]

If said tours were commercially viable, they would still be operating.

We did kind of have a pandemic (plus major roadworks in Brum) over the past couple of years

 

[busestrains]

So what exactly is this route "B" service? Where does it run? I can only seem to find any information online about the route "A" service? Do they have a London Service Permit to be running that route? Surely even if there are road closures it does not allow them to operate another route unless a London Service Permit is held?

 

[markymark2000]

Took a couple of trips yesterday.

The busiest bus I was on had 6 passengers including me.

Route B operates if route A is unavailable due to road closures, according to the conductor.

I'm sure that you still need a TFL permit for, especially as B is technically a completely different tour. All of the other sightseeing firms have alternative routes on their permits.

 

[357]

I'm sure that you still need a TFL permit for, especially as B is technically a completely different tour. All of the other sightseeing firms have alternative routes on their permits.

They have A B and C on the blinds

B goes over Waterloo bridge and towards St Paul's. No idea about C

Note I'm nothing to do with the company and this is just what the conductor told me yesterday

 

[markymark2000]

They have A B and C on the blinds

B goes over Waterloo bridge and towards St Paul's. No idea about C

Note I'm nothing to do with the company and this is just what the conductor told me yesterday

No B or C route is on the London Service permit so shouldn't be operating and TFL wouldn't be too pleased with these running.

Documents | London Service Permit Consultations | Have Your Say Transport for London

Welcome to our consultation project page for London Service Permit applications and variations Transport for London (TfL) is required to consult relevant London highway, police and certain other authorities on proposals by licensed PSV operators to operate London

haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk

 

[Russel]

We did kind of have a pandemic (plus major roadworks in Brum) over the past couple of years

I know, but that isn't relevant given there has been various attempts at tours for at least the last 10 years, if there was a business case, at least one of them would have been sustainable.

The centre of Birmingham is actually quite compact and it's only recently started to loose the concrete jungle reputation, beyond shopping, it just doesn't have the same tourist appeal as say, Stratford on Avon or Oxford which both have established sight seeing tours.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Who'd have thought it. A fairly innocuous picture generated so much comment and got some poor sod a bol***g! I must admit I didn't even notice the other fella in the cab. it does look like he is leaning through the bulkhead window rather than being in the cab with the driver. Back in the day when RM's were used for driving instruction it was not unknown for the Instructor to be in the cab with the trainee as well as giving instruction through the bulkhead window.

I'm sorry, I drive Routemasters fairly often but how on earth do you fit anyone else in the cab?! I appreciate things were abit more lax "back in the day" but I really can't see how you could physically drive one with someone else pretty much sat on top of you... Madness!

Apologies, rant over but that's just mind boggling!

 

[357]

I'm sorry, I drive Routemasters fairly often but how on earth do you fit anyone else in the cab?! I appreciate things were abit more lax "back in the day" but I really can't see how you could physically drive one with someone else pretty much sat on top of you... Madness!

Apologies, rant over but that's just mind boggling!

The window behind the driver can be modified to a sliding window arrangement. The person behind is likely in the passenger saloon and leaning through.

 

[pjnathanail]

I'm sorry, I drive Routemasters fairly often but how on earth do you fit anyone else in the cab?! I appreciate things were abit more lax "back in the day" but I really can't see how you could physically drive one with someone else pretty much sat on top of you... Madness!

Apologies, rant over but that's just mind boggling!

It’s possible. I learned to drive a Routemaster sat in the “jumpseat” of a cab, and have also driven one with a passenger sat there. Both times out of service of course. Not the most comfortable for driver or passenger but it can be done.

 

[Flange Squeal]

They do have to register the locations but also if you have an operating centre in another traffic area, you need another ops licence. The only way they will get around this is if the buses as 'normally kept at an operating centre' and so the buses would have to return back to Manchester for a good few days of the week, likely on some kind of rotation basis. I certainly wouldn't trek these buses up and down the M6 a few times per week so that they are 'normally kept at an operating centre'. There will be another base in London where these buses are 'normally kept' and as such would require a new ops licence covering the South East and London traffic area.

Phillip Higgs does have an ops licence within South East and London but that licence has the name 'Anglia Buses' with an ops centre at Weylands Treatment Works in Walton-On-Thames for 2 buses (licence number PK1070108). That could be used but I think they would have to get the name changed on that licence for it to become valid to run the Londoner buses. This is the difficulty to work out as it's done via London Service Permit, you can't see what ops licence they have used to register the service.

I note that the Operating Centre on this licence has now been changed to an address in Wandsworth, which I’ve seen mentioned in publicity for the service. Not been on the route (yet!) so unsure which discs are in use.

Latest notices and proceedings for London & South East reads:

PK1070108 SN
ANGLIA BUS CO LTD

Director(s): Philip Higgs
Hamilton House,, Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9BB


Removed operating centre: WEYLANDS TREATMENT WORKS, MOLESEY ROAD, HERSHAM, WALTON-ON-THAMES, KT12 3PB


New operating centre: Yard Area 8, CHARTWELL BUSINESS PARK, FEATHERS WHARF, SMUGGLERS WAY, LONDON, SW18 1EG


New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 2 vehicle(s)

Two vehicles obviously isn’t enough to run a 15-20 min frequency on the current timetable, but I guess it might be a sign of preparations to move the service over with more discs, or to partially operate some of it?

Looking forward to giving the service a try in the next week or two.

 

[Leyland Bus]

It’s possible. I learned to drive a Routemaster sat in the “jumpseat” of a cab, and have also driven one with a passenger sat there. Both times out of service of course. Not the most comfortable for driver or passenger but it can be done.

Blimey! You learn something new everyday!

 

[Simon75]

Saw a green closed top double in Manchester City centre today. Was told (via a Facebook group), it was on Metrolink replacement

 

[AY1975]

I realise they're not the same thing, but a 24-hour hop-on, hop-off ticket on the 3 London tour operators will cost you at least £32, and potentially upwards of £40 (unless you can get yourself some kind of discount code). £5 seems like quite a bargain in comparison and, if it just serves the main sights, may be all that most visitors need, especially if they can also claim to have got a ride on an "authentic London Routemaster bus".

Yes, and I understand that they also do a £2 single fare which I think is pretty good value considering that an Oyster/contactless single fare on normal TfL buses is £1.65.

Obviously you can't use Oyster on it, but their website says they take cash or cards so someone who normally uses contactless on TfL might use the same payment card on service A and not even realise that it's not a TfL service, except that they presumably do give you a ticket unlike on TfL buses.

 

[DaveLondon]

Yes, and I understand that they also do a £2 single fare which I think is pretty good value considering that an Oyster/contactless single fare on normal TfL buses is £1.65.

Obviously you can't use Oyster on it, but their website says they take cash or cards so someone who normally uses contactless on TfL might use the same payment card on service A and not even realise that it's not a TfL service, except that they presumably do give you a ticket unlike on TfL buses.

Having been on the service (sole passenger twice!) I confirm that they make it clear Oyster/ENCTS passes not accepted. Concessions are £4 and you do get a ticket. Mine got round the route in around 20 mins no stopping!

 

[AY1975]

Having been on the service (sole passenger twice!) I confirm that they make it clear Oyster/ENCTS passes not accepted. Crumblies are £4 and you do get a ticket. Mine got round the route in around 20 mins no stoppong!

I was in London one Saturday last month and they looked pretty well used - almost half full, I'd say. If your experience is anything to go by then I can't see it lasting long, or I suppose they might make it a weekends only service.