The New 73
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Jan24
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Just noticed that there's been a press release this week about the new 73, on www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/buses/ - they announce officially that they're introducing the 18 metre long bendy bus on this route, between Victoria and Tottenham (taking in Stokey on the way of course)...
The new busses should be safer, ie there's less chance of falling out the back, but then you don't have the convenience of jumping on and off at traffic lights. I suspect there will be more delays along Stoke Newington Church Street, and the ongoing pay before boarding issue will be extended right up to Stokey... they're introducing ticket machines all along the route to help with this though.
Also "Some buses would continue to operate in service beyond Stoke Newington to Tottenham Swan", so I guess this means the bendy bus will terminate at Stokey? Don't think I've taken the 73 any further anyway.
The N73 night bus will continue to use double deck buses, they don't dare send their new kit out on the streets at night...
There's a page here all about the history of route 73: www.busesatwork.co.uk/Routes/73.htm - and also of it's less loved colleague here: www.busesatwork.co.uk/Routes/106.htm
2004 :: Comment / reply
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I recently moved to West Ealing from Nottingham. Nottingham's Transport had a crack with the Bendy Busses too. I didn't like them then and i don't like them now.
They ran on the 58 route. The reason they never apeared on other routes was because they couldn't actually get around the corners (i jest not!) Maybe this is why the 73 is the only route too be trialed? Nottingham gave them back after their trial (much like that one train company recently did) I'm guessing because having busses tied to one route and one route only is a bit silly really.
To be honest though... I'd rather the Bendy Busses to the Tram system they've put in. you know they're 2 years over the projectd ready date and there's allready been 3 car related accidents just on the system test runs becuase they just can't stop quickly engouth. They had to re-lay a part of the track in the town square becuase it kept de-railing the trams! The greater of two evils i fear!
BOYCOTT THE BENDY BUS (just plain ignore Trams)
LONG LIVE THE TUBE AND THE DOUBLE DECKER!!!
Reflex88 :: 15 Feb :: 2004 :: Comment / reply
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It would be good to now just how many people have fallen off the back of the 73. I suspect not that many.
If you look around some of the bus stops you can see that a protest of sorts against the change is afoot. Not that anyone stands a chance against the monlithic force of LT. One small reason for maybe voting for Ken was his desire to retain Routemasters but he seems not to give a fig for the idea of buses with conductors on them. Much safer than those without.
So what happens to all those conductors with their intriguing character defects? And the right to watch London from the vantage point of the top deck?
