Reliability of P13 bus?

[JessieW]

Hi Renata,

I take it to go to West Dulwich Station from Grove Tavern Stop daily. The 7:28 is okay and not as packed but the 2 after that have so many people that it usually has to drive by. It is also usually 5 min late.

Thanks for trying to sort out for us!

[Bic Basher]

The P13 is currently diverted along LL from Whateley Road to Melford Road. Seems a lot quieter, but goes to show how much of an essential service it is for the local residents along those back streets of ED.

[JessieW]

The diversion works for me! It's on time and not so packed. Brilliant!

[Renata Hamvas]

Thanks for the feedback so far, the main problem seems to be morning peak from the post so far, any more info from other users? The more info I have the better the case that can be made to get something done about this route.

[*Bob*]

I have to use the P13 from time to time - never in the morning or at peak time.

My general tactic is to arrive at least five minutes before the next one is due, but be prepared to wait up to 30 minutes (which has happened on a number of occasions) from that point - despite the bus frequency being supposedly around 20m.

I can forward you a selection of increasingly angry text messages, cursing the very name 'P13', sent to my girlfriend as I wait, if you like.

[aquarius moon]

I need to get from the Goose Green area to West Dulwich station & arrive by a certain time (mid-morning, not peak.)

I've used the P13 twice this week & both times, it has only been a few minutes late.

Reading this thread has somewhat put me off, as it looks as if I've been lucky so far, but am not going to be able to rely on it.

The other option is a 37 to Herne Hill, followed by a 3 to West Dulwich.

A longer way round, but probably more reliable?

Your thoughts, please...

Has anyone done this alternative route regularly?

Really don't want to be getting stressed about being late, waiting for a bus that isn't going to arrive.

[Bic Basher]

Yesterday afternoon I was walking down LL by Underhill Road and a young woman asked me how to get to West Dulwich station, I told her to get the P13 from The Grove. Was told that "it ain't running mate"

What if any publicity was given in Underhill Road and Whateley Road for those to get the P13 from either The Grove or East Dulwich Police Station as an alternative?

[Applespider]

It's only a couple of miles from Goose Green to West Dulwich. By the time you wait 5 minutes for a bus that isn't the fastest anyhow, you might be quicker walking. And at least, you'd not be stressing about being late since you'd be more confident of your arrival time. Perhaps something to consider for sunny days at least... unless of course, you have limited mobility or have a double bass to transport with you...

[Renata Hamvas]

Yes Bob,

times dates and route section are useful, particularly to prove whether the problems occur at a specific time of day, all the time and whether they can be attributed to altered conditions eg road works or an accident.

regards

Renata

[QueenMab]

Pfft. Some 12 years ago my friend who lived on Barry Road used to rely on the P13 to get her to work in Streatham. Even then we used to refer to it as the Marie Celeste, so elusive was it. I have tried to use it more recently to get to Surrey Quays, which turned out to be frustrating and time consuming. As others have suggested, I now ride a bicycle for such journeys, much simpler, quicker, cheaper and less stressful.

I'm sure you could get a saxophone into a pannier even in a hard case, although if this turns out to be tricky, surely your son doesn't need to take it to and from school with him every day? Maybe he could just take the bus when he needs to transport bulky items.

[JessieW]

I've realised it is good during peak recently probably because of half term and no kids going to Dulwich College:( Wish it could stay this way.

[Bic Basher]

Normal service resumed this morning with a 20 minute wait this morning at the CPT bus stop with the bus only going as far as Tulse Hill. By the time the bus reached The Grove, the Streatham bus was behind with no passengers on it!

[linzbee]

TfL freedom of information request should get this information.

All those taps of all those oyster cards are meticulously logged for purposes such as this. and fancy graphs that are somewhat fudged to make them look good like these: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/businessandpartners/buses/boroughreports/routes/performance-route-P13.pdf

James Barber Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> To have the P13 formally reviewed mid contract

> about its capacity would require evidence of

> overcrowding.

> Southwark Council doesn't have the resources for

> this type of data collection.

> Does anyone on this forum regularly catch this

> service who could note down the numbers of

> passengers at different points on their journey?

> Any parents who could encourage an A level

> geographer to record this?With real evidence we

> can do something much as the users of the 343

> (Evolution Quarter Residents Association) have.

[catma]

P13 around Bellenden is generally OK, I take it from time to time and use it for Sainsburys when I don't need to drive. It is also useful for getting to work via New Cross.

[iceicebaby]

I use this bus fairly regularly during off-peak and weekends. From Underhill to Streatham and back. Have alway found it to be very reliable, almost always exactly on time, if anything it goes a couple of minutes' early from my stop.

[Bic Basher]

The P13 is currently on diversion between Peckham Rye station and East Dulwich Sainsburys. Diversion route is Rye Lane, East Dulwich Road, then doubles back up to Sainsburys and back again to Goose Green.

[AandA]

Sorry, this is a really old thread but I can't find anything more up to date!

I was just wondering whether anyone had any recent experiences of the P13 and how reliable it is? We would be looking to use it for the school run in the mornings from Bellenden Road to West Dulwich, and then back again at the end of the day, so we need it to be reasonably reliable. Are the times given on TFL accurate at all, and do the buses generally arrive at the bus stop at the scheduled time? For example it currently says the 8.04 from Bellenden Road arrives 8.36?

Would be really grateful for anyone's views on this.

Thank you!

[jimbo1964]

I've always found it pretty good. And it does seem to stick to time. Always worth checking on the TFL live bus update thingy.

[Roundabout]

Take bus stop number just above text to on bus stop / Search TFL countdown / put number in search and the next bus due at this stop [+ others] will be shown. Having bus stop number ? this can be done from home/ other.

[AD]

P13 is not the most reliable, you get two in 5 mins and then nothing for 25-30 mins. Also they seem to bear no resemblence to the time table at all. I use the Bus Countdown app on my pohne to check when it is coming rather than wait outside for ages.

[tiddles]

yes we second the bus app for the p13 - an absolute godsend. I would say it is a pretty good bus service now they run everyone 15 minutes