176 bus (Lounged)

[lordship_bod]

Does anyone know why the 176 bus has stopped going through to Waterloo in the morning? This has really messed with my journey to work. I have e-mailed Tfl customer services to complain at [email protected] but don't know if they will bother to respond or if they are the best people to have a go at.

Has anyone else been affected by this, if so do you know who it is best to complain to?

Cheers

[Nero]

The 176 is more of a demonic number than 666 in my opinion. I now take the 63 to Blackfriar's Bridge and then wakl to Aldwych. Where does it go now if not Waterloo? Nero

[lordship_bod]

you can say that again Nero.

What i should have made clear is that a number of 176's are stating its final destination is camberwell in the morning (and not oxford circus as usual). It has happened quite a few times now rather than this just being a one off.

[Nero]

Also, which idiot decided to put a bus stand (not stop, as you can't get on or get off there) on the bus route just after the Red Cap? Now the 68s stop there, holding up the rest of the traffic for the drivers to change. Nero

[KalamityKel]

I recieve daily travel news from TFL and this bit has been mentioned everyday for quite some time...

"NEW OXFORD STREET 25MAY CE07349

NEW OXFORD STREET: Until 2359 Sunday 25 May 2008, Routes 1 7 8 10 14 19 24 25 29 38 55 73 98 134 176 242 390 N1 N5 N7 N8 N10 N19 N20 N29 N35 N38 N41 N55 N68 N73 N98 N171 N207 N253 and N279 are subject to delays due to rebuilding works at Tottenham Court Road station causing lane restrictions. At times, these works will require stop closures and/or diversions."

Perhaps this may explain the early termination of the route.

[jimbo1964]

Having just moved back to ED after years away I thought with Ken's new pro bus transport policy there would be millions of buses. Unfortunately it's still the same as it was. My wife has to get the 176 to the Strand which is rubbish and last week I had the bright idea of getting the Northern Line to Oval and hopping on a 185 to Dulwich Hamlet FC.. I walked to Camberwell and got a 40, not a single bus of any number passed me.

[Sue]

The 176 service had got a hell of a lot better than it was before the Ken improvements (I once waited over two hours in the early evening for a bus back from Charing Cross Road to ED).

But I agree it's got worse again recently, it's terminating early in both directions, and that stop to change drivers is particularly irritating in the morning when I'm trying to get to work.

But on balance I'd still rather sit on a bus - even with a long journey time - than be crammed onto rush hour trains/tubes.... it's cheaper, too :)

EDIT

I once had an occasional job mystery travelling for London Buses, and it was very noticeable how much quicker my day finished when the post-Ken timetables came in - very definitely the buses were much more frequent than they had been before.

[Keef]

The 176 takes me to and from the CPT from Sydenham, so I like it.

[Mark]

Have you seen the new Transport for London Film about buses? It comes across like it's similar to the 176. It's 3 minutes long, is being shown at cinemas and can be seen here (sound needed)

[KalamityKel]

In comparison I'd have to say the 185 is much worse than the 176. At least wiv the 176 they are fairly frequent (even if they don't go all the way from Penge - Oxford Circus.

[jimbo1964]

For a main bus route into town it's stil too infrequent I think.. especially as there is no alternative.

[KalamityKel]

fair point in comparison wiv routes such as the 36 and 436 (which incidentally is introducing a 24hr service soon)

[embellina]

Where do the 36 and 436 go?

[Burbage]

436 goes Paddington-Lewisham, 36 goes from Queens Park (Kilburn) to somewhere else (Crystal Palace?) via Oval and Camberwell.

The 436 is, despite being bendy, probably the quickest way to get from South-East London to Paddington and, given the way the new plans for Crossrail meticulously avoid being useful, and the Cross-River Partnership's exciting Cross-River Tram won't actually cross the river (crusty old-timers tell me there was a tram tunnel beneath the Thames somewhere near Waterloo, but it seems the authorities have lost it), it's likely to stay that way.

Since Livingstone's been mayor, the bus subsidy has increased from ?50m quid per year to well over ?500m, so it's hardly surprising there are more of them.

[embellina]

Ah yes - I've never tried the 436, always go to Elephant and take the bakerloo

Anyway, back on topic... I think the 176 is pretty good. I always find it regular (apart from waiting at Aldwych at night - the loneliest bus stop in the world?). Oh and the fact it blatantly drove past a few of us the other night because (I think) the driver was too busy paying attention to overtaking a car. Or he just couldn't be bothered to do a tedious thing like actually stop at a bus stop and let passengers on. Er, so maybe it's not so great after all...

[Nero]

The 666 on the way back after 9pm is OK. On the way into work it's poor. 63 is the way to go. Aldwych bus stop is underpopulated queue-wise, but the one at Somerset House gets busy with nary a civilised line to be had. Nero

[Sue]

Nero Wrote:

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

> The 666 on the way back after 9pm is OK. On the

> way into work it's poor. 63 is the way to go.

> Aldwych bus stop is underpopulated queue-wise, but

> the one at Somerset House gets busy with nary a

> civilised line to be had. Nero

@@@@@@@@@@@@@

666??

There isn't really a 666 bus route, is there??

:))

Oh, erm, duh sorry yeh you mean the 176 innit :-$:-$:-$

[seanmlow]

I have had it with the 176. For the last week it has terminated in Trafalgar Square, not bothing to go to T. Court Road.

Why does it do this?

[jimbo1964]

Get a bike. I get from Ryedale to Camden in 40 minutes.

[cathg]

I know it's frustrating when routes terminate early, but to be honest I always found that 176 bit from the Strand to Oxford St tortuous, particularly after Trafalgar Square was part-pedestrianised. On a good day i could get to aldwych from goose green in 30 mins and it would take another 30 to get from strand to tottentham Court Rd. Even though 176 stopped right outside my office i usually got off on strand and walked thru covent garden. Much better for the heart and soul.

[Asset]

It's all very well to say get a bike, but some people's circumstances don't permit it. I used to cycle every day to where I had to go and now due to circumstances beyond my control I have to get the 176 which I think has aged me 10 years in the last 6 months!

[jimbo1964]

Point taken.. I'm lucky to have the option. I'm on the 63 / Northern Line strategy tonight (doh!).

[redrouge]

Going to work I get the 176 (or 40) to Elephant, then get the Bakerloo Line to Piccadilly Circus... but get the 176 home as I work late.

I waited 45 minutes tonight. With the flu. Am not pleased. I swear it's getting worse night by night.

And what's wrong with it on Saturdays?! I have to leave at noon to get to Soho for 2pm because there are just no buses! And when they do arrive they usually terminate in Camberwell or just take forever...!

I have a lot of built up hate for that bus. Handy at 3am. Not any other hour of the day.

[Pickle]

I used to catch the 176 up to Oxford Street every Monday morning, complete and utter nightmare! I switched to using the 12 (bendy bus that goes down Barry Rd, through Peckham, past Westminster) and found it much better. It certainly seemed quicker on the way there, but on the way home I used to get off at Camberwell and switch to a bus that took the direct route past Denmark Hill rather than through Peckham as for some reason it was a lot slower in reverse.

The best thing about the 12 was that I used to get on at one of the first stops and always got the single seat right at the front, public transport luxury!

[lozzyloz]

There was someone on the radio this morning from East Dulwich (Andrea I think) saying how wonderful the No 12 bendy bus is. I don't use buses very often but did use the No12 late one night from Charing X Rd and was quite impressed with the speed on that route.