Guinness "ruling" - Shoreditch still in!

[Root]

Has anyone actually tried the replacement bus yet?

I'm sitting in an internet cafe only a minute's walk from the old Shoreditch station having just used the bus for the first time. I waited for about 5 minutes, which is average, it then took 10 minutes to arrive at a stop which is around 3 minutes' walk away from where the train used to stop. So where it used to take no more than 2 minutes from Whitechapel to Shoreditch, it now takes an average of 18. Nice one, LU!

I wouldn't want to do it in both directions, but at least the bus heads back as soon as it arrives without waiting (except for passengers to get on and off, obviously). So a 25-minute round trip for what used to be 5-10.

I wonder, if Guinness ignore our pleas and stick with their original decision, whether we will have to use the whole of the extended ELL when that finally opens? David Scard speculated that we would when I last spoke to him, because there'll be some LU stock running on the line. However, there is some old Chesham stock (I'm talking steam power here) running on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, but we don't have do that, thank heavens!

The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is. I think a better example than Aldwych, Moley, is the (now FCC) Finsbury Park - Moorgate line, which used to be LUL-run but has since been handed over to National Rail.

[moley]

There isn't going to be LU stock running over the ELL extension - it will be brand new trains.

[Root]

Better tell David Scard then!

I just sent an email to Guinness saying everything I wanted to say. I'll share with you what I wrote when I receive a reply, which I hope will not be too long.

[Adham]

I think a petition-style letter and individual ones would be good.

[The Raven]

Guinness the drink good!
Guinness the world records bad!

[nozzacook]

Does any one have an email address for GWR if so please could they put it in a post cheers.

[Root]

If only...

The way I am communicating with them is though an "Enquiry" about my "Forthcoming Record Attempt" (happened last month). They won't actually answer queries about Records unless you've already said you're going to attempt one. Rubbish, I know, but I suppose it stops them from getting abuse from people like us who, erm, dislike them slightly .

[nozzacook]

At Last an aaaaaaanswer that hopfully buts this argument to bed I recieved this email from the East London Line Project and now everything is clear.


Dear Damian,

Thank you for your email about the East London Line on 8th July. I'm sorry for our delay in replying to you.

As you are aware, the East London Line is currently operated London Underground. In 2007, London Underground will close the East London Line will close for approximately 18 months so that the neccessary works can be undertaken for the new extension from Shoreditch to Dalston.

In 2010, the East London Line will re-open with different rolling stock with a different operator. We will announce these contracts in approximately one month. Please check our website then for further information: - http://www.ellp.co.uk

East London Line Project
Transport for London
4th Floor, 15 Bonhill Street,
London EC2A 4DN
t 0800 587 2441
f 0845 458 0017
e ELLP@tfl.gov.uk
w http://www.ellp.co.uk

So according to this come the time the ELL closes there will have to be a New Record.

[gasman]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if GWR decide that we have to do the entire ELL by rail replacement buses, right up until the line gets handed over in 2010.

(Closing in 2007 for 18 months, then reopening in 2010 - how do they work that one out?)

[nozzacook]

I think someone looked at the refurbishment of Queensway and built in the extra time

[dr_chris]

I would have thought that expecting us to use rail replacement buses until the ELL is transferred to the new operators is reasonably fair. If it's still technically part of, and under the control of, LU, it would seem perfectly reasonable from their point of view to continue to require these stations to be visited.

If anyone tried to object to this should they make such a ruling, I feel there would be less basis for an appeal compared with the Shoreditch situation.

[barrykas]

I would have thought that expecting us to use rail replacement buses until the ELL is transferred to the new operators is reasonably fair. If it's still technically part of, and under the control of, LU, it would seem perfectly reasonable from their point of view to continue to require these stations to be visited.

Except, as has been pointed out here before, the replacement bus is operated by TfL London Rail not London Underground, which is why the argument has arisen.

Cheers,

Barry

[dr_chris]

Well yes - but will the replacement bus necessarily be operated by London Rail? My thinking is that Shoreditch has become completely detached from the LU network and as such the bus service is operated by London Rail - whereas if control of the ELL will not pass to a new operator until 2010, surely as the stations would still fall under the remit of LU, they would be the ones operating the replacement bus service?

[barrykas]

Just to muddy the waters still further, the contract for running the replacement bus service (awarded to Travel London, part of National Express Group) was managed by London Buses.

The tender result can be seen HERE.

Good innit?

Cheers,

Barry

[Sillert, V.I.]

Has anyone actually tried the replacement bus yet?

Since this is costing us almost half a milllion quid a year, I'm wondering:

Has ANYONE actually tried the replacement bus yet?