Londons newest pre-production NB4L New Bus for London Borismaster, LT8 LT12 HHT is left behind by a conventional bus with 2 doors, which are much faster away at bus stops.
Copyright John G. Lidstone
Here at Cambridge Circus, LT8 is lightly loaded, whilst conventional Geminis - much faster away at bus stops with 1 staircase and 2 doors instead of 2 staircases and 3 doors - leave them behind regularly.
Yes, they're new and eye-catching. Yes, we all wanted a new open-platform bus that works. Yes, there are some great facets to this bus (like world-leading hybrid performance), but it's so marred with peculiarities that ride roughshod over the all-important operational practicalities, which have been ignored. Those that didn't fit the 'committee design' have been "rubbished" in the best tradition of Thatcherites of the 1980s.
Time will be the judge on these vehicles, but I'd still just love to see the Hybrid 'guts' of these - which is exceptionally good - imported into sensible vehicles with one staircase and one door, which could be market leaders and do Wright proud. Yes, I would love to see that.
Londons newest pre-production NB4L New Bus for London Borismaster, LT8 LT12 HHT is left behind by a conventional bus with 2 doors, which are much faster away at bus stops.
Copyright John G. Lidstone
Here at Cambridge Circus, LT8 is lightly loaded, whilst conventional Geminis - much faster away at bus stops with 1 staircase and 2 doors instead of 2 staircases and 3 doors - leave them behind regularly.
Yes, they're new and eye-catching. Yes, we all wanted a new open-platform bus that works. Yes, there are some great facets to this bus (like world-leading hybrid performance), but it's so marred with peculiarities that ride roughshod over the all-important operational practicalities, which have been ignored. Those that didn't fit the 'committee design' have been "rubbished" in the best tradition of Thatcherites of the 1980s.
Time will be the judge on these vehicles, but I'd still just love to see the Hybrid 'guts' of these - which is exceptionally good - imported into sensible vehicles with one staircase and one door, which could be market leaders and do Wright proud. Yes, I would love to see that.