RE: [OT] Wacky!

["Mark Harrison" <Mark.Harrison@xxxxxxx>]

Andy,

I'm guessing that you haven't travelled in London much in the rush hours
in the last few years ;-)

I no longer get the tube, because the buses are quicker! Given I come
into Victoria, most mornings there a "queue" OUTSIDE the
underground
station, as it's got too crowded in the concours downstairs, and they've
shut the main gates to prevent congestion.

Then there's a queue at the ticket gates, since the platforms are
overcrowded, and no-one's allowed to go down to platform level until
it's cleared.

Then there's a crowd on the platform, so you normally have to wait for
the second or third train to come along, since you can't squeeze onto
the first!


However, as you say, it's still a lot better than using a car in London
traffic. I work in Central London, and I would estimate that driving to
work would take 2 to 3 hours!

Regards,

Mark Harrison
Head of Systems, eKingfisher


-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Laurence [mailto:andylaurence@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 7 December 2001 08:39
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] [OT] Wacky!


> Do you feel the same way about trains?

Yes, but you don't see them very often.  They stick to stations and
tracks
between them, rather than whizzing overhead whilst you're shopping.

> I don't see this as a REPLACEMENT for cars, buses, taxis, trams and
> trains, but as an alternative.
>
<snip>
> Total
> 88 minutes - yeah, about an hour 20 feels right!
>
> I'm guessing that a "skyrail" system would only be
commercially viable
> in the "Central London" part of the journey.

In my experience, Central london has the best transport system already.
Tubes are (generally) quick and plentiful, buses are everywhere, and a
fare
in Zone 1 is never more than =A31.50.  Compared to Bristol ... the only
public
transport is the bus.  I can't think of a route more frequent than 8
minutes, and they rarely keep to that.  All services go via the 'centre'
which means that if you want to go from north-west Bristol to north-east
Bristol, you have to go into the (busy) centre and come out again.
You'll
also be catching 2 buses to get there, which means more money.

For me to do the 15 minute drive to the station via bus, I need =A31.30 in
my
pocket *each*way*.  It also takes 45-60 minutes in the evening (similar
to
how long it takes to walk).  The problem is, we need more services but
we
need them cheaper.  I know it's possible as on one route in east
Bristol,
there are two rival firms.  They have got down to =A31.30 for a single
trip
which is amazing considering it's almost 10 miles compared to the 2 from
my
flat.  It's actually cheaper than driving, and due to the bus lanes
takes
about the same time.

> Say it could bring down the "waiting for bus" from 10
minutes to 3,
and
> "on the bus" from 15 to 10 that would save 12 minutes a
journey.
>
> 12 minutes a day is 24 minutes a day, or 2 hours a week, or 100 hours
a
> year (two working weeks!)
>
> I'd pay an extra couple of hundred quid a year on my season ticket for
> that! After all, I already pay just over THREE GRAND for it!

That's the point.  3 grand to get to work.  I travel 60 miles a day to
work,
yet a whole year of commuting costs me a few hundred less than that ...
and
that *includes* buying the car!  As a bonus, it's also quicker and I can
use
it at weekends.

Quick breakdown of costs:

=A31320 for petrol
=A3105 for tax
=A3550 for insurance
=A3400 for the car
=A3300 for repairs/MOT

TOTAL:  =A32675

Andy
--
PC-Based Multimedia System - now working
http://www.andylaurence.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pcbmms



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