In message , Paul Corfield
writes
I understand all the criticisms that are made and some
aspects of bendy bus operation remain unproven but the RMs are in a
dreadful state now
Absolutely. Except that those on the 13 seem to be in *far* better
condition than any others.

Any more news, Paul, about the mooted "heritage routes"?

Well the routes have gone out to tender as tranche 203B in the TfL
tendering programme. I have seen no details as to where they will run
but I understand that the vehicles must be Euro 2 emission control
compliant [1] and that buses cannot be routed via Oxford Street. The
basic proposition is that the routes must be commercial in nature (!)
and there is no clarity as to whether Travelcards / Bus Passes will be
permitted.

Now given that existing sightseeing routes are permitted to carry
ordinary passengers paying cash fares alongside those who are taking a
tour or "hopping on and off" with a day ticket but typically are NOT
beseiged with eager Londoners wanting to travel on them I think there
will be problems in getting bids from bus companies to run these routes.
I've always been surprised that the sightseeing routes *do* have local
fares.

I know that when I worked for Guide Friday in Stratford, Birmingham and
Oxford we had them available because there was a fuel rebate issue and I
suspect that the same is true in London. However, outside the
capital., they're simply registered as commercial bus routes. I would
have thought that that was very difficult to do within the GLA area.
Evidently not.

IMO the key to commercial success is Travelcard / Bus Pass availability
and the recognition that the routes are part of the TfL network with all
of the support that that brings.
I agree 100%. No Travelcard availability, no success, I feel.

Maybe they could accept Travelcards but not bus passes or Oyster
Pre-Pay, a la San Francisco's cable cars, which are part of the Muni
fare system with some restrictions, such as no free transfers.

(Unless we go for the Melbourne method and make the heritage route free
of charge, of course. That might be difficult to reconcile with
"commercially viable" though!)
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk