Forum Topic

New 65 Bus shelter- South Ealing Station Hurrah

Tell me if I am wrong but is it 10 years since this bus shelter on the southbound 65 bus route at South Ealing station disappeared? I don't know whether to celebrate or cry. Celebrate the end of the misery of 100s who huddled together in the cold and wet on the railway bridge after a day's work every weekday evening through every one of those winters. And to demand an award for the councillor or officer who listened and implemented this small step forward in the progress of civilization. Or punishment for those who ignored us and did nothing over those 10 long wet cold years. Please please can anyone help?

Arthur Breens ● 5083d29 Comments

Arthur ,You and many others deserve a boquet , the politicians in general deserve a brickbat. I know You were keen to see this happen for a long long time. I remember you bringing it up at the Police Consultative meeting a good  while ago. Congratulations for your joint persistence

Os A Whittle ● 4909d

Petition maybe good idea, but not just at them two stops - there's others in S Ealing without shelters or other basic amenities - and in one case with the shelter sited away from the stop - to say nothing of all too many elsewhere. The fact that TfL deadbeats don't have the will to put things right without a mass petition says it all about their level of 'professionalism'.Re the highway puddle aspect, that's down to Ealing Council on this non-TfL road.The much-trumpeted Plusbus network project was a sick joke that went off at half-cock (or less) and was just one big broken promise. Re Hendy, would just point out he was Daniels's predecessor at the time - the notion that he should now be given any credit for this sleight-of-hand giving one stop a shelter back a decade after his and his staff's and consultants' incompetence and wilful negligence took it away is laughable. I have nothing but contempt for the man, and can only regret he broke his much-publicised promise to resign if Johnson supplanted Livingstone as Mayor.

Chris Veasey ● 4910d

I noticed that apart from the impossible radius at the bus pull in that cause the bus to pull out into traffic at an over acute angle, there are now deep puddles where the bus pulls in so stand in the wrong place ( which is the correct place for the queue and you get soaked.I am still waiting for countdown as it was promised in bus plus and when the shelter issue was resloved.In the meantimewrite to Leon Daniels, director of surface transport at TfL and Peter Hendy, Commisioner.It was letter to him that got things eventually resolved with the South Ealing shelter. But takes apparently 50 plus names or complaints for action to be taken.Maybe a petition at both stops?

Michael Brandt ● 4910d

I'm afraid it looks as if you were right - no sign of the southbound stop south of Popes Lane getting its shelter back, nor of course the associated seating and other basic passenger amenities - despicable but wholly typical of TfL, and of public transport providers in general.

Chris Veasey ● 4910d

The shelter outside the excellent Mleczko Polish Shop on the other side of the road from the new shelter at South Ealing station bears scrutiny for an even more amazing blunder: the pavement was re-laid about a year ago. The shelter was "plumbed in" to the new pavement, however, this turned out to have been laid a couple of inches too low so the contractor was sacked, a new one was brought in and the pavement was lifted around the shelter: the result -- the shelters' feet sit in little hole in the pavement and the electrical service box bottom for the shelter and the rotating motorised advertising display is below pavement level, all it will take is a blocked drain, a pool of water, and... flash bang!

Jon F. Doctor ● 5024d

The ground at the Chandos Ave stop is marked for a shelter but as the stop has been moved and all around repaved, they did not survey for cables and underground services so that cannot find a location for all the footings.This is of course the country that brought engineering to the world.Another fine example to boast about in the Olympic showcase!

Michael Brandt ● 5024d

I think you will find that they are linked. I seem to recall that advertising companies pay for the shelters so that they can advertise in them and there are limits on the number that they will/can fund/have -- hence my earlier wording.

Jon F. Doctor ● 5024d

Ah so I see now you mention it. I doubt that removal is directly liked with the (many years overdue) new shelter at the station; more likely cnnected with the repaving works down that end - I would expect a replacement shelter will materialise in due vourse, but if not then the matter should be taken up with Ealing Council and TfL.The welcome but still disappointingly flawed shelter installation opposite the station looks to stay flawed - shelter hopelessly small for the typical peak demand, and lets the rain in so the seating and/or seated punters get wet. But pointing this out just attracts abuse from senior Council staff who regard us as humble supplicants that should be eternally grateful for whatever is tossed at us and shouldn't dare to voice any criticism whatever; not as paying customers entitled to good quality provision - and the Councillors, including the responsible cabinet member Mafouz, let them get away with it.Moving the bus stop there to in front of Msytrees Garden park, where there's plenty of space, in conjunction with the recent repaving and footay alteration works there, would have made possible a much better scheme than squeezing things in  on the cramped site south of the railway bridge, but such joined-up thinking will have to wait another generation or two at least.And there's stil two other stops on the 65 route in South Ealing without any form of shelter.

Chris Veasey ● 5024d

Celebrations have been short-lived in South Ealing over this one with the realisation that the shelter one stop down the road has been removed to "create" the South Ealing Station shelter capability -- robbing Peter to Pay Paul comes to mind. The shelter removed (next to the very fine Dragon Inn Chinese Takaway) serves the Lindsey House sheltered housing complex and the South Ealing Health Centre. Why could we not have kept the Dragon Inn shelter AND got the one at South Ealing tube station?

Jon F. Doctor ● 5024d

Used the TfL website in Twickenham yesterday while waiting for a 267; reasonably accurate.

Susan Kelly ● 5079d

It would be a shame if this turned into a have/have not fancy phone debate.The shelter is most welcome and is used every day.I can only speak for myself, but sending a text message to the number on the bus stop has worked flawlessly for me for ages, here and elsewhere. When I have use of the work mobile, with Internet, that is better, mostly (coming back from Brentford Magistrates Court stop, which has loads of busses, I find the SMS is miles more acccurate than the bus app where 10 minutes suddenly turns into Due).

Mark Vale ● 5079d

"millions of people in this country do not have internet access while at the bus stop."I do.It was really easy to get as well.  Also many commuters seem to be busy tapping away on or reading something on the train.

Amy Brookes ● 5080d

'The text thing sounds a bit useless.'It is, which was precisely the point I was making. The fact remains that millions of people in this country do not have internet access while at the bus stop.

Susan Kelly ● 5080d

Whereas using the website is free. OK it will use up part of my data allowance.The text thing sounds a bit useless.

Amy Brookes ● 5080d

The text facility for the bus works well most of the time but regularly at weekends it is suspended and can be very wrong. At Ealing Bdy, It predicted a bus in 1min, 3min 4min and 6 min.  18 mins later the bus came even though no less than 6 buses were visibly parked up around haven green.But are you aware of how much you are charged for the service?It is not free. It is also not included in providers free text allowances and costs between 46 and 73p a go.

Michael Brandt ● 5080d

Er, many mobile phones allow you to use the web.  Its not just smartphones. Despite comments I am certainly not a tecnofan but have found mobile internet very useful over the last year.  If my company blocked certain websites like the Olympic tickets thing, no problem to me.....I won't be going to that as can't really see the point.

Amy Brookes ● 5080d

Assuming that you haven't got a smart phone and, amazingly, many haven't, you can text the bus stop number to TfL and get a list of imminent buses texted back. Supposedly. As I say, the one time I tried it, it didn't work, or much too late.

Susan Kelly ● 5081d

A little OTT I would suggest to liken me (or the many others with similarly discriminating approaches towards novelty gagetry) to the dinosaurs.The real problem is the dinosaur mentality from the very top down in TfL (and trust me I do know what I'm talking about) and all too many public transport providers, who just can not or will not see the need to provide basic customer information, and indeed generally to sse things from the passenger point of view.It is not acceptable for TfL (or any other public transport provider) to let itself off the hook of such obligations to its passengers by expecting them all to be technofreaks and shell out for kit and facilities they may otherwise not need, and - despite your airy claims of 'cheapness' -  may in many cases not even be able to afford.

Chris Veasey ● 5081d

Well Chris, that is up to you, but you should embrace change, life is all about change,  Look what happened to the dinasours, they couldn't live in a new environment and they all died.Whilst I do agree with you, all bus stops should have countdown timers, the fact is they don't.Mobile phones with internet are cheap, having internet on the move has been really useful for me, wouldn't say it's changed my life but I know when the next bus is coming.  You don't. :-)

Amy Brookes ● 5081d

I like many others have no internet on my phone and have no intention of getting it.To say nothing of the many folk that don't have a mobile phone at all - incredible though it may seem to some.

Chris Veasey ● 5081d

What text thing?Maybe I didn't explain it correctly, if you have internet on your phone, go to the Tfl website and browse to live bus departures, think the URL is this: http://countdown.tfl.gov.uk/#/No need to text anyone, all you have to do is put in the stop your at and it'll say when the next bus is allegedly due.  Bit fiddly at first but once you're in you can store any frequent stops for use later.Once again, no need to text.

Amy Brookes ● 5081d

Thanks, that's useful extra background info, a fair bit of which I (for one) hadn't known in detail.Yes I agree the new shelter is better than nowt (no apostrophe needed in any of the Northern dialects from which that word originates!) but still nowhere near good enough. I also agree that the 65 service is much better than it was before the last re-specification and re-tendering, though still some unduly long and unpredictable (and of course at Countdownless stops like this, unannounced) gaps between buses at times.Countdown (or equivalent) provision at stops is entirely the responsibility of Transport for London. TfL policy and practice, in this as in other areas of its responsibilities, is and always has been to ignore any requests or representations from Borough Councils, let alone mere individual punters.

Chris Veasey ● 5081d

Agree that Countdown should be on both South Ealing Station stops and now a shelter exists there is no longer an excuse to not have it.The existing countdown displays are currently being renewed. The display face is now yellow/orange instead of red and can carry more information. They are now also wireless so only need a power connection from the light and new shelters with solar panels mean no ground supply is required so in theory, can go anywhere.This shelter fiasco came about because of the never completed 'Bus Plus' program instigated by Ken Livingstone. This did improve the then dreadful 65 service and provide an all night service which was a great improvement, but the traffic lights and arrangements at South Ealing Station were poor and TfL would not listen to objections - which was the worst aspect of TfL during Kens tenure. The shelter could not go on the bridge because the pavement was too narrow and the ground to shallow to affix secure footings. It could not be fastened to the bridge because of the risk of our devoid of sense members of society climbing on it and falling on to the Piccadilly line and costing taxpayers a lot in cleaning solutions.It seems no-one could manage to design a simple shelter for such a site - they obviously engaged the same design consultancy that could not manage to m,      design a London 2012 logo!The realignment of bus stops is a bit odd. The Lothair Road stop is rather useful for alighting and for the parade of shops. This fills for the stop that was by the New Inn which was seen as problematic as it was a tailstop which suited Routemasters but not front entrance vehicles. The overhang blocked a side street and the larger bus caused a potential hazard as pulling out it blocked the road forcing passing traffic into the central reservation.  A nasty incident with a cyclist who ended up in the horse trough highlighted that. Chap was also badly injured.The stop was also moved forward to an even poorer position to serve TVU and replaced the Warwick road stop which was causing road hazards by jay walking students who would not use the crossing.The shelter is not ideal, it's a bit vulnerable to oncoming traffic but it is better than now't by far and I expect countdown to be fitted asap. Who looks after that? Anyone know?

Michael Brandt ● 5081d

No it doesnt have such a display, and that is just not good enough. Such 'Countdown' displays (as they are generically known) should be provided as essential basic passenger amenities at every stop - in their absence public transport is a gamble not a service, but Transport for London couldn't give a toss.

Chris Veasey ● 5082d

Yes it's a decade since the bus stop was moved from north of the railway bridge to south of it, effectively rendering the original bus shelter useless. The shelter was subsequently removed (rather than being relocated at the new stop position or replaced by a new shelter there) shortly after this scandal hit the local press.No the belated recent appearance of a (hopelessly inadequate) shelter at this heavily used key bur/rail interchange is not a cause for celebration - the failure of all those reaponsible at both officers/ consultant and politician level in Transport for London and Ealing Council is one of the most despicable of the many examples of gross incompetence and wilful negligence inflicted on our community - but nobody is ever penalised or otherwise made accountable, and any punter who complains and tries to get such things put right is patronised, ignored or abused as all concerned close ranks - every time.Having said which, appropriately muted plaudits to those officers who have at least got this half-baked gesture onto the ground after a decade of nothing. But this sub-basic shelter is only big enough to accommodate about a quarter of the typical number of waiting passengers; lets the rain in so the seats (and/or any passengers using them) get wet; has a non-working lighting unit; and no 'Countdown' or equivalent real-time bus arrival display. Yet another great marketing tool for the motor trade.And there's still two bus stops further up South Ealing Road/ St Mary's Road with no shelter or other basic essential passenger amenities, though there's now a seat near one of them. Plus one other stop on St Mary's Road where the stop was moved away from the shelter, thereby inconveniencing passengers - it was moved so a stop-and-shop parking bay could be put a bit closer to local shops to save motorists a few yards walk - this was at the behest of an idiot former Labour Councillor, as he admitted in public when the matter was raised at the time. 

Chris Veasey ● 5082d

I did try the text thing once; it took 15 minutes to get a text in reply, by which time I was on the bus and almost home.

Susan Kelly ● 5083d

For those with internet on their mobile, TFL website has live bus departures, put in the stop your at and it'll tell you when the next bus is.That said, TFL minutes sometimes seem to deviate from the standard 60 seconds!

Amy Brookes ● 5083d

Susan,I didn't have chance to check as I nearly fell off my bike with surprise.Arthur

Arthur Breens ● 5083d

Does it have a display saying when the next bus is coming?

Susan Kelly ● 5083d