Many years ago (30+?), London Transport as it then was started a series of strikes, some days with the buses off, some with the Tube off and some with both. Iirc, one of these 3 variations took place once a week for months.At that time I used to commute fropm Ealing into The City and the disruption was really bad, so so my employer started running commuter coaches from all parts outside of London, one of which I could pick up locally along the way.Anyhow, on the days when the buses only were on strike, we found that the journey into London was actually quicker than when they were operating!This was because they had not long ditched Conductors and gone over to Driver-only operations. As a result, instead of buses easing traffic flow by offering an alternative for commuters, they actually clogged up the roads as they waited at bus stops and lights etc.Naturally enough, LT quickly ditched this particular option but retained the other two, so as to maintain the maximum disruption.Anyhow, my point is twofold:1. We won't really know the overall effect of these present changes until we have had a chance to study it over a longer period;2. These current plans are still only temporary (6 months?), to test them properly i.e. they can be modified or even scrapped if the evidence dictates.And that is surely better than the previous situation, whereby once the decision was made, and serious money spent on a permanent system, then it was no-going-back, even if the evidence suggested that it wasn't working.
Richard Cathcart ● 2203d