Here's some transport news for you, in four chunks of decreasing length.
Bus News
I was on a bus in Hayes yesterday... a modern electric bus, only been in operation since December, fake wood-effect stairs, USB charging points, red 'STOP' buttons in the backs of seats, that kind of thing. At the front of the top deck I was pleased to see a new-style LCD screen, not the usual scrolling LED display but something much cleverer and much more flexible. It showed the name of the next stop, the route number and our destination, and interstitially a 'line diagram' showing the next few stops. And down in the bottom right-hand corner was a QR code. I took this as a challenge.
I held my phone up to the display because normally a QR code triggers an onward link, but nothing happened. This might have been because the bus was moving around, might have been because the code was only shown for a few seconds or might have been because I was sitting in the second row and the square was fairly small. I carried on trying. I leant over a bit. I must have tried at least half a dozen times. I was increasingly convinced that anyone sitting behind me must have thought I was mad. But eventually I got lucky, it registered, and I clicked through and got this.
It's a list of all the upcoming stops and the expected time to get there. The list also updates in real time as you progress so you get a constant countdown towards your destination. That's brilliant and a very cunning use of technology. These days I see a lot of bus passengers clutching a list of upcoming stops on their phones like a comfort blanket, so it's great to have a generic version that doesn't rely on having the right app installed. It's just a shame this system doesn't really work unless you walk right up to the screen and point your phone at it, especially given that wandering around on top decks is discouraged.
Intriguingly the webpage is associated to the vehicle's registration plate, my steed being LG72DPV. That means I can now keep an eye on this vehicle, wherever it is, as indeed can you by clicking through to i.navaho.uk/html/index.html?vid=TDUxODE1NQ==. Annoyingly there's no way to navigate from that page to any other vehicle because no menu is provided and it's impossible to guess the code otherwise. And that means I'd need to capture a new link every time I took a ride on the 119 bus which'd be a depressingly impractical task.
Because the link is hardwired to the vehicle and not to the route, these QR codes don't need to be onscreen. They could instead be printed out and stuck around the bus so you always had one nearby. That's probably overkill given how few people would use them, but displaying them in the corner of a digital screen is massive underkill instead. Also imagine how useful it might be if TfL's own app, TfL Go, were able to guide you along your upcoming bus journey... but alas it doesn't, it's still too simplistic, but maybe it could do in the future?
Whatever, watch out for these digital QR codes rolling out on an electric bus near you, one day, maybe, unless you use routes 119 or 264 in which case now.
DLR News
Yesterday the Mayor revealed London's new DLR trains at Beckton depot in front of an audience of trusted media. I wasn't there so here's a photo of an existing DLR train instead. Prepare to wave goodbye to those forward-facing seats.
Cutting and pasting from the press release, the new trains will feature a walk-through design, the latest audio and visual real time travel information, air conditioning and mobile device charge points. As well as three dedicated wheelchair spaces there'll also be three multi-use areas with flip-up seats for accommodating pushchairs, bicycles and luggage. The exterior will be white and turquoise rather than red and blue. The new trains will also feature a brand new moquette called Poplar, which no doubt at some point will be used to make pricey gifts you can buy at the London Transport Museum.
In practical detail, the first of the 54 new trains won't be entering service until next year and they won't all be in use until 2026. In exciting detail, only 33 of the trains are to replace old rolling stock, the other 21 are extra which should mean more frequent services. In unexpected detail, 11 of the trains were paid for by central government funding, causing red wall voters who get three buses a day to tut and cuss. And in contrasting news, the 55 DLR carriages which entered service in 2008 won't be replaced, so don't expect to see a uniform look on the network when the new trains arrive.
Ian Visits has a full report, the BBC did a quickie, Callum was let loose and Geoff will have a video. Just rest assured you'll still be able to sit at the front and pretend to drive the train because some things thankfully don't change.
Dangleway News
A return trip for two on the Dangleway currently costs £20 (or £24 if you insist on paying at the terminal). But if you turn up between 11th and 14th of February you can go for a special Valentine's experience for just 175% more. For your extra £35 you each get a glass of champagne (or non-alcoholic alternative) plus "a delicious dessert box with a selection of sweet treats to share" (halal and gluten-free but not necessarily nut-free). In lesser offers you also get "a voucher for 50% off our personalised memorabilia", which is basically just upselling, plus live music at each terminal (which everyone'll hear, not just those who paid extra). If your beloved chooses to take you on the Dangleway for Valentine's, perhaps query why you're with them.
River News
In belated fare rise news, fares on Thames Clippers will also be increasing on 5th March. Single and return zonal fares will increase by an average of 9.3%, which is well above the 5.9% increase on trains and buses. Meanwhile Roamer tickets will increase by an average of 12%, which is well above even the rate of inflation. Season tickets and the Cross River fare remain frozen, so that's good, but with a single from Westminster to Greenwich now nudging £10 river travel remains a treat rather than an economic way to get around.
