I knew there had been some poor conditions in the London area, but didn’t realise it was snow and a fair amount too. It was frosty, but without snow in my part of Yorkshire and the gritters have been out. Great atmospheric video Peter.
Nobody knows how to drive in the snow any longer !! We used to cope with this decades ago and knew how to drive in these conditions but everyone now drives as if they are on a race track which is lethal in snow. We should go back to teaching how to cope with it !!!!!!
@@George_the_protogen its all about safety i drive my scooter in these condition but safety is also a thing we like to call i prefer a bus to be suspended than ending up crashing with ppl on board
Back again to this video, by far the best on youtube! Just because it was my former home and local routes. Definitely your videos help mate when I get homesick
Brings back memories of the short time I drove buses for Stagecoach. Was in an Alexander PS body B10M with more snow tha in this video. Schedule was already so far behind, I was told to take the bus back to where it came from and back instead on to where it should have gone. Got stuck at one point due to a post van not yielding to me (despite the fact I had priority) and causing me to stop on an uphill slope. Back wheels spun and spun until I grabbed an armful of Metro newspapers from the rack behind the cab and stuffed them under the nearside rear wheels. This gave me enough traction to get going again. Later in that run, I came to the top of a very steep hill in a town. At the bottom was a broken set of traffic lights (Broken because they wee constantly changing to red, giving priority to the minor, seldom used road to the right). So there was a large queue of cars. The hill was pure ice. I'd already began to slip while at the top and there was no reversing. So I had to go down. So, I edge forwards, steered to the left to bump the front wheel off the kerb and basically slid down the road, bumping off the kerb using it as a friction brake which kept the speed down to 5mph and once I got onto the non slip paint just before the lights, all was OK. That was a sweaty shift!
I don`t wonder why you only drove a bus for a short time. Should have stayed put at the top when you did not slip. Surely that isn`t the way to drive a bus. Bouncing off kirbs going downhill. Why bother and put other peoples lives at risk?
@@SuperFredc Did you even read the comment? He was already sliding at the top of the hill, he had no choice but to go down. It was either bump it off the kerb or hit the cars at the bottom at ridiculous speeds. Which one would you rather?
@@cmdrquillon9398 Of course I read the comment. Obviously every word unlike you. He did not say he had no choice that is your opinion. He said there was no reversing. So edged forward. Edged forward?? Meaning he, not the ice, not you, not me, propelled the vehicle forward. Why didn`t he just put it into the kirb and leave it? rather than try to negotiate a dangerous situation. Its a good job there was no parked cars on that hill otherwise he would have taken them out also. After his previous situations before this hill surely there must have been a time he should have realised that approaching that hill was probably a bad idea. I wonder if you even drive.
I drove transit buses in Denver for over 30 years and conditions were like this several times every winter. As I got older I liked driving in the snow less and less. It wasn't the snow as much as the other traffic on the streets many drivers who should not have been driving in those conditions.
Looking back at this just driven in the snow but in a MMC 200 haha. How did this handle in the snow all from Enfield, crikey and any 313s coming from Potters Bar. Gotta hand it to us who can do it
Nice video, bad conditions for driving! Nice to see Arkley again, when I used to drive this route back in the late 90's that was the route termination point. Some things don't change though, like getting no response from TFL!
I remember doing the staff bus in the snow one night with RM2015 (supposed to use a Metrobus but an RM was better in the snow). It was slow going but I got everyone home, no getting called in early in those days you just got on with it. Fun times.
I am currently in hospital. The snow looked spectacular as it fell. I do not know how long I will be in for, but I hope it clears before I go home. Thanks to all bus drivers for doing a fantastic job in all weathers.
maybe a good idea would be to give buckets of grit to local houses? and offer them £10 to throw grit onto roads? after a text message? or have two sacks of grit in a compartment of buses, that drops it over a 400m area. only filled between dec-jan.
I used to live in West Yorkshire a shovel was a necessity in my boot, several times I have had to cut tracks in ice just to move, use to go to work when the roads were indistinguishable, only the poles at either side your guide
That was surprisingly fascinating. Just subbed. As a kid I used to enjoy the old RT buses. We could all gather on the platform and jump early if there was traffic. Don't think I've been on a bus since though. Shame really. Now I live in a place where there are no buses.
It was my 2nd time seeing snow, as a person who was born and raised in Brazil in tropical areas, it a a true phenomenon to see but quite dangerous at the same time.
Shouldn't be cancelled all the London busses service until mild down before return travel as normal. How, unfortunately, these busses, is gotta be worst these busses running gone bad weather icy on bus create most difficulties trip the services! :(
Snow never stopped bus operations in Manchester and the Cotton Towns in the 60,70 and 80s Manuel gears and sand bags. Why are modern buses incapable of handling the soft stuff. Served thirty years on public transport in the Manchester region
Around the same time in Trondheim in Norway, At least three or four times the amount of Snow and twice as 🥶 Trains running and Bus to train Station 4 minutes late. Three snowplough vehicles in 40 minutes .
You lucky sod. The snow can make your day better. Only once in my 21 years of bus driving did the snow came down really heavy and all services were cancelled.
Tunbridge wells, Hastings, Tonbridge, Tenterden - basically all of the Kent downs and East Sussex was screwed everywhere a complete standstill yesterday
Wow. In the 94 working for Grey Green at the time. I was on the 24 on Volvo BM10s when the inspector said do Mornington Crescent till I tell you to stop 30mins there 2 hours back again 30mins 3hours back pulled of the road at 8pm Empty from Hampstead to Stamford Hill. I drove the 313s on Scania 112 Chingford to Potters Barr alternating to South Mimms
I remember once in Haworth driving down an icy steep road confronted with discarded snow plough facing me, had to do a sliding side-ways action to stop then had to dig for hours to cut grooves out which took hours, the council had just forgotten to put up a “closed road” sign apparently!
I’m in Ottawa, Canada, and have only ONE question. . . You call THAT Snow? We’re in the process of getting 25cm of the heavy wet stuff at the moment. . . Where we see problems is with the articulated busses, where they jackknife trying to climb a 2% grade. . .
We didn't get a great deal of snow in Birmingham. I actually loved driving buses in the snow, loved to see how quickly nature and the environment changes its look in minutes.
Great video and shots in the snow 👍 loads of snow came down in London, I didn't realise it was that bad. Hope no one came a cropper as it looked treacherous at the end there!
winters recently have been particularly mild compared to usual, we have had a few decades in the last 130 years with notably little snowfall and a few with notably heavy snow fall, particularly the 70s and 80s no doubt we will have another run of severe winters again sometime in the future. from 2008/09 to 2012/13 we had a run of pretty severe winters except for 2011/12 which was less cold although 5th feb 2012 saw a significant snowfall in greater London up to 20cm, actually more than we had a couple weeks ago. most notable was december 2010, coldest december in 100 years, jan and feb 2009 aswell as jan and march 2013. 2008/09 was relatively cool with some snow, not alot. before then we had a run of mostly mild winters again. last snowy winter before that was probably 94/95 and 90/91. i expect we will see another run of cold winters again in the future perhaps late 2020s into 2030s. i spend aalot of time studying weather patterns in the uk, particularly winter.
I drove a transit bus for 27 years in Canada , very hot summers and super cold winters . Not Fun ! Buses were never taken off the roads . This is what separates the men from the boys .
Didn't get any snow whatosever here on the Essex coast. Interesting video and an insight into your working life. New york got the snow really bad a few weeks ago. 6"/hr for a total of around 6.5ft of snow!! Imagine that here in the UK and the chaos it would bring.
Nicely shot video, no sign of the gritters, we shouldn't be surprised, i live in Tower Hamlets, no pavements gritted here. Hats off to Canary Wharf management pavements gritted and pretty much cleared in a day.
If anyone does not like driving on snow should never do. I love been out and about when snows and enjoy as much driving anything, bike, car , anything that has a wheels and engine-motor.
4:02 is typical of why snow clogs the roads - too many heavy footed drivers make ice for themselves, quickly forgetting learning about the biting point and slow progress. Is there ever any consideration by your masters that you have to get home somehow, also?
It looks like different areas were affected differently. I was in the Barnet area along the 263, but only just before 9pm; I didn't catch sight of any 307s. I was later seeing a number of 143s stuck in Highgate with the hazards on, and the 210s were beginning to be turned to the village. It felt like the dual-carriageway routes had it a lot easier, since the amount of cars over the road probably gave the snow less time to settle.
@@BristolRE It did? I must have been lucky to find myself home again. I know I wasn't expecting the heavy snow, but I wonder if it surprised the highway agencies too.
I was a driver for First in Leeds, most stressful job I've ever had, stuck it for 6 years. Horrendous shift patterns and always exhausted. I had a heart attack last week and believe this job was the main reason for it, will never go back to bus driving again!
Arriva made me redundant last year after 20 years. So at 63 I took early retirement as the job has knackered me, bad back, knackered knees and hips. Feel so sorry for the guys still doing it. Management don't give a F about the workforce, so it's down to us to look after ourselves.
Definitely not good for your health, bus driving. I'm in my 37th year, not sure how I've stuck it so long! Hope you recover and can enjoy life away from buses
@@erikstenviken2652 not the right tyres fitted (why would you, we perhaps get now this bad once every few years). Too risky in large bus with other cars, cyclists and pedestrians around. Not worth the risk.
So easy to get cancelled bus services. I remember at Arriva in Wigan the first bus out at 04.30 was the staff bus that the driver didn’t show up for, meaning 15 or so drivers didn’t get to work on time. Eventually the allocator went out to get them. This resulted in drivers arriving by car not taking buses out as well.
Well done for filming this, snow is common in the UK now and sometimes it’s heavy, it may get worse over the years as predictions go… A piece of UK weather history👍🏻
More extreme weather events are becoming more common crazy heat in the summer, temperature drops in the winter. My neck of the woods got down to -10°C with the windchill.
When is the 307 going over to electric buses? Will they run on the 279 and 121? Is the 349 still going to be scrapped in 2023, if so where are the LTs going.
I don't think anyone knows yet when the 307s Elctroliners will enter service, but they will likely stray onto other Enfield routes. As for the 349, the proposed withdrawal of that route has been dropped.
@@LondonTransport466Thanks for your reply. Do you know when the 279 and 121 routes are due for tender? It will be interesting to see if they stay at Enfield, and what buses are specified - presumably electric?
What is your favourite route and bus in London l like the no11 and 63 because of the wooden floor and the high seats it has now and power sockets, and the route time display it shows
The amount of snow that fell wasn't bad but the problem is, we are woefully under prepared. Like you said, where is the gritters? Preparation ahead would have saved some headaches and accidents.
As a gritter and snowplough driver (in East Yorkshire) we are generally out when the air temperature drops to around 4 degrees - at that level the road surface temperature is getting very near to zero. If there is heavy snow the main routes are priority and some other roads are left until we can get to them once conditions ease. That sometimes is the answer to ‘where are the gritters?’ London may be different of course.
In my former home town stockholm, Sweden it has to be at least 5 inches of snow before the snowplows come out, and then it's just the lazy man's snowplow (salt gritters) so it's another 3-4 hours before you get any better road conditions. I don't mind the snow all that much myself, buses in Stockholm have All-Weather tyres so you can chug along fairly good even if it's 10 inches of snow, but like others have said in their comments - It's everyone else on the road who can't deal with it properly, the one's who think they are such an important person that they don't have to slow down and adjust the driving after the weather conditions. I got fed up with it after some 12-13 years and moved over to rail carried public transport, first the Metro in Stockholm and then the tramways/street cars. Much less stressful and a big relief for my nerves. I moved to Dublin, Ireland almost 20 years ago and here it's worse than what you have to deal with. Half the amount of snow you got will bring the whole country to a standstill, no buses trains or trams/street cars will run until it has melted away. I don't think proper snow plows exists in any greater number here in Ireland. / B.
I had to stay overnight at the airport as all the flights were cancelled. To be honest the amount of snow wasn't an issue, but total lack of preparness to inch of snow was jaw dropping. Snowplough and set of snow ready tires goes a long way. How come this is a surprise every year.
snow in southern England (think london and everything south west of it) is rather rare, used to be very common centuries ago but since it became rare people stopped preparing, normally when it does snow its a tiny amount so you need not really do anything as it barley has time to settle, but since the earth is entering its cooling cycle, we can expect this more often and hopefully will be more prepared the next time around
So ….. if the access roads into B. Hospital are closed, where does one pickup the buses going towards Mill Hill / edgware that you’d normally collect out the hospital at the top of the hill?
The snow isn’t the problem, it’s the fact that we focus so much on rules of the road when teaching learners that they don’t know how to handle a car in extreme conditions. There should be a race/high speed part to driving tests along with extreme conditions. Whether you’re allowed to drive at high speed or in extreme conditions is irrelevant as it’s certain that atleast once you’ll be caught in a situation where knowing how to handle your car in these ways will save not only your life but others.
@@BristolRE hello mate I got some questions I’d like to become a bus driver for RATP group do you get to pick like what garage you want to work at or do they give you options
@@yourlocalbusdriver9884 Hi, different companies work different ways. With Arriva if you already have your bus drivers licence then you can pick your garage, if Arriva have to train you, then you go where they send you. But RATP may be different
It’s a shame you have to wait in the canteen , because as the weather gets worse , the roads get more dangerous making it difficult for staff to get home. Obviously the staff can’t use buses to get home because they’re grounded and driving home in a car might be impossible.
Well, back in 2002 I moved with my British wife from Canada to my 1st time ever in England for a while. I stayed 8 years in Hoddesdon and have family in Enfield. I remember in 2003 winning a free coffee from a mate at work, wondering why I was looking into the skies. I told him that if this was Canada I swear it was going to snow. The bet was on and he wonderef when I said about 2 hours, anbd in 1 and a half flurries happened and I won my coffee. I noticed that snow was coming more often than what I was tolf happened in England with no snow for more than 30 years. I left after my job was sold to China, and moved back to Canada (Ontario) and brought my wiufe back over about 2 months later. P1/2
What are your thoughts on bringing back the conductor maybe based at key stops? I live in the 25, 86 route, Stratford Atherton stop. They could do other duties.
Maybe the main reason why this is happened was because alot of boroughs didn't grit especially Barnet since I never saw gritters go out in my area, which would eventually cause chaos. London has poor weather conditions. Fantastic Video though!
@@BristolRE It sounded like the manifold was freezing, then the engine would fire and thaw it out and then it would freeze up again. It was really struggling.
They was probably hoping it would have stopped or that the roads would be clear by midnight - which was why they thought ok lets keep them here until midnight in case - that obv didn't happen lol
I knew there had been some poor conditions in the London area, but didn’t realise it was snow and a fair amount too. It was frosty, but without snow in my part of Yorkshire and the gritters have been out. Great atmospheric video Peter.
Thanks
If you go to my account I caught some action too
Nobody knows how to drive in the snow any longer !! We used to cope with this decades ago and knew how to drive in these conditions but everyone now drives as if they are on a race track which is lethal in snow. We should go back to teaching how to cope with it !!!!!!
Yes, we did cope years ago
O just go to the Netherlands. No matter the weather, people don't know how to drive both on bike and car.
@@George_the_protogen Lol
@Tom Indeed
@@George_the_protogen its all about safety i drive my scooter in these condition but safety is also a thing we like to call i prefer a bus to be suspended than ending up crashing with ppl on board
Back again to this video, by far the best on youtube! Just because it was my former home and local routes. Definitely your videos help mate when I get homesick
Brings back memories of the short time I drove buses for Stagecoach. Was in an Alexander PS body B10M with more snow tha in this video. Schedule was already so far behind, I was told to take the bus back to where it came from and back instead on to where it should have gone.
Got stuck at one point due to a post van not yielding to me (despite the fact I had priority) and causing me to stop on an uphill slope. Back wheels spun and spun until I grabbed an armful of Metro newspapers from the rack behind the cab and stuffed them under the nearside rear wheels. This gave me enough traction to get going again.
Later in that run, I came to the top of a very steep hill in a town. At the bottom was a broken set of traffic lights (Broken because they wee constantly changing to red, giving priority to the minor, seldom used road to the right). So there was a large queue of cars. The hill was pure ice. I'd already began to slip while at the top and there was no reversing. So I had to go down. So, I edge forwards, steered to the left to bump the front wheel off the kerb and basically slid down the road, bumping off the kerb using it as a friction brake which kept the speed down to 5mph and once I got onto the non slip paint just before the lights, all was OK.
That was a sweaty shift!
I don`t wonder why you only drove a bus for a short time. Should have stayed put at the top when you did not slip. Surely that isn`t the way to drive a bus. Bouncing off kirbs going downhill. Why bother and put other peoples lives at risk?
That sounds nasty, hate driving in the snow
@@SuperFredc Did you even read the comment? He was already sliding at the top of the hill, he had no choice but to go down. It was either bump it off the kerb or hit the cars at the bottom at ridiculous speeds. Which one would you rather?
@@cmdrquillon9398 Of course I read the comment. Obviously every word unlike you. He did not say he had no choice that is your opinion. He said there was no reversing. So edged forward. Edged forward?? Meaning he, not the ice, not you, not me, propelled the vehicle forward. Why didn`t he just put it into the kirb and leave it? rather than try to negotiate a dangerous situation. Its a good job there was no parked cars on that hill otherwise he would have taken them out also. After his previous situations before this hill surely there must have been a time he should have realised that approaching that hill was probably a bad idea. I wonder if you even drive.
Nice one mate, love the peace and quiet when it's snowing. Certainly wouldn't fancy driving a bus in that.
Thanks
That was fun .... Don't know how I got here but I'll definitely subscribe. What a pristine phone .... Clear picture! Thank you and drive safe.🙏🏾🇬🇧
Thank You!
I drove transit buses in Denver for over 30 years and conditions were like this several times every winter. As I got older I liked driving in the snow less and less. It wasn't the snow as much as the other traffic on the streets many drivers who should not have been driving in those conditions.
Yes, always other road users are the issue
It's way too easy to get - and get to keep - a driver's license these days.
@@dsludge8217 In the case of Denver it was California transplants with new 4x4 suvs that have never driven on anything worse than the 405 in LA.
Looking back at this just driven in the snow but in a MMC 200 haha. How did this handle in the snow all from Enfield, crikey and any 313s coming from Potters Bar. Gotta hand it to us who can do it
3:49 demonstration of the tribulations and wows of having a two wheel drive only car 😂 service suspended "on full pay" glorious lol
Yes indeed, lol
absolutely terrible weather to drive in, but what a lovely sight! absolutely beautiful
Indeed!
Nice video, bad conditions for driving! Nice to see Arkley again, when I used to drive this route back in the late 90's that was the route termination point. Some things don't change though, like getting no response from TFL!
Thanks, and yes indeed!
I am new follower of you channel. Love your videos
Thank You
The snow shots were lovelly,please keep safe.
Thanks
Thanks for showing us your duty card. Very interesting.
Thanks
I remember doing the staff bus in the snow one night with RM2015 (supposed to use a Metrobus but an RM was better in the snow). It was slow going but I got everyone home, no getting called in early in those days you just got on with it. Fun times.
Indeed. Different types of buses though. RMs and RTs held the road so much better than modern buses do
I am currently in hospital.
The snow looked spectacular as it fell.
I do not know how long I will be in for, but I hope it clears before I go home.
Thanks to all bus drivers for doing a fantastic job in all weathers.
Thanks, I too hope it clears soon!
maybe a good idea would be to give buckets of grit to local houses? and offer them £10 to throw grit onto roads? after a text message? or have two sacks of grit in a compartment of buses, that drops it over a 400m area. only filled between dec-jan.
I love it when it snows thick like that so you had to finish then as the snow was so drive hard all had to stay there hope you extra for snow waitting
Hate driving in snow, you can have any more that is due!
I used to live in West Yorkshire a shovel was a necessity in my boot, several times I have had to cut tracks in ice just to move, use to go to work when the roads were indistinguishable, only the poles at either side your guide
😮😮
That was surprisingly fascinating. Just subbed.
As a kid I used to enjoy the old RT buses. We could all gather on the platform and jump early if there was traffic. Don't think I've been on a bus since though. Shame really. Now I live in a place where there are no buses.
Thank You
You mean the uk?
@@obtuse1291 LMAO no rural West of Ireland
Fantastic video quality, possibly the best I've seen on YT! 😃
Thank You!
Great commentary and filming as a bus driver myself I was working in the snow myself with Metrobus in West Sussex
It's not enjoyable, is it?
@BristolRE Certainly not but we both got back safely
@@TheBusracer That's good
It was my 2nd time seeing snow, as a person who was born and raised in Brazil in tropical areas, it a a true phenomenon to see but quite dangerous at the same time.
Yes indeed
Meanwhile, here in Perth, we are enjoying a 30C day. Off to the beach with the kids.
3:48 Wheel Spinning on a Volkswagen Golf V
Shouldn't be cancelled all the London busses service until mild down before return travel as normal. How, unfortunately, these busses, is gotta be worst these busses running gone bad weather icy on bus create most difficulties trip the services! :(
Snow never stopped bus operations in Manchester and the Cotton Towns in the 60,70 and 80s Manuel gears and sand bags. Why are modern buses incapable of handling the soft stuff. Served thirty years on public transport in the Manchester region
Agreed. Modern buses just won't hold the road
307 used to stop outside my house on Cat Hill, growing up 80's and 90's. Took it many times to see friends in Enfield or High Barnet.
Nice
Around the same time in Trondheim in Norway, At least three or four times the amount of Snow and twice as 🥶 Trains running and Bus to train Station 4 minutes late. Three snowplough vehicles in
40 minutes .
That's what we need - snowploughs!
@@BristolRE and proper snow tyres!
I remember this day
I was hoping and praying that the snow would come and go before the 23rd of December when I was hiring a car 😅
Lol
You lucky sod. The snow can make your day better. Only once in my 21 years of bus driving did the snow came down really heavy and all services were cancelled.
Nice
Tunbridge wells, Hastings, Tonbridge, Tenterden - basically all of the Kent downs and East Sussex was screwed everywhere a complete standstill yesterday
😮😮
Wow. In the 94 working for Grey Green at the time. I was on the 24 on Volvo BM10s when the inspector said do Mornington Crescent till I tell you to stop 30mins there 2 hours back again 30mins 3hours back pulled of the road at 8pm Empty from Hampstead to Stamford Hill. I drove the 313s on Scania 112 Chingford to Potters Barr alternating to South Mimms
Happy Days
very important job, i hope you get the remuneration and secure future that you deserve
Thanks
Buses in the Alps drive in these conditions all Winter (on steep inclines!), the right tyres make all the difference though...
Yes, I can imagine!
Good Video. I think with the 307s transfer to Arriva, they now operate all of the routes that pass outside Enfield Garage!
I remember once in Haworth driving down an icy steep road confronted with discarded snow plough facing me, had to do a sliding side-ways action to stop then had to dig for hours to cut grooves out which took hours, the council had just forgotten to put up a “closed road” sign apparently!
😮😮
excellent video thoroughly enjoyed
Thanks
Fresh untouched snow looks lovely, but try driving a 3.5 tonne van uphill on it even when it's only a couple of inches thick...
I’m in Ottawa, Canada, and have only ONE question. . . You call THAT Snow? We’re in the process of getting 25cm of the heavy wet stuff at the moment. . .
Where we see problems is with the articulated busses, where they jackknife trying to climb a 2% grade. . .
For London this was a lot of snow! Lol.
Good report..I'm in Dallas Texas 🇬🇧
Nice and warm here ..
Nice!
Cheers Peter.I enjoyed that little video for some reason 🤔
Thanks, Lol
Great video Peter. The snow is lovely to look out but to drive in must be nasty.
Thanks, and yes it is
We didn't get a great deal of snow in Birmingham. I actually loved driving buses in the snow, loved to see how quickly nature and the environment changes its look in minutes.
It looks nice, that's about it, lol
Great video and shots in the snow 👍 loads of snow came down in London, I didn't realise it was that bad. Hope no one came a cropper as it looked treacherous at the end there!
Thanks! Not enough gritting happening, was better the next day
winters recently have been particularly mild compared to usual, we have had a few decades in the last 130 years with notably little snowfall and a few with notably heavy snow fall, particularly the 70s and 80s no doubt we will have another run of severe winters again sometime in the future. from 2008/09 to 2012/13 we had a run of pretty severe winters except for 2011/12 which was less cold although 5th feb 2012 saw a significant snowfall in greater London up to 20cm, actually more than we had a couple weeks ago. most notable was december 2010, coldest december in 100 years, jan and feb 2009 aswell as jan and march 2013. 2008/09 was relatively cool with some snow, not alot. before then we had a run of mostly mild winters again. last snowy winter before that was probably 94/95 and 90/91. i expect we will see another run of cold winters again in the future perhaps late 2020s into 2030s. i spend aalot of time studying weather patterns in the uk, particularly winter.
Indeed
So this means more snow in the future? Geddon!!
I drove a transit bus for 27 years in Canada , very hot summers and super cold winters . Not Fun ! Buses were never taken off the roads . This is what separates the men from the boys .
Indeed
Didn't get any snow whatosever here on the Essex coast. Interesting video and an insight into your working life. New york got the snow really bad a few weeks ago. 6"/hr for a total of around 6.5ft of snow!! Imagine that here in the UK and the chaos it would bring.
Nothing would move in the UK for days!
Nicely shot video, no sign of the gritters, we shouldn't be surprised, i live in Tower Hamlets, no pavements gritted here. Hats off to Canary Wharf management pavements gritted and pretty much cleared in a day.
😮😮
Looked amazing, Jel we do not get much in the North where we are YES the north of England)!
Lol
Interesting video.
Please show us more of your runarounds.
Thanks
thx for the documentary, safe driving
Thanks
If anyone does not like driving on snow should never do. I love been out and about when snows and enjoy as much driving anything, bike, car , anything that has a wheels and engine-motor.
Looks delightful. I miss snow
I'll send it to you then, lol
4:02 is typical of why snow clogs the roads - too many heavy footed drivers make ice for themselves, quickly forgetting learning about the biting point and slow progress. Is there ever any consideration by your masters that you have to get home somehow, also?
Afraid not, and even if the services are cancelled the next day, if you want to be paid, you have to come in for your shift
Thank you for this graphic footage from Southbury Road 🌟
Lol
I really enjoyed that sir,
Thank You
Good videos Peter it was a big snowfall yesterday night
Thanks, yes, it was
I loved the snow and was at work when it started. But if your job is driving, then no fun.
Indeed
It looks like different areas were affected differently. I was in the Barnet area along the 263, but only just before 9pm; I didn't catch sight of any 307s.
I was later seeing a number of 143s stuck in Highgate with the hazards on, and the 210s were beginning to be turned to the village. It felt like the dual-carriageway routes had it a lot easier, since the amount of cars over the road probably gave the snow less time to settle.
Eventually even the A406 North Circular ground to a halt, as did the M25
@@BristolRE It did? I must have been lucky to find myself home again. I know I wasn't expecting the heavy snow, but I wonder if it surprised the highway agencies too.
@@BabyRosalinaFan82 I saw photos on Facebook the next day, 406 was gridlocked around my area
What an adventure that was! Luckily, it doesn't occur often. Great footage and narration ✨️ ⛄️ ☃️ ❄️ 🎅
Thanks
Thank goodness its warm enough in Wellington NZ in December for shorts and t-shirt
Nice!
I was a driver for First in Leeds, most stressful job I've ever had, stuck it for 6 years. Horrendous shift patterns and always exhausted. I had a heart attack last week and believe this job was the main reason for it, will never go back to bus driving again!
Arriva made me redundant last year after 20 years. So at 63 I took early retirement as the job has knackered me, bad back, knackered knees and hips. Feel so sorry for the guys still doing it. Management don't give a F about the workforce, so it's down to us to look after ourselves.
Definitely not good for your health, bus driving. I'm in my 37th year, not sure how I've stuck it so long! Hope you recover and can enjoy life away from buses
Nice to meet a fellow Enfieldian 👍 subscribed
Thanks! Will check yours out
Wow the depth of snow on top of the bus at the end was phenomenal for just a few hours of snowfall.
Indeed
That level of snow looks like nothing serious
@@ligametis half a foot (6 inches) in London is quite a lot mate
Looks like a normal snowy day. I cant get you cant drive in it?
@@erikstenviken2652 not the right tyres fitted (why would you, we perhaps get now this bad once every few years). Too risky in large bus with other cars, cyclists and pedestrians around. Not worth the risk.
Snow tyres is all everyone needs amazing difference
Yes indeed
So easy to get cancelled bus services.
I remember at Arriva in Wigan the first bus out at 04.30 was the staff bus that the driver didn’t show up for, meaning 15 or so drivers didn’t get to work on time. Eventually the allocator went out to get them. This resulted in drivers arriving by car not taking buses out as well.
😮😮
Lovely seeing the snow.
Looks nice, nasty to drive and walk in
Well done for filming this, snow is common in the UK now and sometimes it’s heavy, it may get worse over the years as predictions go…
A piece of UK weather history👍🏻
Thanks
More extreme weather events are becoming more common crazy heat in the summer, temperature drops in the winter. My neck of the woods got down to -10°C with the windchill.
Not really TBH. There's less disruption from snow nowadays than there was in the 70s & 80s IME.
@@EdgyNumber1 😥😥
I hope no one driving for Brighton and Hove buses got stuck on the downs when it snowed, that must of been at least -12 with windchill
When is the 307 going over to electric buses? Will they run on the 279 and 121? Is the 349 still going to be scrapped in 2023, if so where are the LTs going.
I don't think anyone knows yet when the 307s Elctroliners will enter service, but they will likely stray onto other Enfield routes. As for the 349, the proposed withdrawal of that route has been dropped.
@@LondonTransport466Thanks for your reply. Do you know when the 279 and 121 routes are due for tender? It will be interesting to see if they stay at Enfield, and what buses are specified - presumably electric?
What is your favourite route and bus in London l like the no11 and 63 because of the wooden floor and the high seats it has now and power sockets, and the route time display it shows
Hi, I don't really have any favourites
The amount of snow that fell wasn't bad but the problem is, we are woefully under prepared. Like you said, where is the gritters? Preparation ahead would have saved some headaches and accidents.
Indeed
As a gritter and snowplough driver (in East Yorkshire) we are generally out when the air temperature drops to around 4 degrees - at that level the road surface temperature is getting very near to zero. If there is heavy snow the main routes are priority and some other roads are left until we can get to them once conditions ease. That sometimes is the answer to ‘where are the gritters?’ London may be different of course.
In my former home town stockholm, Sweden it has to be at least 5 inches of snow before the snowplows come out, and then it's just the lazy man's snowplow (salt gritters) so it's another 3-4 hours before you get any better road conditions.
I don't mind the snow all that much myself, buses in Stockholm have All-Weather tyres so you can chug along fairly good even if it's 10 inches of snow, but like others have said in their comments - It's everyone else on the road who can't deal with it properly, the one's who think they are such an important person that they don't have to slow down and adjust the driving after the weather conditions. I got fed up with it after some 12-13 years and moved over to rail carried public transport, first the Metro in Stockholm and then the tramways/street cars. Much less stressful and a big relief for my nerves.
I moved to Dublin, Ireland almost 20 years ago and here it's worse than what you have to deal with. Half the amount of snow you got will bring the whole country to a standstill, no buses trains or trams/street cars will run until it has melted away. I don't think proper snow plows exists in any greater number here in Ireland. / B.
So true!
I had to stay overnight at the airport as all the flights were cancelled. To be honest the amount of snow wasn't an issue, but total lack of preparness to inch of snow was jaw dropping. Snowplough and set of snow ready tires goes a long way.
How come this is a surprise every year.
snow in southern England (think london and everything south west of it) is rather rare, used to be very common centuries ago but since it became rare people stopped preparing, normally when it does snow its a tiny amount so you need not really do anything as it barley has time to settle, but since the earth is entering its cooling cycle, we can expect this more often and hopefully will be more prepared the next time around
Indeed, a once a year event and they cannot plan for it!
Did ibus give you a curtailment lol 😅
Lol, they had to as all buses pulled off
The bus to roehampton is the most terrifying bus ride I know of .
Can’t imagine it on ice
😮😮
Were some buses just parked in the Road overnight if it couldn’t move
No, we could access the garage, just could access the road beyond
It looks lovely stay safe
Thanks
So ….. if the access roads into B. Hospital are closed, where does one pickup the buses going towards Mill Hill / edgware that you’d normally collect out the hospital at the top of the hill?
Yes, on the bus stops on the main road, would be marked as route 107 but all routes would serve them if the hospital access was closed
I remember using the 307 bus around end of December 2022 and there was a lot of snow
Yes indeed
I hate driving in the snow. You could clip some good photos for Christmas cards. Lol
Indeed!
Was an interesting night I was driving 277 East London could hear Enfield being mentioned a lot on the radio
Odd why we got it so bad
Glad you were sent home at midnight.
Me too
The snow isn’t the problem, it’s the fact that we focus so much on rules of the road when teaching learners that they don’t know how to handle a car in extreme conditions. There should be a race/high speed part to driving tests along with extreme conditions. Whether you’re allowed to drive at high speed or in extreme conditions is irrelevant as it’s certain that atleast once you’ll be caught in a situation where knowing how to handle your car in these ways will save not only your life but others.
Indeed
I’m glad you had a good heater on that bus. Anything fancier on newer buses like a heated driver seat?
Heated seat? No chance!
Heated seat? you would be lucky if the heaters worked on the buses I used to drive, the MAN east lancs mylenniums were horrible in cold weather.
This is beautiful ❤
Hope all your colleagues got back to depot safely and not get stuck/stranded out there
Thanks, some had to abandon their buses on Slades Hill, Enfield and walk 90 minutes back to the garage
@@BristolRE hello mate I got some questions I’d like to become a bus driver for RATP group do you get to pick like what garage you want to work at or do they give you options
@@yourlocalbusdriver9884 Hi, different companies work different ways. With Arriva if you already have your bus drivers licence then you can pick your garage, if Arriva have to train you, then you go where they send you. But RATP may be different
@@BristolRE Probably the most exercise they've had all year 🤣🤣🤣
@@Theoriginalbigbrillo 😂😂
It’s a shame you have to wait in the canteen , because as the weather gets worse , the roads get more dangerous making it difficult for staff to get home. Obviously the staff can’t use buses to get home because they’re grounded and driving home in a car might be impossible.
Is there any word on when the weekend night service of the 307 shall return?
No, afraid not heard anything
Nice to see they're already preparing drivers for the transition to electric buses🤙
Indeed
At least you got to warm up in the canteen with a nice cuppa.
Indeed
Well, back in 2002 I moved with my British wife from Canada to my 1st time ever in England for a while. I stayed 8 years in Hoddesdon and have family in Enfield. I remember in 2003 winning a free coffee from a mate at work, wondering why I was looking into the skies. I told him that if this was Canada I swear it was going to snow. The bet was on and he wonderef when I said about 2 hours, anbd in 1 and a half flurries happened and I won my coffee. I noticed that snow was coming more often than what I was tolf happened in England with no snow for more than 30 years. I left after my job was sold to China, and moved back to Canada (Ontario) and brought my wiufe back over about 2 months later. P1/2
Nice!
One question. Have'nt you heard of winter tyres and snow chain on the british isle's?
We have, but in London this is a once in a year event, so simply not worth the expense
Interesting video.
Thanks
I'm coming to London in March bud damn looks nice and difficult for Londoners at the same time. I don't know how to drive in snowy conditions either.
It's no fun
What are your thoughts on bringing back the conductor maybe based at key stops? I live in the 25, 86 route, Stratford Atherton stop. They could do other duties.
They did trial pavement conductors back in the 90s, would check them on via the exit doors
Maybe the main reason why this is happened was because alot of boroughs didn't grit especially Barnet since I never saw gritters go out in my area, which would eventually cause chaos. London has poor weather conditions. Fantastic Video though!
Thank You, and yes, lack of gritting all over
There was a bus breaking down yesterday. It sounded like the fuel was freezing up before it could get going.
😮😮
@@BristolRE It sounded like the manifold was freezing, then the engine would fire and thaw it out and then it would freeze up again. It was really struggling.
@@christoph7395 😮😮
They was probably hoping it would have stopped or that the roads would be clear by midnight - which was why they thought ok lets keep them here until midnight in case - that obv didn't happen lol
Indeed, lol
Nice video keep it up also it nice to have Snow
Thanks
@@BristolRE you are welcome
Is it true that winter tires aren't a thing (or aren't mandatory) in the UK?
its true winter tires aren't a thing nor mandatory) in the UK
Yes, that's true