Here's a link to yesterday's news article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8685486.stm I think it's OK. I quite like the black "slash" on the rear - there is logic in having glass following the staircase. Not sure about its counterpart on the front, though. I like that they've retained the jump on/jump off doorway at the rear So what do people think of the new design? Here are a few pics: Nice render of the £300k ( :shock: ) bus in action Old/new comparison Old/new front comparison Cheap looking render. What happened to the glass roof?
Well I like it as a visually - it's very smart, although it's just not going to be the icon i think Mayor Boris wants it to be. I heard that the back door will be open during peak times and closed (as in like a door?) off-peak. Not sure how long it will last once someone falls off the back and claims compensation! Too early for a sweepstake? I'm going to go for 3 hours.
Agreed Yes - I understand that they will draw some kind of shutter over the back door to prevent the nutters from using it during drinking hours.
Ladies and gentlemen - introducing the newly unveiled RouteMaster! What do we think? Future design classic? Certainly eye catching... 3 Doors - Good 2 Staircases - Good But with all the extra space that the stairs and back door have gone - where are we going to sit?
My comments: 1. Looks pretty ordinary actually. 2. Interior looks unfinished - cheap looking seats. Pattern on them is not nice. 3. Would like to see some more interior shots. 4. Perhaps 2 staircases is overkill. As Pete says - where will poople sit downstairs? I've turned this into a poll. Please register your views above!
By the way - the bus in the pics above is a 1-off prototype. Below is a construction pic apparently. I have no idea who that bloke is! Here are a few links to read more on this project: BBC - in pictures Routemaster Bus unveiled Mail on Sunday :Return of the Routemaster Guardian: The new Routemaster bus is a design cacophony
Highly over-styled to the detriment of other factors - like functionality maybe. I think this is going to end up all style and no substance. Bit like the Millenium Dome really. Never put politicians in charge of design and engineering projects. It could be a huge opportunity missed for something quite radical, rather than a stylistic re-churning of nostalgia. Pity. Probably a little ahead of the game in terms of upcoming technological opportunities. Could have been better to wait and to have avoided spending ratepayer's hard earned money on a superficial vote-grabbing publicity stunt. But what's new? Glass roof? What would be the point? Likely to be too hot and glaring during the summer, or obliterated by rain and dust other times. Window cleaning was never the strong point and these days glass means diamond-cut vandalism which costs a bundle to replace. What is missing (apart from a useful and attractive interior) is the top rear window. That was very handy if you were up top and wanted to check carefully for your location before going down the stairs to get off, or even more importantly - wanted to check if your connecting bus was coming up behind. Being on the stairs while still moving is not always a good experience. At the top, the only easy view out seems to be on the offside. Any view to the pavement side is well obscured. The guy in the pic? Looks like the Sikh chappie from Boris' staff overlooking TFL. Guess he's just trying to promote his political career, not knowing that he might be standing in a large white elephant! PeterB
It was unveiled in London today: Daily Mail article here. Actual service is will begin in Feb 2012. Couldn't agree with you more. Too much design seems to be driven by nostalgia these days. Anyway, here's a few pics of the unveiling. S'alright I s'pose
