From Newsgroup: uk.transport.london

We did a trip on one from trafalgar square all the way to hampstead today.
Yet again the damn engine didn't go off the entire 50 min trip though occasionally it sped up even when the bus wasn't moving. Either the batteries are on their last legs or the control system simply isn't fit for purpose
as what is the point of a hybrid that sits in a jam with the engine idling
away just like a normal diesel bus?

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From Newsgroup: uk.transport.london

In message <10j0tt0$25in6$1@dont-email.me>, at 16:16:33 on Tue, 30 Dec
2025, boltar@caprica.universe remarked:

We did a trip on one from trafalgar square all the way to hampstead today. >Yet again the damn engine didn't go off the entire 50 min trip though >occasionally it sped up even when the bus wasn't moving. Either the batteries >are on their last legs or the control system simply isn't fit for purpose
as what is the point of a hybrid that sits in a jam with the engine idling >away just like a normal diesel bus?

I think everyone by now agrees that the Boris Buses were a vanity
project that went wrong. And then they let him run the country.
--
Roland Perry
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From Newsgroup: uk.transport.london

On Mon, 5 Jan 2026 14:26:03 +0000
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> gabbled:

In message <10j0tt0$25in6$1@dont-email.me>, at 16:16:33 on Tue, 30 Dec
2025, boltar@caprica.universe remarked:

We did a trip on one from trafalgar square all the way to hampstead today. >>Yet again the damn engine didn't go off the entire 50 min trip though >>occasionally it sped up even when the bus wasn't moving. Either the batteries >>are on their last legs or the control system simply isn't fit for purpose >>as what is the point of a hybrid that sits in a jam with the engine idling >>away just like a normal diesel bus?

I think everyone by now agrees that the Boris Buses were a vanity
project that went wrong. And then they let him run the country.

True, but he didn't design and build the things other than specify the door
at the back. I'm really not surprised Wrightbus went bust if this was the
level of their engineering competance. I guess going from coachbuilder to actual mechanical engineering was a step too far for them.

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From Newsgroup: uk.transport.london

<boltar@caprica.universe> wrote:

On Mon, 5 Jan 2026 14:26:03 +0000
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> gabbled:

In message <10j0tt0$25in6$1@dont-email.me>, at 16:16:33 on Tue, 30 Dec
2025, boltar@caprica.universe remarked:

We did a trip on one from trafalgar square all the way to hampstead today. >>> Yet again the damn engine didn't go off the entire 50 min trip though
occasionally it sped up even when the bus wasn't moving. Either the batteries
are on their last legs or the control system simply isn't fit for purpose >>> as what is the point of a hybrid that sits in a jam with the engine idling >>> away just like a normal diesel bus?

I think everyone by now agrees that the Boris Buses were a vanity
project that went wrong. And then they let him run the country.

True, but he didn't design and build the things other than specify the door at the back.

He did. He brought in Thomas Heatherwick to design the bus, to look like an updated RM (but that didnrCOt have to fit a powertrain under the rear staircase). That design was about looks, not function, and therefore didnrCOt allow enough room for the engine and batteries.

I'm really not surprised Wrightbus went bust if this was the
level of their engineering competance. I guess going from coachbuilder to actual mechanical engineering was a step too far for them.

I wonder if more experienced bus builders turned down the project?



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