Forum Topic

65 Bus Route

I have personal experience of how poor the 65 bus route is, but - equally - I'm sympathetic to a route that has to follow some of the narrowest yet busiest roads in west London.  It's a struggle down to the Gt West Road, and another battle to get to Kew Bridge.  And it doesn't get any better all the way to Kingston.  These roads were built in the 1850s so it's no surprise the 65 double-deck bus cannot cope with the congestion caused by bumper-to-bumper private and commercial vehicles.  That and staff absenteeism.  Well, would you want to be a bus driver who also has to collect the fare, loathed by every passenger who climbs aboard?

Mike Abbott ● 6151d13 Comments

I used to live on Haven Green and I remember taking the 65 bus from there all the way to Chessington (when that was the final destination). I think it used to cost under £1 but it did take forever and a day.

David Archer ● 6150d

It was 3d pre-decimalisation for kids and was a frequest day out for me!

Penny Crocker ● 6150d

Funny, I use the 65 periodically and find it one of the better routes. The 267, now, that's bad: all the drivers drive like maniacs.

Susan Kelly ● 6150d

I have to agree with Susan, as a route, the 65's not too bad.  I guess it's main problems are either the sharp turn in the narrow road near Ham, or other ignorant motorists who insist on passing the bus that's trying to pull out so they don't get stuck behindThe E3 on the other hand, where the drivers seem to make a game of accelerating into the corner along Popes Lane, or slamming the brakes on as it approaches the Knights Ave stop in an attempt to make people fall over

James Lockwood ● 6150d

I get off the E3 at the Knight's Ave stop, James, so am standing up at that point and always hold on tight. If you think that's bad, try the 267! I've seen passengers waiting at the bus stop physically leap backwards on London Road as the bus hurtles towards them.It would be nice if TfL asked drivers not to drive like Jensen Button between stops on all routes.

Susan Kelly ● 6149d

Smoother driven buses, and take all the fun out of bus journeys?What else would one do not be able to watch old biffers falling over coz they've missed the last available priority seat, and children hurled out of over-sized pushchairs, not to mention the rattle of empty cans rolling about?If there was a good argument for a tram system this would be it.

Alan Brainsby ● 6149d

But, luckily, there isn't.

Susan Kelly ● 6149d

"It would be nice if TfL asked drivers not to drive like Jensen Button between stops on all routes."You might be interested to hear that TfL have just cancelled their QIC2 bus driver quality monitoring scheme - this would have monitored, amongst other things, bus cleanliness and the smoothness of driving.  Obviously they're happy with current standards.

Thomas Barry ● 6148d

Perhaps the monitoring scheme set such a high standard that few drivers could achieve it.

Alan Brainsby ● 6148d

"Perhaps the monitoring scheme set such a high standard that few drivers could achieve it."It hadn't really been properly tested, to be honest, it was a leftover from the previous Mayoralty that didn't survive the change of regime and the current adminstration's dislike of buses.

Thomas Barry ● 6148d

I'm told that being a bus driver is the most stressful job of all. Low control, high stress. I can believe it tbh. The tube drivers used to make me laugh at Acton Town. The Picc line used to oull in just as the District line was on the other platform going to Ealing Broadway. They're only once every 15 mins or so. They used to wait til the Picc. line opened its doors and everyone mad a mad dash across th the District line and the District line used to depart before they got there. Happened too often to be co-incidence. They've stopped doing it now !!!

Penny Crocker ● 6147d

Item on itv londontonight..voted worst bus route in london

David Archer ● 6146d

The 65? I'm flabbergasted.

Susan Kelly ● 6146d