Should there be public transport in London on Xmas Day?

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

And if *everybody* had the day off, there wouldn't be any Xmas Day telly for you to veg out in front of...

That's why people give DVDs for Christmas though isn't it.

Urgh, Christmas day tv. Yuck.

 

[EastEnder]

And if *everybody* had the day off, there wouldn't be any Xmas Day telly for you to veg out in front of...

Yeah, but Xmas day telly is always pants.

And don't even get me started on the quality of the subtitles.....

 

[Maggot]

Because buses used to be operated by routemasters. By definition these were crew operated. And once upon a time tube trains had guards. I can remember them.

I know about the routemasters and crews, I want proof that buses used to run on Christmas day, cos I've never heard of it before.

 

[BarryB]

I know about the routemasters and crews, I want proof that buses used to run on Christmas day, cos I've never heard of it before.

Just because you have never heard of something dosent make it any less true.

Im sorry but I dont have any bus timetables from Xmas Day in the 1950s or whenever.

BarrtB

 

[Maggot]

Well I don't believe things without proof. I think as Christmas was more sacrosanct in the past than now, it's unlikely that buses ran, but am prepared to be proved wrong.

 

[BarryB]

Well I don't believe things without proof. I think as Christmas was more sacrosanct in the past than now, it's unlikely that buses ran, but am prepared to be proved wrong.

Even if buses didnt run previously on Christmas Day it dosent mean that they shouldent run on future Christmas Days. As for Christmas being more sacrosant in the past well I can assure you that nowdays many Londoners are of a non Christian religion or of no religion.

BarryB

 

[Yossarian]

I reckon there was probably some kind of Christmas Day transport around up until private car ownership became common and alternatives became available for people who could afford it - can't dig up any proof on google though.

The airports are open for business as usual Xmas Day though - has this always been the case?

 

[Maggot]

Even if buses didnt run previously on Christmas Day it dosent mean that they shouldent run on future Christmas Days.

Are you backing down?

As for Christmas being more sacrosant in the past well I can assure you that nowdays many Londoners are of a non Christian religion or of no religion.

BarryB

Yes, this and the fact that people are generally much less religious than they were, back up my point.

 

[LDR]

Yes.

No debate. There just should. OK.

 

[miss giggles]

Yep, I'm in favour. I do like the roads being so empty and quiet, but it is a bit ridiculos to have a huge anti drink driving campaign every year and then not provide any public transport.

 

[Giles]

There used to be a service on Xmas day in London. I assume it stopped because there wasn't enough demand.

I wouldn't fancy working tbh; one day a year for a bit of peace and quiet isn't too much to hope for, is it? As soon as you get tubes and buses you can bet they'd start opening shops and pubs.It'd soon be like any other day.

I wouldn't be taking the bus or train anywhere on Christmas day even if there were any, but just this observation from Kilburn this Christmas day:

On our households trip to a pub for a Christmas day pre-lunch drink or two, I counted half a dozen shops open, as well as more than half of the pubs.

So, that is already happening, in the case of the shops, mainly because they are almost all run by people from totally non-Christian backgrounds, so it doesn't make much difference to them.

Giles..

 

[BarryB]

Are you backing down?
Yes, this and the fact that people are generally much less religious than they were, back up my point.

No im not backing down. On the Yahoo London Transport discussion group its been pointed out that there were buses running in London on Xmas Day in the 1960s and 1970s.

BarryB

 

[Giles]

I suppose that in the days when a bigger percentage of the population relied on buses etc there was more call for them.

Now, most people have cars, and on Christmas Day itself, journeys tend to be to see family for the day, as opposed to any other day (especially around Christmas) when its all about large numbers of people going out in the evening with the specific intention of getting far too pissed to even think of driving home afterwards.

I don't anticipate any Christmas day tubes or buses any time soon.

Giles..

 

[BarryB]

I suppose that in the days when a bigger percentage of the population relied on buses etc there was more call for them.

Now, most people have cars, and on Christmas Day itself, journeys tend to be to see family for the day, as opposed to any other day (especially around Christmas) when its all about large numbers of people going out in the evening with the specific intention of getting far too pissed to even think of driving home afterwards.

I don't anticipate any Christmas day tubes or buses any time soon.

Giles..

In London there are a huge number of people without cars. In my area (Hackney) you just have to see the numbers of people travelling on routes such as the 38, 73 and 253. These routes are busy on a 24 hour basis. Many of the travellers are black and Asian and increasingly young eastern Europeans. I have little doubt that even on Xmas Day these people would only be too happy to have a public transport service.

I know its a cliche but London really is a 24 hour 365 days a year city. Going by the increase of night buses TFL recognise this. They may even recognise the need for Xmas transport. Certainly it wouldent do Livingstone and the Labour Party any harm to ensure this happened.

BarryB

 

[cogg]

In London there are a huge number of people without cars. In my area (Hackney) you just have to see the numbers of people travelling on routes such as the 38, 73 and 253. These routes are busy on a 24 hour basis. Many of the travellers are black and Asian and increasingly young eastern Europeans. BarryB

Why does it matter that there "are black and Asian and increasingly young eastern Europeans" on buses? Are they any more important than white people of whatever age? What is your point?

 

[Isambard]

Why does it matter that there "are black and Asian and increasingly young eastern Europeans" on buses? Are they any more important than white people of whatever age? What is your point?

It really is quite basic sweetie. Immigrants and ethnic minorities have a greater relaince on public transport. There's a higher access to cars in Kingston (if people were sober) but in Hackney etc people NEED the buses.

 

[BarryB]

Why does it matter that there "are black and Asian and increasingly young eastern Europeans" on buses? Are they any more important than white people of whatever age? What is your point?

Of course there not "more important" than white people. Its just that they are more likely to be less well off and have a lower level of car ownership.

BarryB

 

[the B]

Airports are open on Xmas. Heathrow Express was open too this year, I think.

 

[King Biscuit Time]

Personally, I'd be quite happy if my taxes paid for all the essential workers to have taxis/coaches/etc laid on for them on that one day.

Who's gonna drive the busses and taxis then? Robots?!

 

[Harold Hill]

I don't think it would be too difficult to provide a service on the busiest routes on Christmas Day. Instead of paying treble time I'd give workers the option of 2 religious holidays per year whenever they wanted on the basis that they would be available to work Christmas and Boxing Day if they didn't choose those dates.

 

[Dr. Furface]

It really is about time that as a nation - not just London - we got over this ridiculous idea that everything has to stop/close on 25 December. As others have pointed out, it didn't always used to be like this - hell, they even used to play a full football programme on Xmas day up to the 60's - and most people these days seem to want more choice on what they can do on the 25th. I know of no other country that has this archaic slavish devotion to this one day, which now is not even a slightly religious festival for the vast majority of the populace, and for a variety of reasons it's becoming less of one each year. We ought to treat it more like Easter - which in fact is a more important time for Christianity, for what it's worth.

 

[BarryB]

Who's gonna drive the busses and taxis then? Robots?!

Who mans police stations, fire stations, hospitals, petrol stations on Xmas Day? Robots?


BarryB

 

[jæd]

As soon as you get tubes and buses you can bet they'd start opening shops and pubs.It'd soon be like any other day.

And whats wrong with that...? For most of the rest of the world it is...

 

[jæd]

For one day a year, everything but the bare essentials should stop. It's the one day when we should all be able sit around at home, drink ourselves silly and veg out in an Xmas stylee......

What if you don;t want to...? Part of the reason that Xmas can be so depressing is that you're forced to do things you don't want to do. (aka "traditions"). And if you've got no one to turn to and don't have a car you're forced to stay at home.

 

[King Biscuit Time]

Who mans police stations, fire stations, hospitals, petrol stations on Xmas Day? Robots?

Exactly.
Thats why it seems silly to say that everyone should be guarenteed the day off!
And especially silly to employ coach drivers and taxi drivers to get people of the professions you mentioned to work, so that bus drivers can have the day off!

 

[guinnessdrinker]

Proof please.

if they were running, they must have been crewed....

 

[guinnessdrinker]

It really is quite basic sweetie. Immigrants and ethnic minorities have a greater relaince on public transport. There's a higher access to cars in Kingston (if people were sober) but in Hackney etc people NEED the buses.

you don't need a bus to go down your local. at least I hope.

 

[Pickman's model]

you don't need a bus to go down your local. at least I hope.

maybe not: but if you live in hackney you might well need it to get to your regular drinking establishment.

 

[Oxpecker]

And whats wrong with that...? For most of the rest of the world it is...

Nothing intrinsically wrong with it I suppose. It's just that as a personal preference I like to have a nice quiet day once a year. I live in the middle of London and work as a tube driver, so from a purely selfish point of view I'd like it to stay the way it is, ta

 

[Dr. Furface]

Nothing intrinsically wrong I live in the middle of London and work as a tube driver, so from a purely selfish point of view I'd like it to stay the way it is, ta

Which means you already get more time off than almost everyone else!