Seen Around

Saturday 28th February 2026

Another month’s worth of potpourri for your reading pleasure.

LNER’s quicker trains between NCL and KGX

Travelling up to Newcastle to sample Go North East’s new electric double deck buses gave me the chance to try out LNER’s more frequent service introduced last December on the East Coast MainLine. This includes one train an hour fast between King’s Cross and Newcastle only stopping at York with a journey time of two hours and 38 minutes. It then continues non-stop to Edinburgh arriving there 87 minutes later giving an overall time of just four hours and eight minutes.

It’s impressive. You really feel you’re getting there quickly, which you are. I’ve also done the stopper slower journey (cheap ticket) and the difference is very noticeable.

And while talking LNER, a big thanks to managing director, David Horne for kindly getting in touch following last month’s Seen Around to explain “the frosted glazing on coach M doors is to benefit those customers whose seats face that way (which includes the wheelchair attendant seats) and who hitherto may have had to spend their journey being distracted by the inside of the toilet due to the time the power operated door takes to slide open and close, as well as watching users as they enter and leave the facility.  Hopefully the frosted glazing means that the eye will once again be drawn to the scenic delights of the east coast passing by. I hope this explains it!” It does indeed David, and this toilet user is grateful for this development as it was always a bit unsettling to have prying eyes watching you enter and leave the toilet each visit. Hopefully other Class 8xx train operators will follow LNER’s lead.  

Which end to wait?

In Bristol recently I was reminded just how long many of the city centre bus shelters are providing plenty of room to sit down and on a proper seat too. None of this sloping perch rubbish you often find elsewhere. It’s very impressive but does raise the question of which end will buses stop, as it’s quite a walk from one end to the other if you get it wrong.

This example is in Bath Road outside Temple Meads Station and you’d think with the electronic departure board at the western end along with the poster containing printed departures the bus would stop at that end.

But, the Stagecoach bus that turned up first, after I arrived, drove up to the other (eastern) end, which seemed a logical thing to do in case other buses arrived behind, so I wandered along to that end to wait for my bus, albeit I couldn’t then see the electronic departure sign…

… and with the Stagecoach bus departing and on its way, the next bus pulled up at the western end.

Messages galore

Incidentally, the door area to the Stagecoach bus was packed full of information for boarding passengers including three notices explaining “We take Contactless” with two of them showing the various methods of payment; three “Hello” or “Welcomes” and two notices about CCTV. I wonder how many passengers take it all in during the few seconds as they board. Sometimes, ‘less’ is ‘more’, as they say.

Blocked views and what a mess

Another bus shelter that caught my eye this month was at the University Campus at Penryn between Truro and Falmouth. There are four stops here and each shelter was in a disgraceful state.

And three of them had a design fault in that the end panel was covered with an advert making it impossible to see if a bus is coming when waiting in the shelter.

I assume the University is responsible for these shelters and it’s high time it took some action to improve them.

And Go Cornwall Bus might like to replace First’s advert for its app albeit half of it is hidden by rubbish bins and the clumsy placing of the stand letter at each shelter covers up the Penryn name. Awful. Zero out of 10 for presentation.

Meanwhile over in Harlow…

… I see work is progressing on the much needed new bus station for the town but it still looks a long way off being completed.

Behind that site the whole shopping area looks very sorry for itself.

I was amused to see a sign stating “Businesses open as usual”. Not sure which ones that’s referring to though.

What a launch

I didn’t comment in Tuesday’s blog about Arriva’s new route 723 that it was noticeable how nothing had changed for the route branding of buses used on the 509/510 which continued to promote the now withdrawn route 508. I wonder how long that will continue for?

A stand out instruction

Down in Penzance I noticed some of the Plymouth CityBus branded buses had these rather brutal instructions of where to stand immediately in front of the driver’s cab door. The natural place to stand is on the left as that’s where the ticket machine is located and easy to place your pass or bankcard on it but you’re instructed to stand to the right and presumably reach across to the left which I’m guessing is a hangover from Covid to stop passengers breathing over the driver as there’s a protective screen at that point. But, as you can see, passengers were ignoring the instruction and standing in the most convenient place.

Still, at least non compliant signs are better than this mess I spotted on one bus I travelled on.

Demisters and windscreen wipers for the upper deck

When travelling on a dull wet weather day in winter I always look forward to the time bus manufacturers come up with demisters that actually work on the front windscreen and even install wipers. Passengers do like to see out and where they’re going (as well as the driver). It’s one of the plus points about travelling on a double deck bus in the front seats.

Nice to see the 175s

I was pleased to see former Transport for Wales Class 175 diesel trains are now in service with GWR in the south west. They really are nice trains and good to see a new home has been found for them. I was also pleased to see the signal box at Truro by the level crossing still looks to be in use even though the old style signals have now been replaced.

Also spotted at Truro was a train in the siding on the north side of the car park – something I’ve never seen before on previous visits.

A first class view

I treated myself to a first class upgrade using the SeatFrog app on the journey to and from Penzance but on the return journey, despite coach K being virtually empty the software allocated seat 01 to me – the one shown above with no window and no view. Imagine siting there for five and a quarter hours. Suffice to say I ignored it and sat in one of the many unreserved seats that was available and enjoyed a table for four to myself all the way to Paddington.

Another new thing is GWR actually advising passengers what refreshment delights they can enjoy in First Class. It’s not a patch on the catering offered by LNER – basically sandwiches, biscuits and crisps but at least they now provide a ‘menu’, Although that was only on the journey down. On the journey back it was the same exchange as always… “Would you like any refreshments?”. “What have you got?”. “Sandwiches, biscuits and crisps”. “What sandwiches have you got?” etc etc.

Mid Cornwall Metro

I see the Mid Cornwall Metro is taking shape with work on the Newquay branch now very advance ready to take an hourly service. I previously blogged about this development a couple of years ago but since then the bus services between Newquay, Truro and Falmouth have of course changed which may help the train become established as a viable link when it finally gets round to starting.

Guarding the timetables

It was noticeable how the much welcome supply of Bus Times in Truro’s bus station waiting area were being closely guarded by a member of staff!

Gobbledygook screens

The electric buses First Bus uses on its busy route 500 linking Glasgow Airport with central Glasgow are very impressive to travel on but for the second time I found the information screens not working.

easyWait for ages

I had to take an easyJet flight from Gatwick to Glasgow on my recent visit to that city due to problems on the West Coast MainLine leading to Avanti West Coast terminating all its trains in Preston. And for the second time of travelling with easyJet I was impressed to be called through the boarding gate about 40 minutes in advance of the departure time only to find all that happens is they get the plane load of passengers in one long queue while the plane is made ready. We stood in the queue shown above for 20 minutes. There’d be an outcry if a train company acted in this way.

And then you have to slowly work your way to the actual aeroplane as the queue is allowed to board with inevitably the “speedy borders” grabbing the front seats and taking for ever to place their bags in the overhead lockers…… it’s no wonder I prefer train travel…. when it’s working.

I actually had to return to London City Airport with British Airways, at great expense too, because of the short notice, and couldn’t believe it when we landed and parked up right alongside the terminal building (see below) but were told we would have to board transfer buses which took us to the far end of the building (a two minute ride) necessitating a walk inside the building all the way back to the exit at the other end including going up stairs to the first floor and back down again. However, it’s still quicker than Gatwick or Heathrow.

Central Connect needs to be there

There’s a huge sign at Stansted Airport listing the four main bus and coach operators serving the airport but it really needs to also include Central Connect which now runs route 333 following Arriva giving it up and Stephensons of Essex which runs route 7/7A to Bishop’s Stortford.

Railway Ranger

I spotted a “Railway Ranger” when changing trains in Doncaster recently. Is this a new term for what at one time were called “Welfare Officers” or something like that? I wonder who comes up with these job titles?

Guess the bus station…

Yes, it’s Winchester and now looking very sorry for itself in parts….

… with other parts offering scant protection from the rain.

While in Winchester with my good friend James Freeman recently he gave me a guided tour of the city centre bus stops where each one is displaying out of date bus route numbers following Hampshire County Council’s policy of not keeping up with changes thereby adding to the confusion for passengers, especially strangers. I’d have thought that’s what BSIP and now LABG (Local Authority Bus Grant) was for as a basic requirement.

For example, stop Rc (above) should be displaying 6, 16, 67, 75, 86, 95 – so three right and three wrong while stop Rb (below) which has lost its top, should be 3, 7, 77. So one right, one wrong and two missing.

Cash only for a 50p pee

I was in Derby bus station at the beginning of the month only to find once again the contactless payment option for the exorbitant 50p charge to use the public toilets was out of action and only cash being accepted. And, as usual, a high viz wearing official was standing guard making sure no one without change and desperate for a pee tried to force their way in. Why not put it on free vend in such circumstances and let the security staff do something more meaningful?

An interesting shaped luggage pen

I travelled on a 17 year old Arriva Midlands Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL while in Derby and was intrigued by the lower deck layout at the foot of the stairs. I’ve never seen a space for luggage that shape and size before and it was also interesting to see one tip-up seat in the nearside space for wheelchairs.

Where’s the Garden City?

Blog readers will encyclopedic memories may recall last July I featured the promotion of Letchworth Garden City being the “World’s First Garden City” on the station platform. So while passing through King’s Cross the other day and seeing the 09:05 departure,,,

… I was surprised to see the train was merely going to plain “Letchworth”.

Blog recognition acknowledged

My thanks to Tommy at Metroline who kindly sent me the above photo he took earlier this month of the bus stop panel at West Ealing confirming how this BusAndTrainUser blog can make an impact in all the right places!

Update from GWR’s Customer Relations

And finally for this month an update in the continuing tale of GWR’s Customer Relations handling of my Delay Repay claim travelling to Castle Cary last November. Readers may recall the claim was eventually approved but I queried with Jennifer why the National Rail and GWR’s own journey planner directed me to a connection between Farringdon and Paddington which was disallowed for Delay Repay purposes. Not having heard further I chased up a response and on 13th February she kindly replied to explain “it’s taking a little longer than we’d wanted, but we will fix the problem as soon as we can.” As I guessed last time, I’m sure it’s got something to do with the Delay Repay software not being updated for the Elizabeth line but hopefully whatever it is, it will be fixed soon and thankfully no delays were encountered on my recent journey to Penzance.

And finally, finally, I was going to end today’s round up with a quick Book Review, but as this post has already gone on far too long, I’ll upload it tomorrow in a special Sunday Bonus Blog. It’s a bus timetable. Why should that be the subject of a Book Review? It’s a very special bus timetable that’s not been produced either by a bus company or local authority. All will be revealed tomorrow.

Roger French

Blogging timetable: 06:00 TThS with a Su Bonus Blog tomorrow (1st March)