Here in Hereford
Thursday 2nd December 2021 Hereford is one of those market towns where it’s notoriously hard to provide a decent bus service that’s financially viable. With a population of around 62,000, … Continue Reading Here in Hereford
Pinky Pennine promises
Tuesday 30th November 2021 Transdev Blazefield’s purchase of Yorkshire Tiger from Arriva in July included an immediate high profile rename to Team Pennine along with a bright new pink themed … Continue Reading Pinky Pennine promises
Riding the ‘Dawlish avoiding line’
Friday 26th November 2021 As explained in Wednesday’s blog when the violent storm caused the railway track at Dawlish to collapse in 2014 there was much talk at the highest … Continue Reading Riding the ‘Dawlish avoiding line’
End of the road for Hulleys’ snake
Monday 22nd November 2021 It certainly can’t be said Hulleys haven’t given it a good try. Introduced on 26th October 2020 the much welcomed Snake X57 branded bus route linking … Continue Reading End of the road for Hulleys’ snake
End of the road for Hemel’s Green Line
Saturday 20th November 2021 It’s been a long lingering death sentence. ‘The writing was on the wall’ way before the pandemic destroyed passenger numbers so it came as no surprise … Continue Reading End of the road for Hemel’s Green Line
Another way is Essex
Saturday 6th November 2021 I’m conscious there’ve been a few blogs recently about bus routes in Essex; well, sorry folks, here’s another one. The issue is, each time I visit … Continue Reading Another way is Essex
Island hopping in Essex
Monday 25th October 2021 Following my recent outing to Sheppey and Grain on the north Kent coast, it’s time to replicate similar island exploring on the north side of the … Continue Reading Island hopping in Essex
First Debden debut
Saturday 23rd October 2021 It’s been a long time since you could catch a bus from the Debden and Loughton area of Essex, on the fringe of Greater London, and … Continue Reading First Debden debut
LCBS 50th Anniversary Tour: Part 4
Sunday 17th October 2021 A surprise ending And so to the fourth and final quadrant of our London encirclement commemorating last year’s fiftieth anniversary of the much missed London Country … Continue Reading LCBS 50th Anniversary Tour: Part 4
Rain doesn’t stop the Falmouth Coaster
Thursday 7th October 2021 While down in Cornwall last weekend I took the opportunity to take a ride on First Kernow’s new-for-the-2021-summer-season Falmouth Coaster branded open top bus tour of … Continue Reading Rain doesn’t stop the Falmouth Coaster
Cornish crackers
Tuesday 5th October 2021 First the good news. Go-Ahead’s Go Cornwall Bus website which acts on behalf of Transport for Cornwall (TfC) now includes a comprehensive map of the combined … Continue Reading Cornish crackers
Sheppey goes against the Grain
Wednesday 29th September 2021 I explored the Isle of Sheppey back in April as my very own ‘Farewell to Arriva on the Island’ Tribute Tour. The Arriva bus garage alongside … Continue Reading Sheppey goes against the Grain
The Snowdon Sherpa
Friday 17th September 2021 The Snowdon Sherpa network of bus routes provides a great way to explore the Snowdonia National Park. It links the six walking paths which give access … Continue Reading The Snowdon Sherpa
Another new TrawsCymru route
Wednesday 15th September 2021 Transport for Wales have only gone and done it again. They’ve further expanded the TrawsCymru network of bus routes with a brand new route – the … Continue Reading Another new TrawsCymru route
Redline goes for the Oxford market
Thursday 9th September 2021 Buckinghamshire’s expansionist bus company Redline has upped the stakes in its competitive battle with Arriva by introducing of a new hourly route X20 between Aylesbury and … Continue Reading Redline goes for the Oxford market
The LCBS 50th Anniversary Tour: Part 2
From Compass to Carousel Thursday 26th August 2021 The LCBS Anniversary Tour Gang of Four (now joined by Mike Best and David Cole to make Six of the Best) reconvened … Continue Reading The LCBS 50th Anniversary Tour: Part 2
End of the road for London’s route 575
Tuesday 24th August 2021 One of London’s most unusual bus routes makes its final journey this week. I write ‘London’s bus route’, but it’s not a TfL route and only … Continue Reading End of the road for London’s route 575
Route W13. All three of them.
Sunday 22nd August 2021 Britain has three* bus networks using the prefix W. They’re a very diverse threesome. One comprises frequent routes in Wood Green and Walthamstow in north London … Continue Reading Route W13. All three of them.
The LCBS 50th Anniversary Tour: Part 1
From Gravesend to Dorking Thursday 12th August 2021 OK, I realise I’m a year late, but just like the Tokyo Olympics, due to the uncertainty of Covid restrictions this project … Continue Reading The LCBS 50th Anniversary Tour: Part 1
Buster’s Forest Explorer explored
Tuesday 10th August 2021 As well as bringing back open top bus routes all along Bournemouth’s seafront between Mudeford and Alum Chine this summer, Yellow Buses have also introduced a … Continue Reading Buster’s Forest Explorer explored
Canterbury and Maidstone get connected
Wednesday 4th August 2021 This week has seen Stagecoach South East revamp its bus routes between Canterbury, Faversham and Sittingbourne and introduce an exciting new extension onwards to Maidstone. Southeastern … Continue Reading Canterbury and Maidstone get connected
Making the Tiger better
Monday 2nd August 2021 It was a welcome makeover at the time. In September 2013 Arriva bought out its majority partner shareholders in Centrebus Holdings which had been running buses … Continue Reading Making the Tiger better
A free-for-all in Swansea
Saturday 31st July 2021 How many times have you heard local councillors or traders calling for reduced or even free car parking to encourage shoppers back to town centres? Many … Continue Reading A free-for-all in Swansea
Dee Valley Picturesque Bus
Monday 26th July 2021 It’s not the longest bus route – extending only about five miles north and east of Llangollen at its furthest points – but it would be … Continue Reading Dee Valley Picturesque Bus
Electrifying Leicester
Sunday 18th July 2021 As well as open-top buses and DRT, 2021 is also proving to be the year of the electric bus with more and more entering service as … Continue Reading Electrifying Leicester
East Yorkshire’s new EastRider X5
Sunday 11th July 2021 As January’s lockdown began at the start of 2021 the Go-Ahead owned East Yorkshire bus company revamped its bus service between Goole and Hull creating a … Continue Reading East Yorkshire’s new EastRider X5
A Couple of Cornish Coasters
Friday 9th July 2021 I thought it was about time I wrote another blog about open-top bus routes – well, it’s been just over a week since the last one … Continue Reading A Couple of Cornish Coasters
Moorsbus is back
Monday 4th July 2021 It’s great to see the brilliant Moorsbus network of summer weekend bus routes across the North York Moors make a much welcome return after its enforced … Continue Reading Moorsbus is back
Peak travel in the Peak is weekends
Friday 2nd July 2021 I promised myself last October when trying out Hulleys of Baslow’s then brand new Snake X57 bus route across the Peak District’s Snake Pass I’d be … Continue Reading Peak travel in the Peak is weekends
Rooftop bus riding in Cardiff (not Reading)
Wednesday 30th June 2021 It might not have the scenic delight served up by the Exmoor Coaster or Dartmoor Explorer but the new open-top bus service introduced by Cardiff Bus … Continue Reading Rooftop bus riding in Cardiff (not Reading)
The Jurassic Coaster
Monday 7th June 2021 It’s not just First Bus in the South West who’ve introduced new open-top and leisure bus routes this summer. Their colleagues in neighbouring First Hampshire and … Continue Reading The Jurassic Coaster
The Exmoor Coaster
Wednesday 2nd June 2021 This is the one I’ve been waiting for. Of all First Bus in the South West’s exciting new initiatives for the summer season under the “Adventures … Continue Reading The Exmoor Coaster
Adventures By Bus in Cornwall
Wednesday 26th May 2021 Following my hugely enjoyable ride across Dartmoor on the Dartmoor Explorer last Tuesday I made a return visit to the South West over the last couple … Continue Reading Adventures By Bus in Cornwall
Exploring the Dartmoor Explorer
Tuesday 18th May 2021 First Bus in the South West are launching a number of exciting bus route initiatives this summer with the aim of tapping into the tourist and … Continue Reading Exploring the Dartmoor Explorer
One Public Transport system for Cornwall?
Thursday 6th May 2021 I was struck by Baroness Vere’s forthright endorsement of Cornwall Council’s “vision for a high-quality, integrated and customer-focused public transport network” (quote from the Transport for … Continue Reading One Public Transport system for Cornwall?
More Bucks for your Bang
Monday 19th April 2021 As the deregulated era of free market bus operation draws towards a close it’s not surprising head-to-head bus competition is pretty rare nowadays. Not least currently … Continue Reading More Bucks for your Bang
Get down Sheppey
Friday 9th April 2021 The Isle of Sheppey has been on my ‘to visit again’ list for some time, so news Arriva are retrenching from the island by closing their … Continue Reading Get down Sheppey
Route 383 finally gets its £120K extension
Saturday 31st October 2020 A long awaited extension of TfL bus route 383 from its southern terminus outside Woodside Park Underground Station to serve Finchley Memorial Hospital began today. It’s … Continue Reading Route 383 finally gets its £120K extension
I used my pass over Snake Pass
Monday 26th October 2020 Today’s date, 26th October, will for ever resonate for those of us involved in the bus industry back in 1986 as the anniversary of the birth … Continue Reading I used my pass over Snake Pass
Epsom border territory
Friday 23rd October 2020 Continuing my exploration of the former red and green bus territorial boundary around London to mark this year’s fiftieth anniversary of London Country’s formation brings me … Continue Reading Epsom border territory
BusAndTrainUser - journeys around Britain by bus and train 