Part 1.
The aim of the day was to catch the Poppit Rocket, an infrequent bus service along the coast between Cardigan and Fishguard. To get decent use out of the ticket and explore a bit more I had worked out timings departing Bridgend at 0702 but as I was awake at 0500 I decided to catch the previous train to Carmarthen at 0607 which meant I didn't have to worry about a tight connection later in the day. 175010 trundled in to call everywhere to Carnarthen. I found a seat in a warm area travelling backwards and was pleased that there were people boarding and/or alighting at all stations. The level crossing barriers at Port Talbot are still operating even though the road is blocked by a concrete barrier. There is still a pedestrian route across and the end of the platform at the crossing end is the disabled access to the station as there are only stairs to the island platform at present. Now travelling forwards from Swansea I had my first view of the revamped Gowerton station. Last time I headed this way the work was in progress so I did a mixture of the District Line and some very well driven Rail Replacement buses. Gowerton certainly looks better. Much brighter. The bridge has steps and a ramp. At least a ramp can't break down like a lift! Continuing westward we pass a selection of wagons at Trostre which look like they have been there some time with the vegetation that has grown up around them before passing through the remaining semaphore signalling sections at Kidwelly and Ferryside where we crossed the Carmarthen - London Paddington service. Carmarthen is reached spot on time though I was disappointed to find that the buffet is no longer a proper cafe so my plans for a bacon roll had to be postponed.
To be continued.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Part 2
Over the road to the bus stop for Arriva Bus 40 Carmarthen - Aberystwyth 0808 departure as far as Aberaeron. Richards Bros 460 service to Cardigan was also due to depart at 0808 so I had visions of the number 40 sailing past. I needn't have worried as they departed 5 minutes apart and we still had to wait time at Carmarthen bus station. CX58 EUE Wright bodied VDL twas the traction. Seat over nearside rear wheelarch. Two other passengers. Driven with confidence. The driver certainly knew the vehicle's dimensions and hit bends at exactly the right speed. I did check behind when we met a lorry on one bend to see if the garden fence was still standing. it was.
The route has changed since I last travelled Carmarthen to Aberystwyth with fewer deviations to villages,. Half an hour after leaving Carmarthen we made our first stop in Pencader where the step was scraped on the raised bus stop immediately after a right turn. Outside Blossom Garage a vintage lorry and trailer was parked. Blossom Garage was the fomer depot of the fair sized bus and coach operator Davies of Pencader who shocked many when they went bust some years ago. A few more passengers boarded as we ran into Lampeter, surely one of the most remote University towns. From Lampeter there were over twenty passengers, mostly on local authority passes both elderly and disabled as well as some youths enjoying the last days of freedom with a mixture of English and Welsh being spoken. Amongst the stops where someone was picked up from a gateway to a field was the one at the Welsh Pony and Cob society headquarters. An organisation that must be bigger (and richer looking at their premises) than I would have expected. 90 minutes after boarding we arrive at my interchange point in Alban Square Aberaeron where I finally have my cup of coffee and a bacon roll from Y Popty (The bakery) . A quick wander round in a rather murky weather with a keen breeze off the sea. Great to see independent shops and not many chains. Garden tools (chainsaws etc) and mobility aids was an interesting mix in one shop. The limited range of toys made selecting a present very easy.. After a quick visit to the conveniences my hour was almost up so it was back to Alban square.
The aim of the day was to catch the Poppit Rocket, an infrequent bus service along the coast between Cardigan and Fishguard. To get decent use out of the ticket and explore a bit more I had worked out timings departing Bridgend at 0702 but as I was awake at 0500 I decided to catch the previous train to Carmarthen at 0607 which meant I didn't have to worry about a tight connection later in the day. 175010 trundled in to call everywhere to Carnarthen. I found a seat in a warm area travelling backwards and was pleased that there were people boarding and/or alighting at all stations. The level crossing barriers at Port Talbot are still operating even though the road is blocked by a concrete barrier. There is still a pedestrian route across and the end of the platform at the crossing end is the disabled access to the station as there are only stairs to the island platform at present. Now travelling forwards from Swansea I had my first view of the revamped Gowerton station. Last time I headed this way the work was in progress so I did a mixture of the District Line and some very well driven Rail Replacement buses. Gowerton certainly looks better. Much brighter. The bridge has steps and a ramp. At least a ramp can't break down like a lift! Continuing westward we pass a selection of wagons at Trostre which look like they have been there some time with the vegetation that has grown up around them before passing through the remaining semaphore signalling sections at Kidwelly and Ferryside where we crossed the Carmarthen - London Paddington service. Carmarthen is reached spot on time though I was disappointed to find that the buffet is no longer a proper cafe so my plans for a bacon roll had to be postponed.
To be continued.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Part 2
Over the road to the bus stop for Arriva Bus 40 Carmarthen - Aberystwyth 0808 departure as far as Aberaeron. Richards Bros 460 service to Cardigan was also due to depart at 0808 so I had visions of the number 40 sailing past. I needn't have worried as they departed 5 minutes apart and we still had to wait time at Carmarthen bus station. CX58 EUE Wright bodied VDL twas the traction. Seat over nearside rear wheelarch. Two other passengers. Driven with confidence. The driver certainly knew the vehicle's dimensions and hit bends at exactly the right speed. I did check behind when we met a lorry on one bend to see if the garden fence was still standing. it was.
The route has changed since I last travelled Carmarthen to Aberystwyth with fewer deviations to villages,. Half an hour after leaving Carmarthen we made our first stop in Pencader where the step was scraped on the raised bus stop immediately after a right turn. Outside Blossom Garage a vintage lorry and trailer was parked. Blossom Garage was the fomer depot of the fair sized bus and coach operator Davies of Pencader who shocked many when they went bust some years ago. A few more passengers boarded as we ran into Lampeter, surely one of the most remote University towns. From Lampeter there were over twenty passengers, mostly on local authority passes both elderly and disabled as well as some youths enjoying the last days of freedom with a mixture of English and Welsh being spoken. Amongst the stops where someone was picked up from a gateway to a field was the one at the Welsh Pony and Cob society headquarters. An organisation that must be bigger (and richer looking at their premises) than I would have expected. 90 minutes after boarding we arrive at my interchange point in Alban Square Aberaeron where I finally have my cup of coffee and a bacon roll from Y Popty (The bakery) . A quick wander round in a rather murky weather with a keen breeze off the sea. Great to see independent shops and not many chains. Garden tools (chainsaws etc) and mobility aids was an interesting mix in one shop. The limited range of toys made selecting a present very easy.. After a quick visit to the conveniences my hour was almost up so it was back to Alban square.
