Backpack Travels - Bus & Rail adventures

[BuhSnarf]

Hi All,

My old thread closed as I'd not posted on there in a long time (sorry!) but I'll try to keep this one updated with recent bus journeys and challenges. Check out my channel.

My most recent challenge was completing the full Superloop in one go, but going from SL1 through to SL10 instead of the usual starting at the Thames crossing. This was a LONG day. Especially as one bus took almost 2 hours longer to reach it's destination.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Hope you enjoy

 

[BuhSnarf]

Took a trip on the highly regarded X43 / The Witchway by Transdev Blazefield.

Is it worth of the hype?

 

[BuhSnarf]

I've done another UK bus challenge. Seeing how far I can get on just £10 on local buses.
I think I've got as far as I could from my starting point, do you think you could have done better?

 

[route101]

Been a subscriber for a short while now and enjoyed the content.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Been a subscriber for a short while now and enjoyed the content.

Thank you, that means a lot

 

[BuhSnarf]

Took a ride on the beautiful Excel bus all the way from Peterborough to Norwich.

What did I think of 3 hours on a bus?

 

[BuhSnarf]

I had a trip up to Tamworth to see what exactly is happening bus wise around this town...

 

[route101]

I had a trip up to Tamworth to see what exactly is happening bus wise around this town...

Yes, I watched this. Amazing 09 plate buses are now old. Some Stagecoach areas are getting a bit shabby.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Yes, I watched this. Amazing 09 plate buses are now old. Some Stagecoach areas are getting a bit shabby.

Yes, crazy to think... but then 09 is nearly 20 years old now! How time flies...

 

[BuhSnarf]

Two new videos for me whilst I was away on Easter Holidays:

The first was a look at the X4 Stagecoach Gold bus between Northampton & Peterborough - 50 miles for £3.

Secondly and possibly one of my favourite trips so far was the super secretive HPC Community Bus that is both free and hard to find details about operated by Somerset Passenger Solutions:

Hope you all enjoy and if you have any suggestions let me know!

 

[BuhSnarf]

New bus challenge up this morning as I attempt to ride all the colours of the NCT rainbow...

Hope you enjoy!

 

[Speedbird96]

New bus challenge up this morning as I attempt to ride all the colours of the NCT rainbow...

Hope you enjoy!

Really enjoyed this, grew up in Nottingham and moved away from the city after going to university. Remember the transition of NCT from cream and green, GO2 and network to today's branding. Just as a reference, NCT do have 13 Yutong U11DDs on-order for delivery later this year.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Really enjoyed this, grew up in Nottingham and moved away from the city after going to university. Remember the transition of NCT from cream and green, GO2 and network to today's branding. Just as a reference, NCT do have 13 Yutong U11DDs on-order for delivery later this year.

Glad you enjoyed!

Oh, that's interesting, I did try searching and found they'd had some demonstrator models from I think BYD and ADL in the past but must have missed that they'd got some Yutong's on order. I guess they must have done that as they're so happy with the single deckers?

 

[route101]

Watched Nottingham video. I have been on a few Trent Barton routes and the tram but never on any NCT. Similar to Lothian Buses they look after their buses it seems.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Watched Nottingham video. I have been on a few Trent Barton routes and the tram but never on any NCT. Similar to Lothian Buses they look after their buses it seems.

I'm the same, lived in Nottingham for quite a few years but as I was on the Rainbow 5 (now indigo) route I only ever really used that. I did go on NCT on a previous challenge (caught the 1 from Loughborough to Notts) but other than that this was my first real proper trips on NCT and I was really pleasantly surprised.

As someone from Leicester it's a world away in terms of public transport. I rarely here use the bus to go in to town as the car is just much more reliable and they run earlier and later in most areas, in Nottingham you've got trams and buses which all mean I wanted to drive in to Nottingham City Centre for many years.

Thanks for your view

 

[Speedbird96]

Glad you enjoyed!

Oh, that's interesting, I did try searching and found they'd had some demonstrator models from I think BYD and ADL in the past but must have missed that they'd got some Yutong's on order. I guess they must have done that as they're so happy with the single deckers?

The order was very recent, being placed in December last year. Must have been, they've evaluated the BYD, ADL and Wright's and deemed them not suitable.

Nottingham City Transport orders 13 next-gen Yutong U11DD

Nottingham City Transport is the first operator to be named as a buyer of the updated Yutong U11DD electric double-deck, with 13 ordered.

www.route-one.net

I'm the same, lived in Nottingham for quite a few years but as I was on the Rainbow 5 (now indigo) route I only ever really used that. I did go on NCT on a previous challenge (caught the 1 from Loughborough to Notts) but other than that this was my first real proper trips on NCT and I was really pleasantly surprised.

As someone from Leicester it's a world away in terms of public transport. I rarely here use the bus to go in to town as the car is just much more reliable and they run earlier and later in most areas, in Nottingham you've got trams and buses which all mean I wanted to drive in to Nottingham City Centre for many years.

Thanks for your view

For a long time, mine was the 43 to and from Bakersfield which only came into existence following a major timetable change in 2010 when it was previously the Lilac Line 23/24; after 2010 when my parents separated I've lived in Arnold (also saw the change when the 70/71 use to serve Arnold before being replaced by the 79/79A), Calverton Connection with Mercedes Citaros, later Radcliffe-on-Trent when had the Radcliffe Line and Xprss (later Rushcliffe Greens and now Mainline) and finally Ruddington (the Ruddington Connection before being replaced by NCT's 3).

How times have changes!

 

[BuhSnarf]

I decided to pit train against the bus on a journey from Northampton to Milton Keynes.

You can probably imagine which was the best, even taking in to account the relative costs...

 

[BuhSnarf]

At the request of some viewers I decided to do a behind the scenes on how I plan my bus journeys:

Hope you enjoy this

 

[Brightsidio]

I decided to pit train against the bus on a journey from Northampton to Milton Keynes.

You can probably imagine which was the best, even taking in to account the relative costs...

I ought to keep my eyes open for a double-decker X6 to Milton Keynes the next time I'm down there, then.

 

[BuhSnarf]

I ought to keep my eyes open for a double-decker X6 to Milton Keynes the next time I'm down there, then.

I just did both the X6 and X7 again last week for my sins. X6 was a much better 73 plated double decker this time which made a hell of a difference!

 

[BuhSnarf]

So it's the start of a 2 or 3 part video of my most recent £3 Bus Challenge..

How far can I get using just £3 buses starting at 6.30am at Haymarket Bus Station in Leicester....?

 

[route101]

So it's the start of a 2 or 3 part video of my most recent £3 Bus Challenge..

How far can I get using just £3 buses starting at 6.30am at Haymarket Bus Station in Leicester....?

Really enjoyed this. I have done these routes except for the first route from Leicester to Northampton. I like doing these cross country trips too.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Really enjoyed this. I have done these routes except for the first route from Leicester to Northampton. I like doing these cross country trips too.

Yes, I really enjoy them too - if they are a bit tiring!

Part 2 came out at the weekend but I didn't get a chance to post it on here:

Hope you all enjoy!

 

[Brightsidio]

Yes, I really enjoy them too - if they are a bit tiring!

Part 2 came out at the weekend but I didn't get a chance to post it on here:

Hope you all enjoy!

There are lots of other buses I need to ride on from down south!

 

[route101]

Yes, I really enjoy them too - if they are a bit tiring!

Part 2 came out at the weekend but I didn't get a chance to post it on here:

Hope you all enjoy!

You were unlucky to get a single decker on the X5.

Amazing how far South from Leicester you can get. Its not the same in Scotland getting so far on buses.

 

[BuhSnarf]

You were unlucky to get a single decker on the X5.

Amazing how far South from Leicester you can get. Its not the same in Scotland getting so far on buses.

Yes, there's some great hops that can be done from the midlands. That single decker on the X5 is apparently a daily occurrence I've since found due to some positioning moves. Just my luck!

There are lots of other buses I need to ride on from down south!

Some great buses down in the south!

 

[BuhSnarf]

Part 3 and the last of my rather long journey down south. This is bus numbers 7 and 8 of the 17 hour day.

One of these buses is incredibly special and was pretty much the catalyst for the actual trip.

Hope you enjoyed!

 

[BuhSnarf]

Me and Hannah race from Nottingham to Derby using the train and the Red Arrow.

Can I finally win a race?

Hope you enjoy!

 

[route101]

Me and Hannah race from Nottingham to Derby using the train and the Red Arrow.

Can I finally win a race?

Hope you enjoy!

This is in my watch later list.

I did use the red arrow once, but now has new coaches.

 

[BuhSnarf]

This is in my watch later list.

I did use the red arrow once, but now has new coaches.

Yes, the Yutongs on the route are actually really nice.