Trips by Bus and Coach: Your reports

[Ballyheigue]

This will put you off Coastliner for good:

Caught the 09.20am 843 to Scarborough yesterday and that was eventful enough for all the wrong reasons, but little did I know the return journey was a lot worse!

The 09.20 ran a bit late to start with before getting stuck in the usual traffic hold ups near Scholes. I was upstairs but I could hear that by York, people were struggling to get on downstairs it was so full, kids screaming, parents carrying on, oh and 3 chavs with masks moaning at the people upstairs that they had nowhere to sit so had to stand, more on two of them later. Anyway, it got to Malton late and a few did get off but even more boarded. I didn't see how full it was but I did hear a bit of crashing about when someone's walker fell all over the shop. The bus left Malton and proceeded up to the main road, it tried to go through the box junction to head out to Norton but some posh village idiot in a new looking 4 x 4 decided to cut the bus up causing sudden breaking, a child sat on the lap of a parent next to me crashed head first into the seat back in front of him. He was ok but had a red mark on his face. I advised the parent to report it to the driver, but the bus quickly got back in motion so it was a bit difficult. A man who boarded in Malton got off at the next stop with what looked like blood on his face, he was trying to stop the bleeding going by how he was covering his face with a tissue and dabbing it.

More people tried boarding at the many stops on the way with an automated announcement telling people to move down the bus, something I've never heard before. Not sure what the capacity was like downstairs by then but I think it's easy to say it was overcrowded! Why don't Coastliner provide a duplicate like they used to, if a bus is standing room only by York then it needs a second bus. Eventually I got to Peasholme Park stop 30 minutes late after spending nearly 4 hours on the dam thing! Oh and internally the seats on the 63 plate B9 were very tired, one next to me had been ripped and padding was awful.

The return journey at 6.10pm from Peasholme was something else, I spend all day walking from North Bay up along the Coast as hate the chav infested South Bay, but things up North Bay are getting just as bad. 3 chavs tried ripping off the useless electronic timetable at the Coastliner stop and were mock impersonating foreign visitors at the stop, asking them in some thick, stupid and frankly embarrassing mock foreign accent if they were supporting 'our boys' tonight. I had to bite my tounge as I felt like saying to them that I'm not as we don't like you English, but thought better of it. I sat downstairs when the bus came as one of them to my horror actually boarded the Coastliner bus, wait for this one. He went upstairs and spat on one of the windows, wait for the next bit. His mates stood outside, filmed him doing it and showed it to the driver whilst laughing. The driver went upstairs, had a word with him but shockingly did not throw him off! He straight up should have been thrown off and made to clean the window with the police called if he didn't, how do we know in this day and age if he had a serious disease, we don't! What happened if the driver didn't get to see what the scum had done and a small child sat next to that window! We need drivers to take proper action for such vile nonsense. You can tell at that point I was raging lol, I gave the idiot a very scary stare when he got off at Seamer.

Two of the group of chavs who boarded the morning journey in York (it's how they dress and why wear ski masks in hot weather for crying out loud!) boarded at York Station and sat upstairs. Something went on upstairs because they got off in Heworth looking very sheepish, they got off with a couple of others who were with each other looking like they were actually with them, they followed very closely when walking just as the bus was passing. Some people had got off by Rougier Street but when the bus turned to head to York station, wait for it, the Police stopped the bus looking for the 2 chavs! The exact description was given to the driver who said they got off in Heworth and looked to be part of a family, so the Police left it at that obviously thinking it wasn't the two they were looking for!

Anyway, worse was to come, when the bus got to the station, with no trains running and it being York Races day, a train load of people were waiting to board. The driver had no control what so ever, he allowed the bus to be overloaded, so much so people outside were taking photographs and his view was blocked as people stood from the back of the bus all the way to the door, and were sat on the stairs! There was a drunk party of 4 stood at the door area, guess what they did when the bus got to the traffic queue after moving off, yes opened the doors to let more on, morons! When the bus was turning corners, the lean was spectacular to say the least, it felt and looked very dangerous. People were left at many stops on the way out to Copmanthorpe where some did get off, making things a bit less dangerous, however even though some more had got off by Tadcaster, more people boarded meaning the bus was overloaded once more! The driver could not clearly see his mirror on the door side of the bus, and could not see out the doors, nor side window, his view was very clearly blocked, he had no control what so ever over the drunk people on the bus who were stood next to the door and throwing each other around when ever the bus went over a bump, it's about time drunk people were not allowed to board buses just like some trains and stations, we need a get tough approach!

 

[YorkRailFan]

Why don't Coastliner provide a duplicate like they used to, if a bus is standing room only by York then it needs a second bus.

Lately I've noticed a lack of drivers on Coastliner. On 4/7 the last 840 from Whitby was terminated short in Malton, we all had to wait for the bus from Scarborough 20 minutes later and surprisingly everyone got a seat. Yesterday, an 840 to Thornton-le-Dale ex Leeds 14:10 was terminated at Stonebow, I watched from the 840 in the other direction as the driver denied entry to people waiting and the bus displayed 'Not In Service.' No issues with the bus, just no driver to take the bus onwards.

There is a Summer uplift from 19th July, but this is one extra Leeds-Scarborough return journey Monday-Saturday and the extension of the Sunday morning 840 to Whitby starting in Leeds instead of York only.

Coastliner have provided duplicate buses, I've said before that on May Day Bank Holiday weekend they had 2 buses running over the Moors. If there is a bus and a driver, I'm sure they would.

The 07:00 Leeds to Whitby was surprisingly not full and standing yesterday meaning quite a comfortable journey. I find Coastliner quite hit and miss (misses more times than hits in my experience) but I can't deny the value for money.

Hopefully in the summer holidays, demand for journeys to/from the Coast is more spread out over the six weeks so overcrowding isn't so apparent but I hold my breath.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Sad to hear that @Ballyheigue had to experience anti-social behaviour from some scrotes. The phenomenon of filming and posting bad behaviour is one of the more saddening aspects of modern life, driven by social media.

The problem with Coastliner is that it's a popular service that is very resource intensive given its length. IF as has been suggested, if they are struggling with drivers in any case, the ability to put in duplicates is limited. They are using spare resource (vehicles and drivers) during the school holiday to run the extra 0835/1655 journeys. Outside of school holidays, that becomes more problematic during the week. However, it might be possible on a Sat/Sun to have a "warm dupe" ready in York but assumes you can get a driver to work.

The other problem is about demand being spread and how the weather can impact things.

Thanks for posting about your trip.

 

[Tetchytyke]

A short trip report but one I have to share.

I recently went to Belfast and the only way of getting there from here is to fly to Dublin and get the coach up to Belfast. So that is what we did, using Translink's Goldliner service X2, which runs non-stop from Dublin Airport to Belfast Grand Central. Booking in advance it was £14 each return, markedly cheaper than Dublin Express or Aircoach and excellent value.

The outward journey was uneventful- the coach was on time, quiet, comfortable, and the air conditioning was working well.

Coming back, clearly demand exceeds capacity on this route. The X1, which runs through to Dublin city centre with a call in Newry, left about 15 minutes late and it was full- the driver was turning people away with the hope of at least letting people have a chance of getting on board in Newry, and not all of them were very happy about being told they had an hour wait. We were booked on the X2 half an hour later and which is non-stop to Dublin Airport where it terminates. It is full but not that full. I'm sure there's a good reason why not, but you'd think Translink would extend the X2 through to Dublin at peak times to improve capacity and avoid the situation where people in Newry have no chance of getting the bus.

Anyway, we get to near Newry and we're funnelled off the A1 due to an RTA. By the slip road we could see an overturned tractor. If we'd gone straight on at the roundabout at the top of the slip road we could have just rejoined the A1 and carried on. But the bus driver, bless him, was new and so he turned towards Newry town centre. He then sees a sign saying "diverted traffic" and turns down a very narrow country lane. He quickly seems to realise he's made a mistake here and tries to reverse out again, where he proceeds to get stuck.

He then went forward for half a mile or so and sees a church. He then tried to turn around in the car park of the church and managed to get even more stuck. The pastor of the church is stood their looking furious and filming the goings on. The poor coach driver takes a small chunk out of the church's gatepost and a much larger chunk out of the side of his coach. The pastor is, by this stage, incandescent with rage, and already on the phone to Translink to tear their ear off. I'm sure he'll still be raging about it now to anyone who'll listen to him down the Lodge.

Luckily two minicoaches appear on the scene and their two drivers eventually manage to help the poor driver get the coach out the way it came in (think the golf buggy scene in Austin Powers) but still facing the wrong way down a narrow country lane. The minicoach drivers assure him he can just about get his bus down the lane if he's careful so off we go, taking more chunks off the bus, and eventually into the centre of Newry. Where the driver- who doesn't know where he is or where he's going- then decides to listen to some clot on the second row who's using Google Maps, rather than just following the big green road sign which said Dublin. The driver at least learned his lesson the second time, mainly because the other 30 people on the bus yelled at him, but not until he'd half tried to go down another road which clearly wouldn't take a coach.

All in all, an hour late to Dublin Airport and I've never seen so many people glad to be off a bus. I just hope the poor driver's colleagues don't mock him too mercilessly. Luckily I'd built in an hour's contingency so I was still able to get my 400 Marlboro Reds before my flight home.

 

[berneyarms]

A short trip report but one I have to share.

I recently went to Belfast and the only way of getting there from here is to fly to Dublin and get the coach up to Belfast. So that is what we did, using Translink's Goldliner service X2, which runs non-stop from Dublin Airport to Belfast Grand Central. Booking in advance it was £14 each return, markedly cheaper than Dublin Express or Aircoach and excellent value.

The outward journey was uneventful- the coach was on time, quiet, comfortable, and the air conditioning was working well.

Coming back, clearly demand exceeds capacity on this route. The X1, which runs through to Dublin city centre with a call in Newry, left about 15 minutes late and it was full- the driver was turning people away with the hope of at least letting people have a chance of getting on board in Newry, and not all of them were very happy about being told they had an hour wait. We were booked on the X2 half an hour later and which is non-stop to Dublin Airport where it terminates. It is full but not that full. I'm sure there's a good reason why not, but you'd think Translink would extend the X2 through to Dublin at peak times to improve capacity and avoid the situation where people in Newry have no chance of getting the bus.

Anyway, we get to near Newry and we're funnelled off the A1 due to an RTA. By the slip road we could see an overturned tractor. If we'd gone straight on at the roundabout at the top of the slip road we could have just rejoined the A1 and carried on. But the bus driver, bless him, was new and so he turned towards Newry town centre. He then sees a sign saying "diverted traffic" and turns down a very narrow country lane. He quickly seems to realise he's made a mistake here and tries to reverse out again, where he proceeds to get stuck.

He then went forward for half a mile or so and sees a church. He then tried to turn around in the car park of the church and managed to get even more stuck. The pastor of the church is stood their looking furious and filming the goings on. The poor coach driver takes a small chunk out of the church's gatepost and a much larger chunk out of the side of his coach. The pastor is, by this stage, incandescent with rage, and already on the phone to Translink to tear their ear off. I'm sure he'll still be raging about it now to anyone who'll listen to him down the Lodge.

Luckily two minicoaches appear on the scene and their two drivers eventually manage to help the poor driver get the coach out the way it came in (think the golf buggy scene in Austin Powers) but still facing the wrong way down a narrow country lane. The minicoach drivers assure him he can just about get his bus down the lane if he's careful so off we go, taking more chunks off the bus, and eventually into the centre of Newry. Where the driver- who doesn't know where he is or where he's going- then decides to listen to some clot on the second row who's using Google Maps, rather than just following the big green road sign which said Dublin. The driver at least learned his lesson the second time, mainly because the other 30 people on the bus yelled at him, but not until he'd half tried to go down another road which clearly wouldn't take a coach.

All in all, an hour late to Dublin Airport and I've never seen so many people glad to be off a bus. I just hope the poor driver's colleagues don't mock him too mercilessly. Luckily I'd built in an hour's contingency so I was still able to get my 400 Marlboro Reds before my flight home.

The X2 only goes to the airport as it has a quick 35 minute turnaround back to Belfast from Dublin Airport.

You’d need more buses and drivers to operate it into Dublin City Centre for a relatively small number of passengers - the service is dominated by customers for the Airport rather than the city.

 

[YorkRailFan]

I had a lovely trip around the Howardian Hills last Sunday using the fantastic Moorsbus network.

Starting out in York, I caught the M31 from Holgate operated by Transdev with a 2012 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2. A reliable bus that I've had many times, my only issue with it is the heating is cranked up even in the summer but despite this it was a comfortable journey. I got a Rover ticket which covers the entire Moorsbus network for the day including some other services for just £10 (or £3 for Under 19s) which is amazing value. Now that the M31 starts in Poppleton, a handful of people used it to get into the city centre. We picked up quite a few people and then headed for the A19, dropping off people in Easingwold. The scenery really picks up here, after passing through Husthwaite, the White Horse is visible on the left side of the bus and after Coxwold the bus goes past the ruins of Byland Abbey. The Abbey is owned by English Heritage but is free entry for all, well worth hopping off the bus for and then catching the M5 up to Helmsley an hour later. Continuing onto Ampleforth, we encountered a caravan. The narrow roads and parked cars made reversing difficult but eventually the caravan got past. The road through Ampleforth provides the only route for caravans from Helmsley to Thirsk and the A19 as caravans are prohibited on the A170 route past Sutton Bank. Despite the caravan, we arrived into Helmsley 2 minutes early.

I left the bus in Helmsley, which continues to Guisborough via Rievaulx and Stokesley as the M4, to visit the market town on the edge of the Moors. The M31 allows a connection onto the M4 heading towards Sutton Bank Visitor Centre, operated by Arriva. I visit Helmsley quite a bit so I invested in an annual pass for the walled garden, which is a lovely tranquil spot with views over to Helmsley Castle (again owned by English Heritage) and featured in The Secret Garden in the 2020 film. Helmsley is a very popular destination for motorcyclists.

After 90 minutes, I headed back to the market place to catch my next bus, a 2013 Arriva Pulsar 2 which had come into Helmsley on the M7 from Pickering after a long drive from Darlington over the moors through Danby. Interestingly, the bus had a 2-1 seat configuration at the front, which made it more spacious. My Moors Rover ticket didn't scan on the machine but after a quick check from the driver, I was let on. The bus left Helmsley with a decent load of passengers as the M8 to Castle Howard. The bus takes a route through Harome to Nunnington, my next stop.

Having National Trust membership, I visited the Hall with its lovely gardens. A very calming spot with lots of activities for children and a lovely tour of the House. The bus stops right outside the car park which is an added bonus. Having 3 hours, I took some time to visit the village as well, looking into the beautiful church and passing by a few stalls with honesty boxes. A really lovely feature of these small villages.

Heading back to the Hall, I boarded the same 2013 Arriva Pulsar onwards towards Castle Howard on the M8. Due to the steep Bank out of Nunnington, the bus takes a right passing the church to join the B1257 and passes through the village of Stonegrave. The bus continued onto Hovingham, a popular village with its market on Saturdays and a well known bakery. When going to Castle Howard, the M8 takes a route via Slingsby (mirroring the route of the 194 bus to Malton during the week) whereas when going to Helmsley takes a route through Terrington passing the Yorkshire Lavender back to Hovingham. The road from Slingsby to Castle Howard provides a direct view of the Monument by the roundabout outside Castle Howard. Despite being straight, the road is very bouncy so I could really hear the engine being tested. The route brought back childhood memories of arriving into Castle Howard feeling excited and nauseous in the car or sometimes on a bus.

The M8 arrived into Castle Howard 4 minutes early, so had 7 minutes to wait before returning to Helmsley (this time via Terrington instead of Slingsby). I left the bus here and observed the lack of timetable information at the stop for the Moorsbus or for my next bus, the X81, instead only seeing a timetable for the 81 between York & Malton. The time in Castle Howard provides an opportunity to nip to the toilet if needed.

10 minutes after the M8 left, my East Yorkshire 2022 Enviro 200 MMC pulled up to the stop, with the destination blind initially refusing to show X81 but instead 81 Malton, although this was soon sorted out. The X81 does issue and accept Moors Rover tickets, despite not being a full Moorsbus service and is a new service run by East Yorkshire to complement the Monday-Saturday 81 service they run, and runs until the end of September coinciding with the end of the Moorsbus season. The X81 connects with the M8 in Castle Howard. Unsurprisingly, my Moors Rover once again didn't scan but I was waved on by the driver. After leaving Castle Howard, the bus has to negotiate 2 tight arches, and then passes through the village of Bulmer, which was announced by the onboard announcement but doesn't currently feature in the online timetable. Heading down the steep Bulmer Bank, the ruins of Sheriff Hutton Castle soon come into view. We had around 7 people onboard from Castle Howard and were joined by 1 more in Sheriff Hutton. After Sheriff Hutton, the X81 deviates from route of the 81 to pass through Strensall instead of Flaxton. From Strensall, it shadows First York's 5/5A until Yearsley and then runs through The Groves and along the Foss to Stonebow which shadows the 13 & 14. We entered the bustling Centre of York and continued to Station Road, where the bus turns around and forms an X81 to Sheriff Hutton.

It was a lovely circular route visiting some lovely gardens along the way. The X81/M8 connection provides a later journey from York in the morning and an earlier return to York in the afternoon if desired as the M31 doesn't arrive into York until 18:37 (Exhibition Square times) whereas the X81 arrives into Station Road at 15:30. It was lovely to see an alternative route from Helmsley to York and I hope to see the X81 return next year, not only to connect Castle Howard on Sundays but also to connect with the Moorsbus network. If it does return next year, hopefully it's featured in the Moorsbus network map and timetables even though its not a full Moorsbus service. I can't recommend the Moorsbus network enough, its an amazing service ran by amazing people.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I had a lovely trip around the Howardian Hills last Sunday using the fantastic Moorsbus network.

Starting out in York, I caught the M31 from Holgate operated by Transdev with a 2012 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2. A reliable bus that I've had many times, my only issue with it is the heating is cranked up even in the summer but despite this it was a comfortable journey. I got a Rover ticket which covers the entire Moorsbus network for the day including some other services for just £10 (or £3 for Under 19s) which is amazing value. Now that the M31 starts in Poppleton, a handful of people used it to get into the city centre. We picked up quite a few people and then headed for the A19, dropping off people in Easingwold. The scenery really picks up here, after passing through Husthwaite, the White Horse is visible on the left side of the bus and after Coxwold the bus goes past the ruins of Byland Abbey. The Abbey is owned by English Heritage but is free entry for all, well worth hopping off the bus for and then catching the M5 up to Helmsley an hour later. Continuing onto Ampleforth, we encountered a caravan. The narrow roads and parked cars made reversing difficult but eventually the caravan got past. The road through Ampleforth provides the only route for caravans from Helmsley to Thirsk and the A19 as caravans are prohibited on the A170 route past Sutton Bank. Despite the caravan, we arrived into Helmsley 2 minutes early.

I left the bus in Helmsley, which continues to Guisborough via Rievaulx and Stokesley as the M4, to visit the market town on the edge of the Moors. The M31 allows a connection onto the M4 heading towards Sutton Bank Visitor Centre, operated by Arriva. I visit Helmsley quite a bit so I invested in an annual pass for the walled garden, which is a lovely tranquil spot with views over to Helmsley Castle (again owned by English Heritage) and featured in The Secret Garden in the 2020 film. Helmsley is a very popular destination for motorcyclists.

After 90 minutes, I headed back to the market place to catch my next bus, a 2013 Arriva Pulsar 2 which had come into Helmsley on the M7 from Pickering after a long drive from Darlington over the moors through Danby. Interestingly, the bus had a 2-1 seat configuration at the front, which made it more spacious. My Moors Rover ticket didn't scan on the machine but after a quick check from the driver, I was let on. The bus left Helmsley with a decent load of passengers as the M8 to Castle Howard. The bus takes a route through Harome to Nunnington, my next stop.

Having National Trust membership, I visited the Hall with its lovely gardens. A very calming spot with lots of activities for children and a lovely tour of the House. The bus stops right outside the car park which is an added bonus. Having 3 hours, I took some time to visit the village as well, looking into the beautiful church and passing by a few stalls with honesty boxes. A really lovely feature of these small villages.

Heading back to the Hall, I boarded the same 2013 Arriva Pulsar onwards towards Castle Howard on the M8. Due to the steep Bank out of Nunnington, the bus takes a right passing the church to join the B1257 and passes through the village of Stonegrave. The bus continued onto Hovingham, a popular village with its market on Saturdays and a well known bakery. When going to Castle Howard, the M8 takes a route via Slingsby (mirroring the route of the 194 bus to Malton during the week) whereas when going to Helmsley takes a route through Terrington passing the Yorkshire Lavender back to Hovingham. The road from Slingsby to Castle Howard provides a direct view of the Monument by the roundabout outside Castle Howard. Despite being straight, the road is very bouncy so I could really hear the engine being tested. The route brought back childhood memories of arriving into Castle Howard feeling excited and nauseous in the car or sometimes on a bus.

The M8 arrived into Castle Howard 4 minutes early, so had 7 minutes to wait before returning to Helmsley (this time via Terrington instead of Slingsby). I left the bus here and observed the lack of timetable information at the stop for the Moorsbus or for my next bus, the X81, instead only seeing a timetable for the 81 between York & Malton. The time in Castle Howard provides an opportunity to nip to the toilet if needed.

10 minutes after the M8 left, my East Yorkshire 2022 Enviro 200 MMC pulled up to the stop, with the destination blind initially refusing to show X81 but instead 81 Malton, although this was soon sorted out. The X81 does issue and accept Moors Rover tickets, despite not being a full Moorsbus service and is a new service run by East Yorkshire to complement the Monday-Saturday 81 service they run, and runs until the end of September coinciding with the end of the Moorsbus season. The X81 connects with the M8 in Castle Howard. Unsurprisingly, my Moors Rover once again didn't scan but I was waved on by the driver. After leaving Castle Howard, the bus has to negotiate 2 tight arches, and then passes through the village of Bulmer, which was announced by the onboard announcement but doesn't currently feature in the online timetable. Heading down the steep Bulmer Bank, the ruins of Sheriff Hutton Castle soon come into view. We had around 7 people onboard from Castle Howard and were joined by 1 more in Sheriff Hutton. After Sheriff Hutton, the X81 deviates from route of the 81 to pass through Strensall instead of Flaxton. From Strensall, it shadows First York's 5/5A until Yearsley and then runs through The Groves and along the Foss to Stonebow which shadows the 13 & 14. We entered the bustling Centre of York and continued to Station Road, where the bus turns around and forms an X81 to Sheriff Hutton.

It was a lovely circular route visiting some lovely gardens along the way. The X81/M8 connection provides a later journey from York in the morning and an earlier return to York in the afternoon if desired as the M31 doesn't arrive into York until 18:37 (Exhibition Square times) whereas the X81 arrives into Station Road at 15:30. It was lovely to see an alternative route from Helmsley to York and I hope to see the X81 return next year, not only to connect Castle Howard on Sundays but also to connect with the Moorsbus network. If it does return next year, hopefully it's featured in the Moorsbus network map and timetables even though its not a full Moorsbus service. I can't recommend the Moorsbus network enough, its an amazing service ran by amazing people.

Thank you @YorkRailFan for sharing this. It's to my shame that I haven't managed to get a day out on the Moors in several years. The moors are so stunningly beautiful - I took my mum out for a trip in the car (she was very elderly and couldn't have done buses) in 2023 and it was lovely visiting spots like Helmsley, Hutton le Hole, and Danby before heading across and into Whitby. It's beautiful - I must get back up next year (as this year is looking unlikely).

It's sad that Moorsbus is so dependant on the goodwill of many volunteers but sadly, the days of austerity saw NY Moors Park Authority get their budgets slashed. Once again, thanks for an interesting and insightful blog.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Thank you @YorkRailFan for sharing this. It's to my shame that I haven't managed to get a day out on the Moors in several years. The moors are so stunningly beautiful - I took my mum out for a trip in the car (she was very elderly and couldn't have done buses) in 2023 and it was lovely visiting spots like Helmsley, Hutton le Hole, and Danby before heading across and into Whitby. It's beautiful - I must get back up next year (as this year is looking unlikely).

It's sad that Moorsbus is so dependant on the goodwill of many volunteers but sadly, the days of austerity saw NY Moors Park Authority get their budgets slashed. Once again, thanks for an interesting and insightful blog.

My pleasure. This year has undoubtedly been one of the best for Moorsbus in terms of the network. A much larger Saturday network, links restored from Hull and Teesside, and the road through Rosedale reopened to allow a direct service through Rosedale to Danby. Here's hoping it returns next year.

Its a shame that the Park Authority cannot financially support the fantastic work of the volunteers. The Moorsbus network is a fantastic example of a joined up network that others could learn from.

The Moors really are stunning and it's amazing how many places one can get to using the bus during the summer. I love how much the scenery changes as you endeavour further into the national park. I hope you can get up into the Moors soon as its one of the beautiful areas In the country in my opinion.

 

[ChrisC]

I’ve only just got around to writing this, but back in April this year I enjoyed a stay up in Dundee travelling around using a Stagecoach 7 Day East Scotland Megarider. Considering the huge area it covers it was great value at £42 which is only £6 a day. I only used the ticket to explore the Fife Coast, the coast north of Dundee and inland towards Perth but I could have travelled over a much wider area. I had booked a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Dundee well in advance to get a reasonable price and it was a good location close to the bus station and railway stations and other useful bus stops. I had a room on the 3rd floor with good views towards the Tay Road Bridge and over the river towards Fife. The weather forecast had looked terrible with rain forecast for every day of my stay and I almost considered cancelling my trip. I decided to go, packed plenty of waterproof clothing, but as you can see from my photos I had a week of blue skies and mostly dry weather.

I will give an overview of where I travelled by bus rather than a day to day account. As is usual for these types of trips when I leave my car at home, I used buses to travel to locations I wanted to visit and not just riding around all day. On the first morning I set out to explore the coastal towns of Montrose and Arbroath north of Dundee. When I did a similar week in Aberdeen two years ago I never travelled as far south as those places. I had no problems buying my 7 day ticket and getting it loaded onto my Stagecoach smartcard from the driver on the X7. I was quite familiar with the yellow coaches used on the X7 Dundee to Aberdeen route from my previous trip to Aberdeen. I first travelled up to Montrose. I liked Montrose where I had a walk round the town centre and down to the sea front especially the area towards the golf course with its wide streets and gardens.

It was then back to the town centre to get the X7 back south to Arbroath. The area around the harbour was interesting to explore with its numerous small smokehouses, many of which seemed top be in the back gardens of cottages, and the smell of smoked fish filled the air. I managed to have some very good tasty Arbroath smokies in the Old Brewhouse down by the harbour. I walked back to the bus station via the town centre which I found to be very run down with numerous empty shops. The bus station was also a bit rough and depressing with very little space to wait and no seating. Instead of the X7, I boarded the number 73 which runs between Arbroath and Dundee via the coastal towns. I stopped off at Carnoustie where I walked along the sea front towards the golf course. Carnoustie has quite a large sandy beach. It was then back onto the 73 for the return journey to Dundee, passing through a number of very pleasant coastal towns.


Smokehouse in Arbroath

Later in the week I took another trip north on the X7. This time I got off at a somewhat remote stop at Lunan between Arbroath and Montrose. From here it took me around 30 minutes for the downhill walk, along narrow country lanes to Lunan Bay. I had read that this beach was one of the best along the East Coast of Scotland and was still largely undiscovered. I wasn’t disappointed as it was a wonderful large sandy beach with the ruins of a castle close by. I returned by walking along a long straight lane to the X7 bus stop in the village of Inverkeilor. It took around an hour to walk but was relatively flat compared to the steep climb back to the Lunan bus stop. After a morning of walking I decided to take a bus ride north on the X7 to Stonehaven where I had a walk around the harbour area and a great seafood meal before the long 2 hour bus ride back on the X7 to Dundee. I like Stonehaven having visited it 2 years previously whilst staying in Aberdeen. Those Stagecoach yellow coaches on the X7 are quite comfortable for a long ride after lots of walking.


Red Castle at Lunan Bay


Lunan Bay between Arbroath and Montrose

The main reason I was in the area was to visit St Andrews, the various fishing villages along the Fife Coast and to walk some sections of the Fife Coast Path. Accommodation was extremely expensive in that area and so Dundee was a less expensive and quite a central base. On 3 of my days I travelled on the Stagecoach 95 bus which runs hourly along the coastal road between St Andrews and Leven. I spent a long time one day exploring St Andrews which, although very busy and touristy, was a wonderful old place to explore especially in the area around the university buildings. The small bus station was always very busy complete with the man blowing a whistle before buses were allowed to reverse. I liked the Fife Coast and during my stay using the 95 bus I visited most of the fishing villages and harbours. Crail reminded me of a smaller less busy version of the places on the Yorkshire Coast like Robins Hood Bay. One day I walked a section of the Fife Coast Path from Ellie to Anstruther, passing through St Monans and Pittenweem. They are all very attractive places and much quieter than similar places down in Devon and Cornwall. I liked the Fife Coast but I think I prefer the even quieter fishing communities further north along the Moray and Aberdeenshire Coast. Also on my travels along the 95 route I visited Cambo Gardens and walked along the Fife Coast path to return to the bus stop in the village of Kingsbarns. The hourly 95 bus was always quite busy, usually somewhat late, and was operated by a variety of rather old double deckers.


Crail Harbour


Pittenweem


Fife Coast Path at St Monan's

To reach the Fife Coast I mostly travelled on the frequent, and very busy 99 bus which runs from Dundee to St Andrews via Leuchars Station. Although very busy and frequent the 99 is operated by single decker buses in order that it is not disrupted by restrictions due to high winds over the Tay Road Bridge. On one of my trips it was full and standing and leaving passengers behind. I did one journey out from Dundee using the 46 bus to Leven to reach the 95 at Leven and also returned that way on one occasion. This was a pleasant journey through very rural Fife countryside. The 46 runs hourly but finishes quite early at around 6pm with no evening service. I didn’t like Leven and found the town centre quite run down with nowhere that I felt I could get something reasonable to eat. It was in the area of the Fife Coalfield and so was not too different from some of the places I know closer to home.

After a few busy days travelling and walking I took it fairly easy over the weekend whilst I was there. On the Saturday I took the 73 bus from Dundee a few miles to the east towards the mouth of the Tay Estuary at Broughty Ferry. I found this a very interesting and historic place to wander around with an interesting castle and miles of sandy beach.

On the Sunday I travelled on the 20C bus to Glamis Castle. This service only runs on Sundays with 3 journeys extending a few miles west of Forfar on the 20 route from Dundee. The journey from Dundee tom Forfar was not very interesting being mostly along a busy dual carriageway but after changing drivers at a small Stagecoach bus depot in Forfar the countryside became more wild and rural with snow visible on the tops of some mountains. I was the only person on the double decker bus beyond Forfar to Glamis and on the return journey later in the day. I suspect I was perhaps the only person who visited Glamis Castle by bus that day as no one was waiting to board the bus I got off and no one arrived on the bus I returned on. It was certainly an impressive location with lovely gardens and grounds to walk around. I took a few photos of the bus at the castle.


Stagecoach 20C bus at Glamis Castle

On my final day I decided to take a trip inland to Perth. I’ve passed through Perth on the train to Inverness a few times but never stopped off there. It was an interesting journey on the number 16 bus for the 90 minute journey. The bus turned off the main road on a number of occasions running through a number of very attractive villages along the north bank of the River Tay. Everywhere I looked in all directions were huge fields of poly tunnels full of strawberry plants. There were some very nice attractive stone buildings in Perth and I enjoyed a visit to the museum where I was able to view the Stone of Scone. I thought Perth was another place that had seen better days with lots of empty shops including large empty department store buildings. I returned to Dundee by a different route using the number 57 bus which runs via the town of Blairgowrie. This was a journey of almost 2 hours but from the top deck of a double decker provided some good views. It was a much more varied journey through some rather remote hilly forestry areas.

I enjoyed my week travelling out from Dundee and I actually quite liked Dundee City Centre. I’m pleased to have visited the Fife Coast and enjoyed walking along the coast path. It is one of the few parts of Scotland that I hadn’t previously visited. I must now get around to writing a report on my recent visit to Darlington before I do more trips already booked to East Yorkshire and South West Wales during August and September.

 

[EYFanatic]

For some reason, this has only just shown up for me so I've spent quite a bit of the day reading through them and I'm going to have to go through some old pictures and write down the time I managed to get all of Scunthorpe's Olympians in one day, wormed my way onto a 2way Travel (as they were then) bus and snuck onto a then council run service 50 in a minibus that seemed to smell of Fish and Chips

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I’ve only just got around to writing this, but back in April this year I enjoyed a stay up in Dundee travelling around using a Stagecoach 7 Day East Scotland Megarider. Considering the huge area it covers it was great value at £42 which is only £6 a day. I only used the ticket to explore the Fife Coast, the coast north of Dundee and inland towards Perth but I could have travelled over a much wider area. I had booked a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Dundee well in advance to get a reasonable price and it was a good location close to the bus station and railway stations and other useful bus stops. I had a room on the 3rd floor with good views towards the Tay Road Bridge and over the river towards Fife. The weather forecast had looked terrible with rain forecast for every day of my stay and I almost considered cancelling my trip. I decided to go, packed plenty of waterproof clothing, but as you can see from my photos I had a week of blue skies and mostly dry weather.

I will give an overview of where I travelled by bus rather than a day to day account. As is usual for these types of trips when I leave my car at home, I used buses to travel to locations I wanted to visit and not just riding around all day.

I am incredibly jealous I managed to get as far as Montrose on the X7 a few years ago but from Aberdeen. However, Tayside and the East Neuk of Fife are on my list of places that I really want to get to. I don't think I've been to that part of the world since 1999... apart from speeding through on the M90 en route to the A9. Even then, the one day I had to enjoy myself was a miserable wet day as I headed from St Andrews through Anstruther and down towards Kirkcaldy.

Glamis Castle looks stunning.

I'm lucky to live in Somerset but Scotland is just a long, long way north.

For some reason, this has only just shown up for me so I've spent quite a bit of the day reading through them and I'm going to have to go through some old pictures and write down the time I managed to get all of Scunthorpe's Olympians in one day, wormed my way onto a 2way Travel (as they were then) bus and snuck onto a then council run service 50 in a minibus that seemed to smell of Fish and Chips

Indeed - please share. That's the joy - some people mention the vehicles or the operations, some the places and countryside, and some focus on the history.

 

[Stan Drews]

@ChrisC Great to read about your adventures based in Dundee and enjoy your great photos. It is an area I know very well having lived in one of the East Neuk villages for 15 years and also worked in St.Andrews for a number of them.

 

[RELL6L]

I am also incredibly jealous of the trip by @ChrisC to Dundee and thereabouts and it has been written up and illustrated so well as to make my jealousy even worse!

I have been to many of the coastal places round here and twice enjoyed sitting on the smokehouse in St Monans as well as eating in the famous fish and chip shop in Anstruther. I have also been to St Andrews, Dundee, Arbroath and Montrose, all on holiday. But never to any of them on a bus trip and it would genuinely be right at the top of places where I would like to do so.

There’s plenty of routes and options and many ways to visit lots of places in whatever time is available. Not sure I ever will but I can hope and it’s great to read this report and see the pictures of it, thank you for posting!

 

[EYFanatic]

I can not find the pictures of that day right now, so if you kind folk will permit, I shall instead recount a tale from last year's rather Interesting Moorsbus season...

928 (YX20 OEG) was to be our bus of choice and we few, we happy few, we band of brothers set off from Hull on a good day out up on the Moors. The drive up there was magnificent with the bus picking up regulars and new travellers alike with the Moorsbus veteran Sharon at the wheel doing a great job of advising people where they might like to go, what was the best fare for a group and so on. The day went well with the Yorkshire Wolds at Wetwang soon giving way the the beauty and splendour of the Yorkshire Moors passing through places such as North Grimston, Norton, Malton and into Pickering for a stop over and then upwards onto the heart of the moors itself via Hutton-le-Hole, Blakey Ridge, Castleton and Danby for the visitor Centre

Alt Text: Picture shows a double decker bus at Pickering laying over before service M3 to Danby

Alt Text: Picture shows moorland taken from the front left passenger seat of a bus

Alt Text: Picture shows entering the village of Hutton-le-Hole taken from the front left passenger seat of a bus

As is usual on Moorsbus days, and EYMS drivers that do this will know who I am by now, I alighted at the Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge for a few drinks and a pub sunday dinner - which I recommend to everyone to try. By now, though, the weather had turned poor and I crossed the road in pouring rain to wait for 928 that was going slower then government policy changes over the hills in the distance. Once it got to Blakey, 928 conked out and refused to take part in any future proceedings and so we faced the possibility of being stuck up on the moors in the cold as the vehicle had suffered complete electrical and mechanical failure. At this point, the York Pullman service using YY25 JBO came up (NOTE: the M6 was still operating to its temp routing due to years long road works outside Rosedale) and it was flagged down and the majority of passengers transferred over. Being a gentleman, I elected to stay behind with Sharon the driver because it seemed the thing to do but she asked me to go onto the M6 and keep an eye on what was a majority elderly amount of passengers for her. We then went up to Danby on the M6, turned round and came back to Blakey expecting an engineer to have arrived from Scarbrough but this didn't happen by the time we returned so the York Pullman driver was requested to take us to Pickering where we'd another bus would wait for us. I was then asked by "our" driver to get off at each stop and play sheepdog and round up East Yorkshire passengers and explain what was happening and that a replacement bus from Proctors would arrive. This I then did which gave me a little bit of fun and we arrived at Pickering a little annoyed but not by much.

We waited for a bus which we thought would be suitable to carry a double decker amount of passengers but we were surprised to see Proctors YX14 RZC, an E200, came round the corner to pick us up. We had a pair of buggies amongst us and so the flip down seats were unusable meaning that everyone bar me got a seat but I said I didn't mind and so perched in the luggage area so I didn't fall over the place standing as we were by this time somewhat late. However, the replacement/loan bus then had an issue - because we were all cold, the heaters were applied full on and this had the side affect of steaming up all the windows including the windscreen and no amount of demisting worked. Instead of pulling over and waiting, I pulled my spare t-shirt out of my bag and acted as a window condensation remover from Pickering all the way to North Grimston where the sun came out and at least allowed my arm to rest from going in circles all along the front of the Proctors bus so the driver could see.

Alt Text: Image shows the wet conditions on the road through the replacement bus

We then made it through all these troubles dropping people off where they wanted, in some cases closer to their homes, and made it to Beverley

Alt Text: image shows a Proctors bus standing at Stand C at Beverley Bus Station

Now I seem to recall on this occasion we had nobody getting on that morning at Cottingham so we bypassed Cottingham Green and went back to Hull the rest of the route as normal arriving at Hull only an hour and a half late thanks to some heroic driving by Sharon and some very strange looks from drivers of both EYMS and Stagecoach as well as a few local spotters that seemed confused as to what it was doing there

Alt Text: Image shows the replacement bus from Proctors sitting on Stand 19 at Hull Interchange with no passengers on and driver smiling in relief

As this was a Sunday and so buses were every houry, I was given a lift back home as the vehicle had to go to Anlaby Road depot where it remained for several days until it was collected by a Proctors driver who came by train to collect it. As a follow up to this, the following Sunday I stood in line to pay for my ticket after boarding and was told I did not need to do so as thanks for helping look after the elderly passengers, rounding up "our" strays and playing Windscreen Wiper for 45 minutes

 

[YorkRailFan]

I can not find the pictures of that day right now, so if you kind folk will permit, I shall instead recount a tale from last year's rather Interesting Moorsbus season...

928 (YX20 OEG) was to be our bus of choice and we few, we happy few, we band of brothers set off from Hull on a good day out up on the Moors. The drive up there was magnificent with the bus picking up regulars and new travellers alike with the Moorsbus veteran Sharon at the wheel doing a great job of advising people where they might like to go, what was the best fare for a group and so on. The day went well with the Yorkshire Wolds at Wetwang soon giving way the the beauty and splendour of the Yorkshire Moors passing through places such as North Grimston, Norton, Malton and into Pickering for a stop over and then upwards onto the heart of the moors itself via Hutton-le-Hole, Blakey Ridge, Castleton and Danby for the visitor Centre

View attachment 208527



View attachment 208525


View attachment 208526


As is usual on Moorsbus days, and EYMS drivers that do this will know who I am by now, I alighted at the Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge for a few drinks and a pub sunday dinner - which I recommend to everyone to try. By now, though, the weather had turned poor and I crossed the road in pouring rain to wait for 928 that was going slower then government policy changes over the hills in the distance. Once it got to Blakey, 928 conked out and refused to take part in any future proceedings and so we faced the possibility of being stuck up on the moors in the cold as the vehicle had suffered complete electrical and mechanical failure. At this point, the York Pullman service using YY25 JBO came up (NOTE: the M6 was still operating to its temp routing due to years long road works outside Rosedale) and it was flagged down and the majority of passengers transferred over. Being a gentleman, I elected to stay behind with Sharon the driver because it seemed the thing to do but she asked me to go onto the M6 and keep an eye on what was a majority elderly amount of passengers for her. We then went up to Danby on the M6, turned round and came back to Blakey expecting an engineer to have arrived from Scarbrough but this didn't happen by the time we returned so the York Pullman driver was requested to take us to Pickering where we'd another bus would wait for us. I was then asked by "our" driver to get off at each stop and play sheepdog and round up East Yorkshire passengers and explain what was happening and that a replacement bus from Proctors would arrive. This I then did which gave me a little bit of fun and we arrived at Pickering a little annoyed but not by much.

We waited for a bus which we thought would be suitable to carry a double decker amount of passengers but we were surprised to see Proctors YX14 RZC, an E200, came round the corner to pick us up. We had a pair of buggies amongst us and so the flip down seats were unusable meaning that everyone bar me got a seat but I said I didn't mind and so perched in the luggage area so I didn't fall over the place standing as we were by this time somewhat late. However, the replacement/loan bus then had an issue - because we were all cold, the heaters were applied full on and this had the side affect of steaming up all the windows including the windscreen and no amount of demisting worked. Instead of pulling over and waiting, I pulled my spare t-shirt out of my bag and acted as a window condensation remover from Pickering all the way to North Grimston where the sun came out and at least allowed my arm to rest from going in circles all along the front of the Proctors bus so the driver could see.

View attachment 208528


We then made it through all these troubles dropping people off where they wanted, in some cases closer to their homes, and made it to Beverley

View attachment 208530


Now I seem to recall on this occasion we had nobody getting on that morning at Cottingham so we bypassed Cottingham Green and went back to Hull the rest of the route as normal arriving at Hull only an hour and a half late thanks to some heroic driving by Sharon and some very strange looks from drivers of both EYMS and Stagecoach as well as a few local spotters that seemed confused as to what it was doing there

View attachment 208531


As this was a Sunday and so buses were every houry, I was given a lift back home as the vehicle had to go to Anlaby Road depot where it remained for several days until it was collected by a Proctors driver who came by train to collect it. As a follow up to this, the following Sunday I stood in line to pay for my ticket after boarding and was told I did not need to do so as thanks for helping look after the elderly passengers, rounding up "our" strays and playing Windscreen Wiper for 45 minutes

Thank you for the interesting story. I love the Lion Inn up at Blakey, its been a start and end point for a few walks I've done this year on Moorsbus. York Pullman really acted as a saving grace for East Yorkshire last year with all the breakdowns. Your story reminds me of some of the breakdowns I had last year.

The first breakdown was on May Day Bank Holiday Monday. I caught DalesBus 822, operated by East Yorkshire, from York Station up to Fountains Abbey. An uneventful journey on 20773 - a B9TL Eclipse Gemini 2. The return journey is where the problems started.

After enjoying a day out in Fountains Abbey, I headed for the bus stop by the visitor centre car park, and let Transdev operated DalesBus 825, which also goes to York, go by as it takes a longer (although more scenic) route than the 822. I then checked Bustimes out of curiosity to see where my bus was, only to see that it had been in Hebden for the last 50 minutes. I couldn't find any information from DalesBus, but it was clear that the bus had failed for whatever reason.

With no more buses that day, I rounded up everyone waiting and started walking for Ripon. Its a 4 mile walk taking you through Studley Royal Deer Park, an enjoyable walk usually but not when trying to catch a bus from Ripon. Making it to Ripon in just over an hour, we said goodbye to some people ending their day in the Dales City. I rounded up one more person at the Bus Station in Ripon and checked for more information from DalesBus. They said the 822 would be 80 minutes late, but it should've left Ripon over 90 minutes ago at this point. With no guarantee that it would serve the Bus Station, we all got on one of Transdev's E400EVs on the36 to Harrogate. A smooth journey and arrived on time into Harrogate Bus Station, with enough time to help everyone buy a ticket on a train to York. I arrived home around 2½ hours late.

A regular on DalesBus and Moorsbus who was on the 822 that day told me that a Procters Mellor Van would eventually turn up in Pateley Bridge, hours after the double decker was due, with no information whatsoever and the destination blind reading Not In Service. They arrived home some 3½ hours late.

But the breakdowns didn't end there, as the next Sunday was forecast to be quite hot, so I opted to go all the way to Aysgarth. I caught the train via Leeds to Ilkley to join DalesBus 875, operated by Transdev. I recognised the driver from the Moorsbus last Sunday, and we headed off with a full bus and a sense of adventure. Heading through Grassington, we dropped off and picked up people, and then stopped in Kettlewell for another toilet break. Soon after Kettlewell, an alarm was audible from the cab but we kept on going, stopping outside The Buck Inn in Buckden and then continuing to the hamlet of Cray.

The bus (2421 - another B9TL Eclipse Gemini 2) dropped off some people and the driver - Chris - opted to ask them if the bus was leaking fluid. "Uh oh, here we go again" I thought. They couldn't see anything but Chris soon found that we were leaking coolant. From the way we were parked, it looked like we also had a puncture but in fact didn't. Chris parked the bus in a layby and everyone got off.

The first problem was the lack of signal for mobile data. The local pub had permanently closed down so Chris went to the only house there, a farmer, who said he had no Internet as he used a Blackberry phone. I opted to run up the nearby hill towards Buckden Pike, and managed to get a message out to DalesBus. Chris said that running up that hill would give him a heart-attack, so tried to connect to the bus WIFI to contact Transdev for a replacement bus. Eventually, he managed to connect to satellite comms.

Thankfully, First Leeds operates the shadow DalesBus 876, which follows the 875 up to Hawes an hour later. So all we could do was sit tight and wait. I enjoyed a chat with Chris, who told me that he had a feeling in York that he would break down that day as nearly every other DalesBus operator had broken down that year so far. He also said that 2421 was his favourite bus and was annoyed that it had failed on him as he had chosen it specifically for that day. I couldn't complain, the views in Cray are beautiful but Chris seemed more annoyed to spend his break in Cray instead of Hawes. Chris said that he had wanted to at least get the bus to Aysgarth but had no shot of getting the wounded vehicle over Kidstones.

Quite a few people opted to walk to Buckden or further towards Grassington for their day, and pick up DalesBus 874 (operated by York Pullman) instead. Soon, the 876 arrived, yet another B9TL, and the rest of us boarded. The driver, another regular on the route, found the whole situation hilarious and opted to take quite a few pictures. We then continued up to Aysgarth and arrived on time for the 876 or 1 hour late for the 875.

I enjoyed a walk round to Castle Bolton and back and it was soon time to head to the bus stop to catch the 875 back to York, which Chris had reassured me would definitely run. At this point, I saw him driving in the other direction to Hawes, in Harrogate branded 2774 (another B9TL), so knew he would be late. He picked me up 25 minutes late from Aysgarth and gave me the trip all the way back to York for free.

Passing over Kidstones, a man in a layby looked shocked to see the red double decker climbing up the hill. We impressively arrived into Grassington only 2 minutes late for our 7 minute layover, so had enough time to go to the toilet and refill my water bottle. Here I rekindled with some of the passengers from the morning who joined the 875 in the morning.

The journey from Grassington back to York was uneventful, and I bid farewell to Chris one last time on Tadcaster Road in York, just 5 minutes late. We were both relieved and a bit stiff from sitting for so long (it was a 3 hour journey back to York) and the 875 continued to Rawcliffe on time.

Funnily enough, the 875 would save me in Hawes a month later when the 856 from Northallerton broke down on me, but that might be a story for another time.

 

[RELL6L]

I was able to get out for a trip last week and ventured deep into the territory of @TheGrandWazoo so I am sure I will be picked up on any errors of detail! I started the day in Kingswood and quickly established that this was not a place where there was any reason to linger. I took a First Bristol 42 from here to Keynsham as my first journey. There are two routes between Kingswood and Keynsham now that First Bristol has a depot in Keynsham, but nearly all day at all times the two routes run at virtually the same time. Although this was not an important section and schools seemed to be off there were a few passengers boarding and alighting during the journey and a few travelled to Keynsham. My bus was a mid-life E400 and was nothing spectacular.

I had not stopped off at Keynsham before and am not sure I had ever been there as the X39 bypasses the town. I was pleasantly surprised as it seemed to be quite a decent small town centre with a good park close by. The presence of large council offices no doubt brings people to the town centre and there were shops and, most importantly for me, somewhere to grab some breakfast. From Keynsham it was onwards using the 522, definitely a route I have not done before. I did plan a trip using what used to be the 178 but the service was withdrawn before I got to do it and I think there was nothing replacing it for a while. Now there is once again an hourly service and other services also serve some of the villages, such as the 172 at Paulton. We went through Farmborough, skirting the edge of Timsbury, High Littleton to Paulton and then on to Midsomer Norton. Some of the countryside was rural and pleasant, although inevitably rather yellow in places where it is normally green. My bus was a 12-plate E400, again nothing special but it kept to time. Quite a few passengers joined during the journey, most headed to Midsomer Norton. As we arrived there the public information system announced that we were about to go on diversion, although it didn’t say where. Presumably if you need to know you ask the driver but I was getting off.

I spent a short while wandering round the pretty centre of Midsomer Norton with the stream flowing through it crossed by several bridges. I only waited until the next bus towards Bath, another E400, this being a 173 which had already had a long diversion, albeit scheduled, via Shepton Mallet as the main road through Binegar is closed. We were about to follow another diversion and the driver clearly checked with boarding passengers that they were not going to the section not served. In fact this diversion meant we took the main road to Radstock instead of the usual circuitous route, so we arrived early in Radstock.

I alighted in Radstock and again explored just for 15 minutes until the next bus on the trunk set of routes into Bath, this time a 172. As it arrived some passengers alighted who had either not been told or not understood about the diversion and they were sent across the road to head back to Midsomer Norton! Radstock is a former colliery town but does not now have a great deal in the centre apart from a colliery museum. Inevitably yet another E400 this one took us up the long hill out of Radstock with good views and down into the wonderful city of Bath. It was now warming up as it was late morning and the tourists were out in force near the river and the abbey and the open top tours buses were getting a good trade. The road between the bus station and the abbey is closed and as a result my next bus was not serving the bus station. I was now going to sample some Faresaver routes having seen good reports of them, with these routes starting at the Guildhall while Manvers Street is closed.

I had the choice first of all between a 231 and an X31. I had intended to take the X31 but the 231 came first and was a double decker whereas the X31 was not. The 231 appeared to be a 54-plate Volvo B9TL but the registration was YES A BUS, with the SA being 54, and it was originally 10-plate with Metroline. We set off out of Bath’s heavy traffic with a decent number on board but easily got ahead of time. The 231 and X31 are run with a mixture of double deckers, some old and some new, and new Volvo B8RLE Evoras and Faresaver have really rejuvenated these routes thanks to reliable operation and attractive fares. The X31 misses out a few of the slower sections of the 231 but serves Box and the main road. Our 231 did sound like there was a warning buzzer on while we were travelling but I am not sure and the driver didn’t seem to worry about it. We did pass another B9TL, broken down on the edge of Corsham before arriving early at the town centre.

The old centre of Corsham is very attractive with a pedestrianised section and independent shops in some lovely old buildings, with an attractive church and Corsham Court just off the high street. It does, however, know it is attractive and is perhaps a bit precious for that, but it is well worth a wander around the town. I had just under an hour to do this and very much enjoyed it, also finding time to eat some lunch. Then I was back on Faresaver, this time on the 636 to Colerne. This is a 3-4 times a day service between Chippenham and Colerne with one shopping journey each way running via Corsham. There was no-one aboard the white E200 when it arrived but a pair of ladies boarded with me and we were all headed for Colerne. We first passed through the pretty village of Biddestone before a double-run to the military quarter of Colerne before finally arriving at the village proper where we all alighted. The high street and by the church is a very attractive area and the village, though small, still has a few shops, so there was some life in the place despite it now being pretty hot.

From Colerne the only other route, and the only remaining departure of the day, was on the 228 back to Bath. This was another E200 with a few shoppers aboard. We did a double run to Thickwood, then to the barracks again before heading through attractive scenery starting up on a ridge and then down into Batheaston. A passenger joined with me and went to Thickwood while another joined there and went to Bath but again nobody used the bus in the military area. We were on time heading into Bath and again terminated near the river and abbey. My final leg was intended to be the 19 back to Kingswood which normally runs at 10 minutes past each hour and I could have made a bus leaving at 15.10. However at this hour it runs 10 minutes earlier and I couldn’t make this if it was on time. It was on time and when I checked I saw that the journey which should have formed the 16.10 departure had not left Bristol Parkway on the previous journey. I strolled around the centre again for a short while and headed to the bus station. There was no notification of any issues but by four o’clock no mention of it and no sign of an incoming vehicle. I checked Google maps which told me that the bus was going to be 27 minutes late. I have no idea where it gets this information before the bus should even have left as there was nothing on BusTimes or First’s website or anything physical at the bus station, nor is there an enquiry office. Normally I would have waited but I had an evening engagement that I didn’t want to miss so I bottled, took a train to Keynsham and then the 17 bus – yes another E400 – through the back streets of Hanham and other parts of east Bristol back to Kingswood. In fact the 19 left Bath about 16 minutes late having stolen a vehicle off the 5. Surely First knew that the incoming 19 bus was missing, it would have been a different driver taking it out again and a new bus could have been found without disrupting another service?

An enjoyable day out in a very attractive part of the country visiting some places I had not been to before. Buses – sorry, apart from the Faresaver Volvo B9TL, all a bit dull!

Some photos:

Keynsham


South of Keynsham - very parched!


Midsomer Norton


Radstock


Bath


Corsham


Biddestone


Colerne


Between Colerne and Batheaston

 

[John HG1]

One for older readers. Any sign of Horace Batchelor in Keynsham?

 

[RELL6L]

One for older readers. Any sign of Horace Batchelor in Keynsham?

He died in 1977 so no - but I do vaguely remember it being a piece of comedy to spell Keynsham. Something to do with betting I believe. If there is a blue plaque or anything I didn't see it!

 

[John HG1]

He died in 1977 so no - but I do vaguely remember it being a piece of comedy to spell Keynsham. Something to do with betting I believe. If there is a blue plaque or anything I didn't see it!

He advertised a method of betting on Football Matches to, allegedly, give an increased chance of winning. The ads were on Radio Luxembourg and, in giving the address to write to (pre email and mobile phones!) said "Keynsham, spelt K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M). The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band had an LP called Keynsham. I'm hugely off-topic now but enjoying exercising the rapidly decaying brain cells!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I was able to get out for a trip last week and ventured deep into the territory of @TheGrandWazoo so I am sure I will be picked up on any errors of detail! I started the day in Kingswood and quickly established that this was not a place where there was any reason to linger. I took a First Bristol 42 from here to Keynsham as my first journey. There are two routes between Kingswood and Keynsham now that First Bristol has a depot in Keynsham, but nearly all day at all times the two routes run at virtually the same time. Although this was not an important section and schools seemed to be off there were a few passengers boarding and alighting during the journey and a few travelled to Keynsham. My bus was a mid-life E400 and was nothing spectacular.

Well @RELL6L - you were so in my manor. I'm amazed I didn't bump into you, not that we know what each other looks like.

There aren't any great errors to pick you up on. The only "advisories" was that when First withdrew their 178, there was a short term replacement courtesy of @Citistar that operated between Radstock and Brislington P&R with four round trips, augmented by a couple of peak hour full length journeys from Abus IIRC. Also, the Faresaver's ex Metroline B9 actually started with First and was one of the fleet when they sold to Metroline and exited the capital.

I'm not surprised that you didn't linger in Kingswood. It's a rather dull place with little of interest except its connection with John Wesley who took up the challenge of trying to convert hard drinking miners to the ways of the lord. Given how rough some of the pubs are (and yes, I've been in them several times as I used to live locally), I think he failed. Keynsham is pleasant (and yes, I got the Horace Batchelor reference even if it's before my time) and I do like the 522 run out from there to Midsomer Norton (MSN). That view looks like it's towards Compton Dando (from the bus) and I recognise all the other places too. As you know, this was Somerset coalfield territory (Glastonbury's Michael Eavis was a miner locally) and the evidence is there, most notably in the large spoil heap (aka Volcano) that is between Paulton and MSN at Great Mills... yes, that's where the erstwhile DIY chain got its name! The whole area is an amalgam of small villages (usually a few miners cottages next to a small colliery) that have grown together to form a conurbation. MSN is the town... Radstock sort of is but not really.

You skated over Bath but that's fair enough. You have to do a day to do it justice in any case. The run to Corsham is very nice and very impressed that you got the 636 to Colerne. I've not done that nor the 228 so you have me on that one! That said, I have cycled round there so I'm very familiar with Colerne and Batheaston. Oh, and Biddestone is one of my fave villages. I used to drive through it on my commute.

So yeah, I loved hearing someone else's view of my adopted home. I can only apologise for the boring rolling stock

 

[RELL6L]

Well @RELL6L - you were so in my manor. I'm amazed I didn't bump into you, not that we know what each other looks like.

There aren't any great errors to pick you up on. The only "advisories" was that when First withdrew their 178, there was a short term replacement courtesy of @Citistar that operated between Radstock and Brislington P&R with four round trips, augmented by a couple of peak hour full length journeys from Abus IIRC. Also, the Faresaver's ex Metroline B9 actually started with First and was one of the fleet when they sold to Metroline and exited the capital.

I'm not surprised that you didn't linger in Kingswood. It's a rather dull place with little of interest except its connection with John Wesley who took up the challenge of trying to convert hard drinking miners to the ways of the lord. Given how rough some of the pubs are (and yes, I've been in them several times as I used to live locally), I think he failed. Keynsham is pleasant (and yes, I got the Horace Batchelor reference even if it's before my time) and I do like the 522 run out from there to Midsomer Norton (MSN). That view looks like it's towards Compton Dando (from the bus) and I recognise all the other places too. As you know, this was Somerset coalfield territory (Glastonbury's Michael Eavis was a miner locally) and the evidence is there, most notably in the large spoil heap (aka Volcano) that is between Paulton and MSN at Great Mills... yes, that's where the erstwhile DIY chain got its name! The whole area is an amalgam of small villages (usually a few miners cottages next to a small colliery) that have grown together to form a conurbation. MSN is the town... Radstock sort of is but not really.

You skated over Bath but that's fair enough. You have to do a day to do it justice in any case. The run to Corsham is very nice and very impressed that you got the 636 to Colerne. I've not done that nor the 228 so you have me on that one! That said, I have cycled round there so I'm very familiar with Colerne and Batheaston. Oh, and Biddestone is one of my fave villages. I used to drive through it on my commute.

So yeah, I loved hearing someone else's view of my adopted home. I can only apologise for the boring rolling stock

Now you mention it I recall that @Citistar provided a short term cover after the 178 was withdrawn. Seems bizarre that a route like this can be withdrawn and then be worth an hourly frequency again. A bit like Weston-Wells on the 126 which went from hourly double deckers with, I reckon, pretty good loads, to virtually nothing with a few dodgy connections in Axbridge, and now back to seven journeys. Yes, the second photo is looking over towards Compton Dando which I think is in the hollow. Indeed this was the Somerset coalfield and I have, a long time ago, explored a few places on the old Somerset coal canal, of which little remains. I have been to Bath many times by bus and otherwise. It's a lovely place but was vey busy on the day and so was not a focus of my trip even though I went twice. You should do Colerne, the midday 636 from Corsham and then the 228 onwards is the most efficient way with under an hour in Colerne. No need to apologise for the boring vehicles, it's only going to get worse with electrics....

Interesting to hear the experiences of @EYFanatic and @YorkRailFan on the Yorkshire Moors and Dales. No doubt these were particularly bad days but you would have thought the most reliable vehicles would be allocated to these trips to reduce the risk of breakdowns. I have always fancied doing one of these trips and certainly did a weekend trip which included going over the Buttertubs pass eons ago. Maybe there's still time, but I would be annoyed to be spending an hour or two in a layby with a broken down bus.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Interesting to hear the experiences of @EYFanatic and @YorkRailFan on the Yorkshire Moors and Dales. No doubt these were particularly bad days but you would have thought the most reliable vehicles would be allocated to these trips to reduce the risk of breakdowns. I have always fancied doing one of these trips and certainly did a weekend trip which included going over the Buttertubs pass eons ago. Maybe there's still time, but I would be annoyed to be spending an hour or two in a layby with a broken down bus.

Last year in particular was quite bad for breakdowns on the respective networks, this year has been better (so far). East Yorkshire has been allocating different buses to Moorsbus following last year's string of breakdowns that seem to be more reliable. Obviously breakdowns can happen to any vehicle at any time but are inconvenient.

Buttertubs Pass is one for my to-do-list, hoping to combine it with a trip on the Settle-Carlise Line to Ribblehead and then linking up with the bus.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Interesting to hear the experiences of @EYFanatic and @YorkRailFan on the Yorkshire Moors and Dales. No doubt these were particularly bad days but you would have thought the most reliable vehicles would be allocated to these trips to reduce the risk of breakdowns. I have always fancied doing one of these trips and certainly did a weekend trip which included going over the Buttertubs pass eons ago. Maybe there's still time, but I would be annoyed to be spending an hour or two in a layby with a broken down bus.

Buttertubs Pass is one for my to-do-list, hoping to combine it with a trip on the Settle-Carlise Line to Ribblehead and then linking up with the bus.

Probably c.1980, I had a summer Sunday on an LH up on the 26 Richmond to Hawes - break - then back over the Buttertubs on the 30 that ran from Hawes to Gunnerside and back to Richmond. I remember passing what I think was an RESL coming the other way near Hardraw. I was only young then.

I've driven the Buttertubs many times since but best was when I got my mate to drive it - he was completely unaware how exposed it is up there.

 

[EYFanatic]

East Yorkshire has been allocating different buses to Moorsbus following last year's string of breakdowns that seem to be more reliable. Obviously breakdowns can happen to any vehicle at any time but are inconvenient.

We had the EastRiders for the first few weeks but now its been 97 almost entirely other except for 96 this Saturday - and an Eastrider used randomly one weekend - due to an official complaint from the Moorsbus CIC regarding the breakdowns on the services last year.

This year, we've not had any breakdowns as such but we had a few close calls with a badly overheating bus that was down to one fan in the engine bay and very early on an EastRider that suffered a steering malfunction and as I was the only person on the bus on the way back, was taken out of service and a very spirited run home made and dropped off outside my front door as it was on the way to the depot anyway

Did hear from one of the drivers recently that they wanted to get an electric on towards the end

 

[YorkRailFan]

Did hear from one of the drivers recently that they wanted to get an electric on towards the end

Heard the same from Moorsbus, I believe it was in the first edition of 2026 Moorsbuzz.

 

[ian1944]

Horace pushed the infra-draw method, with what success for the punter I don't know but no doubt a lot for him, along the lines of predicting the sex of your unborn child or your money back. Non-winners may have stopped funding him via what he would hold back from the stake, but the rest would carry on.

How the System Worked

• • No Match Form: It ignored the actual form, skill, or past performance of the football teams.
  • Coupon Management: Participants sent their stakes and coupons to Batchelor, who processed the placements himself.
  • Constant Payouts: Rather than targeting massive jackpots, the formula was designed to generate a steady loop of minor wins to perpetually fund subsequent entries.

 

[JGurney]

I have had the experience of a last journey of the day from Wincanton to Street on the 667 ..... I've seen the chatter about a dedicated rail link and whilst I understand the logic, I just don't think it will really make much difference to the local rail usage.

It has started today, as the 567 Glastonbury - Castle Cary, including a Sunday service. It is being funded by Somerset CC on a six month trial basis. It is following a similar route to the 667 via Kineton Mandeville and Street but with fewer twists, rather than the route via Shepton Mallet proposed by the campaign group.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It has started today, as the 567 Glastonbury - Castle Cary, including a Sunday service. It is being funded by Somerset CC on a six month trial basis. It is following a similar route to the 667 via Kineton Mandeville and Street but with fewer twists, rather than the route via Shepton Mallet proposed by the campaign group.

So I’ve seen - the Sunday service is somewhat limited though. As I said, I’d be surprised if it does much but wish it success

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2026 ==

**** NEW TRIP REPORT ****

Had the opportunity to head to my native North East again. I say again because it feels like I go quite often...and I do to visit family and friends yet it was my first trip on public transport this year in the region. Rather than focus on exploring the countryside (as I normally do, although some of it was quite pleasant) or the towns that I know all too well, I had some specific things that I wanted to experience. Hope you enjoy the read. Apologies for the wiffle.

I started at Chester le Street, parking the near to the former Northern garage. It had seemed a huge sprawling site yet now demolished, it seems a lot smaller. My first bus of the day was to be an Angel 21 to Gateshead - a route I've traversed many a time - with an Explorer North East after the driver finally located it on his machine. Evidently, he hasn't sold many. I fancied a trip on the new Wright Electroliners and in common with my experiences elsewhere, I found it to be a really nice experience. Go North East has suffered from a lack of investment over a few years so these are well overdue. We trundled through Birtley, past the Angel of the North and via Low Fell with a view of the Gateshead flyover being demolished before arriving into Gateshead Metro. Now, it's good that we have an integrated transport interchange but I have to say... I find the place rather dark, miserable and like Coventry bus station. I descended from it to the metro platforms and had my first trip on the class 555 metro trains - another aim achieved. I enjoyed 40 years of the old ones and these were just coming into service when I last caught the metro and I fancied see how they measured up. They are really good IMO with the walkthrough design.


There must be an Angel...in Chester le Street


All change on the metro

Before long, we were in a drizzly South Shields. Now, I have criticised the new North Shields Interchange as it's rather large and not really needed. Not so in SS - it was very much needed and I think it's an excellent facility. Probably the best in Tyne and Wear as you descend from the metro platform into the world's most popular Greggs. I took refreshment. I then retraced my steps of a fashion and caught the 50 back to Durham. Operated by a 16 year old ex London B9, it encapsulates the issue with Go North East. The bus was in reasonable condition but the fleet hasn't had the investment it deserves. I remember the route to Chester le Street as the 551 (which ran to Sacriston) as well as the Way Aye Five O but now it's standard 50 and we lolled about across the Durham plain past the Nissan plant, through Concord and Galleries bus stations in Washington and then a selection of bus gates that allowed us to scoot through the burbs to Picktree. Interesting though... the Co Durham sign had two Nexus bus shelters immediately after it, and then the next stops were DCC so is the border wrong?

Having returned to CLS (as no-one calls it), I had options to Durham. As it was, the next bus was Arriva's X12 so I had the joy of an ex Merseyside Pulsar. The old thing was a bit tired inside, not as good as the similar aged B9 but fair enough as I again enjoyed old haunts as we headed through the wonderfully named Pity Me (not far from No Place) and then past what had been the Salutation Inn, a major bus stop/timing point, and now a Coop. We arrived into the recently rebuilt Durham bus station. It was opened in Jan 2024 and is now covered in scaffolding as they replace faulty cladding!! That said, the interior also looks really shabby in places for 2.5 years old. After a short break, I headed for Bishop Auckland but not before a bit of controversy. We were queuing to get on our Arriva e400mmc as British people do. A lad, probably about 15 but clearly Autistic, ran to the front of queue. An Australian woman (honestly, I'm not making this up) then complained to the lad's mum who was explaining that he was Autistic and whilst apologising, said he really wasn't able moderate his behaviour. Not good enough for our Antipodean lady who continued making her point and he shouldn't queue jump. I think the rest of us were gobsmacked - it was clear that social norms should be set aside for a bit of charity and understanding but not for that woman. Some people... Thankfully, the trip to Bishop was much more uneventful. The only notable thing was that having been through many places, Spennymoor was the place that was decked out with England flags tattily hanging from lampposts. Yeah... people in boats are the reason why Spenny is so grim We arrived into Bishop, again a journey I've done many times including a very memorable Sunday run on a fast Bristol LH. On entering the Market Place, it was noticeable that money is being spent on making the town a tourist destination. I was there to see the new bus station. Now, I remember the old one opening and it was always a bleak place to wait for your poppy red National. It needed replacing and the new facility is excellent with a nice dry warm building. That said, I doubt the retail unit will ever see a tenant but we'll see. However... that's not what the money should've been spent on. I had a walk through the adjacent Newgate Centre that used to have an Asda and a range of shops, back in the day. Now it's the setting for a zombie apocalypse film. Places shuttered, a few hollow eyed people stumbling through the place - only a bric a brac pop up stall and a place flogging cheap rugs. Out onto Newgate Street and similarly depressing... That's the problem; the town's retail offer has died and there's little to bring people into the place which explains the decline in local bus services. I did notice NorthStar with an anonymous e300 (ex Stagecoach) operating a new 873 Durham to Teesdale service... one for @RELL6L to experience?



My tired Pulsar on the Newcastle to Middlesbrough route, passing through a Durham bus station that was only rebuilt in 2024 and now needs remedial work


Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland - 28 Days Later!



Bishop bus station with North Star in attendance

I was glad to leave. I got the 1 to Darlington and this explains a lot of the previous paragraph. It used to take 40 mins about 40 years ago to get to Darlington. Now, it's nearly an hour. Two reasons... It now diverts to serve more of Shildon to replace another route and secondly, it serves the large out of town retail centre at Tindale Crescent. No wonder Bishop has declined, sacrificed for a car centric raft of retail and leisure options. My steed was another Arriva Pulsar but this one was a native one and in fact had been delivered new to the long gone Bishop Auckland depot. It'll be gone soon as Darlington gets new vehicles and this one wasn't a great example, holding onto gears when it shouldn't, and generally a bit rough. We arrived into Darlington and "home" territory. Yet I wasn't hanging around and went to my next bus stop. The territory between Darlington, Sedgefield and Stockton has never been great bus territory. However, some villages have returned to the regular bus map after the illfated Tees Flex thanks to BSIP funds. So I got to enjoy the 10 to Stillington. Instead of a 72 plate e200mmc, it was a Sapphire liveried Streetlite that was looking a bit peachy inside. My phone was dying so I was pleased it had USBs.... I just had to find one that worked. I did eventually and we headed through on the 10, a local service that runs every 20 mins but extends every hour past Whinbush to Sadberge and Bishopton before a convoluted loop around Thorpe Thewles to Stillington. I was the only passenger outside Darlington. The driver stopped in the villages and allowed me to take a few photos whilst explaining that changes (since announced) would see it retained and linked with the X86 to form a new Darlington - Stillington - Stockton service. To be honest, it makes sense to combine as both loop round the same villages. That said... the countryside really is a delight and we rattled our way through a series of picture postcard villages.


Bishopton village green
View attachment 1785917068549.jpeg
Thorpe Thewles



Lots of Yutongs in Stockton including my Stillington X86

After some more photo stops, I waved my Streetlite and friendly driver goodbye and waited for the X86. The Stillington to Stockton route had traditionally been TMS166, and always the more regular service than that to Darlington. Unlike the 10, we actually had passengers on board; only 2 or 3 at any time but a start. The bus was one of the many Yutong E12s that have been delivered to Stagecoach in Stockton and they really make Arriva's elderly Pulsars look terrible. I was in Stockton High Street when I realised that my next bus was a very late running X10 to Newcastle so I decided to take a short hop to Billingham on another Yutong. These really are excellent vehicles though I'm less keen on the Yutong deckers so oddly, I prefer the E12 over the Kite but the Electroliner over the U11DD. We were now grinding through Teesside. I could see on bustimes that my X10 had left Middlesbrough 30 mins late so I had 20 mins in Billingham - hardly a scenic place but one for students of post war urban architecture. The Go North East X10 did eventually arrive and I went upstairs on my nicely appointed if ageing B9. It had been substituted for the usual e400mmc, hence the delay. It seemed ok but once again, I witnessed more conflict as a guy opened a window and two pensioners had a right go at him - really rude. Perhaps the heat was affecting people as the morning drizzle had given way to beautiful sunshine. However, my own frustration began to bite as our driver steadfastly plodded along and our journey got slower. By Peterlee, I was busy working out an alternative route; I elected to get off at Dalton Park.

A large out of town retail park (again), it has a small turning circle and bus stop on the edge of it. I could see my next bus, the X1A waiting time but my driver was in no hurry and was unwilling to allow passengers off early (unfortunately) or to block the road as the bus stop was full with two vehicles (fair enough). The third bus was another X10 and it eventually left and I had seconds to exit and run to the X1A. Then came one of the nicest journeys of the day... It was another ageing ex London B9 but it was rattle free and comfortable as we made our way through Murton and across Co Durham, passing via the odd little bus station in Hetton le Hole and then into Houghton le Spring. I'm old enough to remember when Houghton had a bus station, and when it also had a bus depot albeit at Philedelphia, the site of which we passed. It was a lovely summer's evening heading through rolling countryside. For the second time that day, I arrived into Washington and the Galleries bus station. The difference was this time, I exited. I can't remember the last time I got off in Washington - a rather non-descript new town. Last bus of the day was the worst... It was a Wright Streetlite on the trunk 8 service to Chester le Street and Consett. I remember travelling on it in the early 1990s when it had brand new Optare Deltas. Instead, we had a very poor example of a Streetlite (worse than the Arriva one) as we made our way back to Chester le Street and journey's end.

Observations of the day... well, I did get to travel on the Angel, the new 555 metro trains, visited Bishop bus station, and experienced the 10/X86 so ticked off the "stuff" I wanted to do. The X86 is a welcome return of a route that should never have been lost...but the use of BSIP funds to extend through to Darlington seems a poor decision. The operators went from Stagecoach (very good) to Go North East (decidedly average but competent) to Arriva (desperately needing their new fleet) but with the exception of my late X10, everything turned up as expected. At least Arriva are scheduled to get new fleet; Go North East need some surgery as you can't continue with 17 year old B9s on key routes. The weather got better and better as the day went on and that improved the countryside too, and that was a high point. Everywhere looks great in the sun. However, I can see some of why the North East operators have struggled (though they are also culpable). Towns that were once vibrant are clearly depressed... far worse than in the dark days of the mid 1980s. Even the bigger places like Darlington and Stockton are struggling as shops close - there's little money but little imagination from local councillors other than to accept the big money of developers who build out of town retail parks and so make the problems worse. Certainly, it's harder for bus companies. The evidence of BSIP funding and the like is clear but I do wonder about how some of the money is being spent. Still, it does make for some interesting routes to try.

I hope you enjoyed the read and that it hasn't be too dull or obtuse.



Gritty Washington and an ageing B9 to Newcastle

 

[NorthOxonian]

Always interesting to read one of these in what is very much "home turf"... a few assorted thoughts:

Evidently, he hasn't sold many.

Yeah, I think the introduction of the TNE day ticket made a massive dent in the Explorer's sales. For travel solely involving Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and the Durham County Council area, it's something like half the price for similar validity in that area. And even for some journeys into , the fare cap means it can be cheaper to use a TNE ticket and two singles, for something like a journey largely in Durham/T&W but including a return to Darlington. I have also found acceptance on ticket machines to be an occasional issue with the Explorer (particularly as you head away from just crossing into Darlington/Stockton) whereas I've never had that issue with the TNE tickets - so sometimes even if an Explorer would be cheaper I'll avoid using it just because it's more hassle. Honestly, it wouldn't shock me if it was withdrawn within a few years... if it wasn't for the fact the boundary between Durham County Council (North East Mayoral Authority) and the Tees Valley boroughs was so permeable and crossed so many routes, I think it already would have been.

Interesting though... the Co Durham sign had two Nexus bus shelters immediately after it, and then the next stops were DCC so is the border wrong?

In a sense, yes. The boundary appears to run along Picktree Lane - in the direction you travelled initially the boundary is to the right (meaning you were in Sunderland) but then it shifts to the left (putting you in County Durham). The signs appear to be slightly far too north, the boundary actually moves across just after the first bus stop but well before the second. So arguably one stop should be Nexus and the other DCC... in truth the two probably just agreed to treat them as a pair some time ago. The boundary was created in a totally arbitrary way in the 1970s (both areas being previously in the same parish council in County Durham... Washington New Town hadn't expanded that far yet) so I doubt much logical thought was ever given to it.

I did notice NorthStar with an anonymous e300 (ex Stagecoach) operating a new 873 Durham to Teesdale service... one for @RELL6L to experience?

Yes - Northstar introduced three tourist routes on weekends in County Durham. They seem to vary in popularity but the 873 was quite busy when I used it with people heading to Barnard Castle from Durham and Spennymoor (very few used it through to rural Teesdale). I suspect the one you saw was one of the short runs that just does Bishop Auckland to High Force, which I imagine are far quieter. The scenery is pleasant on those routes but for the most part they replicate existing routes - the 6/X21, joined on to a slightly more express version of the 85, joined on to the Teesdale rural route, with only the last bit to High Force really being "new" as a Saturday service.

More generally I would agree with your observations, the Arriva fleet does generally feel tired but my experiences with them have generally been mediocre rather than actively negative. You're also right that a lot of towns are struggling round here... and possibly related, I notice you saw multiple minor incidents with people being snappy or rude, which is something I've found pretty often. I would say it is rare I have a day without seeing some kind of incident, whether that's kids causing bother in the bus stations or people having aggressive arguments on the buses... and it can get much worse, both me and my dad have had to ring police due to serious incidents that have happened to us on or around buses in the region. It's likely another factor which puts people off... even if the service was great on paper, ran to time, and went where everyone wanted it to go, if it's still an unpleasant experience because of anti social behaviour then many will still stay away.

 

[Amos]

I really do enjoy reading all the trip reports, and some of the photos are spectacular.