Llangollen Bus (K190)

[Smethwickian]

This destination is still available according to brfares.com and for a CDR from Smethwick Galton Bridge it's only £1.30 more than to the railhead, Ruabon.

But I can find no reference to such a bus link or through fare at nationalrail.co.uk or arrivatrainswales.co.uk.

The last printed Rail Links Manual back in 2008 gave bus validity on services 5/5A/94, which still operate (up to every 15 mins M-S daytimes), so I am wondering if this is still the case?

I'm guessing the answer could lie in the top-secret The Manual, respository of many such useful but very poorly-advertised facilities.

(And yes, I know I could walk from Ruabon or Chirk via the canal and amazing Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and have done before, but on this occasion might not have time.....!)

 

[OwlMan]

Details from "The Manual" below

Llangollen

Fares

Fares are available between RUABON and K190 Llangollen Bus.
Add-on amounts
£4.00 Adults Return, £2.65 Child Return
£2.20 Adult single, £1.45 Child single
Discounts

Normal child discounts apply.
Railcard discounts apply to the rail element only.
No discounts apply for Privilege Travel and Inter-Rail Travel. Holders of Privilege Travel facilities and Inter-Rail cards should be advised to book rail tickets to/from the connecting station, and purchase bus tickets separately from the bus operator.
Ticketing

Destination name & NLC: Llangollen Bus K190
Tickets must be issued with the destination "Llangollen Bus" in order that customers can use the bus service.
Refunds

Normal arrangements apply.
Accompanied animals and articles

Hand luggage only. Cycles are not conveyed. Dogs are carried on the bus but a small charge is made by the bus operator for all except Guide Dogs and lap dogs.
Services

Link operator/route: Bryn Melyn/GHA/Arriva X5/5/555/94.
Journey Time: Approximately 15 minutes from Ruabon Railway Station.
Public information

Customers may obtain further details of the bus services by calling Traveline 0871 200 2233
www.Traveline-cymru.org

Fares from Smethwick are:
SMETHWICK GAL BG 1114 - LLANGOLLEN BUS K190

(Derived from BIRMINGHAM STNS 0418 - LLANGOLLEN BUS K190)


LLANGOLLEN BUS K190


ATW



(S/R)
SDS S 23.00
SDR R 24.50
SVR 8A R 34.20
CDS B3 S 17.30
CDR B3 R 17.40

 

[Smethwickian]

Many thanks indeed, OwlMan.

 

[headshot119]

I have used this ticket on a couple of occasions and both times had issues persuading the driver it was for use on the bus, you may wish to bear that in mind.

 

[Smethwickian]

I have used this ticket on a couple of occasions and both times had issues persuading the driver it was for use on the bus, you may wish to bear that in mind.

Not surprised. I always wonder about tickets such as this when they are completely unadvertised. That's why it's so irritating there's nothing on the ATW or NR websites I could print out and take with me.

 

[Be3G]

Would a ticket office be permitted to print off a copy of the information about the bus link from the manual for cases such as the above? I know copies of entries from the manual are bandied about here all the time, but I get the impression that ATOC see it as a document that's not for public eyes.

Also, this got me thinking… why are some bus links shown on National Rail maps (and available for entering as origins/destinations on NR's website) but not others? What's the significance – for example, are ones that show on maps more ‘official’ in that if, say, your bus is running late so you miss your train you're able to claim delay repay (or overnight accommodation if it was the last train)?

 

[34D]

I think (in general) the ones that are shown on the map and given their own table (ie 26e) in the timetable are the longstanding ones, which in many cases replaced trains under Beeching (ie the X4 Peterborough-Milton Keynes).

 

[Be3G]

That's what I wondered too – but then, for example, the bus from Axminster to Lyme Regis doesn't appear anywhere ‘officially’ (on National Rail maps etc.) yet the through-ticketing is presumably there as a replacement for the long-lost railway line.