Memorable missed bus experiences

[Martin1988]

Am guessing that at one time or another most people will have missed a bus but has anyone got any amusing or memorable experiences of when it has happened to them?

 

[GusB]

Some years ago, I decided one Sunday morning that I would take an unplanned day-trip to Edinburgh from Aberdeen. I'd been dumped the night before (by internet - well, JANET as it was then), and I decided in my infinite wisdom that this needed to be sorted out face-to-face. This was back in the days when Citylink and NatEx services were still vaguely co-ordinated. It wasn't unusual to change at Perth for Aberdeen/Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh services, but this particular journey required a change at Dundee instead. I only ever carried a rucksack with essentials (Walkman with various tapes, chocolate, Irn Bru and a basic change of clothes in case it turned out not to be a day trip after all), but the driver insisted that it went in one of the lockers. On arrival at Dundee, while I was waiting for my bag to be unloaded from the first coach, the second leg of my journey was reversing away from the stance - the driver hadn't been advised that there was one passenger transferring. Grr.

The staff at Dundee were apologetic, and advised me that the next departure would allow me to change at Perth for Edinburgh, but it would be an hour later. There wasn't much to do at that time on a Sunday, but I managed to grab a quick bite to eat and found a pub that had just opened for the day. After a pint or two, I made my way back to the bus station, where I found the Glasgow-bound coach that I was supposed to board, and made the short hop to Perth to meet my connection...

...which was only being listed in the timetable as being Mon-Sat. Perhaps having a pint at 11am wasn't the best idea, considering I hadn't had a wink of sleep, but I was where I was, and another hour's wait it had to be. I didn't know Perth at all, so I didn't venture far. Eventually my Edinburgh-bound chariot arrived - a Duple-bodied Tiger. What??!! We're now in the age of the Volvo and you give me this? The run from Perth to Edinburgh is mostly motorway, and could be quite exhilarating, but in this case progress was a little more sedate, on the up-hill sections at least. When I did finally arrive where I needed to be, it was almost time to turn around and come back home again.

I made a complaint about that missed connection in Dundee, and the fact that I was given incorrect information about the connection in Perth. I received a letter from Citylink with £25-worth of travel vouchers and a cheque for the £6 "additional expenses" that I'd incurred along the way. A free return trip and a few pints on them - can't complain

 

[alangla]

Only one I really remember was when I was wandering down to my nearest stop and the bus I intended to catch flew past me. As I watched it head off, a Micra pulled out of a side road in front of it and the bus went straight into the front wing. If it had stopped for me, the accident wouldn't have happened. It was pretty minor anyway & the bus in question was back in service the following day with the indicator replaced and a scraped corner

 

[Martin1988]

I remember missing the last 342 (as it was then known) of the night back to Yate once after doing an evening shift at McDonald's. The shift manager asked me to do some extra cleaning just at the point when I needed to leave to catch the bus and in all honesty I didn't have the confidence to speak out.

Fortunately being a Saturday there was a night bus to Yate so I caught that instead (The only ever time I rode the N50 service). My manager was also very apologetic about the fact I'd missed the earlier bus and offered me some free food whilst I was waiting.

 

[Busaholic]

Some years ago, I decided one Sunday morning that I would take an unplanned day-trip to Edinburgh from Aberdeen. I'd been dumped the night before (by internet - well, JANET as it was then), and I decided in my infinite wisdom that this needed to be sorted out face-to-face. This was back in the days when Citylink and NatEx services were still vaguely co-ordinated. It wasn't unusual to change at Perth for Aberdeen/Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh services, but this particular journey required a change at Dundee instead. I only ever carried a rucksack with essentials (Walkman with various tapes, chocolate, Irn Bru and a basic change of clothes in case it turned out not to be a day trip after all), but the driver insisted that it went in one of the lockers. On arrival at Dundee, while I was waiting for my bag to be unloaded from the first coach, the second leg of my journey was reversing away from the stance - the driver hadn't been advised that there was one passenger transferring. Grr.

The staff at Dundee were apologetic, and advised me that the next departure would allow me to change at Perth for Edinburgh, but it would be an hour later. There wasn't much to do at that time on a Sunday, but I managed to grab a quick bite to eat and found a pub that had just opened for the day. After a pint or two, I made my way back to the bus station, where I found the Glasgow-bound coach that I was supposed to board, and made the short hop to Perth to meet my connection...

...which was only being listed in the timetable as being Mon-Sat. Perhaps having a pint at 11am wasn't the best idea, considering I hadn't had a wink of sleep, but I was where I was, and another hour's wait it had to be. I didn't know Perth at all, so I didn't venture far. Eventually my Edinburgh-bound chariot arrived - a Duple-bodied Tiger. What??!! We're now in the age of the Volvo and you give me this? The run from Perth to Edinburgh is mostly motorway, and could be quite exhilarating, but in this case progress was a little more sedate, on the up-hill sections at least. When I did finally arrive where I needed to be, it was almost time to turn around and come back home again.

I made a complaint about that missed connection in Dundee, and the fact that I was given incorrect information about the connection in Perth. I received a letter from Citylink with £25-worth of travel vouchers and a cheque for the £6 "additional expenses" that I'd incurred along the way. A free return trip and a few pints on them - can't complain

I want to know if the face-to-face resolved anything.

 

[GusB]

I want to know if the face-to-face resolved anything.

It didn't, which was unfortunate at the time. Such is life!

 

[Busaholic]

It didn't, which was unfortunate at the time. Such is life!

Indeed.

 

[Stuwhu]

I had a dream once where I missed a bus along with Pamela Anderson and we made love in the bus shelter

 

[extendedpaul]

Few weeks ago I just missed a bus to Whitchurch (Cardiff) from Caerphilly Interchange , 30 minutes till the next one so popped into the Wetherspoons across the road for a coffee. Sitting near one of the fruit machines I watched as a bloke lost at least £20 on it before walking out. I stuck a pound coin in, got the "feature" first game and it gave me a £25 win. "Repeat chance" came up and another £25. Put a pound back in the machine in case of a further repeat, didn't get that, so caught the next bus £48 richer

 

[jonesy3001]

I caught a bus to ingleton from lancaster once not realizing the next bus wasn't for the next 3hrs so i ended up walking to wennington had a few drinks in a pub while waiting for the 80, if i missed that i would be waiting till morning for the next one.