The International Transport Game

[DasLunatic]

We then leave the trains and monorails alone, opting for a bus instead. We once again make our tight connection and board the 0603 HANKYU Bus 20 to Mino-O Station (箕面駅), arriving at 0625 Monday morning.

Google Maps

 

[Bodie]

We are able to get one of the through trains to Osaka.

At 0645 we leave aboard a Hankyu Railway service and traverse the Minoo line and then the Takarazuka line. We reach our destination of Umeda at 0717 on Monday morning.

Source: Google Maps

 

[DasLunatic]

We take a small walk to the nearby Osaka station before boarding the 0730 Tokaido-Sanyo Line service on a single-stop hop to Shin-Ōsaka (新大阪駅), arriving at 0734 Monday morning.

Google Maps

 

[johnnychips]

Let's go on what we're here for in Japan, however briefly.

We take the JR 0753 Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe arriving at 0805 on Monday morning.

Google Maps

 

[Springs Branch]

I was planning a change of mode for a cable-car ride on the Shin-Kobe Ropeway leaving from behind Shin-Kobe station. But apparently it doesn't start running until 09.30, so we take a higher velocity transport option .....

We board the 0822 Nozomi JR 002 Shinkansen to Tokyo arriving 1113 Monday morning.

Source: http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/

 

[DasLunatic]

I was planning a change of mode for a cable-car ride on the Shin-Kobe Ropeway leaving from behind Shin-Kobe station. But apparently it doesn't start running until 09.30, so we take a higher velocity transport option .....

We board the 0822 Nozomi JR 002 Shinkansen to Tokyo arriving 1113 Monday morning.

Source: http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/

You could have gone up the ropeway - the rules allow for a three-hour wait.

Anyway, we're in Tokyo. We keep our high-speed escapades flowing, and we board the 1136 Tohuku Shinkansen to Fukushima (福島駅), arriving at 1311 Monday afternoon.

Google Maps

 

[Springs Branch]

We opt for a change of pace on one of JR East's regional local services.

We take the 1604 Ōu Line train to Yonezawa (a scenic spot if the JR publicity is to be believed), arriving at 1651 Monday afternoon.

Source: Google Maps

 

[DasLunatic]

We go even slower and board a Yamako Bus to 湯元駅前（バス） (wherever that is). It departs at 1730 and arrives at 1826 Monday evening.

Google Maps/Yamako Bus

 

[Springs Branch]

After missing out on the Shin-Kobe ropeway this morning, DasLunatic has kindly delivered us to the bus terminus at the Yumoto station of the Tengendai Ropeway cable car. As before, it's shut for the day!

Anyhow we've arrived on the last bus of the day in the scenic and mountainous Shirabu-onsen hot springs area. There are traditional Japanese inns, hot springs and restaurants in the vicinity, so we have a relaxing (and expensive) evening sampling the local cuisine and sake before catching the first bus the following morning....

The 0730 Yamako Bus to Yonezawa railway station, arriving 0814 Tuesday morning.

Source: Google Maps / http://www.yamakobus.co.jp/rosenbus/jikoku/frame/shirabu.html

 

[Bodie]

Off the bus and quickly into the station to board the first train available.

This is the 0820 Yamagata Shinkansan line service number 121 to the station of that name Yamagata arriving at 0857 on Tuesday morning.

Source: Google Maps

 

[Springs Branch]

Have we been on a 3' 6" gauge train in Japan yet? Probably did in Osaka, but just to be sure we've covered all required traction, we take the 0945 Senzan Line train to Sendai, arriving at 1053 Tuesday morning.

Source: Google Maps

 

[johnnychips]

We take the 1124 Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko 42 to Fukushima Station arriving 1146 on Tuesday morning.

Google Maps

 

[Springs Branch]

We continue on the Tohoku Shinkansen back into the Tokyo metropolitan area, boarding the 1216 Yamabiko train 138 to Ueno, arriving at 1343 Tuesday afternoon.

https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-s...nglish/wb/common/timetable/e_tohoku_u/06.html

 

[Bodie]

Walking the 350m to Keisei-Ueno station of the Keisei Electric Railway we are able to board...

The 1400 Skyliner 33 to Narita International Airport - Terminal 2 arriving there at 1441 on Tuesday afternoon.

Source: Google Maps

I am more than happy to continue in Japan despite this move, so the next player will find favour with me. Regardless of whether we stay in Japan or not.

 

[Springs Branch]

Let's try a visit to one of the world's richest cities, according to Wikipedia, and certainly one of the world's largest gambling centres.

We board Air Macau flight 861, departing at 1600, arriving at Macau International (MFM) at 2005 Tuesday evening.

Source: flightstats.com

 

[Bodie]

Pitching up at the Airport Warehouse bus stop we've just missed the bus we want. They run every twenty minutes so it's not long to wait.

At 2058 we board Nova Era MT1 and riding over the bridge into Macau city itself we take leave of our bus at its final stop, that being Praceta 24 De Junho at 2125 on Tuesday night.

Source: Google Maps

 

[Springs Branch]

We walk 700m to the Hotel Lisboa. Here we take the 2146 bus route 3 to Terminal Marítimo do Porto Exterior (Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal) arriving at 2156 Tuesday evening.

Hint: From here there are frequent ferries and hydrofoils to Hong Kong, sailing 24 hrs a day.

Source: Google Maps

 

[Bodie]

We can go one better than that. Helicopters fly frequently between Macau and Hong Kong.

Arriving in time to get the last flight of the evening, we hop over to the nearby heliport.

At 2230 we lift off aboard Sky Shuttle Helicopters' service to Hong Kong, Shun Tak Heliport (Hong Kong - Macau ferry terminal) landing just fifteen minutes later at 2245 on Tuesday night.

Source: www.skyshuttlehk.com

Was Vancouver the last helicopter journey we took?

Also noted that the 4300 HKD is equal to £376.52. Good job money is no object in this game. Just discovered that the ferry can be got for less than £20. Well if there is a great overlord treasurer of this game, I justify my actions thus:
I think the extra £350 spent in gaining 45 minutes over the ferry is good value. Secondly I really, really wanted to go on a helicopter!

 

[Springs Branch]

I wouldn't worry too much about an odd £350, given what we've spent on walk-up international airfares over the past 10 months!

We walk out of the Shun Tak Centre to the Macau Ferry Terminal tram stop of the Hong Kong Tramways.
We board a tram at 2304, alighting at O'Brien Road, Wanchai arriving at 2320 Tuesday evening. (The fare is 20p)

Source: Google Maps

 

[Bodie]

Switching modes we go over to the MTR station of Wan Chai.

We leave at 2330 on MTR's Island Line and alight at Central Station at 2335 on Tuesday night.

Source: www.mtr.com.hk

 

[johnnychips]

We take the MTR 2400 Airport Express from Hong Kong station a short walk away. This gets us to the airport at 0024 on Wednesday morning.

We just missed the last Star Ferry across the harbour, unfortunately. Going to the airport doesn't imply we need to catch a plane. There may even be night buses that I've just thought may or may not exist!

Source: www.mtr.com.hk

 

[Springs Branch]

Hong Kong certainly does have a Night Bus network, including to/from the airport

We board Citybus's service N21 from the airport Passenger Terminal Building at 0040, riding to its terminus at Tsim Sha Tsui, Star Ferry, arriving at 0206 Wednesday morning.

Source: Google Maps and nwstbus.com.hk

 

[Bodie]

Sticking with the N21, having let the bus we arrived on depart we wait for the next one. With a twenty minute frequency it is not a too long to wait at this small hour.

0230 has us under way and I believe we've only traversed this island so let's alight at Ching Wah Court, Tsing Yi Road West. The time now is 0302 on Wednesday morning.

Source: Google Maps

 

[Springs Branch]

We continue on Long Win bus service N31 departing at 0320 to Tsuen Wan (Fu Wah Street) (adjacent to Tsuen Wan MTR station), arriving at 0330 Wednesday morning.

Source: Google Maps

 

[Bodie]

Sorry nothing more imaginative then to await the next N31 service leaving at 0350 and riding out to the airport.
Where we arrive at 0456 on Wednesday morning.
The stop in question being Cheong Tat car park 1 for some reason Google Maps wouldn't have it that this bus goes to the actual terminal building bus stop. It's OK though as you'll see it is close enough.

Source: Google Maps

 

[backontrack]

Why is it that, whenever I come onto this game, we're in China?

 

[DasLunatic]

See post below

 

[Bodie]

Oops sorry my mistake. I didn't specify which airport we where at. It was Hong Kong International not Macau.

Thus DasLunatic if you could choose a flight from Hong Kong. I'm sure we can still get out of China and it's special administrative regions

 

[DasLunatic]

Okay. How about Dragonair flight 226, departing Hong Kong at 0755 and landing in Da Nang at 0850 Wednesday morning?

 

[Bodie]

Without trawling through our back catalogue, I'm fairly sure this is our first visit to Vietnam.

Let's head to Saigon as was.

At 1040 we set back aboard Vietnam Airlines 115 to Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat International where we arrive at 1210 on Wednesday afternoon.

Source: flightstats.com
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just bumping this up