The Transport Game

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The very early hours of a Sunday morning are not the best for onward connections, so we decide that a move to the capital will afford a range of better onward travel possibilities from there, so we eventually make our way to the T4 railway station and board the 0707 Heathrow Connect service to London Paddington that arrives there at 0736 on Sunday morning.

 

[musicking1306]

08:00 FGW service to Exeter st Davids. Arrive at 11:05 Sunday morning.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We now decide to pass away much of the remainder of Sunday on a long-distance north-bound service, so we board the 1123 XC service to Glasgow Central that eventually arrives there at 2011 on Sunday evening.

 

[dzug2]

We continue on the 2042 Scotrail service to Largs, arriving at 2147 Sunday evening

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We take the short walk from the railway station to the waters edge and look across towards Great Cumbrae Island, then stroll along the strand for a while, before returning to the railway station to board the 2253 First ScotRail service to Kilwinning that arrives at 2318 on Sunday night.

 

[dzug2]

We take the short walk from the railway station to the waters edge and look across towards Great Cumbrae Island, then stroll along the strand for a while, before returning to the railway station to board the 2253 First ScotRail service to Kilwinning that arrives at 2318 on Sunday night.

That's the weekday service alas - on Sunday arrival at Kilwinning is 2328 and the only train on (apart from the one we just left) is at 2329 - not an official connection

We are obliged to spend the night in Kilwinning, leaving at 0800 by train to Ayr, arriving 0826 Monday morning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

My apologies for the typo error..I meant to type 2328...not 2318..
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Monday morning and time to move away from the rail mode of travel and to sample the bus routes in Scotland once again and hoping that South-West Scotland does not have its own equivalent of Lybster Omnibus Syndrome, we first have a hot drink and toast, then we make our way over to Smith Street to board the 0925 Stagecoach West Scotland service 52 to Dalmellington (Main Street) that arrives there at 1007 on Monday morning.

 

[dzug2]

We continue on ABC Travel's 520 service to New Galloway Post Office, leaving at 1020 and arriving at 1100, Monday morning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Deja vu for those who contributed to the recent quiz 55 on the Closed Stations Journey quiz...but now having to use the current alternative mode of travel

We spend some time sightseeing in the town before boarding the next ABC Travel bus which is the 1237 service 520 to Castle Douglas (Market Street) that arrives there at 1308 on Monday afternoon.

 

[dzug2]

We continue after a light lunch on Stagecoach service 500 at 1405 and travel to Castle Kennedy, opp Shop, arriving at 1540, Monday afternoon

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The bus routes in South-West Scotland are just as good for seeing the area as those in North-East Scotland and after having a hot drink, we board the 1621 Stagecoach West Scotland service X75 for the very short journey to Stranraer (Port Codie) that arrives at 1626 on Monday afternoon.

 

[dzug2]

Another Stagecoach bus - the 360 - leaves at 1737 and takes us to Girvan Knockcushion Street, arriving at 1839, Monday evening

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Stagecoach do indeed have a strong bus presence in this area of Scotland and we do not have too long to wait to board the 1906 Stagecoach West Scotland service 58 to Ayr bus station that arrives there at 2009 on Monday evening.

 

[dzug2]

It's a little early to be giving up for the day, so we continue on Stagecoach X77 at 2040 and ride to Kilmarnock Wellington Street, arriving at 2112 Monday evening

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Crossing over to Campbell Street, we then board the 2146 Stagecoach West Scotland service 4A to Monkton (Manor Park Hotel) that arrives there at 2205 on Monday night.

 

[dzug2]

As the hotel serves Prestwick Airport we have no difficulty securing a room for the night despite the hour.

We continue next morning on Stagecoach service 14 at 0715 to Irvine High Street, arriving at 0750 Tuesday morning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The west coast still holds its attractions and we board the 0803 Stagecoach in West Scotland service 585 to Ardrossan (Princes Street) that arrives there at 0827 on Tuesday morning.

 

[dzug2]

We continue on the next 585 at 0858 and travel to Wemyss Bay rail station arriving at 0954, Tuesday morning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

To prove that not everything is not part of the Souter empire in the form of bus travel and able to use a bus with a big numerical route number, we board the 1020 McGills service 901 to Largs (Main Street) that arrives there at 1033 on Tuesday morning.

 

[dzug2]

We decide we like the McGill's 901 so get the 1100 departure to Levan, McInroy's Point, arriving at 1129, Tuesday morrning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time surely to seek out a good place for a mid-day meal before saying adieu to South-West Scotland and feeling well-replenished, we keep to our new-found allegiance to the McGills transport empire and board the 1327 McGills service 901 to Glasgow Buchanan Street bus station that arrives there at 1443 on Tuesday afternoon.

 

[dzug2]

We make our way to Central station, just in time for the 1500 XC departure, and travel to Cheltenham Spa, arriving at 2151 on Tuesday evening

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Started the day in Scotland, then a journey into England, so why not head off now towards Wales, so we board the 2300 ATW service to Cardiff Central that arrives there at 0034 on Wednesday morning.

 

[dzug2]

We walk outside to the bus station and catch the National Express 201 coach at 0120 to Gatwick South, arriving 0615 Wednesday morning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This gives us time to enjoy a hearty breakfast to set us up for the day and we have plenty of time to decide to sample yet another offering from the fleet of National Express, so we board the 0810 National Express service 206 to Chichester bus station that arrives at 0915 on Wednesday morning.

 

[dzug2]

We make our way to the rail station and catch the FGW service at 0947 and travel to Ashchurch for Tewkesbury arriving at 1356 on Wednesday afternoon

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We are certainly making some good journeys by rail today and our breakfast has long served to sustain us, so it is time to have an ample mid-day meal in the town, before returning to the railway station to board the 1524 FGW service to Dorchester West that arrives at 1855 on Wednesday evening.

 

[musicking1306]

20:34 FGW service to Bristol temple Meads, Arrive at 22:43 Wednesday evening

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Still fortunate to find a city to city still running at this time of the day, we board the 2306 FGW service to Exeter St Davids that arrives at 0050 on Thursday morning.

 

[dzug2]

Luckily the Travelodge outside the station still has rooms, so we have a well earned rest and continue in the morning on SWT at the civilised hour of 0826 and travel to Wimbledon, arriving at 1132 on Thursday morning