The Transport Game

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A short walk down the station approach road is The Falmouth Hotel, which has an uninterrupted view over the bay to Pendennis Castle, where we sit on the bench enjoying the view until we cross the road to the bus stop outside the hotel and board the 1205 First Devon and Cornwall service 41 that takes us direct to Redruth railway station, arriving there at 1253 on Saturday afternoon.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Upon arrival at Redruth, the next train eastwards is 1A91, which doesn't leave until 1429. It is a London train. We then have a spot of lunch in a nearby cafe before boarding 1A91 to Reading, arriving there at 1849 on Saturday evening.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Only a short wait for the next connection and we board the 1911 XC service to Birmingham New Street that arrives at 2048 on Saturday evening.

 

[ValleyLines142]

And even a shorter connection before we board the 2100 no. 141 bus operated by National Express West Midlands at Colmore Row to Merry Hill, which arrives at 2200 on Saturday evening.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That last journey was an excellent feeder route and time of arrival as there is only a short time to make our way to Stand "C" at Merry Hill Bus Station, where we board the 2215 service 81 run by Diamond Bus that takes us to Wolverhampton Bus Station, arriving there at 2311 on Saturday night.

 

[ValleyLines142]

This gives us plenty of time to board 1J36, the 2354 Arriva Trains Wales service to Shrewsbury, arriving there at 0043 in the early hours of Sunday morning.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

As there is absolutely no chance of any train connection whatsoever and it really is too late to consider booking into a hotel at such an unearthly time on a Sunday morning, we take the downhill route from the station to the river and spend hour after hour watching the River Severn remorselessly flow past us until returning to the railway station where we board the 0810 ATW service to Birmingham New Street, which takes the chill out of our bones until it arrives there at 0915 on Sunday morning.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I wasn't sure whether it was worth going on 1J36 but I thought I'd experiment 1H26 operated by CrossCountry takes us to Manchester Piccadilly at 1000, with an 1131 arrival on the Sunday.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Always mindful that some journeys can be affected by engineering works on Sundays, we are relieved to find there is no problems with our next leg, so we take the 1215 Virgin Trains service to Stoke on Trent that arrives there at 1250 on Sunday afternoon.

 

[Welshman]

Time for a nice Sunday Roast, before boarding the 1429 EM train to Derby, arriving 1517 on the Sunday afternoon.

 

[gnolife]

We take the 15:50 Trent Barton TransPeak service to Manchester Chorlton Street Coach Station, arriving 18:45 sunday

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just time for a hot drink in the café before crossing the road to the bus stop opposite, where we board the 1900 Transdev X43 Lancashire Witch service to Nelson Interchange that arrives there at 2024 on Sunday evening.

 

[Welshman]

Post cancelled!!
Paul beat me to it!

 

[gnolife]

We will then have a long wait in Nelson for the 21:35 Northern service to Preston, arriving at 22:44 Sunday

 

[221129]

Then we board the 23:39 Northern Rail serivice to blackpool north arriving at 00:05 Monday morning

 

[gnolife]

Cancelled

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time to go to see the new tram trackwork and watch the incoming tide from a bench on the promenade before returning to the station to board the 0337 First TPE service to Manchester Airport that arrives at 0507 on Monday morning

 

[gnolife]

We take the 5:25 on route 18 (Arriva) to Hale Barns, All Saints Church arr 5:37 Monday

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This actually brings back personal memories to me as my sons were educated at St Ambrose College (HMC), which is situated in the large land area behind All Saints Church (with its large "rose" window) in Hale Barns. The area down Wicker Lane has many fine architecturally designed large residences, which seems to be the norm in this extremely well-heeled area. Our walk of reminiscence takes us to see much of the area, before boarding the 0720 Connect 88 bus service (with its modern buses) that arrives at Knutsford bus station at 0813 on Monday morning.

 

[gnolife]

We then take a quick break for breakfast, and take the 8:58 on route 289, alighting at Northwich Rail Station at 09:33

 

[221129]

then we get on the 10:12 northern service to chester arrival at 10:45 on monday morning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time to look around Chester station, before boarding the 1121 ATW service to Shrewsbury that arrives there at 1227 on Monday afternoon.

 

[gnolife]

Cancelled

 

[221129]

we then get on the 1240 arriva trains wales service to cardiff central arriving at 1437

 

[gnolife]

We run fort the 14:41 Arriva Trains Wales service to Bridgend via Rhoose Cardiff Int'l Airport arriving 15:39

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

DON'T FORGET TO SHOW THE DAY ON WHICH YOUR TRAIN ARRIVES !!!!


Just time for a hot drink, then we make our way to board the 1600 FGW service to London Paddington that arrives there at 1830 on Monday evening

 

[221129]

we then board the 1903 FGW service to penzance but alight at Tiverton Parkway at 2107 on Monday evening

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We now board the 2122 FGW service to Truro that arrives there, just past "the witching hour" at 0008 on Tuesday morning.

 

[Welshman]

Unfortunately we cannot find accommodation at this late hour, so spend another night under the stars on a bench, before returning to the staion for the 0704 XC, which we take all the way to Berwick-upon-Tweed, arriving there at 1621, Tuesday afternoon.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

After such a long previous rail journey that came after a most uncomfortable nights sleep, we use the hour in between connections in having a hearty meal, which refreshes us for the next journey leg and we board the 1739 EC service to Aberdeen that arrives there at 2116 on Tuesday evening.