Train Journeys That Would be Quicker by Bus

[wijit]

6 mins by train. Apparently 15mins by bus from Lancaster to Bare.
So not by a long shot.
Lancaster to Morecambe is a lot closer. Only 12mins apparently by bus. Train only takes 11mins still though.

That may be the case on paper, but I guarantee that there are hopelessly few bus journeys between Lancaster and Morecambe (most buses to bare end up at Morecambe) which take anything like the time they should.

Yorkie, apologies, I had assumed, wrongly, that as with many other forums the search facility didn't work. I shall try to use it in future.

 

[wintonian]

That may be the case on paper, but I guarantee that there are hopelessly few bus journeys between Lancaster and Morecambe (most buses to bare end up at Morecambe) which take anything like the time they should.

Yorkie, apologies, I had assumed, wrongly, that as with many other forums the search facility didn't work. I shall try to use it in future.

Try using a search engine and querying this; host:railforums.co.uk waterloo, obviously replace "waterloo" with whatever you like.

For those that might be intrested here are some additional tips on using search engines effectively that should work with any decent engine..

 

[Deerfold]

There's nothing to stop you from staying on and coming back or indeed changing buses and coming back.

You will not be allowed to stay on these buses once they have reached their final stops. If you change buses to come back you'll have nearly covered the same distance as there is between the two stations to get to the stop in the other direction.

 

[robschopper]

This could be the biggest difference, more-so if you insist on not changing trains ... Bangor to Porthmadog in North Wales is 63 minutes by bus, direct, door to door. By train, and without changing, it is 8 hours 54 minutes. This is because the Bangor to Birmingham International Arriva Trains Wales service turns around at Birmingham International and then works up the Cambrian. Even with a change at Shrewsbury it is 5 hours 53 mins.

Alternatively, Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog is 32 mins by bus, but 7 hours 40 by train.

 

[extendedpaul]

Faversham to Ashford (Kent) takes about 40 minutes by bus but 70 minutes by train. You do have to travel on the 666 though - once claimed to be used by devil worshippers !

 

[Beveridges]

This could be the biggest difference, more-so if you insist on not changing trains ... Bangor to Porthmadog in North Wales is 63 minutes by bus, direct, door to door. By train, and without changing, it is 8 hours 54 minutes. This is because the Bangor to Birmingham International Arriva Trains Wales service turns around at Birmingham International and then works up the Cambrian. Even with a change at Shrewsbury it is 5 hours 53 mins.

Alternatively, Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog is 32 mins by bus, but 7 hours 40 by train.

I think a lot of journeys in that part of the country are so slow by train, but how does Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog take 7 hours+ by train? Thought it was about 1 hour?? Those trains are very uncomfortable in normal class as it is so that would be bad enough. Now another journey thats slow by train are:

Warrington Bank Quay - Acton Bridge (1 hr 35 by Train, 40 minutes by Bus)
Blackpool North - Blackpool South (1 hour 12 by Train, 10 minutes by Bus or even less than 1 hour by foot!!!)

 

[johnnychips]

Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog is about an hour by preserved railway, but not by NR metals.

 

[martinsh]

Matlock to Nottingham takes almost the same time by train as by bus (1h 20), due to the unit sitting for ages in Derby

 

[robschopper]

I think a lot of journeys in that part of the country are so slow by train, but how does Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog take 7 hours+ by train? Thought it was about 1 hour?? QUOTE]

Porthmadog to Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury to Llandudno Junction, LLJ to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

 

[transmanche]

Alternatively, Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog is 32 mins by bus, but 7 hours 40 by train.

But the National Rail network is not a practical option for that journey, so it's not a realistic comparison (and you know that the OP was actually looking for realistic comparisons).

 

[Eagle]

Whyteleafe to Upper Warlingham. 37 minutes by rail, 37 seconds by bus (the Metrobus 409 calls outside both).

 

[12CSVT]

This has got me thinking - how many journeys would be quicker on foot (at normal walking pace) ?

Pollockshields East to Pollockshields West is about 7 or 8 minutes on foot but the Cathcart Circle services take 18 minutes.

 

[brompton rail]

Matlock to Nottingham takes almost the same time by train as by bus (1h 20), due to the unit sitting for ages in Derby

However, from next week (I think), the bus will require a change at Derby Bus Station because the Trans Peak bus service will not run beyond Derby. In any case timekeeping on the Trans Peak bus is very poor during most of the day!

 

[Chris M]

See also this thread from April.

One not mentioned on either thread is Woolwich Arsenal to Mottingham. Although journey planners show direct journeys by both bus and rail to be about 35 minutes, experience is that the bus takes longer than that. There must be several similar journeys in the same area.

Kensington Olympia to High Street Kensington is another where the railway takes a loop the bus doesn't.

In Newcastle, Haymarket to St James is going to be quicker on foot than by direct train, maybe even quicker than changing at Monument?

North Shields to South Shields will be quicker by foot and ferry than by direct train - there can't be many journeys like that!

 

[transmanche]

In Newcastle, Haymarket to St James is going to be quicker on foot than by direct train, maybe even quicker than changing at Monument?

Well it's not a realistic comparison as;

• nobody would take a direct train from Haymarket to St James via the coast - it's not a practical journey and it costs £3.10
• nobody would take a train from Haymarket to St James changing at Monument - because yes, you can walk it quicker and it costs £1.60.

More in keeping with the OP's request would be St James to Monument. Just like Covent Garden to Leicester Square and many other short urban journeys, it's far quicker to walk when you factor in the time to walk from street to platform and the average waiting time. So again, not really realistic.

 

[Kali]

Someone mentioned Beeching - has anyone got sufficient data that they can point to services that *improved* when replaced by a bus/coach? I'm assuming there is a direct replacement service like the bus route to Bude, for instance, but I guess that doesn't really matter.

 

[Firesprite]

Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog is about an hour by preserved railway, but not by NR metals.

At one you could buy a ticket with the route Ffestiniog Railway

Last time I did this was 20years ago from Penychain to Holyhead

 

[transmanche]

Someone mentioned Beeching - has anyone got sufficient data that they can point to services that *improved* when replaced by a bus/coach? I'm assuming there is a direct replacement service like the bus route to Bude, for instance, but I guess that doesn't really matter.

Not quite what you're looking for...

In 1961, the few Ashington-Newcastle through trains took 44-46 mins. Today, the fastest bus (Arriva's X20) takes 40 mins - although the bus terminates at Haymarket Bus station, not Central Station.

 

[CheekyBandit]

Lichfield City - Burton on Trent.

Midland Classic X12 (from bus station opposite LIC) taking 23 minutes via A38 Arriva 7 I think is also quicker. Services routed via Anglesey Street pass closest (at Moor Street/Mosley Street stop) to Burton station (1/3 mile walk) though New Street terminus in Burton is not much further. Rail involves change at Birmingham or changing levels at Lichfield TV and Tamworth.

 

[Eagle]

Unless there's engineering on and XC have a direct service between Lichfield City and Burton :P

 

[cambsy]

Dont think xc stop at Lichfield City when diverted that way, so don't think that counts for quicker by bus.

 

[CheekyBandit]

Unless there's engineering on and XC have a direct service between Lichfield City and Burton :P

But engineering work has tended to be when the X12 and 7 bus routes don't run.

 

[Metroland]

Lichfield City - Burton on Trent.

Midland Classic X12 (from bus station opposite LIC) taking 23 minutes via A38 Arriva 7 I think is also quicker. Services routed via Anglesey Street pass closest (at Moor Street/Mosley Street stop) to Burton station (1/3 mile walk) though New Street terminus in Burton is not much further. Rail involves change at Birmingham or changing levels at Lichfield TV and Tamworth.

Really there should be a Birmingham or Stoke/Lichfield - Leicester service via Coalville with Burton station slightly moved, which would also have the added benefit of getting rid of the low PSR at Burton. But sadly the re-opening (in terms of passenger services) plan never looked at anything imaginative like that, yet the railway is all there, albeit in need of an upgrade.

 

[Ivo]

Dont think xc stop at Lichfield City when diverted that way, so don't think that counts for quicker by bus.

Unless something has changed very recently, Lichfield City is inserted as a stop to cover Tamworth.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Another journey you would never make by train (because there is no reason to) but Spring Road to Acocks Green would be quicker walking than by rail. Again, it's just another example of two stations on different lines which are less than a mile from each other by road.

 

[Eagle]

Dont think xc stop at Lichfield City when diverted that way, so don't think that counts for quicker by bus.

They so do. Lookit.


That picture's from five weeks ago.

 

[D1009]

They so do. Lookit.


That picture's from five weeks ago.

Was that the day the HST was delayed waiting the attendance of the police? If so I was on it.

 

[Eagle]

From the article, I think so.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Why do XC stop at Lichfield city? And do they actually stop to let passengers on and off? Bit strange, do they stop anywhere else?

Back on topic, I'm sure Neston to Ellesmere Port and Chester is quicker by bus

 

[Eagle]

Why do XC stop at Lichfield city? And do they actually stop to let passengers on and off?

Yes, it's for a replacement bus to Tamworth. (Because it's much easier to run a shortish shuttle bus Lichfield–Tamworth than a linear replacement Burton–Tamworth–Birmingham.)

Bit strange, do they stop anywhere else?

When Reading is closed, or any other reason why they can't call there, XC usually stop at Didcot and Reading West. Also when trains are diverted via Barnsley they will sometimes stop at Wakefield Kirkgate.

Also it's not uncommon for engineering-affected trains to start or terminate at Eastleigh (given that it's right next to the depot).