Worst rail replacement bus you've been on.

[A0]

Had one double decker bus that was too tall to go under the railway bridge at Hitchin so we had to go the long way round.

other occasions we had to give the driver directions how to get to welwyn north! (some of us were tempted to direct him onto the A1M for a quick trip to Stevenage) other drivers have left WGC in the wrong direction. Also the WAGN replacement the coach from Stevenage to Potters Bar that called at Hertford North & Cuffley on the way taking ages in the rush hour traffic!

Must be something about that area - I had one which covered my late night journey back to WGC from Letchworth many moons ago - and he took the most circuitous route in WGC I've ever known. Went miles out of the way, totally unnecessarily.

The Hitchin one I get, because that bridge is very, very low (Hitchin depot had a couple of low height Bristol VRs that could fit under, but not much else could - the other bridge in that area which used to cause problems was the one under the ECML at Wymondley - and was the reason why London Country (as it was back then) couldn't use Atlanteans on services between Stevenage and Hitchin, so the lucky passengers on those routes had the delights of Leyland Nationals until the Olympians arrived in about 1983.......
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Milton Keynes Central - Northampton via every back street in Wolverton that the coach barely fitted down taking about 45 minutes to get there, then back down to the A509 (basically MKC) again and over to the M1 to go up to Northy. Got there after about an hour and 50 minutes. Driver literally stopped in Wolverton to ask directions at one point.

I sort of get that one though - if you don't know your way round MK the logical way is back to the M1 and up one junction to Northampton.

Someone with a bit of local knowledge would be able to find their way to the A508 from Wolverton, but it's not straightforward.

The alternative of head to Newport Pagnell and up the back road is OK, but if I were driving a coach, I probably wouldn't fancy it.

 

[Ostrich]

A few years back now, a 20 year old Dennis Javelin coach operated by Prospect of Lye between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town. That was in the days when the Class 139's were, shall we say, slightly less than reliable, and 2 x Prospect coaches were on almost permanent standby, one at each end.

The 139 had been declared a failure at Junction; by the time we'd walked out of the station to the car park, boarded the coach, happily trundled down to Town, and exited at the side of the station there, the wretched 139 was back up and running and had beaten us down the line to the Town station.

I guess the travelling engineer had merely resorted to giving it a hefty thump with a blunt instrument!

 

[MK Tom]

I sort of get that one though - if you don't know your way round MK the logical way is back to the M1 and up one junction to Northampton.

Someone with a bit of local knowledge would be able to find their way to the A508 from Wolverton, but it's not straightforward.

The alternative of head to Newport Pagnell and up the back road is OK, but if I were driving a coach, I probably wouldn't fancy it.

True, although every other time I've been RRBed on the WCML they've just gone straight over to Stony and up the A508. Surely these guys have SatNavs... or 'maps'? The problem was more the trying to get to Wolverton by turning off Great Monks Street and going in the back way through all the 19th century housing.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Nothing but praise for the RRBs that Ensignbus and Stephensons have put out on the c2c routes whenever I've used them over the past few years: high quality, usually new, clean and comfortable (and usually semi-coach-seated) double-deckers, well-driven with friendly staff.

Best though? I lived near Finchley Road station for a few years after 2003, and preserved Routemasters (and even the odd RT) were known to turn up on Met line RRB duties.

 

[TukayAway]

About 10 years ago, after either a broken rail or a derailment at Hinckley, we were put on a bus from Nuneaton to Leicester. The bus was fine, the driver wasn't.

The first query was asked as soon as we left the station. Leicester sign-posted left, we went right. Driver said that he always goes this way. So we went south towards the M6, along a junction and then north again on the M69. Then he ignored the signs for the town centre still heading north through the suburbs, telling one concerned passenger that the station is in the north, only for several of us to shout that it isn't. I swapped seats with an off-duty copper who then gave directions to the station. There was a police presence waiting for us to arrive, I have no idea what happened after that as I had to sprint to catch my train south.

 

[Mex]

Quite some horror stories here!

The worst that happened to me is when my train back from Edinburgh to Bathgate (last one of the night) got terminated at Uphall due to snow. After an hour's wait in the freezing cold and still-falling snow at Uphall, punctuated by PA messages from Edinburgh: 'Evening all, I know you're fed up up waiting, but I can definitely promise you the buses are on their way...' some coaches finally struggled up the short rise into the station car park.

We then proceeded to waste yet more time while the drivers & Scotrail staff tried to decide which bus was going where. The lads on leave from the Army weren't at all impressed: 'For ****'s sake make up your ****ing minds!'

So off we set, the coaches being rear-wheel-drive, much sideways fun was had on the roundabouts!

Took a while for my a*** to unclench.

Could have been worse I suppose.

 

[trentside]

I've mentioned my worst experience a couple of times on here. It was on a Lincoln to Retford rail replacement, with a company from nowhere near the area. The driver was actively telling people not to buy tickets (which got my back up, as I had) and then proceeded to drive like an absolute idiot, and a passenger insisted on getting off at each station to check for toilets (none at Saxilby or Gainsborough - but she still insisted on checking) and she eventually kicked up such a fuss the driver pulled into a wayside pub, where she and other passengers got off for toilets and drinks. The whole time, through passengers to Sheffield had no idea where to change - some though Retford, others Worksop. The bus driver hadn't been told, and as I was leaving at Retford I'm not sure what happened. Complained to Northern and got a free travel voucher.

 

[kenromford]

I was on a DMU (Class 101 I think) on the Glasgow-Edinburgh via Shotts line in about 1984 (it was direct from Cambuslang, where I lived, to EDB which is why I used it). The Shotts line is uphill from Uddingston all the way to beyond Shotts (Benhar Jct) and this DMU struggled all the way up the gradient at low speed and expired at, I think, Cleland. The driver wisely decided not to risk it any further and called the signalman and requested a bus replacement.

A Central SMT Leyland Leopard (standard SBG issue) duly appeared - presumably from Motherwell or Hamilton depot. All the driver had was a list of all the stations that he should call at - about 10 of them. Beyond Cleland was green Eastern Scottish territory, so our red Central SMT bus was soon out of place - causing locals to stare and point! We zigzagged our way through the dour mining villages of Central Scotland, directed by the passengers. I remember reversing up a muddy track to reach Addiewell station, in order to pick no-one up and drop no-one off. Eventual arrival at Waverley was 2 hours late, exactly the time that the next train service would also have arrived (it was only 2-hourly in those days). Certainly an experience.

 

[CockneySparrow]

Worst one for me was when the closed the Breckland Line one Sunday to test out the new barriers they are installing, NR had got permission to close the road at Shippea Hill and Lakenheath crossing, however the route plan given by Abellio to the bus driver told him to use the usual vehichle route, when we got to Shippea Hill NR wouldn't let us through so the bus had to go back to Ely

 

[Tracked]

At least your Rail replacement bus turned up, unlike the ghost bus that Northern organised for me...

Sounds familiar, only ever had a couple of replacement busses (Wakefield-Leeds & Peterborough-Luton) but about 5 years ago was delayed on the way home from Leeds-Doncaster when someone threw themselves under a train at Adwick.

Got onto Leeds station to find trains being cancelled and member of staff on the station saying to go to Wakefield where replacement bus services were running.

One bus was, that was full and leaving as we arrived, was only an hour or so of listening to people complain about the staff at Leeds before trains started running again :roll:

 

[quarella]

I have worked in both industries. Emergency road transport is used when the railway has FAILED but the contempt those helping them out of a hole is
amazing.
Sleep/holidays/meals interrupted for the operator. Sleep/meals disrupted or working day extended for the driver only to get to a station within an hour from home (quicker than I've known a prepped set to come off shed with a driver in the mess room)to get abuse from station staff ("Where the F***ing hell have you been") and passengers over where you are going, why you will not take 60 people on a vehicle which can legally take a maximum of 57. Just what you want to put you in the right frame of mind to drive. Finally leave. As we know following a rail route by road is time consuming and that road may be quicker but the railway bridge on it is a few inches shorter than the coach.
Pre-Planned work. The tedium of being on standby. I agree the route should be known but as has been posted above rarely is advice given where the engineering work also closes the road such as for a level crossing. Also for various reasons a replacement vehicle may have had to be put in place. An accusation of a fail to call where a check on CCTV shows the passenger down the far end of the platform in a cutting while the CIS states the pick up point due to the station's location on a blind bend.
The railway used to be notorious for being slow to pay and then wonder why operators wouldn't work for them.
Until the coach industry starts charging a reasonable rate to maintain a high standard fleet an pay drivers a decent wage there will continue to be dodgy operators. There are people in all industries who shouldn't be in their job due to ability or temperament.
As a coach driver pointed out on a forum regarding tour work but would equally apply in this case-He was the only one the law demanded to have a mandatory qualification to do their job
My view is that with all the hassle it causes on both sides it would make far more sense not to do anything. Line is shut. End of story. Sort yourselves out.

 

[mac]

Worst was a bus from Scunthorpe to Grimsby lady driver coundn't change gear so i sat in sit in seat behind her to work gearlever.
Best was a white jag wedding car also from Scunthorpe to Grimsby.

 

[BestWestern]

I have worked in both industries. Emergency road transport is used when the railway has FAILED but the contempt those helping them out of a hole is
amazing.
Sleep/holidays/meals interrupted for the operator. Sleep/meals disrupted or working day extended for the driver only to get to a station within an hour from home (quicker than I've known a prepped set to come off shed with a driver in the mess room)to get abuse from station staff ("Where the F***ing hell have you been") and passengers over where you are going, why you will not take 60 people on a vehicle which can legally take a maximum of 57. Just what you want to put you in the right frame of mind to drive. Finally leave. As we know following a rail route by road is time consuming and that road may be quicker but the railway bridge on it is a few inches shorter than the coach.
Pre-Planned work. The tedium of being on standby. I agree the route should be known but as has been posted above rarely is advice given where the engineering work also closes the road such as for a level crossing. Also for various reasons a replacement vehicle may have had to be put in place. An accusation of a fail to call where a check on CCTV shows the passenger down the far end of the platform in a cutting while the CIS states the pick up point due to the station's location on a blind bend.
The railway used to be notorious for being slow to pay and then wonder why operators wouldn't work for them.
Until the coach industry starts charging a reasonable rate to maintain a high standard fleet an pay drivers a decent wage there will continue to be dodgy operators. There are people in all industries who shouldn't be in their job due to ability or temperament.
As a coach driver pointed out on a forum regarding tour work but would equally apply in this case; he was the only one the law demanded to have a mandatory qualification to do their job.
My view is that with all the hassle it causes on both sides it would make far more sense not to do anything. Line is shut. End of story. Sort yourselves out.

That is a good point!

Interesting to hear it from the other point of view. I worked as a PCV driver prior to joining the railway, but thankfully only ever got lumbered with one replacement job.

 

[34D]

How about this:

Overnight coach from Manchester Airport to York (something like 05:00 from MIA). Driver very well presented (and if I may say so, hunky, dashing, sexy and gorgeous). Even though on time at Huddersfield, we were 15 late by Dewsbury. Even though the coach was booked to York, the plan was for all passengers to disembark at Leeds as there was a TP and an XC and then a Northern from Leeds to York (and onward) in quick succession (the enthusiast coach driver, who's day job was a management role with a railway company, had identified by using an industry system).

On leaving Dewsbury, the driver called First control to advise the lateness, and if possible to request that the first train be held for 5 minutes (yeh rite) and been promised a call back.

Passengers were kept informed using the coach's built-in microphone. Further delay just outside Leeds resulted in another call to control, and a request for passengers to be passed on the XC and northern services. Control quickly called back to confirm this; said message being relayed to the passengers, all before arrival at Leeds.

Re the comment about tickets, please note that rail replacement drivers are specifically instructed not to get involved in tickets, and if asked, then to instruct passengers to see rail staff at the end of the journey.

 

[topydre]

Wolverhampton to Telford Central. Buses every couple of hours; twice as many people on the (single deck) bus as there were seats; 1 3/4 hours I think it took; calling at all stations (a long way round by road!) And I'm sure the driver got lost a fair few times!

 

[dieselbashdave]

so i sat in sit in seat behind her to work gearlever.

Ooh Matron! That was an interesting journey I bet

I haven't experienced a bus-train (okay I invented that word!) apart from once; can't remember the reason but it was Dingwall - Inverness by a hired coach from DE Coaches. Bus was nice enough, driver fine, just a pity it had hideous tartan seats that hurt your eyes!

Suppose this is the worst and the best seeing as I've only had one.

 

[34D]

Wolverhampton to Telford Central. Buses every couple of hours; twice as many people on the (single deck) bus as there were seats; 1 3/4 hours I think it took; calling at all stations (a long way round by road!) And I'm sure the driver got lost a fair few times!

I'm not sure what you expect here. Of course people get lost occasionally - I'd like to see you find a random station to which you've never driven to before.

 

[BestWestern]

I'm not sure what you expect here. Of course people get lost occasionally - I'd like to see you find a random station to which you've never driven to before.

It is inevitable that bus/coach drivers will sometimes struggle with their replacement route, particularly if it's a last minute emergency and they have no time to be properly briefed. This is particularly the case if a regular bus operator is drafted in, whose drivers are used to sticking to set urban routes all the time, and can't really be expected to know exactly where all the stations are in every nearby town. Sat-nav kit is best avoided, as we all know that it can be fatal for anybody driving a large vehicle.

My only recent experience was when SWT were forced to do a real last minute job, after severe flooding in the New Forest. Trains were terminated at Brockenhurst with buses running to Bournemouth. Unfortunately, every spare vehicle seemed to have been sent for Olympic duties, and what eventually turned up was a pair of rattly old step entrance Darts, courtesy of Xelabus in Eastleigh. Thankfully, after an extraordinarily long wait for the buses to return from their first round trip, SWT decided to use the Limmy 158 and risk the floodwater!

 

[topydre]

I'm not sure what you expect here. Of course people get lost occasionally - I'd like to see you find a random station to which you've never driven to before.

Sorry, that maybe sounded harsh; and to be fair, probably not a huge part of the problem
Although it shouldn't be too much to expect for the railway to have clear maps ready for any rail replacement working, then give them to drivers. I'm sure that would pay for itself. I'd probably still get lost though lol

 

[Polarbear]

Several years back, I was at B'ham New St & the only way to get to Nottingham was by a rail replacement coach. At the appointed time, a suitable coach rolled up & the customers boarded.

We then waited for about 10 minutes before the driver piped up & asked if "anyone knew the way to Nottingham". Being helpful, I wandered down to the front of the coach & proceeded to provide directions to the driver & act as a guide en route to the M42.

An hour or so later, we're approaching the M1 & just about to take the A453 towards Nottingham when the driver's mobile rang (in the days before use at the wheel was illegal). He answers & is chastised for not having called at Tamworth or Burton on Trent...neither of which were mentioned to me at the outset of the journey...!!

Given we were well beyond the point of no return, we rolled on to Nottingham & arrival was about an hour earlier than I had planned. OK for me, but not the best RR experience for the unfortunate souls of Tamworth or Burton..

 

[notadriver]

A coach drivers job involves cleaning the vehicle at the end of the shift - very much different to the role of a bus driver - who just drives. This might explain the reluctance of coach drivers doing rail replacement work and why sub standard vehicles are often used.

 

[50047]

I'm not sure what you expect here. Of course people get lost occasionally - I'd like to see you find a random station to which you've never driven to before.

Shouldn't the hiring party at least ensure that the company they are hiring in has a clue where they are taking THEIR customers. If the driver doesn't know, then the hiring party should fix this with the bus company to stop it happening next time. I agree, the driver is hardly at fault, but his managers certainly are. Problem here of course is that its likely the bus operator is the same company as the TOC :roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A coach drivers job involves cleaning the vehicle at the end of the shift - very much different to the role of a bus driver - who just drives. This might explain the reluctance of coach drivers doing rail replacement work and why sub standard vehicles are often used.

On my local Stagecoach service the driver cleans the bus at the end of his day, and these are just rubbish Dennis Darts
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Best rail replacement I ever had was an RT on a Northern Line job. It was like a scene from the 60s!

Worst was a recent Stagecoach fiasco.......
I was taking my family one Sunday from Bedford to Corby as my visiting mother in law wanted to visit a real English castle (its name escapes me). We knew we'd have to change at Kettering. I purchased her a day return and the rest of us had passes. At Kettering we were directed to a bus outside the station. I showed mums ticket and was told it wasn't valid. Errr what? I told him that there were no trains to Corby and that we were told to board this bus. He knew of this but stated that train tickets were not valid. I refused to pay and went back onto the station to remonstrate with the staff. After a 30 minute debate I spoke to their control myself. Having sold me a ticket you have a duty to get us there using that ticket. Best bit is both services are Stagecoach! We had a taxi there and back at Stagecoach expense. That was a real sense of victory. Stagecoach doing rail replacement on the cheap.......nice try...........but not today. And before anyone criticises the use of passes, they are a valid rail ticket too. Why should anyone with a valid ticket be left marooned.

 

[Beveridges]

Had a number of bad ones but this must make the number 1 most horrible experience of a Rail Replacement Bus service.
Unexpected rail replacement service when travelling from Chester to Newton le willows. All passengers kicked off the train at Warrington Bank Quay for rail replacements forwards. Not only did we have to wait ages for the bus to turn up, it was one of the oldest, most uncomfortable busses imaginable. Whats more, I was carrying my bike with me on this journey, and the Bus driver refused it. I had to chain the bike up and come back for it later (It was already midnight).
During the ride, the bus was full of awful, awful loud offensive drunks. Being stuck with those was unbelievable. Even worse, the Bus drove straight past NLW (Newton Le Willows) without stopping there. When I asked the driver if I could just get off, he said we were going to Earlestown first to pick up passengers there, then come back for NLW! So why add another 40 minutes on the already horrendous journey (yes it took that long with all the very long waiting at Earlestown) when they could have stopped at NLW first then come back to NLW?
Finally when I got back I then had to drive my car to Bank Quay to pick up the bike (luckily it hadn't been stolen)

 

[34D]

Sorry, that maybe sounded harsh; and to be fair, probably not a huge part of the problem
Although it shouldn't be too much to expect for the railway to have clear maps ready for any rail replacement working, then give them to drivers. I'm sure that would pay for itself. I'd probably still get lost though lol

Some (toc/rail rep coordinators) do bother with maps, but many don't.

In london it is spoon-fed to you, usually with maps and also signs saying "rail replacement buses turn here".

Having done rail rep in a few different parts of the country (and having generally good geographical knowledge) I probably know the location of most bus stops that I'd be likely to be asked to drive a coach to.

In FCC land, Bayford was one that is not only hard to find, but that could reasonably be approached from either direction.

I always remember one story, from around 8 years ago, when I was on standby at Thirsk (working for a Leeds-based firm, expecting to go to York if I was needed).

I was unexpectedly sent north: found Northallerton fine, then wherever the next sttation was, then I asked a passenger which was the best way to (I think) Middlesbrough. Let's just say that he directed me, then all of a sudden asked me to pull over in the middle of some council estate!! He did give me simple directions to the rail station though.

 

[PR1Berske]

Two stories for you

I am reminded of a rail replacement bus from Wigan to Southport many years ago that I boarded because I needed to get to the Liberal Democrat Conference there.

The driver knew the route very well, it seemed, going at...erm....."confident" speeds along the twisty-turny roads of West Lancashire.

However his coach was clearly not one he'd driven before that day, as we almost got stuck in Gathurst as he wasn't expecting a bridge to be so low or narrow, and Appley Bridge was similarly hairy; I can still hear the gasps from other passengers now as he scraped through

Last year I took a rail replacement bus from Preston to Wigan. Something was up from the start when the driver swore rather loudly on taking a wrong turning (in Preston!) and his sat-nav began recalcuating the journey for him.

He got off the motorway at Orrell, which sent his sat-nav going crazy again. He then almost got stuck in a bridge having taken another wrong turning, had drivers swearing at him as he mounted the pavement a few times, went around the bus station (the wrong way), and turned up at Wigan North Western by driving through roadworks, scraping the side of two parked taxis and crashed into a bus-stop.

Fun times!

 

[Desiro360]

Here's a story I remember when I had to use a rail replacement coach from Northampton to London Euston as there were engineering works on the WCML that morning.

I was with my Dad at the time as we had stayed in a Holiday Inn hotel in the centre of Birmingham for the weekend near the National Indoor Arena. We had been to the Warley Model Railway Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre.

On the Sunday we were heading home and thus made our way to Birmingham New St Station only to be told that there were no trains to London Euston, Great!. We were then directed onto a train to Northampton which was a Virgin Pendolino.

Once we were at Northampton we got onto the coach. I can't remember what it was or what it looked like but it was comfortable. My Dad was unfortunate to be sat next to a bloke who was basically a chatterbox but the worst part was that the coach driver played Christmas Tunes loudly for the WHOLE TRIP over and over again. I was literally in my head pleading for him to TURN THEM OFF!

After what seemed like an age we arrived at London Euston Station and I was so relieved to get off the Coach. I had never been so bored in my life.

 

[Whistler40145]

During the WCML upgrade I was travelling to London & had a RBR between Milton Keynes Central & Hemel Hempstead with only Silverlink operating to/from Euston.

I have no idea why, but on the outward journey, we travelled on one road that only looked wide enough for Postman Pat's van, how we managed it I don't know. The return went straight to the M1 & took half the time.

Later that evening I was subject to a Stoke on Trent to Preston RBR, that was tedious & the driver got lost at M6 J16 and ended up taking the road towards Alsager instead of heading to Crewe Station, how he managed to turn the coach around on such a narrow road in pitch black conditions amazed me.

 

[Whistler40145]

What's the longest distance any of you have endured on a Rail Replacement Bus?

 

[Southern]

I remember taking a bus from Tonbridge - Redhill once, pretty grim experience that involved at least 1 close call with another bus heading in the opposite direction. Then there were the cyclists...never sure if he just fell off the thing or if we knocked him off! hock:

 

[Blindtraveler]

have had many but a few memorable ones. Distance wise a heatingless volvo b10m high densitty seated school coach running fast from Inverness to Perth only to get there to find t,e 158 to take us onward had failed which resulted in a request to the driver to run to markinch. As it would happen a group of 10 footy fans had there minibus in the park and ride at Broxden and a few of us baled there for a nice Citylink Panther to Edin.

Have had a few runs on first right boddied Scaniers ordered origionally for RRB Duties and they are quick but seatings poor. had a driver who due to being Spanish wasnt good at taking verble direction and spent 40 minutes reaching Lockerbie station from the northbound M74 which was frustrating however my favourite has to be a very early First Olimpian up the motorway to Linlithgo from Edinburgh - amazing thrash!