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Sunday heading north
Jun. 3rd, 2007 11:56 pmI spent part of the morning planning a trip for later in the week…
… before Caroline drove me to Cambridge (Trumpington P&R) for my coach into London (Service 010). I should just point out that First Capital Connect trains between Cambridge, Royston and Hitchin will be replaced by buses every Sunday until early September 2007!
Anyway, I fancied having a run past Waterloo, and I had plenty of time (the coach was due into Victoria 2040, and depart for Dundee on the 592 at 2230). So, I got off the coach opposite Embankment Station, as I planned to walk over London’s Millennium Walkway – The Hungerford Bridge.
When this was initially opened, it was known as the “shaky bridge” or “wobbly bridge”, but appears to have been fixed now. The above is the view across the Thames towards Waterloo, and this is the view down onto the Embankment. The station is slightly out of shot of the picture, at the far left.
A forgotten (sometimes) part of the Transport for London family is the Thames River Services unit – who control the operation of piers and passenger boats on the Thames. This is Charing Cross Pier, from the bridge.
As I got closer to the south side, this was the view.
Then, round a few corners to take me directly into Waterloo Station – with about 1hr 45mins left to kill before departure time! (That didn’t take long, did it – about 10 minutes or so).
Are printed timetables for train travelers no longer needed? Well, as most of you will be aware, the National Rail Timetable has had its last ever issue printed – Summer 2007 will be the last. You can have an 80mb three thousand page pdf from the website, but some people still prefer paper (see above!). South West Trains produce a 320 page “all services” timetable book, which includes bus and ferry/hovercraft connections. There was a survey included in the current edition, presumably reviewing its viability. There was also the suggestion on the survery form to ask if you should pay for such a book, and how much would be reasonable. Given the data included, and usefulness value, I’d say £1-£2, maybe £3 for a bigger page size. Paper is still needed when planning trips. Journey Planners do not have “enthusiast – allow for weird connections” mode, or even allow the type of vehicle to be shown (beyond simple bus, train, tram etc.).
I like the Hertfordshire individual route leaflets, largely because the maps show each bus stop in built-up areas (where possible). The area guides are also usefully include everything in one place. When you think that Traveline Scotland STILL doesn’t show you the correct “on request” status at Craigo Village northbound, and sends you onto Marykirk, only to cross the road, and wait on the same bus coming back southbound (usually as a Service 8). Northbound buses are shown as a 9 (if the journey was input by Angus Council) or a 9A (if it was input by Aberdeenshire Council). The truth is, there aren’t two buses one after the other (at the moment) – just the one. The bus displays 9 (usually) in this direction – plus the 47A as far as Borrowfield running slightly ahead! Then, further along the routes, names for stops within Aberdeenshire are different when assigned by Angus Council… in fact, the Angus entered journeys are shown as stopping on the “wrong” side of the road in Marykirk. Having said that, having the 9 start from “Montrose station” and the 9A start from “Montrose Western Road Tesco” has now been fixed, but compound the problems with things like journeys advertised as ran by Stagecoach Bluebird are run by Stagecoach Strathtay (not a lot of difference unless you want to buy a day ticket or multi-journey ticket), and there is a lot that the passenger needs to know – even in relatively simple areas. This is why we still need paper!
Rant over! I got a Travel London Enviro400 (new!) on the 211 to Victoria, followed by another Skyliner on the 592 northbound to Dundee, waking up in the morning. (Yes, the Neoplans came back recently! I will do a catch up of everything soon enough).
… before Caroline drove me to Cambridge (Trumpington P&R) for my coach into London (Service 010). I should just point out that First Capital Connect trains between Cambridge, Royston and Hitchin will be replaced by buses every Sunday until early September 2007!
Anyway, I fancied having a run past Waterloo, and I had plenty of time (the coach was due into Victoria 2040, and depart for Dundee on the 592 at 2230). So, I got off the coach opposite Embankment Station, as I planned to walk over London’s Millennium Walkway – The Hungerford Bridge.
When this was initially opened, it was known as the “shaky bridge” or “wobbly bridge”, but appears to have been fixed now. The above is the view across the Thames towards Waterloo, and this is the view down onto the Embankment. The station is slightly out of shot of the picture, at the far left.
A forgotten (sometimes) part of the Transport for London family is the Thames River Services unit – who control the operation of piers and passenger boats on the Thames. This is Charing Cross Pier, from the bridge.
As I got closer to the south side, this was the view.
Then, round a few corners to take me directly into Waterloo Station – with about 1hr 45mins left to kill before departure time! (That didn’t take long, did it – about 10 minutes or so).
Are printed timetables for train travelers no longer needed? Well, as most of you will be aware, the National Rail Timetable has had its last ever issue printed – Summer 2007 will be the last. You can have an 80mb three thousand page pdf from the website, but some people still prefer paper (see above!). South West Trains produce a 320 page “all services” timetable book, which includes bus and ferry/hovercraft connections. There was a survey included in the current edition, presumably reviewing its viability. There was also the suggestion on the survery form to ask if you should pay for such a book, and how much would be reasonable. Given the data included, and usefulness value, I’d say £1-£2, maybe £3 for a bigger page size. Paper is still needed when planning trips. Journey Planners do not have “enthusiast – allow for weird connections” mode, or even allow the type of vehicle to be shown (beyond simple bus, train, tram etc.).
I like the Hertfordshire individual route leaflets, largely because the maps show each bus stop in built-up areas (where possible). The area guides are also usefully include everything in one place. When you think that Traveline Scotland STILL doesn’t show you the correct “on request” status at Craigo Village northbound, and sends you onto Marykirk, only to cross the road, and wait on the same bus coming back southbound (usually as a Service 8). Northbound buses are shown as a 9 (if the journey was input by Angus Council) or a 9A (if it was input by Aberdeenshire Council). The truth is, there aren’t two buses one after the other (at the moment) – just the one. The bus displays 9 (usually) in this direction – plus the 47A as far as Borrowfield running slightly ahead! Then, further along the routes, names for stops within Aberdeenshire are different when assigned by Angus Council… in fact, the Angus entered journeys are shown as stopping on the “wrong” side of the road in Marykirk. Having said that, having the 9 start from “Montrose station” and the 9A start from “Montrose Western Road Tesco” has now been fixed, but compound the problems with things like journeys advertised as ran by Stagecoach Bluebird are run by Stagecoach Strathtay (not a lot of difference unless you want to buy a day ticket or multi-journey ticket), and there is a lot that the passenger needs to know – even in relatively simple areas. This is why we still need paper!
Rant over! I got a Travel London Enviro400 (new!) on the 211 to Victoria, followed by another Skyliner on the 592 northbound to Dundee, waking up in the morning. (Yes, the Neoplans came back recently! I will do a catch up of everything soon enough).
