Rail Replacement!!

Sprog · 29th December 2005, 15:13

Rail Replacement busses........................dont we just love them!!

I need to travel on them more often!

Coxster · 29th December 2005, 15:30

Farnborough to London by train is 35 minutes.
Farnborough to Woking by train is 12 minutes.
Farnborough to Woking by bus is 40 minutes - more than Farnborough to London!

ChrisCooper · 29th December 2005, 16:10

One thing you've got to give rail replacments though, often the coaches are cleaner and in generally much better condition than trains, afterall, most are done by coach companies that take much more pride in their fleet than train companies (or bus companies). I know of on coach company that has a 20 year old coach that is regularly used yet is in almost as good condition as the day it was delivered. Timings are the big problem though, since over many routes coaches are much slower than trains (both on fairly services, where trains can go at up to 125mph but coaches are limited to 62mph, and on stopping services where trains go fairly straight and have quite high speeds, but coaches have to travel down windy country roads often going quite a long way around to get between stations). Coaches also need more slack since road conditions are more unpredictable than railways, although coaches are better at gaining back time, since they don't end up missing paths etc. Last time I went by coach (actually a normal service, not rail replacement) we had a slow journey, not getting over 50mph most of the way, due to fog, yet the trains were running as normal.

Simming · 29th December 2005, 16:23

I used to love the buses that were doing the leeds first rail replacements, they never ever checked your tickets, free travel for all!

AJP · 29th December 2005, 16:27

True I have never once been checked on a rail replacement

evil_hippo · 29th December 2005, 16:30

Ah, I remember the little ****ty LDV minibus driven by Tony Carrick that during two novembers in which railtrack took posession of the s&c was the commuter train from Appleby to Carlisle (all stops, whick means lots of lovely country lanes!), departing Appleby I think before seven (instead of 0740) as it took so long.

Jim · 29th December 2005, 16:52

I remember when WSB - BRI was up, I done lots of stuff on them, never got checked once. I did geta bit of trouble with a plain cloaths womon from Revenue Protection who wouldn't go with the idea that I was 'working' on them. It took a call to Max (1 of the controlers) to belive me.

On that contract we had everything, from Spectras to Volvo's & DAF plaxtons. It was great Fun

Ben · 29th December 2005, 17:09

WCML RR's - Normal Buses - Hardly any Luggage Space - Tight Connection Times - RPI's checking at each End

So no i dont Love them

Rant Over

yorkie · 3rd January 2006, 11:22

When GNER/WAGN did rail replacements to Stevenage, WAGN told passengers to change at Welwyn Garden City, while GNER said Hatfield.

There was confusion though as those with "Any Permitted" tickets were not told which was faster, I asked several people and got different answers.

Anyway when we got to Hatfield, and I was at the front of a 12 car train, I realised that the huge crowds heading toward the exit at the rear of the station meant I'd possibly have a long wait, so I got off at Welwyn, where I was one of the first to board. Some were not so lucky as there appeared to be a severe shortage of buses for the crowds!

It was great for the people of Potters Bar, Hatfield and Welwyn - they had a 12-car train every 20 minutes, fast line 100mph all the way! They must have never had it so good

The Welwyn buses were quicker (as I'd expected, a few miles less distance to go) but I found out the difference. GNER had hired in posh new coaches, WAGN had former London bus double deckers that were very tatty and struggled up hills

But still, I had a front seat so wasn't complaining

Only once had a ticket check, at Brighton but the driver didn't have a clue what the tickets were anyway, he was probably just instructed to check the date, and would probably have accepted a Wick to Thurso

matt · 3rd January 2006, 11:25

Ive only been on a rail replacement bus once from Birmingham Snow Hill to Tyseley (this was when the line was closed due to signalling vandalism at Small Heath). The driver didnt seem to know the route although we did make it to the station a bit longer than it should have taken

Jim · 5th January 2006, 06:56

Only just seen your post Yorkie

The drivers are NOT (well on ours they weren't) allowed tochack tickets or take any money. That is why SO many peoole had free travel on our contract. There was a duty, in which I would ask for tickets, as we ALWAYS had a 10 min wait at Bath. I ask them (not in an offical manor) "Have you got a Ticket" They say no, get on & Max has them at Westbury

Galvanize · 7th January 2006, 20:36

On LUL Rail reps, Routemasters were sometimes used and the conductor checked passenger's tickets/passes even though it wasn't his job to do that.

Some passengers hate being penalised to travel on an old-banger (yes, very often

) or equally any rail rep bus and try to get on it for free.

A Bus journey in November 2004 from Richmond to Clapham Junction took 1 hour and 20 minutes and it was the "fast" service calling only at putney, it got stuck in a very long traffic queue

I was extemely relieved to get off at Clapham Junction.

Jim · 8th January 2006, 17:33

Josh, why didn't you walk

29th December 2005, 15:13	#1
Sprog Banned Join Date: 6 Sep 2005 Location: SPM Posts: 1,368	Rail Replacement!! Rail Replacement busses........................dont we just love them!! I need to travel on them more often!

29th December 2005, 16:27	#5
AJP Chief Executive Join Date: 30 Sep 2005 Location: Doncaster Posts: 1,304	True I have never once been checked on a rail replacement __________________ http://www.ajp.fotopic.net for over 1500 pictures! 37405 is a MONSTER!

29th December 2005, 16:30	#6
evil_hippo The pretty one Chief Executive Join Date: 9 Jun 2005 Location: Appleby Posts: 1,030	Ah, I remember the little ****ty LDV minibus driven by Tony Carrick that during two novembers in which railtrack took posession of the s&c was the commuter train from Appleby to Carlisle (all stops, whick means lots of lovely country lanes!), departing Appleby I think before seven (instead of 0740) as it took so long. __________________ Railway networks traveled: » UK National Rail » VR (Finland) » FS (Italy) » MAV (Hungary) » Amtrak (USA) » MARC (Maryland, USA) » LIRR (USA) http://www.flickr.com/photos/adeltoclarencedock/

29th December 2005, 16:52	#7
Jim Posts a bit too much... Join Date: 11 Jun 2005 Location: Trowbridge Posts: 3,346	I remember when WSB - BRI was up, I done lots of stuff on them, never got checked once. I did geta bit of trouble with a plain cloaths womon from Revenue Protection who wouldn't go with the idea that I was 'working' on them. It took a call to Max (1 of the controlers) to belive me. On that contract we had everything, from Spectras to Volvo's & DAF plaxtons. It was great Fun __________________ Jim http://jimsphotoallery.fotopic.net

29th December 2005, 17:09	#8
Ben On Moderation-By Choice! Chief Executive Join Date: 8 Jun 2005 Posts: 1,082	WCML RR's - Normal Buses - Hardly any Luggage Space - Tight Connection Times - RPI's checking at each End So no i dont Love them Rant Over __________________ Im Highly opinionated & dont really care what you may or may not think of me for the biggest critics in the world & are often the most insecure souls.

29th December 2005, 15:30	#2
Coxster Passenger Join Date: 9 Jun 2005 Posts: 9,631	Farnborough to London by train is 35 minutes. Farnborough to Woking by train is 12 minutes. Farnborough to Woking by bus is 40 minutes - more than Farnborough to London!

29th December 2005, 16:10	#3
ChrisCooper Executive Director Join Date: 7 Sep 2005 Location: Loughborough Posts: 785	One thing you've got to give rail replacments though, often the coaches are cleaner and in generally much better condition than trains, afterall, most are done by coach companies that take much more pride in their fleet than train companies (or bus companies). I know of on coach company that has a 20 year old coach that is regularly used yet is in almost as good condition as the day it was delivered. Timings are the big problem though, since over many routes coaches are much slower than trains (both on fairly services, where trains can go at up to 125mph but coaches are limited to 62mph, and on stopping services where trains go fairly straight and have quite high speeds, but coaches have to travel down windy country roads often going quite a long way around to get between stations). Coaches also need more slack since road conditions are more unpredictable than railways, although coaches are better at gaining back time, since they don't end up missing paths etc. Last time I went by coach (actually a normal service, not rail replacement) we had a slow journey, not getting over 50mph most of the way, due to fog, yet the trains were running as normal.

29th December 2005, 16:23	#4
Simming Banned Join Date: 8 Jun 2005 Location: Cornwall Posts: 1,666	I used to love the buses that were doing the leeds first rail replacements, they never ever checked your tickets, free travel for all!

3rd January 2006, 11:22	#9
yorkie Resident Ticketing Expert Moderator Join Date: 6 Jun 2005 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 10,083	When GNER/WAGN did rail replacements to Stevenage, WAGN told passengers to change at Welwyn Garden City, while GNER said Hatfield. There was confusion though as those with "Any Permitted" tickets were not told which was faster, I asked several people and got different answers. Anyway when we got to Hatfield, and I was at the front of a 12 car train, I realised that the huge crowds heading toward the exit at the rear of the station meant I'd possibly have a long wait, so I got off at Welwyn, where I was one of the first to board. Some were not so lucky as there appeared to be a severe shortage of buses for the crowds! It was great for the people of Potters Bar, Hatfield and Welwyn - they had a 12-car train every 20 minutes, fast line 100mph all the way! They must have never had it so good The Welwyn buses were quicker (as I'd expected, a few miles less distance to go) but I found out the difference. GNER had hired in posh new coaches, WAGN had former London bus double deckers that were very tatty and struggled up hills But still, I had a front seat so wasn't complaining Only once had a ticket check, at Brighton but the driver didn't have a clue what the tickets were anyway, he was probably just instructed to check the date, and would probably have accepted a Wick to Thurso

3rd January 2006, 11:25	#10
matt Moderator Join Date: 30 Jun 2005 Location: Coventry Posts: 3,206	Ive only been on a rail replacement bus once from Birmingham Snow Hill to Tyseley (this was when the line was closed due to signalling vandalism at Small Heath). The driver didnt seem to know the route although we did make it to the station a bit longer than it should have taken __________________ Matt My Photos and Videos Echills Wood Railway

5th January 2006, 06:56	#11
Jim Posts a bit too much... Join Date: 11 Jun 2005 Location: Trowbridge Posts: 3,346	Only just seen your post Yorkie The drivers are NOT (well on ours they weren't) allowed tochack tickets or take any money. That is why SO many peoole had free travel on our contract. There was a duty, in which I would ask for tickets, as we ALWAYS had a 10 min wait at Bath. I ask them (not in an offical manor) "Have you got a Ticket" They say no, get on & Max has them at Westbury __________________ Jim http://jimsphotoallery.fotopic.net

7th January 2006, 20:36	#12
Galvanize Executive Director Join Date: 8 Jun 2005 Location: South East london Posts: 759	On LUL Rail reps, Routemasters were sometimes used and the conductor checked passenger's tickets/passes even though it wasn't his job to do that. Some passengers hate being penalised to travel on an old-banger (yes, very often ) or equally any rail rep bus and try to get on it for free. A Bus journey in November 2004 from Richmond to Clapham Junction took 1 hour and 20 minutes and it was the "fast" service calling only at putney, it got stuck in a very long traffic queue I was extemely relieved to get off at Clapham Junction. __________________ Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end..... Any quadruple headed baglet haulage gen?

8th January 2006, 17:33	#13
Jim Posts a bit too much... Join Date: 11 Jun 2005 Location: Trowbridge Posts: 3,346	Josh, why didn't you walk __________________ Jim http://jimsphotoallery.fotopic.net