Rail Replacement Bus Service - Greater Anglia - Sunday 22 October

[avid2424]

I don't do replacement bus services, but needs must re a Sunday journey, and Greater Anglia on their main line operating replacement buses of Witham slow to Chelmsford, and Witham non stop to Ingatestone bypassing Chelmsford

And expecting a pantomime of the rail company pretending it was the first time ever that they had needed to line up a rail replacement bus service, and deciding that the only visible staff need be the girl who Monday to Friday assists at the coffee stall and the bloke who cleans the toilets, and deciding to only phone round on Friday afternoon to book any buses

I know they have had loads of practice, but on Sunday, lots of ground staff employed at the stations, and loads of buses and coaches parked at the stations, I assume just in case

I assume all the ground staff are a regular team. And all of the buses and coaches are on long term bookings

Obviously British roads are not designed for travel, and two lots of extremely long scale, might as well call them permanent, roadworks

So buses are loaded swiftly and immediately dispatched. And Greater Anglia build in plenty of allowance in the timings, to allow for British roads. So no finger nail biting re a tight connection

Well done to everyone

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Went to see granny today.

I saw many buses and coaches on the A12 and they were well loaded. Mrs Islineclear3_1 and I chose to make other arrangements and parked up at Witham to get the train onward from there. Staff at Witham certainly seemed to know what they were doing....

 

[306024]

Nice to hear something positive, thank you! GA’s Rail Replacement buses don’t put me off if I have to travel that way. We even had the Essex Cricket Club executive coach once from Ingatestone to Newbury Park.

The only time they goofed was when, despite years of avoiding it for good reason, someone decided to use Shenfield to turn buses round. Apart from passengers having to cross a busy road outside the station, the limited space made it impractical. Hopefully never to be repeated.

 

[Class 170101]

The only time they goofed was when, despite years of avoiding it for good reason, someone decided to use Shenfield to turn buses round. Apart from passengers having to cross a busy road outside the station, the limited space made it impractical. Hopefully never to be repeated.

Complaints from Ingatestone locals I expect.

 

[RUK]

I had always avoided rail-replacement bus services before as well when possible, taking the train from Norwich to London Liverpool Street via a change at Cambridge instead of the bus between Witham and Ingatestone when necessary, but this involved a rail-replacement bus on Saturday between Thetford and Ely, with the main line between Norwich and Ipswich blocked by flooding, and I have to say the same - it seemed to be a very well-run operation. At Ely I just managed to run and jump on a fast train to King’s Cross with a 2-3 minute connection time, instead of having to wait for and get the stopper to Liverpool Street, which shaved 45 minutes off of my journey time.