The Transport Game

[Seacook]

My bad. Again :roll:

It is 09:37 on Wednesday morning in a cold and miserable Wolverhampton city centre (St George's tram stop obviously).

We take a stroll to the railway station arriving too late to catch the 0943, so we wait for the 1025 London Midland service to Shrewsbury. The train is a rather familiar eleven minutes late so we alight not at 1115 but 1126 on Wednesday morning.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The last journey arrival time now leaves us with not really enough time to go to the buffet for refreshments. We now board the 1139 ATW Class 175 service to Swansea, arriving there at 1434 on Wednesday afternoon.

 

[Seacook]

After less than half an hour, we are on our way again on the 1455 ATW service to Stockport arriving at 1858 on Wednesday evening.

 

[Ivo]

On to the famous Wilmslow Road bus corridor, and a Stagecoach 42 departing at 1916 from the bus station and arriving at Portland Street, between Oxford Road station and St Peter's Square tram stop, at 2001. Several hours of Wednesday to go yet.

 

[150222]

Run to victoria and catch the inevetibly delayed 20.21 northern service to halifax arrivig at 21.23.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Getting chilly at this time of night in November and we are pleased to see the "on-time" arrival of the 2149 Northern service to Leeds, arriving at 2225 on Wednesday night.

 

[Seacook]

To finish the day's travel and start thinking about tomorrow's excursions and alarums we board the 2242 train to Darlington, operated by TPE. We alight at 0001 on Thursday morning with a cheerful wave to the train crew.

 

[ainsworth74]

We then, after a refreshing nights sleep in Darlo, catch the 0805 EC HST to Aberdeen arriving at 1305.

 

[Zoe]

We then, after a refreshing nights sleep in Darlo, catch the 0805 EC HST to Aberdeen arriving at 1305.

From Aberdeen at 1340 on Thursday to Inverness at 1559.

 

[Ivo]

After almost an hour in the most northerly city in the United Kingdom, it's south to a prospective and former city, Perth, leaving at 1653 and arriving at 1908 - Thursday evening already. It looks like we escaped the Highland Main Line just in time though, because a landslide has blocked the line at Aviemore - so no going back that way tonight.

 

[Zoe]

After almost an hour in the most northerly city in the United Kingdom

Don't say that to Elgin City, although Elgin no longer has city status the football club still use this name.

 

[Seacook]

With little time to spare we hurry across the bridge to platform 1 just in time for the 1914 First Scotrail service to Glasgow Queen Street. A slight delay means that we arrive at 2019, four minutes late, on Thursday evening.

 

[Zoe]

With little time to spare we hurry across the bridge to platform 1 just in time for the 1914 First Scotrail service to Glasgow Queen Street. A slight delay means that we arrive at 2019, four minutes late, on Thursday evening.

From Glasgow Queen Street at 2030 on Thursday to Livingston North at 2123.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We now have enough time to catch the 2141 First ScotRail service to Helensburgh Central, arriving at 2328 on Thursday night.

 

[Ivo]

Having missed the Highland Sleeper from Upper station (due at 2324) we decide to call it a night. After a half-decent sleep, we go to Edinburgh on the 0640 on Friday morning, which arrives without hassle or delay at 0843.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time for a breakfast (of sorts) with a hot drink, before boarding the 0935 to Perth, arriving at 1053 on Friday morning.

 

[Ivo]

With the blockade still in force around Aviemore, it's back down south on the 1114 to Stirling, arriving at 1143 on Friday. NRE advises that the Highland Main Line will reopen at 1500, although by then it should be of little concern because we would either (a) be some distance away or (b) be inclined to go by bus.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Feeling the need to visit a metropolis, we board the 1213 First ScotRail service to Glasgow Queen Street, arriving at 1245 on Friday.

 

[Seacook]

Considering that a trip to Edinburgh would be a capital idea, we take the First Scotrail train leaving at 1230 and arriving at 1319 on Friday afternoon.

 

[Robinson]

Considering that a trip to Edinburgh would be a capital idea, we take the First Scotrail train leaving at 1230 and arriving at 1319 on Friday afternoon.

We're not time lords! We got into Glasgow at 1245...

 

[Seacook]

We're not time lords! We got into Glasgow at 1245...

"Either this man is dead, or my watch has stopped" - Groucho Marx

Checking the time we realise that the 1300 was the right train arriving at 1351 in Edinburgh, Friday afternoon.

(I have no idea why I thought 1245 was 1215).

 

[Ivo]

After a small spot of sightseeing, it's back to England after our extended sojourn north of the border on the 1504 First X95 bus service to Carlisle, arriving at 1831 on Friday evening.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

After the X95 bus, we decide that we have time for a hearty meal at Carlisle and decide that rail will be the next mode of travel. We board the 2008 Virgin Trains service to Lancaster, arriving at 2057 on Friday evening.

 

[trentside]

That means we're in time for the 2114 TPE service from Lancaster to Barrow in Furness, arriving at 2219 on Friday evening.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The horror dawns on us that Barrow-in-Furness in not the best station to spend a night..:roll:

So nothing for it but to grin and bear it. We see midnight pass and we are into Saturday. Eventually, ignoring the Lancaster service, as we had arrived from there, we decide the Cumbrian coastal route inside a warm train for a couple of hours will warm our chilly bones and board the 0600 Northern service to Carlisle, arriving at 0827 on Saturday morning.

 

[Ivo]

The pleasure of spending the night in Cumbria went down a treat - but unfortunately, it's time to abandon the north and head for the unenviable location of London. Departing at 0849, we arrive at Euston at 1212 - just in time for the football hooliganism to commence, courtesy of whichever game is on early.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Looking to visit the northern suburbs, we board the 1234 London Midland service to Watford Junction, arriving at 1254 on Saturday afternoon.

 

[Ivo]

On to the 1315 Green Line 724 next, with a sojourn into some rubbish county called Essex, arriving in Harlow at 1521. With no football team of note, Harlow is surprisingly quiet this Saturday afternoon! It might also relate to the rain though.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time enough to walk round the block to Harlow Town station and seeing what flights arrive on Saturday, so we board the 1536 NXEA service to Stansted Airport , arriving at 1630 on Saturday afternoon.

 

[Ivo]

After a bit of planespotting (only the A319s and 737s came out ), it's time for a little visit to a little lady I like to call my niece. We thus go on the 1700 X30 coach to Southend, arriving at 1828 on Saturday evening.