The Transport Game

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Wishing to make a short bus ride, we board the 2143 Blackpool Transport service 11 to Ansdell that arrives there at 2209 on Wednesday evening.

 

[Zoe]

Now from Ansdell and Fairhaven station on Northern Rail at 2341 to Preston at 0008.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I'm glad you jumped in Zoe I didn't know where to go from here! :P

We then check into a hotel and on Thursday morning we catch 1C71, the 1045 First TransPennine Express service to Windermere for a lovely day at the Lakes, which arrives at 1139.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Brrrr, far too chilly to go anywhere remotely near the lake at this time of the year, even though the stroll downhill from the station to the lake would do us good, but very thoughtfully, there has been bus stops placed outside the station and we purchase some snacks from the supermarket outside the station, as there was only 20 minutes to spare before boarding the 1159 Stagecoach in Cumbria service 555 for an excellent sightseeing journey that arrives in Keswick at 1305 on Thursday afternoon.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Oh warm up! :P

After a nice hour or so in Keswick, we then jump on the number X50 bus operated by Stagecoach Cumbria to Cockermouth, which leaves from Hazelmere B&B at 1502 and arrives at Cockermouth Main Street at 1544 on Thursday apres-midi.

 

[Eagle]

...so we board the 0655 Circle Line service from Marble Arch to London Marylebone, arriving there at 0710 on Wednesday morning.

Far be it from me to make you backtrack two days' worth of posting, but since when were Marble Arch and Marylebone on the Circle line?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Far be it from me to make you backtrack two days' worth of posting, but since when were Marble Arch and Marylebone on the Circle line?

I constantly get Oxford Circus and Marble Arch confused...as they are not so far apart and this is the way to connect to Marylebone..

Thank goodness this is not "The next station is" quiz.

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Back on the quiz again:-

Having had to stop our plans to visit the area, owing to being accosted by a London Underground official who demanded the unpaid fare from Marble Arch to Oxford Circus ( they can track you down anywhere, so it seems, even in the Lake District!!), we stay at the bus station in Cockermouth until we can board the 1642 Stagecoach in Cumbria service 600 to Carlisle Bus Station (Bay 4) that arrives at 1743 on Thursday evening

 

[ValleyLines142]

Upon arrival at Carlisle Bus Station, we then walk across to the railway station and decide to have the evening in Scotland, and catch 1S75, the 1811 First TransPennine Express service to Edinburgh, which arrives at 1939 on Thursday evening.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Feeling the need for a decent meal, we find a choice of places and decide to have the sirloin steak as the main course. Feeling that this leisurely repast had nourished our "inner men", we return to board the 2140 First ScotRail service to Aberdeen, arriving there at 0003 on Friday morning.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Ooh yummy

Easy one coming up for me:

We then check into a very luxurious hotel and on Friday morning we embark on the beast that is 1V60, the 0820 CrossCountry service to Penzance, which arrives at 2143 on Friday evening.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

After one of the longest rail services we have made recently, we stroll outside the side exit from the station, past the external rail terminal line, then into the bus station just across the road to check for bus times. A stroll along the front with the strong small of the sea in the air refreshes us and we leisurely make our way back to the bus station to stand "F". Not too long to wait and we board the First Devon and Cornwall 18B service to Redruth railway station that arrives at 2339 on Friday evening.

 

[ValleyLines142]

After staying at a friend's house (can't afford hotels any more!) we then go to Redruth station and board 1S43, the 0657 CrossCountry service to Glasgow and alight at Birmingham at 1156 on Saturday, just in time for a spot of dinner!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Saturday sees a different rail clientèle than weekdays and the station is thronging with all sections of humanity, so we decide to go northwards again to continue our journey and board the 1320 Virgin Trains service to Lancaster, arriving there at 1508 on Saturday afternoon.

 

[ValleyLines142]

After grabbing a quick coffee and a snap of a few photos, we then jump on 1C53, the 1520 First TransPennine Express service to Barrow-in-Furness, which arrives just under an hour later at 1616 on Saturday afternoon.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We have to remember to look at the Saturday timetable ready for the "Grand Tour" of the Cumbrian Coast, so after a quick snack and a hot drink, we board the 1725 Northern service to Carlisle, that arrives at 1953 on a Saturday night.

 

[ValleyLines142]

We stop for a bite to eat before boarding 2N62, the 2120 Northern service to Newcastle, which arrives at 2300 on Saturday evening, perfect time for clubbing!

 

[ainsworth74]

After dancing the night away we arrive back at Newcastle bleary eyed but keen to continue our journey by boarding the 09:45 Northern service to Middlesbrough arriving at 11:05 on Sunday morning.

 

[ValleyLines142]

That was like me this morning, had the hangover from hell!

Ooh I like Middlesbrough. We do lots of things, and then leave on 1F71, the 1642 First TransPennine Express service to Liverpool and alight at Manchester Piccadilly at 1904 on Sunday evening.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just time for a hot drink, then it is time to board the 1930 ATW service to Cardiff Central that terminates there at 2305 on an extremely cold Sunday night.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Yay my home town!

As there are no other services except for a Swansea service, we then check into the Hilton Hotel and in the morning take our lovely dogs on board 2Y25, the 0955 Arriva Trains Wales service to Barry Island, which arrives at 1025 on Monday morning.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Wishing to make some train journeys in South Wales that we have only read about, but never actually made, we board the 1040 ATW service to Aberdare that arrives there at 1216 on Monday afternoon.

 

[ValleyLines142]

After an hour or so in Aberdare, we then make our way to the lovely town of Pontypridd. This can be done by jumping on 2Y55, the 1352 Arriva Trains Wales service to Barry Island, which arrives at Pontypridd at 1422 on Monday afternoon.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Now to sample the bus travel in the area, so we walk to the bus station and catch the 1435 Stagecoach in South Wales service 120 to Treorchy that arrives at the P.O. bus stop there at 1533 on Monday afternoon.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Now to sample the bus travel in the area, so we walk to the bus station and catch the 1435 Stagecoach in South Wales service 120 to Treorchy that arrives at the bus station there at 1503 on Monday afternoon.

Where did you get this info from? Treorchy I didn't even know had a bus station, and on Stagecoach's timetable for the 120 it is scheduled for arrival at the Post Office at 1533, takes an hour.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Where did you get this info from? Treorchy I didn't even know had a bus station, and on Stagecoach's timetable for the 120 it is scheduled for arrival at the Post Office at 1533, takes an hour.

I normally check what I type, but I had to dash this one off quickly and did not notice that I had typed bus station (force of habit) instead of P.O. bus stop and 1503 instead of 1533. Last posting has been duly amended and a time reason given in the edit section.

Over to you now.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Fab!

In that case, we shall then board 1T34, the 1604 Arriva Trains Wales service to Treherbert, at Treorchy railway station, opposite the Post Office, which arrives at Treherbert at 1613 on Monday afternoon. Note - this is one of only two services that run from Cardiff Central to Radyr fast via the City Line, hence the 1xxx headcode as opposed to 2.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Half an hour to spare, looking around, then re-commencing our South Wales tour at the railway station by boarding the 1647 ATW service to Radyr that arrives at 1731 on a Monday evening.

It certainly has been a very varied Monday as regards travelling!!
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A point of clarification is needed

Are we using real-time comparisons, for whilst we always abide by the Saturday and Sunday legs being run in accordance to the days that we have to state in each posting, we will be entering the Christmas and New Year period where there may be special timetables covering some days in that time

 

[ValleyLines142]

Thank you for the clarification. The only changes for Arriva come into place from Christmas Eve, where there is a normal Saturday service but with an early finish, i.e. around 7pm. Christmas Day and Boxing Day there are no services. From Tuesday 27th things should be fine, we'll probably be out of Wales then (or shall we? )

Your very well-timed trip to Radyr means we can go to Coryton and have a meal in the Hollybush Pub, literally right next door to the station. Full carvery with all the trimmings £3.50! So at Radyr we jump on 2C45, the 1734 Arriva Trains Wales service to Coryton via The City Line, which arrives at 1813 on Monday evening.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It is dark in the early evening hours in December, so reluctantly only take a ten minute stroll as far as we can dare from the Hollybush Inn, then return to Coryton railway station where we board the 1845 ATW service to Cardiff Central, arriving there at 1906 on Monday evening.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Upon arrival at Central we grab a coffee and board 2P91, the 1931 Arriva Trains Wales service to Penarth, which arrives at 1944 on Monday evening.