Remember the X1 between Guildford and Horsham advertised as being operated by coaches? Correspondent Roger delved deep in his photographic archive and sent pictures of said luxury vehicles.
fbb is not sure how long they lasted on the route ...
... but they carried branding for the X1 - or was it the X7?
Were they removed because they were not up to "disability" standards?
Hardly suitable for the creaky elderly, let alone the disabled. The vehicles had at east two previous manifestations; branded for Virgin Atlantic in the ownership of Tellings Golden Miller ...
... and as just coaches for New Enterprise.
Both operators were/are part of the Arriva group.
As an aside, Roger reminds fbb of the change of livery for coaches operating on Arriva's "Green Line" routes. At one time these were stylish and colourful.
Now they have become a non-event.
Wondering About Press And Politicians
Northampton correspondent Alan sent this item from the local rag.
Northampton has thrown its hat into the ring in a bid to be part of a new railway link to south west London. The borough council has staked its interest to include the town in an ongoing plan, known as the East West Rail Consortium, to connect Oxford to Cambridge.
Oxford to Cambridge via Northampton?
If successful, a new train service from London Marylebone to Milton Keynes could carry on to Northampton Railway Station.
Marylebone? South West London?
Deputy leader councillor Phil Larratt has been appointed Northampton's representative at the consortium to negotiate the town's place on the scheme.
Councillor Larratt said: "I'm positive that Northampton could and should benefit from this new scheme."
"Northampton has not, for a long time, enjoyed a good rail service to anywhere other than Birmingham and London."
fbb is trying to think a time when Northampton has ever enjoyed a good service to anywhere other than Birmingham and London. Some would say that, up to the relatively recent growth of the town as a "commuter" station, it has never enjoyed a good service to anywhere.
If there is an opportunity to improve the town's railway links we will take it. It is hoped that Northampton can be added as an extra stop on a service from London Marylebone through Aylesbury to Milton Keynes Central."
Isn't Marleybone in London? Wouldn't the councillors proposed service be slower than the present London run?
And, of course, there will always be plenty of capacity for extra trains between Milton Keynes and Northampton, NOT.
Aylesbiry is, of course, a pleasant town, but ...
... nice clock!
Wondering About The Ferry
A possible excursion for Alan ...
On December 2nd Mr. Ensign is having his annual running day with the following routes
X21 Upminster – Brentwood – Ongar
X55 Upminster – Lakeside – Buewater – Gravesend
X81 Shenfield – Lakeside – Grays – Tilbury Ferry
This immediately produces a plan for a tour including a cruise on the Thames. The pass is valid on the Tilbury Ferry. That is until I receive this email:-
“Went on the ferry last year and I was seriously worried about safety. The boat looked past its best and was leaking. We had visions of finishing the trip on RNLI!!”
Wondering About Mr Men and Women
When fbb's sons were little, he always enjoyed the Mr Men series. Later Little Misses were added. They are all fun to translate from the French versions. Readers are invited to give the English versions of the above - but without reference to an English volume! That would be cheating.
This thought has stemmed from the news that he latest strive for gender equality will hit the bookshelves next spring.
Little Miss Inventor!
How about "Madame travaux d'égout"?
Wondering About the Image of Bus Travel
A sign in fbb's local chippie.
Presumably poor qualiy seating is now universally associated with bus travel?
Somebody should tell them that you don't even get a padded bum-perch in a bus shelter - more usually something that brings a pimply perforation preponderance to the perched posterior!
Northampton has thrown its hat into the ring in a bid to be part of a new railway link to south west London. The borough council has staked its interest to include the town in an ongoing plan, known as the East West Rail Consortium, to connect Oxford to Cambridge.
If successful, a new train service from London Marylebone to Milton Keynes could carry on to Northampton Railway Station.
Marylebone? South West London?
Deputy leader councillor Phil Larratt has been appointed Northampton's representative at the consortium to negotiate the town's place on the scheme.
"Northampton has not, for a long time, enjoyed a good rail service to anywhere other than Birmingham and London."
fbb is trying to think a time when Northampton has ever enjoyed a good service to anywhere other than Birmingham and London. Some would say that, up to the relatively recent growth of the town as a "commuter" station, it has never enjoyed a good service to anywhere.
If there is an opportunity to improve the town's railway links we will take it. It is hoped that Northampton can be added as an extra stop on a service from London Marylebone through Aylesbury to Milton Keynes Central."
Isn't Marleybone in London? Wouldn't the councillors proposed service be slower than the present London run?
And, of course, there will always be plenty of capacity for extra trains between Milton Keynes and Northampton, NOT.
Aylesbiry is, of course, a pleasant town, but ...
Wondering About The Ferry
A possible excursion for Alan ...
Experience some nostalgia riding on vintage buses
from the 1930s to 1980s on our annual
Vintage Bus Running Day.
X21 Upminster – Brentwood – Ongar
Wondering About Mr Men and Women
This thought has stemmed from the news that he latest strive for gender equality will hit the bookshelves next spring.
How about "Madame travaux d'égout"?
Wondering About the Image of Bus Travel
A sign in fbb's local chippie.
More Wonders blog : Sumday 26th November
The ferry operator has changed hands, and is no longer the enigmatically-named Lower Thames & Medway River Navigation Company.
ReplyDeleteIt is now Jetstream Tours and I think the ferry is now a catamaran built originally for White Horse Ferries in the 1990s. See www.jetstreamtours.com/index.php/the-tours/ferry. There's even a Twitter feed - https://twitter.com/TilburyFerry