... if it hadn't been for those blasted kids (later mellowed to "meddling kids"). Thus ended almost every episode of Scooby Doo as the true villain was unmasked.
There was even a noble attempt at Edale Station to guide people to the bus stop.
So, to repeat:-
They'd Have Gotten Away With It ...
If It Hadn't Been For Those Blasted Fares!
Here is an account from an interested party - not an OAP - who went for a look see last week.
I decided to cover the H1/2 Hope Valley services. I also intended to ride on the service and get pics on the route.
Went on the web and found the Hope Valley Explorer site reasonably easily.
The core service looked complicated so printed a tt out with the map on the other side.
Decided to use X17 Woodseats Library to Chesterfield then the H1 link from Chesterfield Cavendish Street to Bamford departing at 0905. This would allow breakfast in Chesterfield - I know a little cafe, The Cobbles Irongate ...
... that fbb would like.
Agreed says fbb!
The return was undecided but would involve the link to either stonegravels, Cavendish St or Dronfield.
Fare wise the plan was a day return Woodseats -chesterfield then the £6 adult day ticket.
On boarding the X17 I asked for a Woodseats - Chesterfield day return and was issued with a £5 group ticket - no idea why - but was assured that it was valid for one passanger.
On boarding the H1 at Cavendish street I was told that I would need a £7 Explorer ticket to get to Bamford as this was a normal bus service; the £6 adult ticket was not valid on the link buses.
The £6 was for the Fairholmes (Derwent) - Blue John / Edale service only as this is a tour and not a bus service. Hence why it has commentary - but not yesterday as normal buses were on it!
Remember, this is NOT mentioned on any of the publicity.
Why O why is it not mentioned on the website or anywhere else that the £6 ticket is only valid on the main route.
Good point!
If this had been explained on the website, I would have got the £7 Explorer ticket from Woodseats.
Good value indeed; it is valid on the Stagecoach X10 between Barnsley and Leeds so you could travel from Matlock to Leeds (and back!) for a modes £7.
This whole exercise appears to be over complicated and does not encourage the use of public transport.
The idea is good, publicity is in a lot of local outlets but the fare info appears to be totally misleading and the cost of traveling expensive - £18 for yesterday.
So in essence the link buses are normal buses the main route is a tour.
And so, travelling from Chesterfield will always cost you £13. OUCH!
But, as Chris Tarrant was wont to say on "Millionaire", "We don't want to tell you that!"
As fbb suggested in yesterday's blog, before the totality of the fares horrors were revealed:-
Two final points.
A copy of the text of the above communication was passed to Matt Davies ..
... boss of Stagecoach Yorkshire (which includes Chesterfield depot, operator of the H1 and H2). His reply suggested that he was genuinely concerned about the confusion and complications.
The problem, of course, is that the service is supported by money from Derbyshire and the Peak Park and, if that level of support is on the thin side, there will be pressure to gather up every possible shiny penny from the passenger.
Sadly that "gathering" seems unjust and off-putting.
fbb suggests that they "partners" should swallow their financial pride; make the base ticket the Chesterfield Explorer (£7), accept Derbyshire Wayfareres and Manchester ditto, accept old fogeys free and enjoy full buses.
Our correspondent spotted 18 on one bus yesterday despite miserable rain (perhaps because of miserable rain).
On the other hand, if you could always get 18 fare payers on every bus, every trip, you would probably be making good money.
Unlikely.
And An Edale Bonus
Yesterday, whilst Sheffield correspondent Roy was waiting for his H1/H2, this appeared:-
Note the miserable weather!
Roy had travelled by train from Sheffield to "enjoy" the Hope Valley Explorer from Edale Station. His pictures are not the best due to the smirry** weather, so dreich** that Roy had to buy a coat having previously deemed such protective clothing unnecessary.
Roy had travelled by train from Sheffield to "enjoy" the Hope Valley Explorer from Edale Station. His pictures are not the best due to the smirry** weather, so dreich** that Roy had to buy a coat having previously deemed such protective clothing unnecessary.
fbb is no expert on steam-hauled railtours but THINKS this might be the West Coast Railway Company at workas here on a finer day.
24 Hour Buses in Aldershot
The route is both long and busy ...
... with some impressive daytime frequencies ...
... and some impressive "Gold" buses.
fbb has been there and has ridden part of the route as blogged back in October 2017. He is unlikely ever to use the all-night service.
But it is an interesting development. 24 hour services are becoming more prevalent in big cities, but this is one of the first (THE first?) to run to run along a busy corridor, admittedly, but by no means a big city.
Tomorrow this blog returns to Sheffield to say goodbye to two of fbb's old and much-loved friends.
** smirry and dreich - two excellent Scottish words to describe typical Peak District summer weather! At least our correspondent bought a coat and thus was not drookit
But it is an interesting development. 24 hour services are becoming more prevalent in big cities, but this is one of the first (THE first?) to run to run along a busy corridor, admittedly, but by no means a big city.
Tomorrow this blog returns to Sheffield to say goodbye to two of fbb's old and much-loved friends.
** smirry and dreich - two excellent Scottish words to describe typical Peak District summer weather! At least our correspondent bought a coat and thus was not drookit
Next Sheffield memories blog : Monday 29th July
Derbyshire CC's website is still saying that Wayfarer tickets are "Valid on all services of the following operators" a list which includes Stagecoach. There is no list of exceptions. Part of the problem is that the H services appear to be run by vehicles that are obviously Stagecoach buses. If they were run by Scab, Rust and Baldytyres people might not expect Stagecoach or Wayfarer tickets to be valid.
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