fbb Makes a Terrible Confession ...

... for a Public Transport Enthusiast!

For the Monday of their recent York holiday, fbb, Mrs, Julia and David (all varyingly "mature") went on a tour of the Yorkshire Dales in a hire car. There, it has been said; the truth is out; fbb is exposed as a convenience bus user who cynically resorts to a motor car when ...

... public transport is unrealistic. The fbb's chosen route (the red dotted line on the map) was from York to Pateley Bridge, then Lofthouse, Jervaulx, Middleham then across the top to Kettlewell and back via Grassington.

Stops were planned at Pateley Bridge for coffee, Jervaulx Abbey for lunch and Kettlewell for tea.

Pateley Bridge is served hourly on Mondays to Saturdays from Harrogate by Transdev (that's the French Government in disguise!) and additional Sunday Dalesbus journeys ...

... operated by Utopia (as in York service 37, previously blogged) continue via Gouthwaite Reservoir ...

... but the link over the moors from Lofthouse to Jervaulx Abbey is not served by bus. The views, however are superb. The fbbs made a stop to take a look at the Abbey Ruins.

The Abbey is privately owned; and a model of the undamaged magnificence can be viewed in the Abbey tea rooms.

Friend Julia was fascinated by the little building in the bottom right of the model, called euphemistically the "garderobe". The building itself is long gone, but fbb had pleasure in pointing out the evidence for the purpose of that little "shed". fbb showed Julia the "poo-trench"!

Jervaulx is served by Dales and District route 159 running from Ripon to Richmond. North Yorkshire County, enthusiastic supporters of public transport, have typically provided a frame and timetable at the appropriate stop. Jervaulx is served approximately every two hours on Mondays to Saturdays.

The route also serves Middleham where fbb photgraphed the lightly loaded 1423 departure to Richmond.

After a quick visit to Middleham Castle ...

... the party took another bus un-served road across "the tops" to Kettlewell with magnificant views of Great Whernside on the way.

Once at Kettlewell, you join the bus service from Buckden via Grassington to Skipton ...

... whence the fbb's returned to York. The 72 provides a useful connection with the hourly electric train service from Leeds to Skipton.

There is plenty of transport in the Dales, including a wide selection of Sunday only routes advertised under the Dalesbus banner. Ironically, the best source of information for all public transport in the area is published by Metro (West Yorkshire PTE) which administratively and geographically only creeps into the southern fringes. The booklet is simply excellent and can be downloaded or obtained throughout the Dales.

Back to the fbb's first stop at Pateley Bridge. Two positives. One: a delightful "Cafe Delicious" which served appropriately delicious coffee and, impressively, mine hostess came round and offered a top-up. Mind you, fbb is not at all sure what a "way menu" is for him to take!

Two: a really friendly and helpful Tourist Information Centre ...

... where a FULL SET of local timetables was on display. O.K., the full set consists of only two ...

... but it is a 100% score and that is very very rare indeed. Thank you very nice man in charge!

Tomorrow, for a change, we go to hospital in Leicester.

 Next blog : Monday 28th May 

Superb & Colossal : Settle & Carlisle

But what is this? ...

Tubs of delicious locally made ice cream; raspberry pavlova, ginger and run & raisin. Absolutely yummy; and particularly so on a hot day and on a train with less than effective air conditioning! But that was the best and the worst of the fbb trip on the Settle & Carlisle [S & C] line.

But we need to begin at the beginning. Thanks to advice from fares guru Barry Doe, fbb had a copy of this leaflet ...

... which advertised a special "Round Robin" fare for a tour via the "world famous" S & C at £43. Old fogey's discount price £28.40 ...

... effectively a day rover ticket for travel anywhere on the routes outlined on the map above.

fbb would recommend an anti-clockwise circuit, starting at Leeds or York to get the boring bits out of the way first. North from York there's Durham Cathedral ...

... the Angel of the North ...

... and a view of the Tyne on arrival at and departure from Newcastle thereupon.

The Tyne Valley line runs through much pleasant country, increasing in grandeur as the journey proceeds Westwards. Railway enthusiasts will be aware of the unusual Wylam signal box passed under soon after leaving Newcastle.

But, as Chris Tarrant might say, "We don't want to giver you that ..."; we are here to travel on the Settle and Carlisle line. Much has been written elsewhere, so fbb is content to report the highlights of his journey only. On the list for closure, with closed stations and a run-down service, the line appeared to have no future.

A massive campaign by enthusiasts and local people alike not only saved the line but re-opened many of the stations. It is the work of enthusiasts that still ensures that travel over the line is just a bit special. The scenery is, of course, spectacular ...

... the stations are beautifully maintained ...

... and there is simply nothing to beat Ribblehead Viaduct!

(even if fbb was on a more mudane diesel unit rather than being steam hauled!). But it was the ice creams that did it.

And Eric!

The trolley service is run by the line's development company (website here) and on a hot Tuesday in May carried a cool-bag stuffed with ice cream tubs. Eric was helping to push the trolley. Eric also helps look after the gardens at Settle Station. And it was Eric who came round with the bag to collect the rubbish.

And Eric is a volunteer!

The same enthusiasm that kept the line open continues to promote and support the service today. Our train had yet another volunteer who what distributing information leaflets and looking after a pre-booked party.

There was one disappointing note, however. At Carlisle Station there was plenty of information from Scotrail ...

... leaflets for Transpennine's services that don't go anywhere near the Pennines ...

... but nothing, absolutely nothing about the Settle and Carlisle line. But as one of Eric's chums said "Carlisle Station is pretty useless." Perhaps because it is run by V*rg*n Tr**ns?

If you have never ridden the S & C, dear blog reader, you  MUST  do so. The fbb's were blessed with spectacularly fine weather but snow and even light rain do not detract from the magnificence. But try to avoid low cloud or fog!

Eric and his chums deserve our support; as does the memory of Ruswarp (pronounced Russup) the dog.

Among the people who formed the group that was to save the line was Graham Nuttall, a very modest Lancashire man, who shared with a growing number of people a sense of outrage that the S&C seemed condemned.

He became the first Secretary of the Friends of the Settle & Carlisle Line.

Graham and his faithful Border Collie dog Ruswarp were inseparable. Ruswarp's paw print had the distinction of being the only canine signature of objection to the line's closure. He was deemed to be a 'fare paying passenger' about to suffer 'hardship' should the line close.

On 20th January 1990 Graham went missing on a walking holiday. Then on 7th April 1990, a lone walker found Graham's body by a mountain stream in Wales. Nearby was Ruswarp, so weak that the 14 year old dog had to be carried off the mountain. He had stayed with his master's body throughout that winter.

Ruswarp was cared for by a local vet with fees paid by the RSPCA, who quickly decided to award Ruswarp their Animal Medallion and collar for 'vigilance' and their Animal Plaque for 'intelligence and courage'. Ruswarp lived just long enough to attend Graham's funeral.

His statue now proudly sits on Garsdale Station platform.
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And finally, a U-tube video of a steam special back in February 2012. (view here) Almost as delicious as the ice cream!

Tomorrow, a dire confession from the fat bus bloke.

 Next blog : Sunday 27th May  Whit Sunday 

A Toddle to Toilet-less Tadcaster

When the cat's away...

On the last day of the fbb's break in York, Mrs and friend Julia decided to have a look round the shops, take in the open top bus tour and ride of the "York Wheel". Meanwhile, fbb was allowed off his leash to do what he enjoys, namely have a ride around on the buses. Unfortunately the weather was less than conducive for bus riding as most vehicles were only a few degrees cooler than the surface of the sun.

Nevertheless the hot and sticky chubby one went to Tadcaster, known universally and locally as just "Tad".

Why Tad? Firstly because he had never been there before and secondly because of this:-

The real time information at York is a real mess. Not all services are included in the system and different types of screen and display make the whole thing very user un-friendly. fbb has blogged previously about this, see "York : ID : ten : TIC" (read again), published on 16th June 2010. Frankly, in two years, nothing much has changed.

Service 37 provides three tendered trips "round the villages" on Saturdays and non-schooldays, two on schooldays. Mysteriously this service is the ONLY southbound "country" route shown on the screens. Annoyingly the screen display is at the wrong stop as well! Other more frequent and "prestigious" services, like Coastliner's every 15 minute frequency route direct to Tad and Leeds, simply don't appear. Why? No idea!

The villages served by the 37 are pleasantly rural but one provides something of a surprise:-

Located in Askham Bryan, just across the road from the pond, is Askham Hall Women's Prison which often provides passengers for the 37; not escapees, but ladies off to do their days "rehab" work.

Wighill White Swan was closed and for sale ...

... when Google's noddy car passed by; and an ever alert fbb did not note the hostelry's current status as he, too, passed by.

Utopia Coaches of Sherburn-in-Elmet hold the contract for the 37 and fbb's driver was enthusiastic about recent growth in business with a record 60 passengers carried on a recent two-trip day. On his trip, fbb was the only passenger for almost all of the route, the exception being "Old Alf" who travels every day from Askham Richard to Tesco at Askham Bar in York, does a bit of shopping, and returns on the next trip out. Needless to say, Alf is picked up and set down outside his front door.

The bus had a leaflet rack with information for all the company's bus services; an excellent effort. For those who worry about low tender prices and poor profitability, fbb's driver explained that the vehicle does a school run in to Tad, returning after the second round trip.

And so to Tad itself where the main industry was (and still is) Beer. Of the four breweries in the town, three still operate. Way back when, two brothers decided on brewing independence which led to John Smith's Tadcaster Ales and Samuel Smiths Taddy Ales. John's business is now a big public company, but "young Sammy (actually Humphrey)" is something of a local "character" and his brew is still local.

As  fbb's driver explained, "Some in Tad love Humphrey, others hate his guts!"

The return from Tad to York was on Yorkshire Coastliner's frequent and high quality service which will, in due course, have a blog of its own. Suffice it to say, fbb's vehicle had a standing load and was running 12 minutes late.

Tadcaster bus station is new-ish and very neat and tidy, but lacking any facilities. The sole toilet (20p) was one of those efforts with a control panel from the moon space mission and it appeared to be busted! fbb declined to insert and thus waste a hard earned 20p (!) and "made other arrangements" which will not concern us here. Certainly he needed to hedge his bets on this one.

It is odd, though, that the world and his uncle bend over backwards to provide disabled access, low floor buses etc. but the able-loo-needy and able-elderly are often obliged to continue their journeys in some discomfort.

Now about this standing load. fbb likes to think he's not "old" (poor deluded fellow) but on the 844 two polite students from Tadcaster Grammar School both offered the old codger a seat. Thank you very much, young sirs, you are a credit to your parents/school. Overwhelmed with politeness and depressed by being recognised as needing a seat, fbb remained standing until Copmanthorpe, where empty places became available.

Tomorrow, also from the York holiday, a fantastic feast of Ferro-equinological fun.

 Next blog : Saturday 26th May 

The Boggart goes by Bus [2]

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[First Bus press release issued yesterday, 23rd May]
Eclipse buses carry 100,000th passenger

Less than a month after buses started running on the new Eclipse Bus Rapid Transit network in Gosport and Fareham, data from the on board ticket machines has shown that more than 100,000 people have travelled on the new routes. The 100,000th passenger travelled on the bus on Thursday 17 May; ahead of expectations.

While it is still too early to assess the true impact on the nearby congested A32, which connects Gosport and Fareham, data from First Hampshire and Dorset suggests that as there has been an overall increase in bus use in the area, it would appear some people are making the move from car to bus for travel between the two towns.

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Seen recently in York Station

So, lads, be prepared to queue;

there's only one!

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Back to the blog:-

Competition, Collusion or Collapse at Rochdale : part two

Yesterday we left First Bus as the sole operator of Manchester route 17, successors to a historic and long-tern operation by Manchester and Rochdale Corporations. In the last few years, competition has arrived in the persons of JPT.

JP Travel, sometimes known as JPT or Jpt Bus Company, is a bus company based at Middleton in Greater Manchester, England. The company is owned by Janet and Peter Walsh and runs local services in the North Manchester area. The JP in JP Travel forms the initials of their first names. The company entered the bus market in 1987. A small network of services began to form during the latter part of the 1980s under the name of "City Nippy".

The company has been one of the innovators in the use of social media, advertising a Facebook page at which customers can communicate with the operator. Buses carry a logo advising passengers to "become a fan of Jpt Bus Company" by joining the Facebook site.

Here, in addition to usual comment and advice, you can solve interesting little puzzles ...

What is odd about this paragraph?

Answer at the end of this blog.

... and even submit jokes:-

Boom, boom!

Publicity comes from Transport for Greater Manchester [TfGM] in the form of a "combined" timetable ...

... merging the services of both companies; actually all three companies because JPT also operates as Eurobus, competing with itself (?).

The main table in the TfGM leaflet does not attempt to detail departures, preferring to summarise the Monday to Saturday service as "at frequent intervals". JPT/Eurobus do not run on Sundays.

Oddly there is a second table in the leaflet for JPT/Eurobus only journeys ...

... but for First's unimpeded buses you have to go to their own web site. How did JPT manage to get this isolationist privilege?

Up to not long ago, competition was very much on price, with JPT offering a day ticket for just £2.80 ...

... set against First's £4.50. First, on the other hand, offers swish hybrid vehicles ...

... in puce and silver. So, at this stage it's First's quality versus JPT's price. But First are forging forward with fantastic features; one of which is, from mid May ...

... a deal which matches JPT's price.

Service 18, incidentally is wholly First's route, providing a five minute frequency between Manchester and Middleton. The 18 then serves the local Langley area.

The special offer from First has been received with some cynicism by whoever writes on JPT's facebook page ...

Local and anecdotal rumour [from a Manchester correspondent] suggests that JPT has not always operated in a "professional" manner at bus stops and, since the First price reduction, has countered by giving our tickets for free rides; hardly the best way to sustain their company's viability.

Is this the start of the price war? Which operator will crack first; First or JPT? Can First stand more pain than JPT? The "City" men in grey suits are not at all pleased with First's performance and want to see them make more money. It's a tough one, isn't it.

Until hostilities are replaced with some kind of (illegal) "deal" or retrenchment by the interloper, it's a huge bargain for Rochdale residents whichever company they use. Day return by bus to Manchester, £2.80. Day return by train, £3.90 off peak BUT a whopping £7.20 at Monday to Friday peak times. Journey time by bus 49 minutes; journey time by train 14 to 20 minutes. And First are offering network-wide availability at weekends. It's a tough one, isn't it.

How will it all end? Competition, Collusion or Collapse?
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Answer to puzzle paragraph : it doesn't contain a letter "e". fbb (biged!) spotted it straight away.
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And the boggart?

He is a mischievous little sprite who makes life difficult for all those who cross his cheeky little path. He works his malpractice in Boggart Hole Clough Park ...

... just off the main Rochdale Road. He probably travels on service 17 to get to work. Maybe he even has shares in JPT?
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 Next blog : Friday May 25th