Pusskins's Diary

The last four days

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:13:58 GMT

Friday 5^th March was a day working at Helpline. There is a slight glimmer of hope in a meeting being held on Monday 15^th to discuss plans, but beyond that, no-one yet knows what will happen, or how, with regards the transfer of the service. Back home in the afternoon, bought a few things in Cambridge to make dinner, and then prepared for Saturday. I took a few pictures in Cambridge, and you can see them here.

Saturday 6^th March was the 2010 Million Womens Rise – and Switchboard had a presence in Trafalgar Square! So, we went into London, had breakfat at Camino (near Kings Cross) before continuing. Lots of fun, although cold and a bit tired towards the end! We then continued to a Spanish resturant C liked the sound of in Portobello Road, so we went out west, but (as we went in spec) we didn't realise they were closed for a private party! So, back to town on a 23 bus, until we spotted Star Of Bombay on Westbourne Grove. Good food, although I was a little tired and didn't properly enjoy it. Cab back to Kings Cross via Edgware Road and Camden Town, before a ride back to Hertford North, for a rail replacement bus back to Royston. You can see the pictures that I took here - a mix of rally/march pics and some bus stuff!

Sunday 7^th March was a day to catch up and relax!

Monday 8^th March was mostly working at home for Woottens, and lots of work done on the Tiger Line page on Facebook, plus promoting the service changes from 19^th April. Happy International Womens Day all!

Tiger Line Service Changes, April 2010

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:03:33 GMT

Changes to Service T1 and T1X
Starting Monday 19th April 2010

We are making some changes to your local bus Service T1 and T1X -
    * The 0900 Monday-Friday departure from Chesham Broadway to Aylesbury Service T1X will now run as Service T1 via Wendover and Worlds End Garden Centre, instead of the Wendover By-Pass. This follows customer requests in this area.
    * To improve on reliability in the afternoon, the 1545 Monday-Friday departure from Aylesbury to Bovingdon, HMP The Mount, will terminate at Chesham Broadway at 1620.
    * For the same reason, the 1645 Monday-Friday departure from Bovingdon, HMP The Mount, to Aylesbury will now start from Chesham Broadway at 1700.

Changes to Service T2
Starting week commencing Monday 19th April 2010
    * An additional Monday-Friday bus from Chesham at 0810, which will run via the Ashlyns School during term time at 0823. The bus will then continue to Berkhamsted 0827, Hemel Hempstead departing at 0848, arriving at Watford for 0926. There will also be an additional journey in the other direction from Watford at 0915, arriving Hemel at 0954.
    * The 1500 Monday-Friday bus from Watford Town Centre to Hemel Hempstead will extend beyond Hemel to Berkhamsted arriving 1533, then via Ashlyns School during term time at 1537, terminating at Chesham 1549.
    * The 1638 Monday-Friday service from Watford to Chesham, will terminate at Hemel Hempstead, arriving at 1718.
    * Two additional late afternoon buses have been added, as a result of public demand. A new Monday-Friday bus will leave Hemel Hempstead at 1718, arrivng Watford 1804. A new later return bus will leave Watford at 1810, arriving Hemel Hempstead 1850, Berkhamsted 1905, Chesham at 1919.
    * From Saturday 24th April 2010, we will be introducing a new hourly Saturday service between Watford and Hemel Hempstead. Buses will leave Hemel Hempstead Bus Station at 0848 and hourly until 1548, with buses from Watford Town Centre 0930 and hourly to 1630. There will be two buses starting at Chesham at 0816 and 0916 via Berkhamsted, and the last two buses from Watford will continue to Chesham.

With all the excitement earlier...

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:21:06 GMT

... forgot to mention that I got a call from the doctor's office yesterday. They've referred me back to Addenbrookes, after I had problems with being unable to book via the new Choose & Book service.

Other Monday and Tuesday news

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:13:28 GMT

On Monday past (1st), my first Explorer of March - and no snow! It was also a chance to cross the Travel with Hunny Service 392 off the To-Do List! (Also found a rather nice stationery shop that I keep going past in Ware!)

Arriva Versa 2403 331 Royston Bus Station - Ware Town Hall
Arriva Trident 5446 310 Ware College - Hoddesdon, Clock Tower
Hunny BMC ending in XCL 392 Clock Tower - Rye Park
Hunny BMC ending in XCL 392 Rye Park - Harlow, Bus Station
S M Coaches Dart K714 KCU Harlow - Hertford Bus Stn
Arriva DAF 3832 331 Hertford Bus Stn - Ware, The Priory
Arriva Versa 2403 331 Ware, Amwell End - Royston, Old North Rd at Orchard Rd

Pictures from Monday, including a Centrebus Dennis Lance broke down at Hoddesdon, and building work at Harlow bus station, can be seen here.

Today, aside from my earlier announcement, it's been a busy day otherwise. Into London for Switchboard in the morning, before returning early afternoon!

Tomorrow... well... ;-)

All can now be revealed!

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:45:22 GMT

I can now explain why I have had to be mystic Suzy here on LJ, for the last few weeks. I can now reveal that I have been offered (and accepted!)a paid job with a bus operator! I am working for Tiger Line Buses (part of Woottens, Lye Green, nr Chesham, Bucks) and my new job title of choice is Planning & Marketing Assistant. It's mostly working from home on a casual basis, but I'm already loving it. Feels really good to be asked!

Bus Randomness

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:43:08 GMT

Right, in no particular order, starting around Dundee, Perth, back to Dundee, Cambridge and the shire, and onto Norfolk.

1. Firstly, earlier in the month, DundeeBuses.info is one! Remember last year I compiled a list of downloadable timetables, simple and whenever you needed it? Well, in the first year, 24,504 visits and an average of 199 per day (see some stats from the first year here) – wonderful news, showing it was certainly needed. Indeed, since January, the website has experienced an interesting spike upwards with visitors – just glad that I could be of help, well over 24 thousand times!

2. Remember Bankfoot Buses hired Max Clifford to repair their shattered image? What, with photocopied operator licence discs and ex-Ensignbus (bus dealer) Darts proclaiming to be “Stagcoach”, you'd have wondered why. Anyway, having worked through the Scottish TC and onto the internal VOSA appeal, they ended up disqualified indefinitely, still with a fine, and Transport Scotland are questioning over fraudulent free concession pass reimbursement claims. Well, as I said, they had one last shot – an appeal to The Upper Tribunal, formerly The Transport Tribunal. I'm not going to quote the full chapter and verse on this one, but it's for all to see at this link, with the full version downloadable here. Basically, it's still no, they've upheld the decision of the Deputy Traffic Commissioner. The decision of the Upper Tribunal states: “With regard to disqualification, we are not surprised that the Deputy Traffic Commissioner considered this a necessary addition to the revocations since the various deliberate instances of defiance of law and good practice were blatant and pre-meditated. There is no place in the industry for those who attempt to deceive Traffic Commissioners at public inquiry, including involving the forgery of an ‘O’ licence disc.”

3. Talking of the Traffic Commissioner, Fishers Tours were in hot water following some issues with the Scottish Express services last year. I mentioned in this post, and this post, the background and a follow-up correction. Well, subsequently, the operator have appealed to VOSA against the penalty, and been allowed to continue until the appeal is held – probably March. The operator have added a note of this to their website (which was the first word about it) as well as taking out press advertising.

4. Cambridge's Guided Busway. I have to mention it, seeing as everyone else does. No announcement of a revised opening date. It looks like the delays might well be caused by a series of contractor rows and further strops over money (remember where you read it first!) As such, the council is taking out loans to cover the increased cost, but intend to claim it back from the contractor. (Just a thought, but does this mean the integrated smartcard ticketing and the southern section might be ready at the same time as the top bit?)

4A. In an interesting side, the Stagecoach vehicles had said (for almost a year) “I'll be on The Busway soon, will you”. They've now been changed (apparently with the approval of the council!) to say “Will I be on The Busway soon?” Stagecoach Cambridgeshire Managing director Andy Campbell told the Cambridge Evening News: "When we got these buses 12 months ago we were told the busway would be open in the late summer, so we decided to put these adverts on to encourage people to see what was coming in the near future. "Those adverts have now been on the buses for a year and it’s not realistic to the keep the same message. "We’ve got no indication of when the guideway is going to open so we decided to change the message in a light-hearted way." A council spokesman said: "Stagecoach shared their plans to reword the slogan on their buses with us at a recent meeting. "Obviously we share their frustration at the ongoing delay in opening the busway, but Stagecoach, the public and ourselves are entirely in the hands of the contractor BAM Nuttall as to when they complete works and the service can open."

5. Some of the changes registered by Stagecoach in Cambridgeshire (that were postponed late last year, blaming The Busway and waiting for new vehicles) have been registered again, to take effect in April. Stagecoach Cambridge are then expecting 50 new double-deck buses which will run on biofuel. It is then understood that some of the displaced buses will end up in Peterborough – apparently they do not have space for a biofuel tank at their depot. The Cambridge citi network is to be relaunched then, but it is understood that some cuts will be brought in beside the bigger buses. I know the Royston 26/27 is changing on one journey by five minutes, but the rest of the network changes are to follow. With regards to the February changes, some minor bits and last-minute twists were made, although some escaped the radar. One interesting service-change-related twist was the relocation of the almost two year old Enviro200's from Peterborough's citi7 to Cambridge, where they are being used on the citi2 mostly.

6. Norfolk Green are planning to introduce their Summer timetables from 2^nd April. I mention this because it follows up with several posts I've made recently.

Coasthopper (Huntstanton – Wells – Sheringham/Cromer)
Our summer times see a return to buses every half hour between Hunstanton and Wells, and between Wells and Cromer, with a bus every hour fast to and from King's Lynn, connecting with the trains. Between May and September, our Summer Sunday service is even better than ever, with buses every half hour along the coast all day long. What's more, from 24 May we launch Coasthopper Xtra which will offer faster journeys from King's Lynn to Burnham Market via Sedgeford and Docking, and also put Holt and Kelling Heath Holiday Park on the Coasthopper map too, as well as providing extra seats between Burnham Market and Cley during the busiest times of the day.

Fairstead One (Kings Lynn Bus Station – Fairstead Circular)
We've improved our morning peak hour service with an extra bus doing the loop at 0748 (0750 Saturdays). We've also added in a little more running time along Gaywood Road at peak times to help us stay on track.

North Lynn Too! (Kings Lynn Bus Station – North Lynn Circular)
We've added an extra earlier bus on Mondays to Fridays doing the loop at 0720, and getting you back into town for 0745.

Gaywood Five (Kings Lynn Bus Station – Gaywood Park Circular)
We've added an extra bus doing the loop from town at 0900.

the 26A (Blakeney – Fakenham for Kings Lynn)
The afternoon bus will leave Fakenham slightly later at 1700, still connecting with the X8 from King's Lynn.

the 27 (Fakenham – The Creakes – Syderstone – Four Wynds, for Kings Lynn)
The 0935 bus from South Creake will now be extended to start at Fakenham at 0935. The 1735 College day bus from Fakenham will no longer run.

the 29 (Fakenham – Walsingham - Wells)
There are some slight timing changes in the morning and early evening. The first bus from Fakenham to Wells will now be at 0800.

the 34 (Benwick or Manea – March Tesco Extra)
This service will be merged in with the 56 to create a new link from Manea or Benwick through March to Wisbech - see under the 56 for details.

the 35 (Hunstanton – Kings Lynn)
Extra buses will run in conjunction with the Coasthopper summer timetable, and we'll also be serving our stop within Searles Holiday Park at Hunstanton again. There are also later buses on Thursday and Friday nights this year, and all our buses are timed to connect with the trains at King's Lynn!

the 37 (Southery – Downham Market – Kings Lynn)
There is a slight timing change to the Sunday buses, and also the 1435 bus from King's Lynn will follow the standard route south of Downham Market during school holidays.

the 46 (March – Guhyrin - Wisbech – Kings Lynn)
Will now be running seven days a week, with brand new Sunday buses during the day between March, Wisbech and King's Lynn, connecting with 35 buses to Hunstanton! There are also some timing changes during the week, and the 0750 bus from Wisbech to March is put back to 0800 and extended to start at Terrington St John. We still connect with Stagecoach X9 buses to and from Cambridge with through fares, and with the 56 there are now green buses every 30 mins between Wisbech and March through the day!

the 48 (Grimston – Kings Lynn)
There are some very minor timing changes to a couple of journeys.

the 50 (Long Sutton – Tydd St Mary - Wisbech)
This service is changing to merge together our existing 50 and 55 buses between Long Sutton, Sutton Bridge and Wisbech. We are improving the Long Sutton town service with buses in both directions along Cowper's Gate and past Peele School, and between Tydd St Mary and Leverington we are diverting through Tydd St Giles and Newton instead of Four Gotes. Buses wil run approx every two hours during the day with extra buses at peak times, and with connections and through fares available onto the 505 to King's Lynn or Spalding. Buses will no longer be calling at Wisbech Tesco.

the 55 (Long Sutton – Tydd St Giles - Wisbech)
This service is being replaced by the new 50, see above for details.

the 56 (March – Elm - Wisbech)
This service will be extended beyond March to Wimblington then Benwick or Manea, replacing the 34. This new route will also link Wisbech with Doddington Hospital. Buses will run every hour during the day between Wisbech and Wimblington, then approx every two hours to either Benwick or Manea. We won't be going to the big Tesco store at March any more, but we'll still be linking Elliott Road with town every hour. All buses through Wimblington will also now call at the village hall, saving you the walk to the main road. Together with the 46, there will now be green buses every 30mins between Wisbech and March through the day!

the 60 (Three Holes – Outwell - Wisbech)
There will be some very minor timing changes in the morning, but a much later last bus back into Wisbech on Mondays to Fridays, leaving Three Holes at 1703.

the 63 (Wisbech – The Walpoles – Kings Lynn)
There are some slight timing changes to a couple of journeys.

the 66 (Wisbech Town Service)
The afternoon service is improved, with buses every 30 mins up to 1500, then buses at 1605, 1640 and on Mondays to Fridays a later last bus at 1735.

the 505 (Spalding – Terrington – Kings Lynn)
There are some slight timing changes to most journeys to improve timekeeping, especially during the work on the South Gates roundabout. On Mondays to Fridays, there's a brand new bus at 0735 from Long Sutton into King's Lynn to help reduce overcrowding on the 0744 bus from Walpole Cross Keys. There's also good news in the evening, as we're extending the 1935 bus from King's Lynn right through to Holbeach!

the X5 (Norwich – Cromer – Sheringham, evenings & Sundays)
On Mondays to Fridays there will be new daytime buses from Norwich, linking straight through to Coasthopper at Sheringham to get you on your way along the coast. These will leave Norwich at 0830, returning from Sheringham at 1545 (Cromer 1605). This is especially good news as from 1 April over-60s with Norfolk passes will once again be able to board buses for free during the week within the Norwich City boundary from the standard Norfolk time of 0830!

the X6 (Fakenham – Holt - Cromer)
The 1710 bus from Cromer will run only as far as Melton Constable (the 1810 bus still runs through to Fakenham for King's Lynn).

the X8 (Fakenham – Kings Lynn)
There are some very minor timing changes to afternoon College day buses from King's Lynn. The 1817 bus from Fakenham to King's Lynn will no longer run, but the last bus at 1915 will still be running as now.

the X29 (Norwich – Pensthorpe - Fakenham)
We've plugged the gaps so that there is a basic hourly service right through the day between Fakenham, Pensthorpe and Norwich. We've also further improved the Monday to Friday peak hour buses with extra journeys at 0830 into Norwich, returning at 1720.

Since my last confession... been busy! LOL

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:29:13 GMT

I've been extremly busy with many things over the last 12 days since my previous LJ post.

Wednesday 17^th February was quiet at home.

Thursday 18^th February was an afternoon out. Caroline had the afternoon off work, for an evening social with LLGS Womens Group. So, we travelled into London, dropped off a package for Malc, before continuing to the West End to get some new jeans at Evans for me (as well as some shoes!), partially following Tesco no longer stocking the sizes that they used to (except online). From there, we had dinner at Pizza Express, before continuing to Elephant & Castle by taxi (a gap in the 148's in lashing rain!). While the rain deterred some, we had coffee before browsing an exhibition "Another Side Of The Rainbow", placed in the shopping centre for LGBT History Month. We then continued by Tube to Angel, before going for a couple in The Castle (pub in Islington), back to Kings Cross, then home by train.

Friday 19^th February was in Cambridge, doing a day on the PFH, before back home via The Grafton.

Saturday 20^th February, first of all, was subject to railway engineering work between Hitchin and Stevenage, so I decided to avoid this by getting C to drop me off at Whittlesford Parkway, taking the National Express East Anglia Cambridge – London Liverpool Street line. Bonus – a new route for me! On the outward journey, I took the train to Tottenham Hale, before changing there onto the Victoria tube line. I was heading to a building near Victoria, for an away day organised by the Womens Group of LLGS. It wasn't work, it wasn't a social, but a mix of both. Additionally, I am now one of the four co-ordinators (below the two co-chairs) of the group, voted in on the day. From there, a couple in an adjacent pub, before I took bus 11 home from Westminster to Liverpool Street, changing there for a train to Whittlesford Parkway.

Sunday 21^st February was a day at home.

Monday 22^nd February was an essential day out. However, a couple of snags before I got the chance to get out the door! Snow had fallen, quite a bit of it, which naturally needed attention. Secondly, the weekend railway engineering work on the First Capital Connect Great Northern line had over-ran, so my plan of getting an early morning train to Stevenage turned into a train to Hitchin, then a coach belonging to Hamilton's of Uxbridge to Stevenage railway station. The coach was nice enough, but naturally extended the journey time somewhat, before joining slow traffic on the M1, and (minimal) roadworks through Coreys Mill to Stevenage. From there, the journey plan started to slip. I had intended to change there to the 635/634 uno bus to Hemel Hempstead fast, but no. Took Enviro 3550 on the Arriva SB8 to the Bus Station, had breakfast before going for 3562 on the 301. We started losing more time, and were told to turn short at St Albans, instead of continuing to Hemel. However, it got worse before it got better. The virtually new bus was struggling in the snow, up and down hills, and with other slow moving traffic. We were 41 minutes late at Welwyn Garden City bus station, 69 minutes late at Hatfield railway station, but by then the roads were starting to improve, and less hills to negotiate, so we ended up 62 minutes late at St Albans. The first bus that was taking me close to my plan was a 321 to Watford, so piled on Mercedes Citaro 3562 for a good run to Watford Town Centre. From there, early lunch (!!!) before continuing on Tiger A12 WTN of Woottens/Tiger Line on the T2 to Hemel via Cassiobury Estate and Kings Langley, Arriva Dart 3500 on the 550 back to Watford Junction via Nash Mils and Cassio Campus, Arriva green Solo 2492 on the W30 to Watford town centre, then Woottens/Tiger Line A15 WTN on the T1 back to Hemel via Cassiobury and KL again, before taking uno Scania 352 fast back to Stevenage via the M10, Hatfield and A1[M] on the 634, which continues as a 635 to Stevenage railway station. Train back was also delayed, but only by around 20 minutes. The one day where I had to go out... anyway, you can see the pictures here.

Tuesday 23^rd and Wednesday 24^th February at home.

Thursday 25^th February was an evening out working at Switchboard. So, a quiet day in, before travelling into London against-the-peak-flow and having a few hours on the phones before coming home. Made the last train before the engineering work rendered everything turning back (from both directions) at Hitchin.

Friday 26^th February I felt a little tired and under-the-weather, so stayed in.

Saturday 27^th February was a day out and about, with shopping. Feeling a little better (but very tired at the end), we went from home to Stevenage via the A10 and A602 for lunch at Toby, before stopping for some items of clothing on special at Sainsbury's. continuing back up the A1, A505 and then onto the A10 north as far as Shepreth, picking our way through Haslingfield to Barton. Couldn't find any shoes suitable in a wide-ranging store, but we were planning to go into Cambridge retail park anyway. Found a few things in Evans (but less than purchased in Sainsbury's) before back home via Staples. 100 miles done in the car in the day, and tired but happy at the end!

Sunday 28^th February is a quiet day, catching up. It is also our 35 month anniversary today (another reason for going out y'day!) We always celebrate it somehow, but now we are at the 35 month mark of our relationship, 31^st March sees three years, or 36 months, together. We'll see what happens that day!

Additionally, on my last post, I made a closing reference to some extra good news. With a bit of luck, I'll be able to tell all this coming week.

Been there, done it, got the T-shirt

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:27:29 GMT

It's been yet another busy week, with little time to explain what's gone by. I used the phrase “it's like I have my foot on the accelerator” at the moment. The last nine days have generated a huge number of miles, lots of people met, and some unique moments and challenges.

Monday 8^th February Went into London to work an afternoon at Switchboard, and stopped on the way to drop off a card to the newly-engaged Malc & Ray (along with several timetables for Malc) – congratulations again! You can see a handful of random shots taken at Euston here.

Tuesday 9^th, Wednesday 10^th and Thursday 11^th February Working behind the scenes on forthcoming tours and visits for the Anglia Bus Forum and Dundee Area Bus Forum. Some interesting ones, and trying to build on previous years, by doing more.

Friday 12^th February Typically, having had three days at home, everything slid to the end of the week. I went into Cambridge to work on Helpline in the morning (they are still none the wiser as to the transfer of service at the end of March), before travelling to London, to work on Switchboard in the evening. A late night, but an enjoyable day.

Saturday 13^th February After a long lie, got up and prepared to go back to London, for another evening. This was to do a charity collection (or “bucket rattle”) for Switchboard. Basically, we were (mostly) dressed in pink LLGS T-shirts (hence the subject line!) and we went to 15 venues around the West End of London, and ended up raising £560 through donations, and got a huge amount of positive feedback from people we met. We had another wonderful evening, and another late night, but very enjoyable! Nabbed a few pics of the rattlers en route, which you can see here.

Sunday 14^th February In the end, a quiet one. Recovering from Saturday (see above) and preparing for Monday (see below).

Monday 15^th February Remember I mentioned in these posts (1, 2, 3) that today was the first day of new and revised bus services across The Fens? Well, I had an early start, and took a train to Cambridge, changing there for a Kings Lynn one. Said hello to Andy J at Kings Lynn Bus Staton, before I went on to start a day's travel on a Norfolk Green Explorer – starting with Solo 600 on the 46 to March via Islington (the Norfolk village, not the London borough!), Wisbech and Guhyrin. Managed to arrive through Wisbech in the midst of turmoil with one road closed one side, and diversions and delays. Never mind, made up the time after the diversion around Wisbech St Mary. From there, a quick changeover to refurbished Solo 602 on the new Service 34 to March Tesco, Benwick, and then back to March Broad Street, meeting Rob B in the process. After stopping for lunch at Bakers Oven (is this the one store not yet rebranded to Greggs?) and a quick browse in an adjacent bookstore/stationer, carried on with Andy J and Rob B on loaned-from-Stagecoach-for-six-weeks Volvo/PS 702 on new Service 56 from March to Wisbech, that replaced the top end of Stagecoach Service X9 from that day. After some snaps in Wisbech, and bumping into another Rob B, myself and Andy continued on Coasthopper-liveried Vario 415 on new Service 55 across the Lincolnshire boundary into Long Sutton. After crossing the road, we took Tempo 106 on Service 505 back to Kings Lynn. After that, some shopping briefly in Lynn, before taking the train to Cambridge, for a connection to Royston. We went out briefly, then back in, then back out, before settling for the night. It was a wonderful day out. The pictures really do have to be seen – do take a look here!

Tuesday 16^th February A productive day, including some catching up. Like this post, for example.

So, that is my story of the last 9 days.

On top of all that: something else good, that I can't quite tell you about yet. I promise to tell you when the time is right. Suffice to say, it's good!

More Norfolk

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:42:33 GMT

Further to the post last month about our recent travels on Coasthopper, here's an interesting video...

Trainspotters Boycott FCC!

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:30:37 GMT

As it says...

Schoolgirl asked to do community work for scratching Oyster card

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:00:51 GMT

Schoolgirl asked to do community work for scratching Oyster card

An 11-year-old girl faces a one-year free travel ban after she was stripped of her Oyster card because it was “scratched”.

Elliz McKenzie, of East Dulwich, had her card confiscated by a TfL ticket inspector who noticed that her photo card, which entitles 11 to 15-year-olds to free travel to school and is worth up to £360, had been scratched and was therefore “in breach of the Oyster card behaviour code”.

The card had been accidentally damaged by the schoolgirl's baby cousin. TfL said the card would be returned if Elliz carried out six hours of community service.

Her mother, Min McKenzie, 42, plans to fight TfL's decision. She said: “I'm disgusted because at the end of the day Elliz did it unknowingly. I could understand if it was a 20-year-old without school uniform using a scratched card, but she was going to school, she was in school uniform. No way is she doing community service because she's done nothing wrong.”

A spokeswoman for TfL said: “The Zip free travel concession is a privilege worth up to £360 a year and must be respected.

“Damaging or defacing an Oyster photo card breaches this code and may result in the free travel concession being withdrawn.”

Operators hit out at costly hold-ups to guided busway

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:01:08 GMT

Operators hit out at costly hold-ups to guided busway

BUS operators have spoken of their frustration that Cambridgeshire's guided busway is still not up and running.

Stagecoach and Whippet have both been picked to run services along the concrete track between Cambridge and St Ives.

But despite spending nearly £3.5 million between them on new vehicles to ferry passengers to and fro, the busway remains out of use.

As the News has reported, it is now more than a year behind schedule, and Cambridgeshire County Council is charging contractor BAM Nuttall £14,000 a day in late delivery penalties.

Andy Campbell, managing director of Stagecoach, said: "We have invested £3 million in specially adapted buses for the route, and the fact that it isn't open is very frustrating from the company point of view, from the public's point of view, and from our staff's point of view.

"We were ready to run services last spring with the high-spec vehicles we bought for the purpose. Instead, we have lost revenue, including the cost of taking on additional staff that we haven't been able to utilise yet.

"We're stuck in the middle, waiting for the issue to be resolved.

"There just doesn't seem to be a good reason for the delay. We are happy with the quality of the track, and would have been happy to begin last November, the last start date that was given."

Peter Lee, boss of Whippet, said the firm had bought three new buses at a cost of £420,000.

He said: "Am I concerned about the fact that the busway isn't open yet? Yes. Am I frustrated? Yes. Am I disappointed? Yes.

"We have bought three new buses at a cost of £140,000 each, with lowfloor wheelchair access and so on, to run along the route.

"We aren't a big company, and these were substantial extra costs for us. Those were extra costs we could ill afford, and had we known there would be such a big delay, we might have saved that money."

He added: "Of course the buses are now getting older, so there is depreciation in value to worry about.

But there is nothing we can do - we are in limbo, and just have to wait."

What I've done this past week

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:27:43 GMT

Wednesday 3^rd February – was a good day until I broke C's glass teapot. The problem was I was putting it down onto the worktop, and inadvertently whacked it into the side of the cooker top. She was on the phone at the time watching, so I couldn't really hide it!

Thursday 4^th February – with my BABUS hat on, I was up early for a meeting into Bedford Borough Council's Local Transport Plan 3. A good first step in the compilation of the draft, and BCC were genuinely happy that we had a good turnout of people there. It was also good to put faces to names, even if I didn't get a chance to talk to everyone. So, that went well, except for one thing – my new boots tripped me up several times on the wet outside! My new boots did not have much grip on them, so I ended up slipping several times! (Since then I've got a rather large bruise under the knee, cuts and swelling to hands and fingers, as well as a sore arm and leg!) Travelled by train to Hitchin, Centrebus 80 to Hitchin town centre, Stagecoach in Bedford Mars Service M2 to Bedford (the last time I did the other route, the M1. This is where the “life on mars” quote for Facebook came from!) On the way home, M1 to Hitchin, then as I had plenty time to make my next train, as well as an Intalink Explorer ticket (10p more than a return from Hitchin to Bedford, plus it included the bus between train and bus), I stayed on the 94 through Hitchin Station to Letchworth, where I picked up my train journey to continue back to Royston.

Earlier in the week, I had a request from the editor of one of the local Archant papers, The Wisbech Standard, asking about the forthcoming bus service changes. Apparently they had seen my blog re the forthcoming Fens bus service changes (post 1 and post 2). Initally they wanted to quote from my blog, and I spoke to them on the phone, careful to stick to the facts. (I don't normally approach media in relation to transport, but they approached me!) This main article (not my photos) discusses the changes, with quotes from my posts on the forthcoming Fens service changes. Also interesting was their editorial bit (not my work either) which was highly critical – and I quote from one snippet, “This newspaper was only alerted to changes by a reader, and our investigations into the affect of the changes proposed by Stagecoach led us on a circuitous route and only thanks to a veteran bus 'blogger' did we finally access the information we needed.” So, if you wonder why I'm popular in Wisbech, now you know! It was interesting to spot even Stagecoach management saying they can see why people would be confused by the website...

Friday 5^th February – out to work on Helpline in the morning, but then back home, as I was a bit tired (and sore!) from the previous day!

Saturday 6^th February – out to Beefeater at Coreys Mill (Stevenage) for a change. We went to Sainsbury's over the road afterwards, but Caroline was unusually tired. She had a nap for a few hours once we got home. As well as food, C got a new (cheap) white teapot, and I picked up a few new T-shirts, and trousers and jeans - still to try those on!

Sunday 7^th February – having a quiet day. Caroline has tried her new teapot that we got in Sainsbury's – just a cheap one, but it pours better than the glass one!

I have uploaded some pictures from Thursday and Friday, and you can see them via the links shown.

Do as we say, not as we do - again

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:16:26 GMT

Boris faces lookalike who tells him he is a hypocrite

London Mayor Boris Johnson faced a Boris Lookalike today and stood accused of hypocrisy over travel expenses.

The lookalike was at the centre of a demo outside City Hall this morning as angry staff protested to the Mayor over his plans to scrap the travel allowances on their season tickets.

Dozens of placard waving staff protested that he had spent £4,800 on cabs last year and was now planning to axe their allowance which allows them to claim back 75% of the cost of their season tickets.

The Mayor’s team of senior advisers claimed £17,000 in travel expenses while Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy was paid over £450,000 along with the use of an office car.

"It is frankly hypocritical for Boris and Peter Hendy to claim 100 per cent of their travel expenses while threatening to scrap the travel allowance of staff who are paid a pittance in relation to their vast salaries," said Manuel Cortes, deputy leader of the TSSA travel union.

"They should both get the brass neck of the year award for this brazen piece of bullying-telling staff that unless they accept a three year deal now they will lose the travel allowance."

The lobby took place outside City Hall as members of the TfL board met to consider the stand off with the white collar unions. Blue collar workers on London Underground have already accepted a two year inflation plus deal.

But Mr Cortes explained that by trying to impose a three year deal on the white collar staff, TfL would prevent them from financially benefiting in 2012 from the millions of Olympic vistors who will boost London’s transport finances.

"We want to be able to negotiate in 2012 and get recognition for the contribution our members will make to the success of the Games. Boris and Hendy are trying to lock us out from that."

Sunday & Monday update

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:47:48 GMT

Yesterday (Sunday) we went out to Harvester – I'm starting to enjoy the food, and C got a really nice lunch as well. In the evening, we watched Lost and Delirious, which was a fairly powerful movie! I was sure we had Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood, but we could not find it, so have requested this one next from LoveFilm.

Earlier on, I did a State of the Suzy, which I intend to do monthly. Even through only little effort, my weight is down by half-a-kilo. Does not seem like much, but I was more worried that, given everything, my weight would continue to rise substantially. I'm not that heavily built, but heavy enough.

Also mentioned in my State of the Suzy post was the fact that I'd got a letter to choose and book my own gastroenterology appointment via the NHS. The letter mentioned a choice of Saffron Walden Hospital, Addenbrooke's (Cambridge) or Lister Hospital (Stevenage). The website sounded easy enough, so I logged on after C went back to work after lunch. No appointments for any of the three of them were available! So, phoned them up, and my details have now been passed onto Addenbrooke's. In theory, I should hear within a fortnight, so I am hoping that I do. Two steps forward, one step back!

When the landlord came for their quarterly flat inspection on Thursday past, she asked me “Is everything working okay” and I mentioned the light switch between the lounge and the kitchen does not work, and has been baffling us! Well, the electrician called me up today on my mobile, and wanted to come round for a look at it – well done! It wasn't the bulb or the pendant, but a loose wire behind the switch plate.

Will be making dinner shortly!

State of the Suzy – January recap

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:37:53 GMT

At the change of the year, I set myself some plans and priorities. So, now it is the end of the first month, I think it's time to look back at what I have achieved, as well as the areas needing more attention. I am not going to get worked up about it, but I'd like to look back each month, to see where the patterns lie etc. rather than just waiting until the end of the year.

Weight Management – I've not had a lot of time to look after this, what with tearing up and down the GN train line to/from London and Cambridge several times a week. I have, however, made some small steps. Having said that, I am rather happy at my weight going slightly down. It was 131.3 kilos on Friday 1^st January, and today, Monday 1^st February, it is 130.8 kilos. I had not wanted it to increase further, and it looks like I might be turning the corner. I do, however, understand there is a long way to go.

Health – feeling positive a lot more than before, and made it through the holidays with no major upsets or arguments, which was an improvement. The meds may just be working for me, although as mentioned before, heartburn/reflux has been a problem, which is now well controlled. Still awaiting for further letter writing by my GP, who is doing wonderful work on our behalf. Today, however, I have received a “Choose and book” letter to book a gastroenterlogy referral, at Addenbrooke's (Cambridge), Saffron Walden Hospital or Lister Hospital (Stevenage). I was just thinking that it had been good that I had got through 2009 without any flare-ups with my asthma, however, I did have one on the 3^rd January. Subsequent steroids and antibiotics seemed to clear the gunk, but it has returned, and I'm currently trying to get it away again. As we've been busy, we have not had much opportunity to continue the yogic breathing stuff we did before, although I intend to come back to it one of these months. I do intend to give myself some time to relax on days when I'm not working or out, and hopefully this will happen in the months that follow.

Getting Out & About – I had intended to get out of the house three times a week, most of the time. Aside from the aforementioned trip to Lister Hospital A&E on Sunday 3^rd January, and accounting for the snow. I got out seven times by public transport in January, mostly to/from work, plus three days on my birthday weekend to/from and around Norfolk. We've also been out in the car six times in the month, so that has brought the tally up to 16 times out in 31. I have a number of trips planned for later in the year, and some for the more immediate future. I made up a “to do” list of bus routes I want to do, mostly in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. I've got the Herts list down potentially to just a couple for the year, but that depends on many things. If I can clear these, then so much the better. In London, there are a few routes that I'd like to do, but no formal list as such. Bedfordshire, did more of that last year, but plans also to do a few. Depends on money, health and weather. I will say that I met a lot of people recently, for the first time in ages, and quite a few for the first time.

Web work – My web resources continue as before, with hits growing. The reason for including this is that I intend to delegate some of the work from the Forums. I am currently working on a number of projects, so this may well be something for later. I am working on a number of ideas for Forum meets and days out, and members will hear first later this month. They will, however, be open to other friends, partners too, as they have always been.

Computing – let's not go there this month! Having said that, good trials of the netbook on days out, which I can see the potential. May well be able to do live posts of pictures etc. subject to signal availability, is that a good thing or bad thing?

Publications/books – the computing problems have deferred work on a number, but I am intending to have a few this year. Keep watching!

RE my last post...

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:00:55 GMT

Further to my blog post, Caroline has bought Windows7 for her PC - OEM version - when she got my new hard drive. (I've got it on the netbook). She's not so impressed, as it's lost networking capabilities... now, she's had to install a USB key to get it to work - I still don't understand that one...

Our last few days

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:21:18 GMT

It's been an interesting time in the last few days.

Thursday, C came home for lunch, but was in pain, and limping a bit, so she stayed at home for the afternoon, with a promise that I would try and get her a doctor's appointment for the next day. In the background, I have done quite a bit on plans for this year. At the moment, my diary has a week free in April, then something every week till October. Of course I won't manage everything I've written in them, but it's nice to be kept busy! That's another point – I have two diaries this year, just in case I leave one of them behind somewhere.

Friday, out to work at the Helpline, and back home. In the meantime, Caroline has been out to the doctor, who diagnosed a muscle sprain somewhere. She was able to pick up my meds (see previous posts re meds recommended by elaine4queen ). I got some items from M&S for dinner (for Friday and Saturday), including some Spanish Red Wine – we had planned to go out Saturday somewhere, and this was the back-up!

Afterwards, we're sat having dinner, when my sort-of-new Gateway laptop (not the netbook) crashes. I come back to Windows errors. Cut a long story short, the disk is totalled, and will not boot up properly! Good start! Anyway, I thought about filling in an insurance claim, given we've lost 2 ½ computers (we'll not ask for a new USB drive). So, we did, with all the details. Didn't work, kept asking me to fill in the boxes. Then I had a brainwave of desperation... I deleted the contents of the two disputed boxes, and wrote “3 x Computers F*cked”. The form went straight through, naturally, although we did follow it up with a second to say that we tried giving all the details, but the system wouldn't want it. Technie TMI?

Saturday, and I was going out to Switchboard. Caroline was supposed to be attending the AGM of the CSJ, but she was still a bit sore, and didn't fancy it. So, me on my own into London and back. She did go out for a new Hard Drive for my laptop – which I think was worthy of a buying a snack for her on the way home!

Oh, and by the way, congratulations to thebustocrookes who has just purchased a new Apple computer. Dougie did notice the Apple store was in direct contrast with that of Currys – no teenagers trying to sell you extended warranties!

So, since I got home, it's been installing Vista onto this machine. It now feels kinda odd, like the last 26 hours had been a blip – it feels the same. Print – oh yeah... it's not installed yet....

… Plans for tomorrow... let's see!

Catching up again

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:16:41 GMT

It's been a busy two days - ish. Wind back to Monday evening, and I noticed that there was an unidentified beeping. Tuesday morning, and the USB hard drive has lost everything, except some trash stuff! Caroline did manage to recover a fair bit, although it's put all so many thousand files into the same directory! Will try and restore the previous setup once more.

In addition, yesterday was out to London for Switchboard in the day, before I returned back to Herts, and out to meet friends in Harston for the evening. Everyone was complaining about the cold last night, although it wasn't too bad in central London, but the further you got out... when we left The Queens Head in Harston, it was minus two.

Today, it's wet and cold out, and I am catching up with as much as I can! Facebook seems to have thrown several wobblers today - firstly, allowing me to add 1 of 2 friends, but not the second, and then not giving the name! Solved, at the sixth attempt...

...Doc called me while I was out. No further forward with the other referrals, but, other stuff was discussed. As a result of suggestions from elaine4queen, she has agreed to prescribe me zopiclone for "as and when" use i.e. only one or two scripts a year. She was going to prescribe me something else, although it would have conflicted with the fexofenadine. I think I'm getting more antibiotics, apparently she could hear my voice being different down the phone, and that was enough! (That, and I had them a few weeks back). Thanks Elaine!

More Hunts & Fens

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:41:54 GMT

Further to my previous post on Tuesday...

... the Stagecoach timetables were online (but not easily found) by the end of the day. A couple of points...

... Firstly, Service X9 will run via Milton village, Landbeach and Waterbeach, as a replacement for Service 9 during the main part of the day (except 0635 from March and 1735 from Cambridge, Mon-Sat). The X9 will run via it's route into Ely via Angel Drove and Tesco, as opposed to the 9 route in via Cambridge Road. As a result, most buses from Cambridge will leave at 35 past, not 40 past. X9 will connect at March to/from Norfolk Green Service 46 for Wisbech (via Guhryin), not the 56 via Fridaybridge. The Ely City Service 9A is expected to be rescued by another operator.

Service X7 (Cambridge - Cottenham - Chatteris - March) will also run to revised times in the evening. The bus from March at 0645 will continue as now (except not on Saturdays), but the X7 will now leave from Cambridge also at 1735 (and as mentioned before, not on Saturdays). This, however, will mean that the X7 and X9 will both be trying to get in the same stance at Cambridge Drummer Street bus station, probably to the exclusion of the Royston 26 bus in the next bay.

Service 21 (Chatteris - St Ives) will be brought forward off-peak by at least half an hour. No word on Whippet journeys changing though.

Service 29 (St Ives - Ramsey) is to be operated by Whippet every two hours, as Service 22.

Service 30 (Ramsey - Huntingdon) has a revised timetable. As previously noted, the short workings to/from the hospital are withdrawn, replaced by the extension of Service 46. However, the times of Service 30 are now up to 10 minutes earlier, as the running times have been reduced. Previously, when runnng times were cut last time, the service had reliabiity problems. Most of the evening service is withdrawn - last bus from Ramsey Mon-Sat now 1750 not 2145, and last bus from Huntingdon is now 1750 with an isolated journey at 2020 (bus station 10 minutes later), instead of 2230.

Service 31 (Ramsey - Peterborough) Connections to/from the 30 are now to be even tighter - just 1 or 2 minutes.

"New" Service 45 (St Ives - Wyton - Huntingdon) is a replacement for part of the 65/66. So, the journeys that are being saved are Monday to Friday only, 0610 and 0710 from St Ives Bus Station, and 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100 from Huntingdon.

Services 65/66/67 (St Neots - Huntingdon or Southoe) Following previous posts, the 65/66 remain operating through Oxmoor to/from Sapley Tesco in Huntingdon. As noted under the 45, the St Ives - Huntingdon section is withdrawn. However, I wonder why, as this stretch of route was apparently to allow crew changes at St Ives Bus Station, for the new depot in Fenstanton. Anyway, the new 65 and 66 will each operate every two hours, alternating via The Offords as Service 65 or Little Paxton every two hours as Service 66. To maintain a half hourly service as far as Brampton, Service 65 will operate additional hourly short workings between Sapley and Brampton, thus maintaining four buses an hour to/from Hichingbrooke Hospital. The section of the 66 between Little Paxton and St Neots will operate hourly, as extra buses will operate as Service 67. These are the former Southoe 465 journeys renumbered 67, and retimed. At the same time, evening service is withdrawn.

Other bits - Stagecoach timetables still refer to Ramsey Abbey College, so I am none the wiser on that score.

Catch up over the last few days

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:22:11 GMT

On Thursday, I was working at Switchboard, followed by the Women's Group meeting into the evening, Got home at a similar time to Tuesday, having had a wonderful day of it! I could have stayed later, but I had a 1030 start on the Helpline the following day.

Since I got home on Friday, I've been feeling a little odd, and it has now continued into a cough/cold, sounding rather hoarse (not horse as I initially wrote on Facebook!) Well, it has developed into the same feelings as earlier in the month – wheezing, coughing and spluttering, coughing up gunk. My doc is off today, but I think my body is missing what it had earlier in the month! Saturday was a quiet one, and we went out for lunch on Sunday.

Today, quiet one for me, C is back at work, but preparing for tomorrow. One bit of news though – I have got a letter from the OU with regards to being assessed again for T175, and it's to be in by 3^rd June 2010,with result expected early August 2010. At this time, that is all I have.

Bus service changes around Hunts & The Fens

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:19:05 GMT

These changes are timed to coincide with Stagecoach closing the outstation (formerly a depot, but now operating just six buses) at Long Sutton, as well as further substantial cuts in the Fens and Huntingdonshire. Norfolk Green have taken over quite a bit of work around March and Long Sutton, and interestingly the former March Town Service (356/357, now split into 33 and 34) will now have different operators. There is no word about the Cambridge citi and Busway based changes postponed from December, although these were postponed to allow for the delivery of new buses for citi, and to finish The Busway. But, when I asked Andy Campbell, MD Stagecoach in Cambridgeshire, he said the reason for the same day was to reduce the number of service changes they make in a year. However, now, having a set of changes in Hunts in mid-February, and another one a few weeks/months later when The Busway is ready, does not seem to be a problem. There is currently no information on the Stagecoach website, or on the buses – despite law requiring three week's notice – or the Cambs CC website. Therefore, this information is compiled from the Peterborough City Council website, as well as a list of Stagecoach changes (compiled by a Cambs CC employee) found on the Milton Village website. So, here come the cuts!

Stagecoach Service 9 (Cambridge – Ely – Littleport) The daytime off-peak service is withdrawn between Cambridge and Ely – this section will now only be served by tow morning and one evening journey into Cambridge from Littleport, and three evening journeys from Cambridge to Littleport. Connections will be available at Ely for all services, including the X9 to Cambridge. This will give a slightly faster service for Littleport passengers, but (1) will not serve Landbeach and Waterbeach, where just over a year ago, they had two buses an hour for a bit, and (2) reduces the service for Stretham, IQ Research Park and Ely from two to one bus an hour to Cambridge, and (3) still needs a change of bus at Ely. It is assumed that the short 9 will be inter-worked by the 12 via Soham and Newmarket to Cambridge, in the same way that the 9A was. Oh, speaking of which...

Stagecoach Service 9A (Ely City Service) Service withdrawn without replacement.

Stagecoach Service 10/10A (Cambridge – Burwell – Newmarket) Service reduced from two buses an hour, to one – not sure what will happen with the current split of routes around Newmarket town. The morning peak bus that currently double-runs into Lode will no longer do so, now only stopping at the crossroads. Sunday service withdrawn (not the first time this had been proposed), and to be replaced by a diversion of Service 12, which will not cover all points.

Stagecoach Service 11/12 (Cambridge – Newmarket – Bury St Edmunds/Isleham or Soham & Ely) Service 11 peak journeys to/from Isleham withdrawn. Service 11 and 12 peak extras withdrawn – peak time service reduces to hourly (both routes) or half-hourly (combined to Newmarket) as per off-peak service level. Sunday changes to timetable, and diverted via part of Service 10/10A route.

Stagecoach and Whippet Coaches Service 21 (Chatteris – Somersham – Earith – St Ives) Slightly revised timetable, no change to frequency.

Stagecoach Service 29 (St Ives – Warboys – Ramsey) This service (only introduced in August 2009 to replace part of the 35, and 334 before that) is withdrawn entirely. Whippet Coaches will operate a replacement two-hourly service. (Warboys could be mistaken for the Wild Boys song by Duran Duran – Warboys Warboys, never lose it... or is it just me? Well anyway, they have lost half of it...)

Stagecoach Service 30 (Huntingdon – Warboys – Ramsey) This service is reduced to hourly throughout, with the fairly-recently-introduced short workings between Huntingdon Bus Station and Hitchinbrooke Hospital (introduced in August 2009, replacing short 65/66's) are withdrawn, although these will be replaced by an extension of Peterborough Service 46. However, the four buses an hour on this stretch of route will not be maintained – see 65/66.

Stagecoach Service 31 (Ramsey – Peterborough) Minor timetable changes, although this is apparently just swapping journeys around between Fens and Peterborough units. One slightly more notable change is he withdrawal of the schoolday journeys at 0800 Whittlesey – Ramsey, Abbey College and 1520 Ramsey, Abbey College – Whittlesey, although the 0740 from Peterborough will divert via Ailwyn Community Schoool (replacement for Abbey College?) on schooldays.

Stagecoach Service 32 (Chatteris – Benwick – Whittlesey – Peterborough) This service was reduced in August 2009 to an hourly service to Whittlesey only, with one peak buses from Chatteris, an off-peak return journey, a schoolday return journey between Chatteris and Ramsey, and and evening peak bus to Chatteris. So, 0705 from Chatteris withdrawn, but replaced at Chatteris and Wimblington with an extended 33. 0755 schooldays from Chatteris to Ramsey Abbey College now ends at Ailwyn Community School, and runs Monday to Friday. Similarly, schooldays 1519 from Ramsey Abbey College to Chatteris now Monday-Friday and starts at Ailwyn School. 1740 from Peterborough withdrawn, partially replaced by an extension of Service 32. The hourly off-peak service to/from Whittlesey is thus withdrawn, but these transfer to Service 33. So, what's left? 0755 from Chatteris Mon-Fri and 0928 on Mon-Sat, returning from Peterborough 1340 Mon-Sat and Ramsey School 1519 Mon-Fri.

Stagecoach Service 33 (Peterborough – Whittlesey – March) Additional short journeys between Peterborough and Whittlesey only, replacing similar on Service 32 (although I cannot recall if the routes are similar or different). 0714 from March Broad Street to Peterborough is extended to start from Chatteris 0655 via Doddington, Wimblington, March Broad Street 1 min later at 0715 then Wisbech Road two mins later at 0717 (was 0716), then not operating into March Tesco car park, but picking up existing route and times to Peterborough. 1800 Peterborough – March Fountain now arrives at March two minutes earlier (1900 not 1902) before extending to Wimblington, Doddington and Chatteris.

Stagecoach Service 34 (March Tesco Extra – Benwick or Manea) Service withdrawn. This route has been taken over in it's entirety by Norfolk Green, who will operate the 34 as per the current Mon-Sat 0857-1814 timetable. The only change is that the 1457 March Tesco – Benwick journey will now terminate at March Broad Street/Fountain/little Tesco on weekdays, and continue to Benwick on Saturdays, with an extra Saturday journey at 1526 from Benwick to March Tesco Extra.

Stagecoach Service 35 (March – Chatteris – Huntingdon) The current daytime service (two hourly with afternoon extras) between Warboys and Chatteris, Green Park, is withdrawn, as is the 1753 Warboys – March journey. The current morning journey from March to Huntingdon, and afternoon from Huntingdon to March, are the only journeys continuing.

Stagecoach Service 36 and 38 (Peterborough or Stepau Stow – Thorney – Wisbech) The 0710 journey from Wisbech (36) Monday to Saturday, will continue, as will the 1545 (36) back from Peterborough. The remaining services will all be withdrawn beyond Thorney, and a two-hourly off peak service will be maintained i.e. 0935, 1135, 1335 from Peterborough and 1005, 1205, 1405 from Thorney, Monday to Saturday. The Wednesday service via Murrow is partially replaced by an extended journey on Norfolk Green Service 46. The Tuesday & Friday service via Holbeach Dove and Stepau Stow reverts to Service 390, and will be operated by W&M Fowler.

Stagecoach Service 39 (Long Sutton – Tydd St Giles – Long Sutton) The current service, comprising a roughly 90 minute service between 0725 and 1630, plus early morning journeys from Long Sutton, and three evening peak buses from Wisbech (the extras were mostly positioning journeys to/from Service X9) are all withdrawn. Norfolk Green will take over the service, renumber it to Service 55, with the 0540 from Long Sutton not replaced, and the 0640 now at 0635. The 1705 and 1805 from Wisbech will now operate ten minutes later, with the 1910 journey not replaced.

Norfolk Green 46 (March – Wisbech – Kings Lynn) The current service level is maintained, with the introduction of a new Monday to Saturday service from Murrow 0930, Bellamy's Bridge 0935, Wisbech St Mary 0939, Wisbech 0949, returning from Wisbech at 1240. This new Monday to Saturday service replaces the current Wednesday only service 38 provided by Stagecoach.

Stagecoach 46 (Peterborough – Sawtry – Huntingdon) Service will be operated by Stagecoach Peterborough and The Fens, with the service extended to/from Hichinbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon. As a result, 0545 from Peterborough Monday-Friday journey is withdrawn, 0615 from Peterborough Monday-Saturday withdrawn on Saturdays, 0735 from Peterborough altered by a few minutes, 0845 hourly to 1245 from Peterborough now run at 0920 hourly to 1320, and are extended to/from Hichinbrooke Hospital. 1345 from Peterborough now at 1420, still ending at Huntingdon bus station. 1615, 1715, 1815 from Peterborough all now at 1550, 1650, 1750 and extended to Hichinbrooke Hospital. New extra journey Mon-Sat 1850 Peterborough to Sawtry, and the 2015 from Peterborough to Sawtry is revised to leave at 1950, but extended to Huntingdon Bus Station. On the northbound service, changes are more minor. 0630 Mon-Fri from Huntingdon Bus Station still operates, 0715 Mon-Sat from Huntingdon Bus Station now 0720 and Monday-Friday only, 0905 hourly to 1405 Mon-Sat from Huntingdon Bus Station now leave 5 minutes earlier and start at Hichinbrooke Hospital, 1500 and 1630 Mon-Sat from Huntingdon Bus Station now starts at Hichinbrooke Hospital, 1735 and 1835 Mon-Sat from Huntingdon Bus Station now start at Hichinbroke Hospital, while the Mon-Sat journeys at 1935 from Huntingdon Bus Station and 2103 from Sawtry to Peterborough are both withdrawn. Various other minor timing changes.

Stagecoach Service 51 (St Ives – Godmanchester – Huntingdon) The two Monday – Saturday evening journey on this route, at 2035 and 2235, are withdrawn without replacement.

Stagecoach Service 65/66/465 (St Neots – Huntingdon – St Ives) Somewhat reduced service will operate St Neots – Huntingdon only. (Not sure if this covers Huntingdon Tesco or Oxmoor or not).There will be an hourly service between these points, alternatively via Great Paxton and The Offords or Little Paxton, but there will be an hourly service from St Neots to Little Paxton. The bit between Huntingdon and St Ives via RAF Wyton and Houghton is withdrawn. However, a new service 45 is introduced to provid two Mon-Fri morning journeys from St Ives to Huntingdon, and four evening return journeys. Of course, the 45 was withdrawn last August and replaced by the extension of the 65/66... apparently the 465 Southoe is now 67 (spotted registration change) although this is not part of the information that I currently have.

Stagecoach Service X7 (Cambridge – Cottenham – March) Peak time service revised slightly, with the Saturday service withdrawn.

Stagecoach Service X9 (Cambridge – Ely – Chatteris – March – Wisbech) Revised timetable to allow connections with the reduced Service 9 to/from Littleport at Ely. Withdrawn between Wisbech and March, but this section is being replaced by Norfolk Green as Service 56. The new 56 will be operated hourly between Wisbech, Elm, Fridaybridge, Coldham and March, with through tickets being sold and accepted to/from Stagecoach X9. Some small changes though – all Monday-Saturday - 0605 from Wisbech not replaced, 0705 from Wisbech now 0700, plus an extra journey on schooldays at 0800 from Wisbech firect to March and Neale Wade College, with an extension of the 0805 journey at March to Neale Wade College (If I remember rightly, the X9 passed the school further down the road on-route to/from Cambridge). 1525 from March is unchanged on Saturdays and School Holidays, but on Schooldays will start from Neale Wade College at 153 5and operate to Elm only, with an extra bus 10 minutes behind all the way to Wisbech, plus a third bus at 1535 direct to Wisbech. 1630 and 1730 from March now 10 minutes later, 1835 from March not replaced. This will increase the Norfolk Green service between Wisbech and March to half-hourly, when compared with the 46. Additional similar journeys are operated by Emblings Service 380.

Another day in London

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:29:44 GMT

I had a part-of-the-afternoon shift on Switchboard, and wanted to attend a meeting in the evening. So, left Royston mid-morning and headed for London. I intended on a little travel before, and after arriving in London, took a 59 bus heading south to Waterloo.

After browsing two bookstores and walking through the railway station, I headed down the drain! For those who did not get the suggestion via Facebook, it's a nickname for the Waterloo & City tube line. From Waterloo, all stations to Bank via Bank, the next station is Bank – you get the idea. I wasn't going above ground at Bank though, merely using it to change to the Central Line tube, heading to Liverpool Street.

When I got to Liverpool Street, I was a bit ahead of schedule/ I'd planned to be arriving by 1320, but arrived about 20-30 minutes in advance. From here, quick drink and sit down before continuing to St Pancras station on the 214 – again to kill a bit of time, before getting the same bus back again to work.

After work, had some time to kill before Caroline was due to arrive in London, so took the 205 bus through to Marylebone, before getting the same back to Kings Cross.

While waiting for Caroline to arrive, I checked my email via my mobile phone, and got some news with regards to the tender for provision of the Prisoners Families Helpline – the contract has been lost. More on this is in this separate posting.

After Caroline arrived, we went for a bite to eat, before continuing onto Gays The Word bookstore, for the monthly TransLondon meeting. This month's event was a presentation and talk from the_local_echo , with assistance from auntysarah. The en-massed standing crowd were duly impressed by the content, as well as Sylvia's delivery.

As ever, it's over to a rather packed pub over the road. We stayed for one, before leaving to walk around to Woburn Place, for a 59 or 91 bus back to Kings Cross. The latter arrived, and we went for the 2215 Kings Lynn train home to Royston.

So, my full list of travels was -

First Capital Connect train Royston – London Kings Cross

Arriva London South bus DW68 59 Kings Cross at Camden Town Hall – Waterloo, Waterloo Road

Waterloo & City Line tube train Waterloo – Bank

Central Line tube train Bank – Liverpool Street

Metroline bus DLD703 214 Liverpool Street – St Pancras, St Pancras Road

Metroline bus DLD130 214 St Pancras, Midland Road – Islington

East London bus 15118 205 Islington – Marylebone

East London bus 15121 205 Marylebone – Kings Cross

walk to Gays The Word

Metroline bus TE914 91 Woburn Place – Kings Cross

First Capital Connect train London Kings Cross – Royston

Only the three pictures from yesterday (left the card in the laptop!) but those will follow in time, as I can't transfer them easily onto the card.

Today, more gremlins! I've been browsing the Stagecoach Fife service changes (more about those in a separate post), and the printer doesn't seem to respond. I've only just clicked that this machine was still set up for the colour machine we sold last year, even though I installed the drivers the other day. Never mind, now sorted!

Stagecoach in Fife service changes, February 2010

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:25:23 GMT

From the company announcement... the all-day X42 looks like a good one, and will fulfill a number of often-requested links, as well as supporting the popular X1 between Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. The 96 being reinstated to/from Ninewells Hospital also brings back a direct service to/from St Andrews, but it's interesting to note the 42 and 96 are swapping around in Tayport.

Stagecoach in Fife would like to advise passengers of a number of service changes that will be introduced across Fife as a result of feedback received by ourselves and Fife Council in relation to the new network of supported services introduced in August 2009 in North East Fife. In the Central Fife area a number of minor changes will be introduced in order to improve the reliability of certain services, particularly at peak times. A summary of the changes can be found below:

Services 6,6A,6B (Leven – Kirkcaldy)
Some additional journeys will operate on school holidays.

Service 7,7A (Leven – Kirkcaldy - Dunfermline)
The 1710 Dunfermline to Leven and 1940 Leven to Dunfermline journeys (Mon to Sat) will operate via Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Service 13 (Leven – Kirkcaldy)
The route will be revised to serve the new road layout in the Fife Central Retail Park and John Smith Business Park area of Kirkcaldy. There will be no change to the timetable.

Service 23 (St.Andrews - Stirling)
Some minor changes will be made to the intermediate timings in the Cupar area, to improve reliability.

Service 32 (Glenrothes – Cardenden - Kirkcaldy)
The intermediate timings of the 1730 Kirkcaldy to Glenrothes journey (Mon to Fri) will be revised. The 1830 Glenrothes to Kirkcaldy journey (Mon to Fri) will operate 8 minutes later.

Service 33 (Dunfermline – Cardenden – Kirkcaldy)
On Monday to Friday the 0730 Cowdenbeath to Chapel and 0737 Queen Margaret Hospital to Kirkcaldy journeys will be replaced by a revised 0733 Cowdenbeath to Kirkcaldy journey. The 1018 Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy journey will operate 2 minutes later.

Service 34 (Ballingry – Cardenden – Kirkcaldy)
The intermediate timings of the 0823 Lochgelly to Kirkcaldy journey (Mon to Fri) will be revised, and the 1925 Kirkcaldy to Ballingry journey will operate 5 minutes later on Monday to Friday.

Service 37 (Pitcairn - Glenrothes – Kirkcaldy)
Minor timetable alterations introduced to improve reliability.

Services 39,39A, 39B (Newcastle – Glenrothes – Kirkcaldy)
Minor timetable alterations introduced to improve reliability.

Service 41,41A (Kirkcaldy/Leven – Kennoway - Cupar)
A revised timetable will be introduced with most Monday to Saturday daytime journeys operating 10 minutes later. The 0932 Bonnybank to Kirkcaldy (Sat only) journey will be withdrawn.

Service 42 (Cupar – Tayport – Dundee – Ninewells Hospital)
This service will be revised to operate every 20 minutes (Mon to Sat daytime) between Tayport (Shanwell Road South) and Dundee city centre, with one journey per hour extending to Cupar. Evening and Sunday journeys provided on behalf of Fife Council will continue to operate to/from Ninewells Hospital.

Services 46 (Leven - Glenrothes)
The 0913 Star to Glenrothes journey will operate 10 minutes earlier.

Services 64 (St.Andrews – Cupar – Ladybank – Glenrothes)
This service will be revised within St.Andrews to operate via Hepburn Gardens to serve Balnacarron House, and journeys will now terminate at the Community Hospital. The section of route between the hospital and Craigtoun Park will now be incorporated into revised service 91. A revised timetable will be introduced to improve reliability.

Services 66 (Glenrothes – Strathmiglo – Burnside/Kinross)
A revised timetable will be introduced with most journeys now terminating at Burnside.

New Service 67 (Glenrothes – Kingskettle/Kettlebridge)
This new service operated on behalf of Fife Council will provide a few journeys on Mondays to Saturdays giving a direct link between Kingskettle and Glenrothes.

Service 68 (Cupar town service)
In order to improve the reliability of this service a revised route and timetable will be introduced. Journeys serving Millfield will continue via Westpark Road to serve Adamson Hospital and Upper Dalgairn and be numbered 68. The Braehead/Thomastoun Drive loop will be numbered 68B, and the anti-clockwise loop serving Upper Dalgairn and Adamson Hospital will be numbered 68A. Each loop will continue to operate hourly thus maintaining the current level of service. Maitland Drive and Blalowan Park will now be served by services 94/94A.

Service 83 (Inverkeithing – Dalgety Bay)
The route and timetable of this service, operated on behalf of Fife Council, will be revised as a result of feedback received from customers.

Service 91 (St.Andrews – Strathkinness – Leuchars)
This service will be revised to operate hourly between St.Andrews and Leuchars rail station from approx 0900 to 1500 on Mondays to Saturdays, serving St.Andrews Community Hospital, Craigtoun Park and Strathkinness. The section of route between Leuchars and Dundee via Wormit will no longer be served, although connections will be available at Leuchars with service 99 to/from Dundee.

Service 93 (St.Andrews – Bogward – Community Hospital)
This service will be withdrawn and replaced by revised services 64, 91 and 95.

Services 94,94A (St.Andrews – Cupar – Ladybank – Newburgh)
Minor timetable alterations introduced with additional journeys serving Scotland Terrace in Newburgh. The route within Cupar will now serve Maitland Drive and Blalowan Park instead of Millbank.

Service 95 (St.Andrews – Leven)
The route of this service will be revised in the St.Andrews area to operate via Abbey Walk, South Street/Market Street, Bus Station, and Community Hospital, with most journeys continuing to Bogward (Younger Gardens). Evening journeys (after approx 1930) will operate via Lamond Drive and Largo Road to/from St.Andrews bus station. A revised timetable will therefore be introduced, although the timings between Kingsbarns and Leven will remain largely unchanged.

Service 96 (St.Andrews – Tayport – Dundee – Ninewells Hospital)
This service will be revised to operate hourly between St.Andrews and Ninewells Hospital during much of the day (Monday to Saturday), serving Leuchars, Tayport, and Dundee city centre. Early morning, evening and Sunday journeys will continue to serve Strathkinness as service 96A.

Service K3 (Kirkcaldy bus station – Chapel)
The 0813 journey from Glen Bruar Place (Mon to Fri) will depart 5 minutes earlier, with intermediate timings revised to provide a more reliable journey.

Service K6 (Kirkcaldy bus station – Redcraigs)
The following journeys will now commence from Redcraigs shop 1 minute before departure from Ellon Road – 0655, 0715 (Mon to Fri), and 0755, 0815 (Sat) Redcraigs to Kirkcaldy bus station. In addition the 1759 (Mon to Sat) and 2257 (Sun) journeys from Kirkcaldy to Redcraigs will continue to the last stop in Ellon Road.

New Service X42 (Kirkcaldy – Glenrothes – Cupar – Dundee – Ninewells Hospital)
This new limited stop service operated in partnership with Fife Council and supported by funding through a Bus Route Development Grant will provide an hourly link for much of the day (Mon to Sat) between Kirkcaldy and Ninewells Hospital, serving Forth Park & Victoria Hospitals, Asda Kirkcaldy, Eastfiled Industrial Estate, Woodside, Glenrothes, Ladybank, Elmwood College, Cupar (incl.Trading Estate), Balmullo, Newport (peak time journeys), Dundee city centre, and Dundee Technology Park. This will supplement the existing service X54 between Glenrothes and Dundee to provide half hourly departures for much of the day between these locations. The existing Mon to Fri peak time journey numbered X42 between Dunfermline/Glenrothes and Dundee will be incorporated into the X54 timetable to provide improved commuting links from West Fife to/from Dundee.

Service X54 (Dundee – Glenrothes – Dunfermline – Edinburgh)
On Monday to Friday additional journeys will operate at 0640 from Dunfermline to Dundee via Cowdenbeath, Glenrothes and the normal route via the A92, and at 1710 from Dundee to Glenrothes to connect with the 1805 X24 journey from Glenrothes to Dunfermline. In addition the 0810 (Mon -Fri) Dundee to Glenrothes journey will run 10 minutes later, whilst the 2000 (Mon – Sat) Dundee to Glenrothes journey will run 10 minutes earlier. The additional journeys operating on Saturdays between Glenrothes and Dundee will be incorporated into new service X42.

Service X60 (St.Andrews – Leven – Kirkcaldy – Edinburgh)
The 0600 Leven to St.Andrews journey will run 5 minutes earlier to improve connections with service 99 at St.Andrews.

Prisoners Families Helpline contract news

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:52:08 GMT

We were informed last night that the organisation that I've been doing voluntary work for, Ormiston who operate the Prisoners Families Helpline in conjunction with Action for Prisoners Families, have not succeeded in retaining the contract, which was up for tender. We believe that it has gone to our former colleagues Partners of Prisoners (or POPS) in Manchester, although there is nothing (yet) on their website.

So, what happened? Well, I better explain. As it stands at the moment, the National Prisoners Families Helpline was launched in 2003, using funding from the Big Lottery Fund. There were initially five partners around the country, although this was down to two – Ormiston near Cambridge, and POPS in Manchester, when I started in Aug 2007. Shortly after, the lottery funding ran out, and if I remember rightly, both partners dug out some money to keep the service going. From April 2009, the tender was offered to both partners to provide sole ownership of the service for one year, with funding from the National Offender Management Service, now part of the Ministry for Justice. A wider tender was offered from April 2010, open to all comers, and I think was offered on the basis of an enhanced service level provision, although we don't know if that will be proceeded with, or if they just wanted to get the cost of it. One way or another, the service will continue, but will be back in the hands of the Manchester-based group from April 2010.

My thoughts? Naturally disappointed, but I want to remember the good times that I've had working there, since August 2007. They have genuinely been a wonderful bunch to work with, and I've got close with most of them over the last little while. I will continue to provide the assistance that I can, until the last.