Category Archives: Site news

A Welcome

What developed into my outdoors blog once contained entries with a public transport flavour. Relating an experience of being crammed into a Transpennine Express train while travelling to and from Edinburgh and a comment saying that trains were ghastly was the catalyst for the set up of this outpost on the web for sharing my thoughts on public transport.

Staying Positive

The subject of public transport is one that is sure to draw rants inspired by experiences like the one mentioned above but that’s not what I am trying to achieve here. Yes, there will be constructive criticism where it’s needed but I also to share good stuff too. After all, those battling congestion in the cars on busy roads could do with knowing that there might a valid alternative. That especially is the case away from London and the southeast of England where services are likely to less used. Having travelled on business to and from Hertfordshire, I know well how busy transport is around London anyway and reports of commuters being crammed into trains hardly inspire anyone to consider that public transport is more pleasant than car travel.

An Age of Austerity

Since the establishment of this website in 2008, an ulterior motive has come into being too. The hangover from the crash at the end of the noughties boom has left us with sluggish economies and public spending that is under pressure. We hear of continued investment in the railways but also of train fare increases that are above the rate of inflation. Then, there are cuts to council-subsidised bus services that have had an impact to evening and Sunday service levels. Maybe, sharing information about what is available could increase patronage and thus preserve what we have got. These look like interesting times and ones where we need to remain vigilant so as not to lose anything valuable. Well, campaigning organisations such as the Campaign for Better Transport need help since they cannot do everything on their own…

What’s Here

Thus, you’ll find postings of any new developments and discoveries as and when I encounter them. That includes maintaining the listings of selected bus services along with those of train and bus company websites. Journey planning service listings are to be found here too as are those of councils who help users of public transport and local transport authorities. Hopefully, these will come in useful but please let me know if anything else needs adding.

It’s been a year since this edifice was begun and occasional contributions have sputtered in here from time to time. Though economic conditions have been challenging, there haven’t been too many setbacks for public transportation yet. However, 2010 could see changes with an expected change in the U.K.’s government and what that might bring. Everywhere you care to look, there are sirens wailing about the need for cuts in public spending but let’s hope that doesn’t have to go too far. Largely, bus and train operators do their job well but that will could be tested in the not too distant future. My only hope is that any rough edges already seen won’t become rougher; it would be a pity to lose the progress that has been made over the last few years. Fighting to keep what’s been gained might become unavoidable but let’s see how it goes.