On Trains & Buses

There has been a major change here so not every link from elsewhere will work. Just use the search facility to find what you were seeking. Otherwise, stability should be the watchword going forward.

The pandemic has not left us yet so many are unable to work after testing positive for COVID-19. This also affects public transport services so it is best to check ahead of time. One example is service 14 between Macclesfield and Langley since that still is running at a reduced frequency due to staff shortages. At least, that was planned ahead of time but it is the unplanned absences that can cause the most expected disruption to journeys those the requirement to self-isolate is going away soon, maybe too soon in the eyes of some.

Route 14 between Macclesfield and Langley returns to the normal Monday to Friday service level tomorrow. The frequency is less frequent on Saturdays, but it is good to see services like this being enhanced again as the lockdown eases.

Routes 391 and 392 between Macclesfield and Stockport returned last Monday with a new operator, Go Goodwins. The Monday to Friday service is hourly from morning until early evening while the Saturday service is less frequent and finishes earlier, so the timetable needs extra perusal. As before, Tytherington, Bollington, Kerridge, Poynton and Middlewood all get served with the routes being operated alternately.

Here is the Merseyside bus service level summary for the week of New Year’s Day:

30 December 2018: Normal Sunday service. 31 December 2018: Some operators will run a Saturday service with an early finish. All buses will be finished by approx 2000. 1 January 2019: New Years Day timetables. 2-5 January 2019: Services return to normal.

Here is the Merseyside bus service level summary for the Christmas week:

23 December 2018: Normal Sunday service. 24 December 2018: Some operators will run a Saturday service with an early finish. All buses will be finished by around 20:00. 25 December 2018: Merseytravel’s free Hospital bus services are running. No other services will operate. 26 December 2018: Special Boxing Day timetables. 27-28 December 2018: Some operators will run a Saturday service. 29 December 2018: Generally a normal Saturday service.

This page is up and running again after a plugin update. While it is difficult to see how much more can be cut at this stage, I will keep it in place to capture any more such developments. After all, public transport usage has been taking a hit for several reasons and lack of dependability is one of those.

England’s South West Coast Path is a long walking trail that takes in parts of the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. Handily, there are bus services that help with hikes along its length if you do not fancy walking the whole 630 miles since that would take at least a few weeks. Here then is a list of useful bus routes:

LAND: Mounts Bay Academy - St Erth Multi Modal Hub, Carbis Bay - St Ives Malakoff - Penzance, St Ives, St Just, Sennan, Land’s End, Pothcurno -Newlyn - Sennen Cove - Penzance, St Ives, St Just, Sennan, Land’s End, Pothcurno -Newlyn - Penwith College

21: Georgeham – Barnstaple – Bideford – Westward Ho!

21A: Ilfracombe – Barnstaple – Bideford – Appledore

34: Redruth – Helston – Mullion – The Lizard

40: Swanage – Wareham – Poole

56: Newquay – St Mawgan – Constantine Bay – Padstow

95: Truro – St Columb Major – Wadebridge – Camelford – Bude

164: Totnes – Kingsbridge – Salcombe

217: Holsworthy - Morwenstow - Gooseham

219 Bude – Kilkhampton – Hartland

U4: Tremough – Helston – Penzance

Over these few months, Derby will be seeing a fair deal of rail travel disruption while the system is upgraded. Derby’s main train station sees a partial rebuild while track and signalling replacement also takes place in the surrounding area. With all that is happening and how long it is just as well that there is a dedicated website telling you about what is planned and how it affects rail travellers.

It is amazing to see that the railway gets its own chaplaincy service in the form of the the Railway Mission. With what can happen, any such support has to have its place and surely must be most welcome when it is needed.