Have free bus pass, want to travel.

Merrywidow

chesky369 - didnt really mean 'in' London - just the horrendous journey 'from' in crowded trains. Let's put that subject to rest. The no. 52 bus goes from Tunbridge Wells train station, stand S and takes 1hr 39 mins to Eastbourne. If you look up Directgov.uk it leads you thru links to route planning and bus numbers.

Merrywidow

chesky369 - check out entry of Roger Reese, 14/5 he has a traveline link for more info.

[Deleted User]

we had another good trip out today. We are still in the throes of `try it and see`but we are getting hooked. We obviously have to allow longer but travelling by bus is so stress-free. We went to a valleys town today and had a morning break in a lovely olde worlde cafe which has been in existence since 1930. It was spotless. Waitress service and scrummy home made cakes and tarts. A pot of tea was only £1.04 and was served with a cup and saucer

The locals were oh so friendly, although the town is obviously very poor and quite run down but what a lot of bargains were to be had and today was market day too.

We are also making a mental note and noticed today that this bus stops outside a very large tescos and also the local hospital and runs past a fabric shop. I can see us using the car less and less now. It took 10 minutes to walk to the bus stop from home and 15 minutes back (uphill) so we would easily cope if we didn`t use the car

I can`t believe that this travelling is free but then again we have put a lot of money into the system over our working lives and never ever claimed anything except the usual child benefit

I think we will be taking the bus to Cardiff later this week and we`ll be having a long day out in Abergavenny next week

[Deleted User]

WOW :j :j :j

I have just rung uo the local authority and found out that I can use the pass at any time during the day. Peak or off-peak, there are no restrictions. Absolutely marvellous!!!

Merrywidow

Lucky you, where exactly do you live - others could profit from this info. In my mine of useless information I have the number S97 bus called the Snowdon Sherpa, between Porthmadog and Betws-y-Coed and the 315 along the Prembrokshire coast from Haverford, along the coast to Milford Haven and up to Marloes six days a week.

System

It is good that so many people are taking advantage of the opportunity to travel in this way, and accepting that just now and again there may be hiccups. No doubt you are doing the same is me, and collecting as many timetables as you can, to browse through to plan further expeditions. I tend to look for a location never visited before then browse it via google beforehand.

In a couple of weeks, we will be off to Swanage for an unrestricted time, and will no doubt save £'s back and forth to Poole/Bournemouth etc.

Hey ho away we go!

chesky369

Was running late today and had a 9.15am appointment, so had to take a bus at about 5 minutes to 9 - £2 to go just down the road. Won't be making too many early appointments in future.

seven-day-weekend

Oh...just caught up on this thread - I'm looking forward to getting my bus pass when we are resident in the UK again in a few years!

Happy bussing, people!

Merrywidow

Islandman...yes I am collecting all the info I can. Unfortunately my 95 year old mother is failing and I am grounded. I have yet to use my free pass - yes I am a virgin traveller. My car at the moment is my greatest asset to and from my mother's nursing home, but Oh when the time is ripe I will be off. Spent some time on National Express busses the last year, family do's around England - loved them. Airports are one big hassle I try to avoid. Have family in Holland and love Eurostar. Love travel period.

[Deleted User]

merrywidow, just ring up your issuing authority via the links on traveline cymru if you live in wales. It depends on the authority but I wouldn`t be surprised if it was the same thoughout wales

I have just been researching the timetables via traveline and sorting out alternative options in case any bus-bus links are missed as can be the case when there is only a 5 min difference