Have free bus pass, want to travel.

harryhound

chesky369 wrote: »

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.

Had an amusing discussion with a driver the other morning. There had been operational difficulties so the bus that arrived 10 minutes "early" was in fact 20 minutes late. Looked at the timetable I had printed off and not wanting to risk the following bus not turning up. I negotiated a 1.50 GBP ticket to a nearby village and when we got there at 09:33, I then got my free ticket.

Sitting over the gangway from the driver, it was amazing how every other pensioner, in the next 10 minutes, agreed to wait for the next one.

Harry.

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

Kittie,
I don't know if it is still a problem, but a few years ago I planned a train trip to East Kent and nearly got caught out by a rule I had to discover by trial and error. The programmer had obviously been told not to display a possible change, where there was not at least 5 minutes between the arrival of the one service and the departure of the other.

In reality the passenger got on the train in London, then at the intermediate station
(Faversham if I remember correctly) Train A stopped. The guard scrambled onto the ballast and got greasy decoupling the middle two carriages, so that Train B could trundle off to North East Kent and Train C could go to Dover some 3 minutes later:rolleyes::rotfl::rotfl:

Merrywidow

kittie...I live in Kent. I know all about traveline, I really meant to say that there is nothing better than personal recommendations and I think that is what all our chats with fellow rovers is all about.

Merrywidow

An update on the 9am start in Tunbridge Wells. Our local paper today confirmed that the 9am start was valid for the whole county of Kent - the article last week was a bit ambiguous.

[Deleted User]

I`m really getting the hang of this and am enjoying using the bus. I got the bus to Bridgend today at 8.35 and it took just over 40 relaxing minutes. I went to asda (a first) then wh smith, stokes and boots and got all the items on my list. I then ambled to the bus station and enjoyed another 43 min ride to arrive back in the house at approx 11.30

The bonus is that I am getting some walking in too as it is a good 15 minutes, quick walking, to the bus stop

As you can see, I have completely changed my mind about using the bus pass and I am proud to say that I have not used the car all this week :T :T :T

mysticwend

jsmith9156 wrote: »

You can use Free OAP passes on ARRIVA run Green Line Services from Luton/Hemel Hempstead to London and From Harlow to Heathrow Airport after 9:30am weekdays.

James

I travel from Gloucester Place London to Mill Hill, I used my freedom pass on the greenline bus route 797 a couple of times - the driver accepted my pass but with a very sour face for some reason. I telephoned the bus company to find out if it is legitimate to use the Freedompass on this route and I was told that it was allowed to use the pass ( between 9.30 am - 11.00 pm ) Then I noticed that TFL put a new notice on the bus stop stating that one could NOT use the Freedompass on the Greenline route. I telephoned TFL and the chap at the other end told me that I could NOT use my Freedompass for Greenline routes. I went home via the 113 instead as I didnt want any problems with the driver telling me that I would now have to pay ( quite expensive - £ 2.99- one way. I 'phoned the Greenline company again and was told once again that one CAN use Freedom pass

I am now completely confused

Dotdot

We all could do with everyone giving the X(express routes, free and not to be confused with Nat Express)routes from their local bus timetable. Great X4 from Milton Keynes to Peterborough via Northampton has been mentioned before (2hrs 15mins) and the only other one I know is the X5 from Oxford to Cambridge (3hrs 15mins) via Milton Keynes and Bedford. Oh, and the X31 from Milton Keynes to Luton (just over an hour). It seems easy to check the times once we know the bus number.So over to the thousands of pensioners who check this site!

Merrywidow

Dotdot...I agree with the exchange of knowledge - only one I know at the moment is the X53 - Jurassic Route. Quote from my paper "The views from the top deck of the bus are among the best that public transport in Britain has to offer. The coastal road from Weymouth towards Exeter is classified as a world heritage site and the craggy cliffs dropping down to the pebbly beaches below are one of our richest geological sites. Take in rock formations such as the natural arch at Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, the Isle of Portland and Chesil Beach." Sounds like one for a holiday in Devon.

harryhound

X53 Definitely one to try along the Dorset/Devon coast. There has been a new land slip recently so if its stormy overnight get on the beach early to find the "fools gold" fossils. (I travelled on this bus over 55 years ago - in those days people would be going to market so sell some eggs etc. and it would stop outside individual cottages and honk because a regular passenger had not got on at the stop)

The bus companies do get some sort of marginal payment via local authorities, for taking us pensioners. Anybody know the details of how the system works?

System

So, as this old geezer will be travelling to Swanage in a fortnights time via BR (as it will take all day via coach), you reckon that apart from Poole & Bournemouth, there are other places the local bus will take me. Maybe those of you who live in that area, might come up with a few detailed idea's of how and where we could go.

lilac_lady

Does the free bus pass journeys include buses to airports etc or are they just for buses subsidised by local councils?