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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 19, 2020 0:14:09 GMT
Here's a quick run through of my latest jaunt, probably enough to put anyone off using public transport for a theatre trip.
I travelled yesterday to see Billy - The Musical at Hinckley in Leicestershire. No matinees so had booked to stay overnight at Leicester Travelodge. Room only cost £25 in the sale. National Express both ways for £11 return, a quarter of the train fare from London. It costs me £9 to get to and from London Victoria by train and the theatre ticket was just £10 so total cost of trip a reasonable £55.
I arrived at Victoria Coach Station from Kent at 13.10 for the 13.30 service to Leicester, scheduled arrival 16.45. Announced initially it would 20 minutes late leaving as driver had to take a 30 minute break due to delay on coach's previous journey from Leicester. We were told boarding at 13.40, departure 13.50. Not a problem as I had allowed almost three hours leeway to get from Leicester to the show. At 13.45 we were informed driver's break was 45 minutes, boarding would be 13.50. Driver finally appeared at 13.57 but because the layout at Victoria Coach station means passengers have to walk across the departure roadway to board coaches he was told to wait for the 14.00 services to various destinations to go. Boarding started 14.05, departed eventually 14.15, awful traffic going out of London, slow on M1 through extensive roadworks, arrived Leicester an hour late. I had intended to check in at the Travelodge 10 minutes walk away before the show but decided to go straight to Hinckley by local bus. Arrived there at 18.45, show started at 19.30.
Show finished 21.50, a bus back to Leicester had left at 21.45 so 55 minutes wait for the next and final one,last train was leaving even later. No McDonalds, and Wetherspoons closed down last year. Fortunately a pub/restaurant by the bus station was open for a coffee and keeping warm. Reached the Travelodge at 23.40.
This morning booked on a 09.20 service from Leicester back to London. Quick breakfast at Subway, arrived coach station 09.10. Regular announcements, first one just before 9.20 " London service expected to arrive in about 10 minutes", second at 09.30 exactly the same message, third about 09.45 "a few minutes away". At 09.50 coach pulled in BUT with a very flat back tyre!. It had happened just around the corner so no advance warning. At 10.20 announcement that a replacement coach would be arriving at 10.40. The 10.30 service to London arrived and departed on time. It was almost full and could only have accommodated maybe 10 of the waiting c40 passengers so nobody was given the chance to board it and we were again told replacement coach at 10.40. At 10.50 a coach arrived for Birmingham. The young lady who had been making announcements spoke to the driver and the dozen or so passengers for Birmingham were asked to get off and told there was another Birmingham service a few minutes away. We boarded this coach and it left at 11.00 just 100 minutes late. As I boarded a man said loudly - I kid you not - something like "good luck folks, that drivers's a bleedin' maniac". I think the "replacement coach" was this Birmingham one all the time and the policy seemed to be to drip feed the delay 10 minutes at a time.
I had the seat near the front with extra legroom. The driver was regularly so close to the vehicle in front that he had to break sharply several times. He kept switching lanes and on two occasions even overtook in the outside lane, illegal for coaches. I decided I didn't want to see this and closed my eyes and dozed off. First and only stop was at Milton Keynes, arrived there at 12.08. Driver then said he had to take a 30 minute legal break and we were to be back at the coach at "Half past two". People groaned. I said "surely you don't mean that", he replied. "Sorry I mean half past one" , me "no that's not right either." He looked confused and asked what the time was and I told him ! He then said we'd be departing at 12.40 which we did. His driving was no better for the remainder of the journey. The coach arrived Victoria Coach Station exactly two hours late at 14.20. I know I can claim the fare back but we weren't told that. Neither driver made an apology on behalf of National Express.
Would I do it all again just to see a(n amateur) musical 150 miles away? Of course i would and already have two similar trips booked. Not to Hinckley though !
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 19, 2020 15:30:05 GMT
I can't match my namesake's tale of woe, but I did start to worry yesterday that, partly due to my own incompetence and partly Northern's, I wouldn't arrive in Hull in good time for The King and I.
Although I can catch a direct service to Hull, it's a journey I've made numerous times so I decided, on this occasion, I would go via Leeds for a change of scenery.
First, I boarded the wrong train in Leeds, and found myself heading west, rather than east. I should probably have twigged when everyone else was sitting facing what I thought was the wrong direction. That'll teach me to be smug!
Then the train bringing me back to Leeds went, mysteriously, from being on time to running 15 minutes late, so I missed the next train to Hull by just minutes.
On my third attempt, I did find myself on the correct platform, but by then it was the rush-hour, so I was just one of 500* waiting to board an ancient two carriage train, built in 1988 by Leyland. I don't think I've ever seen a scrum like it, but somehow almost everyone squeezed onboard. Far from ideal but I'm finally on my way, I thought...until the conductors (two for some reason) cheerfully announced that some passengers would have to disembark; not because of any concerns about our safety, but because they couldn't open the door to their cubby-hole.
Any other time, and as one of the last to board, I like to think I would have taken one for the team, but this really was the last train that got me to Hull in time for the overture. Thankfully, enough people did alight, and we left Leeds 'only' ten minutes late, which increased to 15 by the time we arrived in Hull.
And ironically, by the time we reached the part of the journey that was new to me, it had gone dark, so I didn't get the change of scenery I'd planned!
*A slight exaggeration, but not by much.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 19, 2020 15:39:33 GMT
⬆️ Northern powerhouse
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Post by dippy on Feb 19, 2020 16:13:05 GMT
Got a question, I'm planning on booking an overnight bus back to London after I see Back to the Future. I have a feeling not many people on here go on overnight buses but for me they're perfect, I can sleep and travel all in one go. I've not done much travel recently and see that booking specific seats on both National Express and Megabus seems to be a thing.
So, on a random Tuesday night how full is the bus likely to be? Basically I have no problem sitting next to someone on a bus for hours on end but at night when I really want to sleep two seats makes a massive difference especially when you're not very tall and can sleep reasonably well lying on both seats. I can't imagine it'll be busy but anyone got better knowledge than me? If it's busy is there any advantage to booking one of the seats? Are you more or less likely to get someone next to you if you do that?
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 19, 2020 17:44:24 GMT
So, on a random Tuesday night how full is the bus likely to be? It's a few years since I've done it, but those overnight coaches used to get really full. Can't really help with the booked seat question, but I presume they let everyone into their booked seats first, then people take their pick of the rest. Assuming the booked seats are in the most desirable positions, I'd imagine the people who don't pay will go for the spare booked seats first. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 19, 2020 18:08:58 GMT
What’s the comfort like on these cityto city coach services these days? Legroom? Seat width? Facilities?
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Post by dippy on Feb 19, 2020 18:24:22 GMT
So, on a random Tuesday night how full is the bus likely to be? It's a few years since I've done it, but those overnight coaches used to get really full. Can't really help with the booked seat question, but I presume they let everyone into their booked seats first, then people take their pick of the rest. Assuming the booked seats are in the most desirable positions, I'd imagine the people who don't pay will go for the spare booked seats first. I know they get quite full, but I do know the last one I went on (back in June) wasn't full and I got to sleep properly. As far as I remember it's mainly the ones at the weekend that fill up the most. Hmm, you could be right about the seats, the bookable seats are the ones at the front. What’s the comfort like on these cityto city coach services these days? Legroom? Seat width? Facilities? Not that comfy, more space sitting in a theatre seat if you ask me! Don't think I've ever been to the loo on a coach so I can't answer that for you. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 20, 2020 0:59:12 GMT
Got a question, I'm planning on booking an overnight bus back to London after I see Back to the Future. I have a feeling not many people on here go on overnight buses but for me they're perfect, I can sleep and travel all in one go. I've not done much travel recently and see that booking specific seats on both National Express and Megabus seems to be a thing. So, on a random Tuesday night how full is the bus likely to be? Basically I have no problem sitting next to someone on a bus for hours on end but at night when I really want to sleep two seats makes a massive difference especially when you're not very tall and can sleep reasonably well lying on both seats. I can't imagine it'll be busy but anyone got better knowledge than me? If it's busy is there any advantage to booking one of the seats? Are you more or less likely to get someone next to you if you do that? I did this journey last year, a Wednesday night, with National Express from Manchester to London. I had two seats to myself, no reservation, as I think did all solo travellers. One way to almost certainly get two seats is to reserve one,it's then unlikely anyone will reserve the one next to you but when you get on you sit on the one you haven't reserved and leave the reservation notice on the other seat. Sneaky but should work unless the coach is fully booked. People with reserved seats don't board first. It's a two part journey with about 45 minutes break in Birmingham at Digbeth Coach station. You don't have to get off but most people did if only to avoid using the on-bus WC. The coach travels mainly on A roads with roundabouts, traffic lights etc.so lots of slowing down and stopping , plus all the calling points have to be announced and people get on/off at most. I found it harder to sleep than on motorway journeys. I think Megabus sticks more to motorways but has no equivalent break at Birmingham. |
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Post by dippy on Feb 20, 2020 12:11:41 GMT
I did this journey last year, a Wednesday night, with National Express from Manchester to London. I had two seats to myself, no reservation, as I think did all solo travellers. One way to almost certainly get two seats is to reserve one,it's then unlikely anyone will reserve the one next to you but when you get on you sit on the one you haven't reserved and leave the reservation notice on the other seat. Sneaky but should work unless the coach is fully booked. People with reserved seats don't board first. It's a two part journey with about 45 minutes break in Birmingham at Digbeth Coach station. You don't have to get off but most people did if only to avoid using the on-bus WC. The coach travels mainly on A roads with roundabouts, traffic lights etc.so lots of slowing down and stopping , plus all the calling points have to be announced and people get on/off at most. I found it harder to sleep than on motorway journeys. I think Megabus sticks more to motorways but has no equivalent break at Birmingham. That's a clever trick about sitting in the unreserved seat! Glad you had two seats to yourself, hopefully I will too! There were quite a few options for coaches but I picked the megabus one in the end. There were 3 different National Express ones, one that stops 10 times, one where you need to change and one that only stops 4 times on the way. The one that only stops 4 times was tempting, but as it (and all the other National Express ones) was going to Luton I thought it would possibly have more people. |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Feb 21, 2020 18:46:56 GMT
Tube will be ok - it's the roads that are closed with diversions - last time they did that some diversions took an hour! I hope I'll still be able to walk up Sloane Street to get to the tube. Be careful walking in Knightsbridge. My no go area of London now. Last time I was there two open drugs deals in front of me, fighting and a distant gun shot. Added to that it is now used as a race track. Very moody area at night |
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Post by londonpostie on Feb 21, 2020 19:24:52 GMT
Excellent. Peter Cook could have written that.
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 21, 2020 23:06:09 GMT
Be careful walking in Knightsbridge. My no go area of London now. Last time I was there two open drugs deals in front of me, fighting and a distant gun shot. Added to that it is now used as a race track. Very moody area at night Golly. I thought Knightsbridge was posh. It has Harrods! |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 24, 2020 1:16:54 GMT
Today's 3pm matinee was (amateur) Tom Sawyer at the King Alfred Phoenix Theatre in Golders Green. Very good it was too; a sell out but had unallocated bench-style seating. I made sure I was first in to the auditorium and grabbed the central front row aisle seat They struggled to fit everybody in, people had to move around so latecoming families could sit together and it started almost 15 minutes late.
I had been told a 5.15pm finish and had calculated that with the Circle Line suspended I needed an hour to get to Cadogan Hall for Zorro this evening but actually got out at 5.33 so knew it was going to be tight. I ran most of the way down the hill to Golders Green station, caught the tube at 5.42, changed from Northern to Victoria line at Warren Street which was quite a trek (probably should have switched at Euston), arrived Victoria 6.14, quarter way up the escalator it stopped suddenly, almost fell over, had to walk up about 100 steps to the top, then just missed a bus which I would otherwise have caught, bus I did catch then changed driver at Victoria Coach station.
Got off at Sloane Square 6.28 and walked into Cadogan at 6.30, as did Dawnstar, sat down at 6.32 and it started at 6.33. I've had a few close shaves but that one will take some beating.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Feb 24, 2020 13:44:52 GMT
Got a question, I'm planning on booking an overnight bus back to London after I see Back to the Future. I have a feeling not many people on here go on overnight buses but for me they're perfect, I can sleep and travel all in one go. I've not done much travel recently and see that booking specific seats on both National Express and Megabus seems to be a thing. So, on a random Tuesday night how full is the bus likely to be? Basically I have no problem sitting next to someone on a bus for hours on end but at night when I really want to sleep two seats makes a massive difference especially when you're not very tall and can sleep reasonably well lying on both seats. I can't imagine it'll be busy but anyone got better knowledge than me? If it's busy is there any advantage to booking one of the seats? Are you more or less likely to get someone next to you if you do that? I did this journey last year, a Wednesday night, with National Express from Manchester to London. I had two seats to myself, no reservation, as I think did all solo travellers. One way to almost certainly get two seats is to reserve one,it's then unlikely anyone will reserve the one next to you but when you get on you sit on the one you haven't reserved and leave the reservation notice on the other seat. Sneaky but should work unless the coach is fully booked. People with reserved seats don't board first. It's a two part journey with about 45 minutes break in Birmingham at Digbeth Coach station. You don't have to get off but most people did if only to avoid using the on-bus WC. The coach travels mainly on A roads with roundabouts, traffic lights etc.so lots of slowing down and stopping , plus all the calling points have to be announced and people get on/off at most. I found it harder to sleep than on motorway journeys. I think Megabus sticks more to motorways but has no equivalent break at Birmingham. Took the National Express on Saturday to Leicester to see Phantom of the Opera at The Curve (1st visit there). Pre-purchased a National Express Coach Card for the over 60's for £15, my trip there and back was £11.20. Gorgeous! Reserved the front seat behind the driver in both directions for £2 each way. Gorgeous!! Bloke behind me took up both seats by sitting on the aisle seat and putting his coat on the window seat. And spoke - loudly - on his phone for 90 minutes! At one point lying across the seats so his mouth was probably 6 inches from my ear. Couple of old ladies in my reserved seat on the return journey - there was quite a queue, full bus at 11.30 Sunday morning, and they'd taken off the Reserved label and chucked it ... oisted out by the Driver. Well worth the extra couple of quid as I don't travel well in the rear of coaches. The Ramada Encore is steps from The Curve, but I'd hesitate to recommend it for any other reason. Rooms aren't soundproof and the Hotel's covered outside area for coffee/smokers attracts the local yoofs who like to chatter into the early hours (I don't know if they were residents). Also a row between a young couple in the street had me bounding out of bed at 3.30am in case she needed help. |
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Post by tysilio2 on Feb 24, 2020 13:55:05 GMT
I genuinely love this thread...and I barely use public transport for the theatre. Get all excited when a new post appears.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 25, 2020 17:01:12 GMT
Tonight I'm booked to see Pretty Woman at the Piccadilly theatre. £75 seat in row B stalls I'm on a train at Newport S.Wales which is being held here indefinitely due to a fatality near Swindon. Train should have left half an hour ago and was due to reach Paddington at 18.15 but train manager has warned of a very long delay. My son works in London and I've agreed with him to not catch his usual train home. I've had a string of close shaves on my travels in the last 12 months but I think this is where my luck runs out...
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 25, 2020 17:02:35 GMT
.... and my son gets an unexpected night at the theatre 😢
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 25, 2020 18:50:00 GMT
Were you trying to see a matinee in Wales & an evening show in London FrontrowverPaul? If so that that was probably a bit overambitious! The furthest apart I think I've ever done in one day is Norwich & Cambridge or London & Cambridge. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 25, 2020 19:09:58 GMT
No I have a property in Wales and was there to check on it after all the flooding. My train was actually going to reach Paddington at 19.11 and I would have probably just made curtain up but they decided to terminate it at Reading and that's added 10 minutes to the journey so no chance now and will miss about 10 minutes but could have been worse.
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 25, 2020 20:14:19 GMT
FrontrowverPaul I would say that I wouldn't choose to go & visit a property on the other side of the country on a day I had theatre booked but as you seem to have theatre booked pretty much every day I guess it's tricky!
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Post by david on Feb 25, 2020 20:21:21 GMT
With Northern Rail / Fail's franchise coming to an end this week, I am hoping that there will be a more reliable service to Manchester so I can restart my Sunday visits to Hope Mil again.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Feb 26, 2020 0:55:30 GMT
FrontrowverPaul I would say that I wouldn't choose to go & visit a property on the other side of the country on a day I had theatre booked but as you seem to have theatre booked pretty much every day I guess it's tricky! I've been travelling by coach or train to Wales twice a month, staying overnight, for almost 10 years and regularly return via a London show. Whether I'm travelling from Cardiff or Newport, or from my main residence in Kent, I plan for about an hour's cushion between expected arrival at a London rail terminus or Victoria Coach Station and curtain up. Similarly I allow an hour for possible delays if I'm seeing a matinee in Bristol or Cardiff on the outward journey. That has got me to the show in time on all but three occasions over the years, though with a few close shaves. I should have had 75 minutes today between Paddington and the Piccadilly Theatre for a 15 minute journey but actually got there at 7.38 so that was a fourth fail but I didn't miss much. One consolation is that I can get the £15 train fare back under the delay repay scheme. It's a choice of either taking a calculated risk that an hour will be adequate for the final leg of the journey, or allowing so long that in most cases I have to hang around for ages near the theatre. I've had more delays already in 2020 than the whole of 2019 but I'm the eternal optimist and firmly believe that I've had my share of hold ups for 2020 already and the rest of the year will run like clockwork! |
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 26, 2020 13:52:47 GMT
Before booking a train ticket, especially if it's a journey I've not made before, I'll try and remember to check recenttraintimes.co.uk. The website dates from the very earliest days of the internet, but as it's free to use, I can't complain!
Some railway delays, like the one above, can't be predicted, but others seem to be repeated day after day. Leeds to Nottingham, I'm looking at you.
(And if arrival time isn't important, it's quite useful to see which services are likely to be running 15 or more minutes late. Though obviously I wouldn't dream of playing the compensation system!)
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 26, 2020 19:51:21 GMT
It has certainly never occurred to me to deliberately try to get a likely to be delayed train!
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 27, 2020 10:48:58 GMT
I am attempting to go to Coventry, for a final viewing of PPGW. It is not going well. The traffic getting to Cambridge station was terrible so I missed the train I needed to get to London & therefore will miss the connection at Euston for Coventry. As I was booked on a specifc Euston-Coventry train I've just had to buy another ticket, at the cost of £36, having already spent getting on for £60 on train tickets so this trip is going to cost me nearly £100.
ETA The next train to London has just left 6 mins late. If it gets any later en route then I'll miss another train at Euston & will be very tight for getting to the theatre for the 2pm start. (I'd intended to get to Coventry at 12.25pm so as to have time for a quick visit to the cathedral first but that's not going to happen now.)
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