The difference between bus and train

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Well aren't some trains modelled on a bus? There was some in use around exeter but I can't rember the class number

The 2/3 car Pacers*. Classes 140 (prototype), 141 (UK^▸ (United Kingdom) use 1984-1997 then exported to Iran), 142, 143 (currently found in and around Exeter) and 144.

Preceding these were various single car prototypes.

All were/are based on bus bodies and components.

One of the single car prototypes, LEV1, was tested in and around Bristol in passenger service in 1981/82. A video of it in action can be seen here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8302000/8302570.stm


*Or variously, Skippers, Nodding Donkeys, Bouncy Buses, Bouncy Castle, Pogo Stick, Bendy Bus...

[grahame]

* I can work on my laptop on a train, and do so with ease.   If I try and work with my laptop on a bus (even the rail replacement one from Cardiff to Swansea yesterday on the M4) I feel nauseous.

* On line enquiries for trains normally give me scheduled times and prices, even when it involves a change from the service of one company to another.  Bus enquiries with connections are available, but you try finding the pricing information in a consistent way

[Cynthia]

As a senior traveller I can go virtually anywhere I want to for free on a bus,  the train only offers me a small discount, having had to purchase a senior railcard.

[Alan Pettitt]

As a senior traveller I can go virtually anywhere I want to for free on a bus,  the train only offers me a small discount, having had to purchase a senior railcard.

As a marginally less senior traveller I can get a massive discount on a train but I have to pay full fare on a bus!

[Rhydgaled]

Buses can operate through difficult terrain in rural and semi-rural areas, trains can't. So, it would be great if somebody can find a solution to this:

A train shows a commitment to providing sustainable high-quality public transport where you live in the medium to long term.

A bus doesn't.

On a bus (well some of them) you can sit upstairs. You can't do that on any UK^▸ (United Kingdom) train.

On at least one bus I've been on, I found I could sit upstairs but not stand, which I discovered the hard way.

* I can work on my laptop on a train, and do so with ease.   If I try and work with my laptop on a bus (even the rail replacement one from Cardiff to Swansea yesterday on the M4) I feel nauseous.

On (some) buses between Frome and Bath you can use free WiFi, on Trains (between the same two points) you can't.

My local bus operator has five buses equiped with Wi-Fi. On two of them, I can effectively use a laptop at 16 seats. On another two, I can only use a laptop at arround 8 seats. On the other, and most other buses I've ever been on (which don't tend to have Wi-Fi) I don't think there are any seats where I can effectively use the laptop. The reason? Legroom, it is too hard to use a laptop while sitting sideways.

[grahame]

Buses can operate through difficult terrain in rural and semi-rural areas, trains can't.

Eh??  I was at Swansea stations at late O'Clock last night, and just about the only train running was on the Shrewsbury line, which I would consider to be difficult terrain and distinctly rural.   Other lines through rural areas of difficult terrain include those to Whitby, Mallaig, Wick and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

[Phil]

I can easily find out how much it would cost me to get from A to B on a train *

I haven't a clue how to find out how much a bus journey would cost


* it probably won't be the cheapest or even the correct price for the journey due to the complexities of the system, but at least I can establish a price

[TaplowGreen]

Buses don't grind to a halt when leaves fall off trees, nor are they subject to massive delays when a (traffic) signal fails, and they seem to be able to cope with normal seasonal variations in weather.

They tend to have a simple and transparent fare structure which is able to be understood by the majority of people, rather than rail which seems to have about 500 different prices/options for a single journey.

There are, however, few places worse to be stuck than on a bus with a screaming child.........at least on a train you can get up and go to a different carriage.

[Rhydgaled]

Buses can operate through difficult terrain in rural and semi-rural areas, trains can't.

Eh??  I was at Swansea stations at late O'Clock last night, and just about the only train running was on the Shrewsbury line, which I would consider to be difficult terrain and distinctly rural.   Other lines through rural areas of difficult terrain include those to Whitby, Mallaig, Wick and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Fair point. I was thinking of routes where there never has been a railway, like Fishguard - Cardigan - Aberaeron - Aberystwyth, when I wrote that. The rural nature means the cost of getting through the difficult terrain (lots of valleys to cross, rather than running along them as most of Carmarthen-Aberystwyth, for example, did) would never be justified.

Buses don't grind to a halt when leaves fall off trees

Nor do trains, I think. Isn't the problem with leaves that the train cannot stop moving (it slides) or cannot start moving (wheelspin)?? Neither are exactly decribed by the phrase 'grind to a halt'.

nor are they subject to massive delays when a (traffic) signal fails

What if the traffic signal is stuck on red? Doesn't happen very often, but how long does the driver wait before he/she knows the light is broken and ignores it. This seems mostly to be a problem with temporary lights at roadworks, which have caused my family delays (maybe not 'massive', I suppose) when travelling by car, so buses are probably subject to the same.

and they seem to be able to cope with normal seasonal variations in weather.

they cope to a degree, but so do trains surely? A few years back now I think, I was on one bus and missed a 'connection' into another in icy conditions. I think the missed 'connection' was down to the bus driver (justifiably, probably) taking it slow. That's one thing that seems the same with buses and trains, in both cases most (but not all) 'connections' will not be held.