Forum Topic

The Ealing ghost bus  or is it a train?

Clean, on time and empty. 'Ghost bus' to spare ministers' blushesEvery Tuesday, at 9.45am precisely, a 50-seat executive coach draws up at a bus stop outside Ealing Broadway station in West London. No one ever gets on and, a moment later, it departs - empty - on a 70-minute trip to Wandsworth Road in South Londonhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5462099.ece Anyone out there aware of this?

Libby Kemp ● 6303d26 Comments

Aah, one less for the "Ghost Train Club" to enjoy.Well done in finding the old thread BTW.

Nigel Brooks ● 4994d

The Dft have finally decided to stop running the ghost train...http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-17/

James Rogers ● 4994d

Ah, so we now have a phantom news article to go with the ghost bus.

J Smith ● 6276d

No - please believe me - as I said before, the bus has (for legal reasons) to continue running until such time as the DfT decide how to replace it with a train. The press reports about 'withdrawal' all jump the gun. The bus ran last week and today, even after the DfT statement. Come and see it next Tuesday!  DK

Don Kennedy ● 6276d

It was in my local paper(I live in Wandsworth) that it had been cancelled

Jean Gilmore ● 6276d

I thought I had read in the local paper that this bus had been withdrawn from service.

J Smith ● 6276d

The bus will continue running until such time as the DfT decide how to replace it with a train. The questions of which Train Operating Company, what route and when it will run need to be resolved, of course. The double-decker was used again today (Feb 3rd), with just one passenger from Ealing. There's now a poster about it displayed inside the station, although perhaps also only on Tuesdays! Hoping to see some of you on next Tuesday's bus (Feb 10th).  DK

Don Kennedy ● 6276d

Don, Just wondered if you`ve had to make alternative arrangements as reinstatement of the service on rails looks likely. Mind you wouldn`t be surprised if the ghost bus was the only one running in London in adverse weather!

Robert Darke ● 6276d

Whatever all the ins and outs of this strange story, matters would be improved if FGW agreed at least to display the staff-only notice about the bus service! I've spoken to a manager at EB station, who showed me the notice (but wouldn't make me a copy). It's very clearly set-out and to display it would at least avoid the 'no-one knows anything about the bus' complaint! Those interested in sampling the service might like to join me and some friends for a return trip on February 10th. This is what I've told them:Parliamentary' bus service - On January 13th, following the report in “The Times” the previous week, the 0945 departure from Ealing Broadway included TV crews from BBC, ITV and TF1 (France) and reporters/photographers from the “Daily Mirror” and “Daily Mail”. Together with other interested parties there were 18 passengers in all. You are cordially invited to try to improve on this total by joining the return journey to Kensington Olympia, Wandsworth Road station and back on Tuesday 10 February. Please meet at Stop F, immediately outside Ealing Broadway station, at 0935 (depart 0945) or join the bus at Kensington Olympia (depart 1025). Participants will need to come equipped with the correct rail ticket for the journey(s): Off-Peak Day Return or 1-Day Travelcard Zones 1-4 or 2-6 recommended*. During the break at Wandsworth Road (1055-1315) Don Kennedy will lead a short "Lost Railways of London"-style walk to Clapham High Street, inspecting the sites of a goods yard, transport museum and restored station building. There'll be a refreshment break before catching a train back to Wandsworth Road for the return non-rail journey to Kensington Olympia (1345) and Ealing Broadway (1425). (*In theory, Oyster 'Pay As You Go' is valid on the bus between EB and KO, although so far as is known no-one has yet tried to do so. Anyone planning to use this should remember that it is not valid between Kensington Olympia and Wandsworth Road [and Clapham High Street].) No advance application is needed, although it would be helpful to know who'll be coming. Please contact Don Kennedy on 020 8567 4397 / donkennedy@f2s.com / 63 Disraeli Road, London W5 5HS. ("Lost Railways of London" is my programme of events that I run as a hobby for various groups, exploring the lesser-known, long-closed lines and related locations of Greater London.)  DK

Don Kennedy ● 6288d

Thank you to this weeks passengers who humanised the normally somewhat sinister empty coach service.Even Disney would be amazed at the expensive rides the British public are being taken on by the Dft, from Heathrow runway three to Wandsworth!

Robert Darke ● 6294d

Yes!  See my blog at http://jonball.org/2009/01/riding-on-ghost-bus_13.htmland media coverage at http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2009/01/13/ealing-ghost-bus-braved-by-passengers-64767-22685049/ and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7826714.stm .It should hopefully be featured on tonight's BBC and ITV local news programmes as well.  With a bit of luck all this press attention should force the government to either reinstate the train service or consult properly on scrapping it and stop wasting money running a pointless bus once a week.Jon

Jon Ball ● 6297d

Has anyone returned ??

Joanna Dabrowska ● 6300d

John Beeston of EPTUG (Ealing Passenger Transport Users Group) is organising a party of passengers reported in the Gazette today.                Ghosts should apply to johnb@eptug.org.uk

Robert Darke ● 6301d

Ah, I see.  Still, it would be interesting to try it, as it's a bit difficult for them to claim that Arriva CrossCountry are actually running the bus service when it runs between stations that they never served and which are nowhere near their current CrossCountry routes.  In case anyone is interested, I understand that the times are as follows:Tuesdays only:-Ealing Broadway    09.45Olympia                10.25Wandsworth Road  10.55Wandsworth Road  13.15Olympia                13.45Ealing Broadway    14.25

Richard Jennings ● 6301d

I quote:"The freedom pass is NOT valid for travel on train services operated by Arriva CrossCountry, Grand Central, Hull Trains, East Midlands Trains, Gatwick Express, National Express East Coast, Virgin Trains and Heathrow Express, or on Heathrow Connect between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow."This statement is found on:http://freedompass.org/whentouse.htmThe bus service in question is operated by Crosscountry.

Alan Brainsby ● 6301d

"The Freedom Pass probably isn't valid on that service, whether bus or rail."Is that based on the fact that no such route is now shown on the Freedom Pass network map, or is there another document that says that?  In any case, the map says "This is a simplified diagram and some lines and stations have been omitted for the sake of clarity", so I would assume it's one of those!By the way, National Rail is NOT available 24 hrs/day to Freedom Pass holders.  For most NR lines the 09:30 start time still applies.

Richard Jennings ● 6302d

The rail replacement bus service is for Cross Country Rail.The Freedom Pass probably isn't valid on that service, whether bus or rail.

Alan Brainsby ● 6302d

Freedom Pass is 24/24 now.Does anyone know if the pubs are cheaper than Ealing at the destination?What time is the return service?

Alan Brainsby ● 6302d

Someone should try it and report back. At present it appears to be a waste of our taxes.

Graham Weeks ● 6302d

Since this ghost bus runs after 9:30 and it is a replacement for National Rail services in the London Area, you SHOULD be able to ride on it for nothing if you have a Freedom Pass!

Robin Hall ● 6302d

I might try it.

Steven Cowburn ● 6303d

Why?To see what Ealing will be like in 5 years time!

Alan Brainsby ● 6303d

Why not?

Philippa Bond ● 6303d

W5-forum day trip to Sarf London, anyone?

Susan Kelly ● 6303d

!!

Philippa Bond ● 6303d

This typifies everything that's wrong with the Government. For years they've been banging on about "increased investment" in public services which in any other context would be best described as "spending more".It's about time that the public wised up to the fact that much of the increase in spending has largely been wasted by virtue of foisting huge budget increases on the public sector without first establishing the necessary reforms to make sure it's used properly as illustrated by the huge increases in spending on the Police, Education and Welfare with little or no improvements in outcomes / results.

Ed Yelland ● 6303d