Today's trip to Reading (I keep forgetting to post up so many journeys but hey ho):
Walked to Morval Road bus stop
The 415 to Tulse Hill Station (LT636) - upon crossing the road, I noticed the driver was standing next to his bus talking to a 196 driver about something, so I asked him and he explained he is on diversion due to the petrol situation (the station in question located on Tulse Hill next to Cressingham Gardens) and will follow the 196 that was there. Sure enough that happened and the funniest thing about it was a 2 had left the Morval Road stop 5 minutes before us and didn't divert - I'd managed to not only get to Tulse Hill before it via Herne Hill but get off, walk down Christchurch Road and cross the road before it appeared
Southern service to East Croydon (Class 455) - one thing that bugs me with these is the way the windows and seats are laid out together where seats are positioned right by the corners of the window. Does anybody know why this is? Anyway, it arrived on time at 8:34am and got me to East Croydon on time at 8:53am
Thameslink service to Gatwick Airport (Class 700) - bar the boring livery (bring back the old Thameslink livery on the 319's) and poor padded seats, I really like these trains and have rode many since lockdown ended. This arrived one minute late at 9:00am (should of been 8:59am) & got to Gatwick Airport at 9:15am (should of been 9:13am)
Whilst waiting for my next train, the 9:22am Southern service to Victoria didn't depart until 9:27am for whatever reason - not sure what the hold up was but it ended delaying my own train
Great Western Railway service to Reading (Class 165) - love these trains. They make a great noise being diesel, are comfortable and have nice big windows with seats in the right place. Despite departing late (was due out at 9:29am but left at 9:32am), the driver made up time and even arrived early at Reading at 10:51am (was due in at 10:53am)
The Jet Black 1 to Newbury Wharf (792) - back to buses, these MMC's are the usual allocation and they are very nice to ride on even if not that exciting from an enthusiast perspective. They have high back seats that are well padded and they seem to fit the shape of a persons back really well. The seats also have seatbelts so useful should they ever be needed for school work or private hire. The route itself starts off quite residential upon leaving the town centre and stays that way within the Reading area until you cross into West Berkshire where it becomes more rural and you get some fast sections though the route does duck off the main road to serve places like Theale and Thatcham (really nice small town) before eventually arriving at Newbury, itself a nice town especially by the river. I was also impressed by the bus station despite only being there 5 minutes - clean, looks nice and the real time information there has been very well done, even explaining certain timings to people if they aren't sure.
The Jet Black 1 to Reading, West Street (792) - same as above really, only stopped at West Street as the stops at Cheapside were shut due to works
Had some time before my next bus so went into Greggs to redeem a voucher for a sweet treat
The 9 to Spencers Wood, Fullbrook Avenue (429) - having rode these nice gas powered Enviro 300's before on my last visit, I knew what to expect and they are still very good workhorses. As for the route itself, it runs towards the south via a twisty sort of route through lots of housing areas though because of a road closure, we didn't serve the Cressingham Road section instead running via Whitley Pump & Buckland Road. One impressive section was the junction with the M4 where there are number of bus only roads essentially allowing the bus to pass through the junction much easier - all it's missing really is some priority lights. Upon reaching Fullbrook Avenue which is part of a massive new housing development, it turns out I missed the connection to the 8 despite still having 2 minutes to spare so I walked through the eastern side of the development which is still an ongoing building site in places via the bus only road and then down Bolton Drive and the bit of Beke Drive that is actually finished (I had to walk around the unfinished bit)
The 3 to Reading, Minster Street (721) - another gas powered Enviro 300, just as good as the last one. This route mainly sticks to main roads but does have some of it's own bus priority when crossing over the M4 at a different junction which is good to see. Not memorable enough to comment any further
As I was a bit early before my train, I had a look in the Oracle shopping centre and a few other shops, stopped off at Greggs for a tea and then the heavens opened so hurried to the station
Great Western Railway service to Redhill (Class 166) - was happy to be on one again even if I was on the slower service stopping at almost any stop, we left on time at 17:20pm and arrived at Redhill for 18:53pm (was due in at 18:55pm, these GWR drivers don't mess around)
Thameslink service to East Croydon (Class 700) - nothing too memorable
Southern service to Tulse Hill (Class 455) - very quiet train, absolutely no one boarded in my carriage between East Croydon & Tulse Hill. Btw, why is the section between Streatham Common & Streatham 15mph ignoring the curve - even beyond the curve, it's still 15?
The 2 to Brixton Water Lane (HV406) nothing to report here except the petrol station on Tulse Hill has run dry
Brought dinner and walked home