please empty your brain below

I guess one long bus trip for a week of blog is quite efficient! I'm enjoying the travelogue, but you have jumped from the first cathedral (Southwark) to the third (Westminster)! Where did the second (presumably St Paul's) go?

White City Bus station is generally heaving at 6:30 in the morning on the occassional times I pass through it

yep, 148. I guess the next one will be another ex-trolleybus route?


You're about to ride the 207 (607) right past my house *again*, aren't you? :-p

I thought that dg would probably get the 148. Now he is at Shepherds Bush, he could get the 207, but maybe he'll get the 237 to Hounslow and then the 81 to Slough!.Anyhow it's interesting reading about it.

Interesting contrast between Westfield London's 2008 launch message that parking would be minimised and everyone would be encouraged to use public transport, and Westfield Stratford's advertising that seems almost entirely about how many parking spaces they have.

Admittedly different locations and transport links, but us it a sign of change in economy or did they feel the substainability elements simply weren't worth the effort?

Not long after White City bus station opened, the series of curves got the better of one driver, who arrived a little too early.

But the people in charge of Westfield seem to have high hopes for that part of the site - they've submitted plans for a 'mixed use' (ie more shops and some flats) development in the land to the north of the shopping centre, which would extend it as far as the H&C line - and also completely surround the Dimco sheds.
this link might take you to an artist's impression of the scheme; otherwise search for 2011/02940/OUT on the LBHF planning site.

Looking at your photos, is it just me or have you spent your entire day on the same vehicle?

OT: CS2 was on the BBC front page this morning, under "Changes for cyclist death route". I bet Boris isn't very happy about that...

Yes, where was the second cathedral? The only ecclesiatical buildings between St Georges RC cathedral and Westminster RC cathedral, are Christ Church U.R.C (opposite Lambeth North station), St Margaret's Westminster, and Westminster Abbey, none of which are cathedrals.

Neither Southwark Cathedral nor St Pauls were on DG's route.

My guess is Slough too, as the furthest west you can go on TfL buses. The only question was whether he'd use the 211 and H91 between Westminster and Hounlsow, instead of the route he actually took.

The other possibilities were to go to Croydon, using either 89,180*,75,or 477,353,119*, and from Croydon using the X26,90*,81)

(*or another route serving the same roads)

One of the reasons for the White City bus station was that the Overground station and Westfield development meant that the bus park at Shepherds Bush Central Line needed replacing.

White City was the obvious place to put it. And if you're going to make the buses drive down there to park up, well might as well put a few bus stops there too.

I would guess that DG is counting Westminster Abbey as a Cathedral on the grounds that it was one between 1540 and 1550.

Yes, you've managed to find 3 consecutive routes run by Scania Doubler Deckers!

The Bus Station by Shepherd's Bush station is well used, (as is the new Overground station) but has no parking bays so somewhere else is needed as well - there's no room there, as if there was I presume they wouldn't have bothered with the White City bus station?

Westminster Abbey may have been a cathedral between 1540 and 1550, but DG had already got to Shepherds Bush by 1300!

Not only were the first three buses all Scania OmniCitys, but the first two were both operated by Stagecoach (the 148 is one of Transdev's)

@ John - my theory is similar to yours but with the 607 as the next leg. I also had the 237 / 81 as an alternative option if DG wishes to dodge the bombs dropping over Slough ;-)

DG will miss out on a Scania on the 607 unless there is a very odd working. To maintain the theme he might have used the 207 (Scanias) part way before swapping to a Trident on the 607.

I assume he diverted to the joys of the Tube in order to get home.

Poor DG - three shitty Polish Scanias in a row. Your back must be killing you. If you're a real glutton for punishment, I'd suggest the 207 next; that's just got them (and the last, thank God - no more are to be produced!)

I started off assuming there were only two cathedrals en route, then had a nagging thought that Westminster Abbey must be too, so updated to three. I've now downgraded to two again, thanks.

A cathedral is a church where the bishop's seat (or "cathedra") is located. It may also have its own parish, like Southwark Cathedral, or it may have a monastic origin (hence "Minster", like Lincoln Minster, and that stumpier version a bit further north). But not all Abbeys are cathedrals - Westminster Abbey is technically a "Royal Peculiar", like the Chapel Royal.

I have been totally enthralled by all this bus info, and the knowlegible comments by all you transport buffs. You have taken me mentally to places I have heard about, but never seen.











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