A Recipe For Success?

… (stunning new buses for the “Lion” route between Reading and Bracknell) being good examples of operators seemingly able to succeed and, in some cases, expand. Edinburgh (Lothian) have just taken over Eve Coaches …

The 27 used a lay by on Excalibur Road,

From there it was “as outward route reversed”. 

In the lay by opposite you might espy a service 28 bus which has arrived via Heol Hir (Llanishen). The 28 will serve Thornhill via an anti clockwise one way loop.

But there was this problem with the 27. Running time was just not quite enough and reliability was suffering. It would likely suffer more with the universally unpopular Welsh 20 mph speed limit policy.

So what to do?

Increasing the running time would cost an extra bus and would not generate any extra revenue. So, the standard policy of negativity would be to reduce the frequency to every 15 minutes and (if possible) use double decks.

But let the company explain, as it did in excellent fashion when revealing the problem to its passengers.

So the 27 now loops in the opposite direction to the 28 but still runs every 12 minutes.

The route map is given in full (fbb shows only an extract) …

… and the revised timetable emphasises the circular nature at Thornhill.

Some customers were disadvantaged. It is no longer be possible to get from Templeton Avenue to Sainsburys. A walk to the Nine Giants for the 27 or to Heol Hir for the 28 is now necessary for trips to the store.

But Cardiff Bus is to be commended for an innovative solution which goes some way towards satisfying all the various desires and aspirations.

A chocolate peanut or two would be well deserved.

Readers may well remember fbb’s disappointment and frustration at discovering that Hornby had introduced TWO different brand new TTA tank wagons.

When fbb saw these pre-production models he thought that Hornby had decided not to issue two versions. When it appeared that both were available fbb then found that almost every retailer has “sold out” on their web site – and that included Hornby itself.

One or two companies were still inviting pre-orders but, when fbb tried, he was informed that the model was already out of stock.

fbb was afeared that he might never be able to complete his “every different tank wagon” collection.

It was at about 0200 on Saturday that an abed but slightly insomniac fbb was scanning sellers of R60208, more to see if any of the “sold outs” were promising extra supplies. And lo and behold up popped …

…who claimed to have one left! Maybe they were one of the traders offering pre-orders when fbb trawled the sites on previous occasions. 

So, without much hope of success, fbb ordered the single ladder version straight away and the order was duly processed. 

It arrived on Wednesday.

And it was, indeed, R60208 and it was as detailed as fbb’s green BP tanker …

… but, like the real thing …

… it does have just one end ladder not the two of other versions.

Sadly, however, his unwanted order mistake of a second R60209 did not sell. Second attempt!

Because this is a stupid fbb bludner, he is offering the model at …

£30

… including P&P.

Takings will go to  T E A R Fund Christian charity.