Cold Ashby Blog/Open Forum
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Bus Business - Cold Ashby to Market Harborough by County Connect
by Ashby Rambler - 09:54 on 24 November 2011
As promised, the Rambler reports on his first trip using County Connect (Tuesday 22nd November).
Having requested (using the efficient online booking sevice) a 9.30 a.m. departure from Cold Ashby to travel to Market Harborough, I was offered 9.50 a.m. from the Black Horse.
In fact, the bus was waiting for me at 9.45 a.m. and actually arrived in Naseby at 9.50a.m. where two people got on, a little surprised by the early arrival!
By 10 a.m. we were already waiting for the Clipston passengers who were regular users of the service on Tuesdays and Fridays and had, apparently, unsuccessfully campaigned for a timetabled service on those days (I also learnt that one lady on the bus had been somewhat inconvenienced the previous day as her booked journeys had not materialised).
We then moved on to Market Harborough, via Marston Trussell where more passengers joined us, arriving at the Market Hall in Harborough around 10.20 a.m.
In all, I estimated about 12 people had used the service between Cold Ashby and Market Harborough.
The return journey, booked for 12.10 p.m. commenced a couple of minutes late but was even quicker than the outward, taking about 25 minutes.
The driver was very pleasant and helpful - particularly with the less mobile passengers.
The bus was clean and warm but somewhat noisy at times, making conversation slightly difficult.
This was, of course, a straightforward journey which did not involve changing buses or making connections with scheduled services. The Rambler has yet to attempt a journey to Northampton, for instance, which would involve, he understands, a change at Guilsborough!
It would be both interesting and useful to hear of the experiences of others using this service.
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