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Most bus stop signs are square in shape, coloured black on white, a side silhouette of a bus, and the words "Bus Stop"
or "Coach Stop". (Coach generally is used to indicate intercity services.) There may be route information, and there also may be operator information, and a local telephone number. In general, when
obtaining timetable and routing information, one rings Traveline using an 0870 number (nationwide number, local charges). By default, you will get the information centre for the area you are calling from,
however one can enter a code to route the call to the proper area. These codes are found online at http://www.traveline.org.uk/powercodes.htm. |
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Before we get to our collection of pictures here are a couple of links to other sites that contian pictures of stops in the UK. The Top of the Stops
A stop in Unst Now, onto our stops. |
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Greater London |
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All transport in the London area is managed by Transport for London, however, all bus, tram, and tube operations have been privatized. Text
by R. Mullins. |
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This stop is located in front of the Park International Hotel on WB Cromwell Rd., between Ashford Gdns, and Courfield Gdns, in south Kensington. It is served by two routes, the
74 and N97 (night bus). It is a request stop, which indicates that a passenger must signal the operator to alight. Regular stops, where the buses will always stop whether or not
someone needs to alight, are marked with a reverse image sign (red on white rather than white on red). Picture and text by R. Mullins. |
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This shelter is on westbound Cromwell Road in Kensington, mid-block between Ashford Pl. and Ashford Gdns., behind the Forum Hotel, one block west of Gloucester Road and Gloucester
Road tube station. This is also an example of a request stop, and is served by routes 74 and N97 (night bus). I believe at one time it was also served by an airport bus, but that
service was discontinued within the past year. Text and picture by R. Mullins. |
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Greater London, Westminster - Your contributor on the top deck of a newer double decker bus on route 76 on Fleet
Street. (Photo: Pat Owens) Text by R. Mullins. Okay, so now you have an idea of wht one of us looks like. |
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Greater London, Knightsbridge, Kensington & Chelsea - One of a new series of electronic signs appearing in
London. This one was at Hyde Park Corner, at the end of EB Knightsbridge, at the entrance to the roundabout. Picture & text by R. Mullins. |
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Greater London, Knightsbridge, Kensington & Chelsea - These timetables are now appearing at all London bus
stops. This is at Hyde Park Corner, on WB Knightsbridge. Cut off is an example of a regular bus stop, red on white, where the bus will stop all the time without request. Request stops, where one
raises their arm to flag the driver or rings the bell inside the bus to alight use the reverse color scheme of white on red. Strange, it seems to be raining. Picture by R. Mullins. |
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Greater London, City of London - One of the famous double decker buses, this is an older Routemaster operated on
Route 22 by London General. Picture & text by R. Mullins. |
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Greater London, Knightsbridge, Kensington & Chelsea - Yes, Harrod's has its own stops! It also has an entrance
to Hyde Park Corner tube, but it is open only when the store is open (10-7 Mon-Sat). The "KA" sign is used on local maps posted in the tube station. Picture & Text by R,
Mullins. |
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Greater London, Westminster - I didn't take this (photo: Pat Owens) so any help from readers about the
perspective is beneficial! (I think
that is Westminster Abbey in the background, but I can't read the sign on the left; this might be on Broad Sanctuary, but I don't recall a tube entrance that far away from Westminster Station.) Anyway, on the far right, is a typical illuminated roundel for the entrance to a London Underground station. Text by R. Mullins.
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An example of the articulated buses acquired by Transport for London in 2003. These articulated buses (this
particular one is one of routes 507 and 521 - nicknamed "Red Arrow") have helped reduce congestion (the £5/day congestion charge has helped, too) in central London. POP is used - there
are ticket machines at every stop. Surprisingly, these buses perform admirably in the narrow London streets. This bus stop is located on York Road in front of Waterloo Station. Picture
& Text by R. Mullins. |
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Kent |
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Kent, Leeds Castle, Leeds, near Maidstone - The sign for the stop at Leeds Castle. The 0800 number is for National Express
information. Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Kent, Canterbury - This is the central Canterbury bus station. Services operated by Stagecoach and Arriva are noticeable here, along with many
different types of newer and older buses. The purple bus on the right in two of the pictures is part of Canterbury's park and ride scheme. Many medium-sized cities like Canterbury and Bath have created these
schemes to reduce the usage of parking spaces in the central business districts. In the case of Canterbury, there are 3 lots outside of town, two situated next to the A2 dual carriageway, where one can park
for £1.50 and ride for free (10 minutes). They are very useful, especially when one isn't familiar with the streets - let the locals do the driving! Pictures & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Kent, Tenterden - The name of the restaurant is also the name assigned to the stop. In addition to Arriva, this stop is served by
Stagecoach services. This is located on the Tenterden High (= "main" in the US) Street, and is the centre of town. Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Cornwall |
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Cornwall, Perranuthnoe - Not a bus stop, but typical of signage along a country road approaching a village. In the background is a
sign indicating a public footpath. Britain is crisscrossed with public footpaths and bridlepaths. These are public ROWs across private property, some have been around for hundreds of years.
Picture & text by R. Mullins. |
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Cornwall, Perranuthnoe - The other end of the public footpath noted on the Perranuthnoe sign. The red and blue paper is about foot
and mouth disease precautions. Although we went through several areas that had been affected, we did not actually set foot into areas that had been contaminated. Picture & Text by R.
Mullins. |
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Cornwall, Marazion - "Not the ADA Stop" - The main stop for eastbound bus traffic in Marazion. There is line information for the
First Western National buses that stop here, and timetables are also displayed (see below). Just to the right (out of picture) is another ubiquitous red phone box. Notice the narrow pavement.
That is the English Channel/Atlantic Ocean in the background. And yes, that is a palm tree in the back. In Cornwall and Devon, palm and other subtropical plants grow very well due to the mild
weather from the Gulf Stream. The water temperature is warmer than one would expect. Cornwall is a favorite summer holiday destination for UK residents. |
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Cornwall, Marazion - More views of the "not the ADA stop" location. Wheelchair access is not yet prevalent in the UK, although
low-floor buses are becoming the norm. Many services, such as London Underground, still are not wheelchair or other disability friendly. The yellow sign is the "no parking" sign. |
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Cornwall, Marazion (formerly known as Market Jew) - This lists all of First Western National's 2x and 3 routes, generally operating
east from Penzance along the A394 to Helton and places in-between. Transit operators are very good about putting timetables at stops; although whether or not they follow them is another
story. Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Cornwall, Perranuthnoe - A lucky shot of the First Western National 2C returning to Penzance (running only 5 times a day). It is a
minibus. Taken from the Ednovean Farm
B&B, where your contributor stayed (tell them Ray Mullins from California referred you!) To the left in the hazy distance is St. Michael's Mount, which can be accessed by foot during most low tides. Picture & Text by R. Mullins.
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Cornwall, near Redruth - On the A30, I passed this bus (First Western National, I think) going up the hill. This is a newer double
decker bus. Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Cornwall, Marazion - A First Western National 2B (I think) bus. This is typical of the buses used in this area providing service
outside Penzance, however I did see some double deckers running on this same street. Notice the possibilities for widening the street. :-) Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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East Sussex |
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East Sussex, Rye - A typical bus stop sign for Stagecoach local services in the city of Rye. Rye is a very charming town, and it
used to be a port city (one of the so-called "Cinque Ports"), until the 15th century when the harbor silted. The coastline is now about 2 miles away. Picture & text by R.
Mullins. |
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East Sussex, Brighton - Another This stop is at the Brighton Pier, and is served by routes operated by several different companies.
This particular sign has timetables for each route attached to the pole. Picture & Text by R, Mullins. |
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East Sussex, Rye - This is typical of a grade crossing in the UK. The signs contain 3 lights; two red across the top row and one
amber in the middle bottom. They flash as the train approaches and the gates lower. If there are multiple tracks and another train approaches from the opposite direction, a red signal with a
black overlay "ANOTHER TRAIN COMING" will flash. Note that the gates, on both sides, cover the entire road and pavement (or sidewalk to us Americans). Picture & Text by R.
Mullins. |
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East Sussex, Rye - A Stagecoach bus in Rye. Red buses seem to be now pretty much limited to London. (ed. and Davis,
California) Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Hampshire |
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Hampshire, Chawton, near Alton - Buses serve everywhere in Britain - yes, even Jane Austen's Cottage! (Your correspondent was here
as his wife and mother-in-law wanted to visit the Jane Austen Cottage. His wife is obsessed with the 1995 BBC/A&E production of Pride and Prejudice, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin
Firth. Guess how many times your correspondent saw Bridget Jones's Diary. :-) ) Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Wiltshire |
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Wiltshire, Lacock - This is how most bus stops are marked in the street, by a striped box with the words "BUS STOP"
inside. A sign may be near by, but not always. Lacock is a village that has not changed much since the 15th century (excepting the obvious tarmacked street pictured). The house behind dates from
the 15th century. Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Wiltshire, Lacock - A typical double decker bus (I think in First Badgerline colors) operating on the same street (but in the
opposite direction) where the above "bus stop" in street picture was taken. Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Wiltshire, Kingsdown, near Box - This is serviced by First Badgerline's X73 bus, which operates from Bath to Cheltenham. There is
only 1 bus a day in each direction at this stop. (The X71 and X72, which are part of the same line, operate more frequently but bypass Kingsdown on the A4.) This is in front of The Swan pub,
which is a neat place. One of BT's ubiquitous red telephone boxes is in the background. A 1 mile walk down the road to Bathford (behind the photographer) will get you better service, from First
Badgerline's 13 bus, which is one of Bath's local services. Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Somerset |
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Somerset, Bath - Yes, even hotels get stops named after them! Picture & Text by R. Mullins. |
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Surrey |
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Stop at unknown location in Surrey, picture by Mr. Tim. |
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Revised: November 26, 2005 |
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