What happened to West Drayton and Uxbridge on the Grand Union Canal? They may not have 020 telephone codes but they're still within Greater London.

I seem to recall reading either here or elsewhere that it was at one time cheaper to book Eurostar tickets on the now defunct rail europe website. It now directs you to http://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/

As for where you can get a good deal, I don't know. Is there a comparison site for international train journeys as there is for planes?

I probably should have been more specific and said that my own journeys from Weymouth would have been towards Woking or Clapham Junction. I seem to recall that the trolley joins the train at Bournemouth.

Your description sounds pretty much the same as the two apps I used. Could well be the same developer. I forgot to mention that as well as being able to pay by card, it gives you the option of paying by Barclays Pingit if you have it installed. For me this was perfect, saved having to key in my card no, expiry and CVV (which had changed since the last time I used it)

From time to time when visiting Bournemouth and the surrounding areas I use the More bus mobile ticket app. It works well and at a discount to the cash fare. It is especially useful on the popular open top route 50 where the driver can sometimes have difficulty giving change on busy days.

On Saturday I went to Eastbourne, downloaded the Brighton and Hove bus company version (It's basically the same app but rebranded and with their own ticketing). Off to Beachy Head and Birling Gap, so far so good. On the return journey however I had no mobile phone signal and the app wouldn't load without an internet connection. Luckily I remembered that these buses have onboard WiFi and the driver let me sit down, log on to the wifi and load the app, showing it to him when he next stopped. If the bus didn't have wifi and most don't, I could have been waiting for a mobile signal for ages and I'm not sure all drivers would have been as patient.

Do the bus companies that use such apps have an official policy when it comes to lack of phone signals?

What is it about west country folk? I'm sure that if I took a can of beer onto a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) train at Weymouth around the same time I'd have no problems. In fact a nice person with a trolley would probably offer to sell it to me on the train later on in the journey.

Will they be applying logos nearer / at the time of the rebrand?

I wonder how many people will look at it, think it's their receipt and discard it without looking at the other tickets / receipts printed.

I was in Cyprus earlier this month. The buses going past my hotel between Paralimni and Water Park via Ayia Napa were old (actually not that old) London single decker buses of the non bendy and non flammable variety. We caught one every evening for our nights out. They have been modified with air conditioning and speakers playing which ever radio station the driver fancied.

You may need to speak to Richard Herring to achieve your dream

I also tend to buy my food and drink at either the station or outside it for the reason Brucey describes

Similarly on flights, I will usually buy a meal deal(s) at Boots airside rather than wait for a pricey trolley service to turn up. It's not always possible to find food I want at overseas airports though so I may use the trolley on return flights.

Yes most weekdays until 2010. I used to live there. It's not that bad, you've obviously been lucky not to have to stand around outside Hayes and Harlington station. That can be intimidating even in daylight.

Doesn't sound much like forward planning there - 4 storeys is too much and too little?

I really don't like the front end of these buses. I find them very ugly. I think the sides and rear are more appealing. Internally I have no opinion as I have had no need to travel on one.

Another conversion in Norwood, South London yesterday.

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-07-19/pictures-top-of-a-bus-sliced-off-as-it-crashes-into-bridge/