Imber bus

[whole diary]

[Clan Line]

I had made tentative plans to head to Warminster for Imber yesterday but my experience with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) & SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) trains on the previous two Saturdays rather put me off.

After yesterday's abysmal performance by GWR at Warminster there must be a lot more people sharing your view of the rail companies. TEN cancellations after 4.30 pm !!!

[Trowres]

Two theories I have heard circulating about why this year's event was a bit too busy:

One is that the event featured in the national daily papers;

The other is that social media may have spread the event widely.

Of the two, would social media be the harder to predict the outcome?

[ChrisB]

It's been building numbers for a few years now....the problem will be how to prevent even more (through word of mouth even if you don't look for media coverage - hello Paul @ BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)) and preferably lose a few....

[Timmer]

I’m sure GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)’s woeful efforts last evening out of Warminster in both directions would have caused a few to say ‘never again’ so that might help with the numbers next year.

Today hasn’t been any better on the Cardiff-Portsmouth line.

[CyclingSid]

Good to see the Londonline bus, I had heard rumours that Reading Buses would contribute.

Looks like I made a good call to go elsewhere, but there was crowding there, not quite the same scale on the Hamble ferry!

[grahame]

For all the overcrowding, the organisation of the Imber Bus is exceptionally well done and the volunteer team that was there show just how well it can be done.  I have little doubt that there will be a wash-up analysis with a view to learning from this year in thoughts of next year.   As I never got to Imber nor the other access points at the further side of the plain, any suggestions I might make are likely to be of limited value, but I do wonder whether a pre-purchase of tickets and a second extra starting point (23B) in Warminster High Street for those ticket holders might relieve pressure at the station, where the vehicle shunting is more challenging than perhaps desirable.  I also wonder whether prebooked incoming vehicles in the morning / back in the evening could serve other stations such as Frome, Melksham, and perhaps either Grateley or Andover.   Pewsey tempting but not sure the station area could handle the buses. Westbury tempting but too attractive to the crowds in amongst the normal operations there.  Dilton Marsh - err - no - Single door, nowhere for buses, ...

[ChrisB]

I'm sure that the Warminster traders in their High Street would welcome (not) queues of Imber fanatics blocking access to pavements & shops all morning?....

[grahame]

I'm sure that the Warminster traders in their High Street would welcome (not) queues of Imber fanatics blocking access to pavements & shops all morning?....

Have you asked them? 

[ChrisB]

No, and neither have you?

[grahame]

No, and neither have you?

Agreed, but I didn't say "I'm sure", did I?

[Clan Line]

I'm sure that the Warminster traders in their High Street would welcome (not) queues of Imber fanatics blocking access to pavements & shops all morning?....

Bit of a double edged sword probably.  When they closed the bus station in Salisbury, the bus queues were then moved to the shopping street pavements. The camera shop I use, in Endless St (opposite the old bus station), said that some of their regulars moaned about about trying to get into the(ir ?) shop - but that the shop now had an almost day long "captive audience" outside the front window.

[Worcester_Passenger]

The queue didn't get as far as the High Street. From the station, down Station Road and then into Fairfield Road. The entrance to the Lidl car park was stewarded, with small groups being allowed across when it was safe.  And then into and round the edge of the Argos car park.

[ChrisB]

....but I do wonder whether a pre-purchase of tickets and a second extra starting point (23B) in Warminster High Street for those ticket holders might relieve pressure at the station

[Marlburian]

A bus-enthusiast friend of mine drove from Berkshire to Warminster and found the parking there to be chaotic with long queues all day, and he never got to ride on any buses, so "a complete  waste of  time". Last year he went by train and had problems with engineering works.

I wonder what was the motivation of all  those who did turn out? Was it the bus-fest (understandably, not that I'm an enthusiast)? Once one gets to Imber, there's not much to do for the average "holiday-maker" or "tourist", as envisaged in the Sun. Hopefully there were plenty of portaloos?

My first visit was c1962. (I don't think the "modern" breezeblock buildings had been built then, though the Baptist Chapel still stood.) Since then I've returned several times, usually sharing the village with a dozen or two others.

[grahame]

A bus-enthusiast friend of mine drove from Berkshire to Warminster and found the parking there to be chaotic with long queues all day, and he never got to ride on any buses, so "a complete  waste of  time". Last year he went by train and had problems with engineering works.

I wonder what was the motivation of all  those who did turn out? Was it the bus-fest (understandably, not that I'm an enthusiast)? Once one gets to Imber, there's not much to do for the average "holiday-maker" or "tourist", as envisaged in the Sun. Hopefully there were plenty of portaloos?

Good questions - poll added for those who went AND those who did not!