Riding the Routes: Day 261 (March 15th) A trip to Stevenage to ride a No 391.

The TFL route No 391 used to run from Richmond to Hammersmith and Fulham but was merged into the No 306 which I did after the No 391 ceased. I thus had to travel on the 1005 from Waddon to London Bridge and change for the 1046 Thameslink train to Cambridge which arrived at 1130. The No 391 bus runs only on a Saturday and is only a two hourly service on the even hours.

The view of the bus station from
Stevenage railway station

Bus frequency chart, there isn't a 1630 to Weston

Two Arriva and one
Stagecoach bus

Another bus company Vectare

A recent arrival from Arriva Northwest

My Centrebus No 391 arriving

Boarding Centrebus No 551

I thus had nearly an hour to wait in Stevenage bus station but eventually the bus arrived at bay J and we were on our way at 1230 on Centrebus No 551 based at Luton. We exited the bus station initially heading south to do a complete circuit of the roundabout so as to be able to reach the railway station on the opposite side of the dual carriageway. We had two additional passengers to me from departure and two others joined at the railway station. From here we went left under the railway into an industrial area where I later found the Arriva bus depot is located. Turning right at the next roundabout we headed North parallel with the A1M and LNER mainline for a while. However when the bus reached the next roundabout it turned right into Bridge Road and then left into Fairview Road which seemed to be 1970-80s housing estate. This took us to Fishers Green.

Fishers Green

We then left Stevenage as we passed into Todds Green and stopped at the delightfully named bus stop called Todds Green postbox. After this instead of going straight on into St Ippolyts the bus went hard right and then after crossing under the A1M took the old roman road now the B197 through Graveley village. Having passed through the village the bus continued onwards to reach Lannock Hill before taking the right turn signposted Weston and arrived at the terminal point just past the village pond and green at 1255. I checked with the bus driver what time she would pick up next time at Graveley (1510) and then headed off to look at the village and then walk over the Chilterns to Graveley.

Going under the A1M for Graveley

Entering Weston with double glazing distorting
photo

Journey's End

A walk totally alone in lovely countryside

Weston pond and green

I reached the Waggon and Horses at Graveley at 1430 bought a pint and the same driver passed me going to Weston at 1450.

I thus crossed the road and awaited her return at the due time of 1510. I was the only passenger and alighted at the industrial estate to have a look at the Arriva bus garage and then walked to the railway station to take the 1609 GNR train to Finsbury Park and then the next Thameslink train to East Croydon arriving home at 1730.