The normal route to Kingston would have been tram to Wimbledon and then train, but with the tram out of action owing to works we used the 1300 train from Waddon to Clapham Junction. This actually worked very well as we arrived on platform 14 at 1331 and the next train to Kingston was the 1336 from platform 11. However, this was where the luck ran out. As we passed the back of Cromwell Road Bus Station I could see a No 216 waiting at the bay for departure. The train arrived at 1356 and the bus left at 1400 just before we could get to it. There was another bus in twenty minutes so we had a little walk around the shops and arrived in time to catch the 1420.
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| Cromwell Road Bus Station |
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| Waiting to board DLE30061 to Staines |
This bus was, as many are in Kingston operated by London United a part of the Paris public transport authority RATP. Our bus No 30061 left on time and turned right out of the bus station and headed for Wood Street. The bus then crossed the river and ran alongside the parklands of Hampton Court Palace.
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| Waiting on the bus in the traffic at Hampton Court by the Floral Gate |
As we approached the entrance to the palace the roadworks just across the bridge caused a substantial hold up such that we remained ten minutes behind schedule for the rest of the journey. From here onward we were wavering either side of the A308 for much of its journey to Staines. First we went to Hampton Green and Hampton railway station and then back to the main road before going the other side of it to Sunbury. We returned to the A308 at the roundabout under the M3 and then after a short while turned left to take a circuit through Tesco. Once the bus returned to the Staines Road it travelled a little way towards Staines before turning away to the right down Feltham Hill Road which brought us to Ashford town centre at 1520. From here the bus headed to the A30 where we turned left to the Crooked Billet roundabout and on into Staines where we arrived at 1535. This was a 15 minute longer journey than booked, principally owing to the hold up at Hampton Court.
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| Arrival at Staines bus station |
The return journey was done in a number of stages, initially the No 117 was chosen as it is the quickest route back to Feltham. However, the normal route under the Staines bypass was blocked and the bus had to go south and then north to regain its normal route just prior to Ashford station. We disembarked at Ashford to visit a shop and then boarded the next bus to Feltham. On arrival here we had a little look around before catching a train to Clapham Junction and then the 1838 towards Epsom Downs. All was well until we reached Norbury but soon after leaving this station the train came to an abrupt stop. After a while the driver announced there was an incident at Thornton Heath and we would have to go back to Norbury. He walked through the train and then once he had arrived there he said over the loudspeaker that we were now allowed to go through Thornton Heath as long as we don't stop. After 35 minutes stationary we were thus on our way again and we reached home at 5 minutes to 8 over three and a quarter hours after leaving Staines.
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