Google Maps adds all UK public transport timetables Google Maps' UK edition now incorporates data on every train, bus, tram and ferry across England, Scotland and Wales. The Chocolate Factory is using Traveline's data to power its service, so now has access to the schedules of 1,500 operators, 1,700 routes and 330,000 bus stops, train stations and other transport hubs. …
I think you'll find my early play of the DLR rendered Tudor Court Rules obsolete (as they should be - but I'd rather not get into the politics of what should be an enjoyable game). As it looks like we're playing the National Variant, I think Robin's move stands. Although, as I'm sure you're aware, if we're not back in London in 6 turns, the whole game might be forfeit. And that's not good for any of us.
Let's play nice people.
@Phear46 - The improvisational game 'Mornington Crescent' was an integral part of a brilliant Radio 4 show callled 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue', originally hosted, superbly, by Humphrey Lyttelton. London Tube stations and other landmarks are the key features of the game, the goal of which is to 'arrive' at Mornington Crescent tube station via subtle and esoteric means. It was, is, and continues (I think), to be hilarious in every respect.
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It's simple:
"Britain" = Area covered by a wave of the hand over Map of Europe somewhere to the North-West of Belgium to distract the viewer while waver silently mouths the word "England".
"England" = 1. A small village in Shropshire where they still play cricket on a village green every Sunday. 2. Any number of sports teams drawn largely from places that don't actually exist, they being north of London, yet not in Scotland.
"London" = Ornate tax-haven for Russian oligarchs. When lit professionally, it looks a bit like Cardiff.
"Wales" = Rugged outcrop west of London. Locals friendly despite epidemic of nasal catarrh.
"Scotland" = Oilfield and country-sports resort off the northern coast of London. Invented everything important. Except whisky. They print their own special money to make sure none of it ever leaves the country.
"Northern Ireland" = Not actually part of Britain, except when it is. Populated by two factions, both of whom want to live in different countries, but who are afraid to leave in case the other changes its mind and stays. Sometimes mistakenly called "Ireland", which more correctly refers to "Ireland, the Republic of": a rustic revenue transit-point for American corporations, also vehemently not part of Britain, despite all cultural, sporting, commercial, legal and societal signs to the contrary.
Use of adjectives:
"British" = Scottish or Welsh or Northern Irish person who has just succeeded at something on the world stage; or English person who has spectacularly failed to do same.
"English" = English person who has just succeeded at something on the world stage.
"Scottish", "Welsh" = Scottish or Welsh person who has spectacularly failed and/or disgraced themselves on the world stage.
"Irish" = Warning: unless you've got documentary proof that you are talking about a citizen of the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland, this word is best avoided, unless you actually intend to start a heated and pointless argument that will rage for days.
Note, none of these should be confused with the special noun, "Briton". This is reserved solely to describe a holder of a passport issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who has just come to a very sticky end very far from home.
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... and it's really true that not a lot of people know that.
During lulls in pub conversations, I've won several pints in bets with British mates by challenging them to correctly name the country printed on the front of their passports. Without exception, all of my non-techie mates fail miserably and have to stump up a pint. More surprisingly, a fair number of the nerds also fail.
As you can tell, I scintillate during boozing seshes.
"The name is "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", though I don't remember Northern Ireland being a separate kingdom in the past,"
That's because you are reading it as two Kingdoms, Great Britain and Northern Island, United together.
It's actually The United Kingdom of Great Britain + a bit offshore called Northern Island.
If you turn on the radio or TV, or maybe a computer which has an internet connection you might come across the odd article or news item related to Ye Olde Kingdom of Scotlande and how it might want to not be United any more with Ye Olde Kingdom of Englande. That might help explain the "United Kingdom" bit of the name.
..and it immediately shows up a flaw in our local bus services. Ask it to get me from Brackley to Brindleyplace in Birmingham for 8am and it says I have to leave at 20:10 the day before. The earliest it can get me here via public transport on the same day is 0930. This is because there's no early morning or late night bus service to Banbury after the council withdrew subsidies last year. Guess I'll have to stick to driving to the station :-/
Other than that I like the (perhaps pointless) way that it shows you the actual route you'll be taking (it even shows the train route, lol) but it'd be really nice if it gave the cost. Proper links to book tickets for the journeys might be good as well.
So thumbs up to Google. Thumbs down to my local bus services.
If they started running a direct Brackley to Banbury bus I might actually use it, but given it travels via every village on the way and takes 50mins (rather than 15 by car) there is no point. Ironic that HS2 (may) pass the outskirts of Brackley but will be completely useless to all of us commuting to London or Birmingham.
What we really need is the A422 dualling between Brackley and Banbury. That would finally bypass Farthinghoe (aka. 'Pothole Central') and would probably alleviate some of the traffic problems on J10 of the M40. And if it helps garner support I'd suggest dualling it in the other direction to Milton Keynes as well.
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"Its failing is trusting a 11's predicted arrival time."
I just tested it on Newcastle to South Shields. Apparently my best bet is to take the "subway". I'm not sure that the Tyneside Metro will take so long to get there that I need to buy a sandwich to sustain me on the journey.
I wonder if that's Google calling the Metro a "subway" or the source data? Either way, it's an error. In the UK, a subway is a pedestrian passage under a road or a particular sandwich retailer on the high street. It definitely ain’t a light railway, 99% of which is above ground.
..but it will it tell us the trains are still on running time despite not having them for 3 days the last heavy snowfall?
Certainly the rail companies were unable to do this. Simply due to the fact they were reaching that last point of the auto update system but getting no further and going back, so to the crappy automated system, they looked like they were all ok, in fact many were running 20 minutes ahead.
Google might not but try http://realtimetrains.co.uk - does a pretty good job of taking National Rail feeds, assembling them into something meaningful and (IME) accurate predictions for arrivals - and it does normally pick up on cancellations, even part way through a journey.
Useful extra is that it also confirms platforms for large stations long before the departure board will (well, at Euston it works).
[mobile apps are available for iPhone and Android]
No connection to the company other than a satisfied user.
..but it will it tell us the trains are still on running time despite not having them for 3 days the last heavy snowfall?
Or just a permanent note on Crosscountry trains arriving at New St from the north '(all times are approximate)'. I'm glad I switched to Chiltern to go back. It might be a bit late sometimes getting in but since it sits there for 10 minutes before 'turning round' it doesn't matter to me. It almost always leaves on time :)
...will it magically reduce the 3 -4 hours round trip it takes via public transport down to the 1 hour by car (which would be better if the $%^&*() buses didn't stop every 10m and reduce the price by about 75%?
Yet they still bloody bang on about how great public transport it. Try living NOT in a city.
Yep. I just checked my option for going to work via public transport. 37 miles to coventry. By car its about an hour. By public transport (3 buses and 2 trains plus some walking) an amazing 3 and a bit hours! In fact it takes just 3 minutes longer to cycle according to Google. I also bet that public transport jaunt would cost significantly more than the 6 Quid's worth of diesel each way I spend now.
I also bet that public transport jaunt would cost significantly more than the 6 Quid's worth of diesel each way I spend now.
That at least doesn't seem to apply for me. It's slightly cheaper to drive from home to Birmingham but only if you look at the obvious costs (petrol and parking). Factor in wear and tear and the train is cheaper even though I'm paying to park at the station. Plus considerably less hassle especially the return journey and only 15 minutes longer(*) and I can read for an hour. Mind you if I couldn't walk from the station to my office it'd be another matter.
(*)And in the evening train is probably quicker. I've not yet tried driving back from B'ham but I doubt it's going to be smooth sailing. When co-workers tell you it's best to head north to the M6 you know it's not going to be good :(
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