Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 364

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. People were there from all over.

9. You didn't clean the loo did you?

8. I suspect he's lying, but I just can't prove it.

7. I'm not putting him on the guest list.

6. Those pants were on offer, I can always return them after the weekend.

5. Keep all those in that bag and I'll put the knives in this one.

4. I've got vodka, alway helps me get over a Monday.

3. You've not thought it through if you think I'm going with you.

2. I'm not shamed, not at all, I know I'm in the right.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. What does she see in him, I mean, he doesn't even claim JSA.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Swindon Bus War Round 2 : The Battle for Bassett

Engines are being revved in the second round of Swindon's bus war, as a key route is set to be fought over.

Thamesdown Transport are to launch at the start of May a service in direct competition with Stagecoach in Swindon to Royal Wootton Bassett. R1 will run on a 15 minute frequency Monday to Saturday daytimes, hourly in the evenings and half hourly on Sundays. At some times during each weekday daytime hours, this will give Bassett a 5 minute frequency when combined with Stagecoach's 55 service.

There are clearly not enough passengers to demand this level of frequency across both operators, so it remains to be seen who'll blink first and thin out their timetable after a month or so.

The same saturating of routes and markets is happening with Thamesdown's other service changes on the 14th May, Cavendish Square will have the newly created number 5 from the severing of the current 13/14 running on a 7/8 minute frequency weekday daytimes, the rerouted 17/17A to serve Park South, plus the hat-trick of frequency with Stagecoach's number 3.

There are other welcomed minor changes, especially the 1/1A remaining on it's combined cross-town route to the GWH on evenings and Sundays.

Welcome changes in the second battle, and if you live in Swindon's Cavendish Square, you've never had it so good bus-wise!

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 363

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. I've got 14 in my garage, complete with the boxes.

9. There's no context, on it's own, it's pretty amazing.

8. Big day for our business, shame it was the last.

7. Here we go, I'm ready for you.

6. You can't sit there, it's over the engine.

5. Hummus, not bloody likely with my skin.

4. It's not cheap though, you're paying for the supposed convenience of it.

3. What a mistake, why did I think it would work with him?

2. The market is only for maybe 12 different customers and 9 of them don't spend more than a tenner a time.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. She'll never call an election, not until she's bought some fancy heels for it.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 362

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. I've never watched it, I don't trust the presenter, she's too tall.

9. He's very handsome, which is as far as I'll go.

8. Terrence, what kind of a name is that?

7. Let's keep some perspective can we, I've been punching above my weight.

6. You've not got those jeggings on yet again?

5. It's like when you eat too many crisps and you regret it instantly.

4. There is a complaints process, you've just not followed it.

3. Claire is going to tell her story and when she does it's all going to be everywhere online.

2. If she's got anything to say, she can say it to me, right to my face.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. At what point did you think kissing him in front of his girlfriend was a good idea?

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Last (Last) Week ; 361

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. He's a right sort, not to be touched with the longest of barge polls my dear.

9. You don't have to rush into anything if you don't want to.

8. This music's crap, Gaga is so over.

7. Stacey can make milk turn vegan.

6. Here we go, there's the red car like he said.

5. I'm not going to pay to gallivant around just because you want to.

4. It'll go into town eventually, this town I hope.

3. There's no prizes for finishing first.

2. Plenty for me to get bothered about when I get in, the garden'll not have been done for a start.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. I don't want to talk about it in public, but I can't marry him.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, Swindon declares a bus war

Clippies get your small change holstered, the 'alight' bell has been sounded in the first round of the Swindon bus war.

The bloodless sale of Thamesdown Transport to the Go-Ahead group has shaken things up in very short order.

Best of all for passengers are more routes as the two main companies in Swindon are now backed by two of the UK's biggest bus companies, Scottish-owned Stagecoach and Newcastle-owned Go-Ahead.

The first shot has come from Stagecoach in Swindon, with it's new route number 3, which now directly competes with Thamesdown's numbers 13/14 from Asda Walmart, to the town centre and as far as Walcot. 

The route then serves Walcot East, Park North, then provides a link to Park South (always the poor-relation in bus provision of the two areas of Parks), then terminates at the Great Western Hospital.

Good on Stagecoach for giving Thamesdown a little heat. In the grand scheme of things, it makes commercial sense, the 13/14 are easily the most heavily loaded cross-town routes (along with the 17) and at times on weekdays can be overloaded. For passengers it will provide more services, ease congestion, especially between the town centre and New College, and possibly improve timekeeping to the 13/14.

Plus the revenue abstraction from Thamesdown will probably only be marginal, though in a clever trick, the 3 shares the same bus stop at Fleming Way as Thamesdown's 13/14, making easy passenger poaching. Swindon Centric suspects the biggest improvement appreciated by passengers will be the new direct routes available, especially between Park North and Park South, the hospital, and the Orbital. 

So, 1-0 to Stagecoach, but Thamesdown have a host of new routes planned for May, more on those, and a possible levelling of the score, in a few stops time.

Culture Deserts

Swindon's new museum and art gallery is now dead in the water.

The action of one petition (which was misguided at it's very basic level, just poking at one hole as an example, they never once said where the money would come from to purchase the London Street carriagework buildings from Network Rail) has caused the main financial backer to leave.

Robert Hiscox takes with him his project man, his connections and most importantly of all, his money. The reason, the perceived negative reception locally to the Wyvern car park site, as opposed to the London Street site.

While the petition received coverage, at 700 signatories, it really didn't amount to much, simply the usual Mechanics Trust/Civic Voice loud shouting and easy Adver headlines but with scant detail at all behind it. The rest of Swindon, population 209,156, didn't really have their voices heard. There was no groundswell of opinion either way for or against the project, or strong views on the proposed site. This shows a lack of basic lack of public engagement on the part of the museum, Swindon Borough Council, the museum trust and most notably, Robert Hiscox himself. You can line up as many big name backers as you like, but if you've not spoken to the people who are to have the place on their doorstep, then you really are approaching it arse-backwards. Mr Hiscox's comments when interviewed about being able to get good quality coffee in Swindon struck a strange and patronising tone.

The big money donation has gone, as has the influence, the very highly-qualified Mr Van Dekker and the momentum. SBC were very lucky that the energy needed to push the project was being provided by Robert Hiscox and the trust, this will not transfer to SBC. The council have no money any more and no staff to spend time pushing this project.

This best hope is that another influential individual or group fills the shoes, but that's a big ask.

If the vacuum is filled by the Mechanics' Trust, who still seem to operate under the misapprehension they represent the will of all Swindon people (those people being about 7 individuals and probably a dog), then I look forward to seeing them try to buy enough scratchcards to raise the money.

Congratulations to the petition-raiser, the 700 people who signed it and the Mechanics' Trust, Swindon now has no chance of a museum and art gallery for at least a decade. The project may not have been perfect, but it was the only one there was.

Swindon Centric hopes you're proud of yourselves. 

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 360

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. Don't be such a cheeky cow.

9. He went to KFC even though I explicitly told him not to.

8. They Snapchatted it without another breath, totally, absolutely mortified.

7. They're closing it next week and turning it into a carpark for finance.

6. Over that period I had my head in the sand.

5. That view is possibly the best in town bar none.

4. There were huge bits all over the road, I couldn't miss them.

3. It's a wonder you didn't hurt more people when you were taking it so frequently.

2. More than you know I've enjoyed your company thoroughly.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. Just don't forget to bring it with you.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.