Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

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Mum21
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Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:37 am

Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by Mum21 »

Are there any shared transport arrangements from Swindon besides the Denwell coaches?
2Socks
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Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:04 am

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by 2Socks »

I assume you have checked the school website? The schools are normally pretty good at keeping the details up to date. Another option could be the train? Gloucester bus station is just over the road from the railway station. The 10 or 94 buses from there are every 10 minutes, they'll both get him to walking distance from the school. It's a long journey, but I imagine it's not a short journey by bus... might be worth considering depending on how close you are to bus/train?
Mum21
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:37 am

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by Mum21 »

2Socks wrote:I assume you have checked the school website? The schools are normally pretty good at keeping the details up to date. Another option could be the train? Gloucester bus station is just over the road from the railway station. The 10 or 94 buses from there are every 10 minutes, they'll both get him to walking distance from the school. It's a long journey, but I imagine it's not a short journey by bus... might be worth considering depending on how close you are to bus/train?
Yes I have looked at those. The school website mentions den well coaches only. And train/bus is not the easiest. I was after options of parent sharing cabs etc.
streathammum
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Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 6:02 pm

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by streathammum »

Are you talking about travelling from Swindon to Gloucester? 30 miles each way?
Glos18
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Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:57 pm

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by Glos18 »

Is there a reason why you don't want to use the Denwell bus service? There are quite a few boys that come up to STRS from Swindon but as far as I know they all take the bus. One of the compensations of the long journey is the socialising they do en route, so it would be a shame to miss out on that.
2Socks
Posts: 375
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:04 am

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by 2Socks »

Glos18 Good point about the socialising. My coach journey was about 45 minutes each way. The only thing that made it bearable was having friends on the coach (although having enemies in close proximity was a big downside!). I didn't realise how much of my life I spent on the coach until I worked out that 1.5 hours 5 days a week meant 7.5 hrs each week ... more than another whole day at school a week. After that I really begrudged it...in my head I equated it to losing most of my Saturday to travelling, but as you say having friends for some of the journey really helped. It's my own fault though, I begged my parents to put it as first choice, over several good schools that would have needed a much shorter journey :?
Streatham Mum, there's a reasonable number of kids travel that far. Given my experience it wouldn't be my first choice for my kids, but if local schools aren't very good I can easily see that it's an option that needs to be considered.
Mum21
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:37 am

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by Mum21 »

Glos18 wrote:Is there a reason why you don't want to use the Denwell bus service? There are quite a few boys that come up to STRS from Swindon but as far as I know they all take the bus. One of the compensations of the long journey is the socialising they do en route, so it would be a shame to miss out on that.
I didn't say I wouldn't use the coach, checking for other options available.
streathammum
Posts: 1252
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 6:02 pm

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by streathammum »

2Socks wrote:Glos18 Good point about the socialising. My coach journey was about 45 minutes each way. The only thing that made it bearable was having friends on the coach (although having enemies in close proximity was a big downside!). I didn't realise how much of my life I spent on the coach until I worked out that 1.5 hours 5 days a week meant 7.5 hrs each week ... more than another whole day at school a week. After that I really begrudged it...in my head I equated it to losing most of my Saturday to travelling, but as you say having friends for some of the journey really helped. It's my own fault though, I begged my parents to put it as first choice, over several good schools that would have needed a much shorter journey :?
Streatham Mum, there's a reasonable number of kids travel that far. Given my experience it wouldn't be my first choice for my kids, but if local schools aren't very good I can easily see that it's an option that needs to be considered.
It is very far, particularly if there are no public transport options and you're reliant on taxis or private coaches.

There will be very few local schoolfriends and the child will find it difficult to meet people after school or at the weekend and travel home independently. Also things like parents evenings, productions and sports days become difficult.

If local school are really so bad, it may be worth considering moving house to be nearer the school that the child attends. I wouldn't do a 60-mile a day commute and I wouldn't want my children to do it either.
hermanmunster
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Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by hermanmunster »

2Socks wrote:Glos18 Good point about the socialising. My coach journey was about 45 minutes each way. The only thing that made it bearable was having friends on the coach (although having enemies in close proximity was a big downside!). I didn't realise how much of my life I spent on the coach until I worked out that 1.5 hours 5 days a week meant 7.5 hrs each week ... more than another whole day at school a week. After that I really begrudged it...in my head I equated it to losing most of my Saturday to travelling, but as you say having friends for some of the journey really helped. It's my own fault though, I begged my parents to put it as first choice, over several good schools that would have needed a much shorter journey :?
Streatham Mum, there's a reasonable number of kids travel that far. Given my experience it wouldn't be my first choice for my kids, but if local schools aren't very good I can easily see that it's an option that needs to be considered.
I spent forever on buses (or at bus stops) when I went to senior school (probably 1hr 20mins each way) - some was fun but overall it was an awful waste of time and was not at school with local friends.
School friends felt the same when they had their kids - one I know chose boarding for hers, I moved house to where we could see the schools from the kitchen window.
ToadMum
Posts: 11946
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: Essex

Re: Transport to Sir Thomas Rich from Swindon

Post by ToadMum »

Bit late now, but did you not consider Marling? Or are you not near enough to the station in Swindon for it to make much difference?
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx
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