The Anonymous Widower

A Better Experience In Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes has never been my favourite place, since I used to take my late son; George, to his boarding school, which inevitably meant a trip round the endless roundabouts. I was then mugged in the city by the street furniture, that I wrote about in A Pedestrian-Unfriendly City.

So when Ipswich were playing MK Dons, I thought I’d give the city one more chance.

These are a few observations.

• The London Midland train was filthy and swimming in beer. I would assume it was supporters going to London.
• There is no information at Milton Keynes Central station, as to how you get to the ground.
• Bus 1 from Milton Keynes Central station, drops you just a rather cluttered short walk from Stadium MK.
• There are no signs or maps for Away supporters, as to what is the best route.
• Someone told me, that if you drive to the ground, parking costs £7 and you have to pay on-line.
• I’ve never been to a British stadium before, where burger vans and tea stalls outside the ground, were conspicuous by their absence.
• Several of the larger restaurants outside serve gluten-free food.
• The stadium has some of the best handrails I’ve seen in a ground.
• Coming back I just missed a bus and had to wait half-an-hour for the next small but full bus in a freezing cold shelter. I’d have taken a taxi, but there was no sign of a taxi rank.

I’ve never seen a ground, where it is assumed that everyone comes by car or supporters coach before.

I would have been distinctly miserable if Ipswich hadn’t won!

Milton Keynes is going to have to improve the buses. The number one bus, that I caught links Stadiujm MK and Milton Keynes Hospital to the stations at Milton Keynes Central and Bletchley.

This Google Map shows the area of Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes Stations, Stadium MK And The Hospital

Milton Keynes Central station is in the North West corner, with Bletchley station st the bottom. The other station at the right is Fenny Stratford station on the Marston Vale Line, which will be incorporated into the East West Rail Link.

This map shows the route of the proposed line.

East West Rail Link

Wikipedia talks about extending the Marston Vale line to Milton Keynes Central, but although the track has been created, no trains have run.

Chiltern are also looking to extend their Aylesbury service to Milton Keynes Central via Bletchley, so hopefully this might prompt improvement in the bus services to Stdium MK and the Hospital.

I doubt it will, as Milton Keynes is one of those places where you’re a total loser, if you don’t have car and why should their taxes provide for better bus transport for the disabled, elderly and those that can’t drive.

I think we need a law in this country, that every hospital should have at least a four buses per hour direct service to the main railway and bus stations.

December 13, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Sport, Transport | Buses, Football, Ipswich Town, Milton Keynes, Trains