News – Saturday 31^st May 2008

Major news since the last update is the demise of Raddoneur, who went into “voluntary liquidation” in mid April. At least one vehicle has found a new home; Primo MX07 BCZ is currently with Cumfybus working on Wirral Joblink services [photo].

After Raddoneur’s demise, the 177 and 190 have been operated by Avon, who have taken both commercially and have renumbered them 77 and 90. The 101 was taken on by A2B Travel, and the morning 854 journey is now being run by A1A Travel. The night bus 150 is now run by Arriva from LS, with a Cadet the usual vehicle.

A2B Solo S283 NRB has been painted into white and had A2B fleetnames applied [photo], whilst MX04 VML has also had fleetnames applied [photo].

Aintree Dart J155 EDM has been painted into Helms livery [photo], whilst more acquisitions to report are SLF Darts R445/65 LGH [R465 LGH] from Central Parking, Solo YM52 TPU from First Chester and unique to England Kirn Mogul N349 FKU, ex-Stagecoach Yorkshire. The Solo has seen use on the 272/273, but hasn’t been seen on the road for a few weeks, and two more of them are in John’s yard at Eastham. It is unconfirmed if he is keeping all three, or indeed if he is keeping any. R465 LGH is in use on the 41 corridor in Chester. Thanks to Ross Newman for some of this info.

Arriva LS based ALX300 DAFs 2404/5/8 V404/5/8 ENC have been transferred to Speke, whilst 1143 L117 YVK is up for disposal after a serious RTA on the Beechwood Estate. LS based Cadet 2437 X437 HJA has been repainted and lost its branding for the 403/413/423 [photo].

Eazibus Convoy R716 EFA is now considered withdrawn, whilst all operational vehicles now have the new style fleetname applied.

First Chesterbus have another two open top L-class Olympians, in the form of 39933 D183 FYM [photo] and 39939 D251 FYM [photo]. RF-based Delta 60044 H802 GRE has been withdrawn after part of the rear end collapsed apparently due to corrosion.

Happy Als Olympian 94-D-189 has been painted into maroon fleet livery, whilst P888 ALS is now in the coach livery.

Huggins Olympian 94-D-186 is now registered L991 UTU, whilst Tiger TIL 6875, Duple MIL 1846 and Scania NUI 7736 are all withdrawn.

Protours B12B/Berkhofs FD54 DHK and FJ06 ZKN/O/P/R have transferred to the Swadlincote branch, with Tiger G543 XWS coming from there.

Fleetlists for A2B Travel, Aintree Coachline, Arriva NW&W, Cass Coaches, Cumfybus, Eazibus, First Potteries, Happy Als, Huggins and Protours are updated today.

News – Saturday 12^th April 2008

Apologies for the lack of updates lately, my diabetes has been causing problems and I’ve otherwise not felt up to updating the site, plus not much had been happening. In the past few weeks however a lot has happened, so it’s a rather big update now!

First off, service changes:

154/155 Birkenhead – Prenton/Tranmere circulars

These services are now operated for Merseytravel by A1A Travel. (23 March)

128 Upton – Leasowe

Service withdrawn. (30 March)

165 New Ferry – Woodside

The morning journey operated by A1A Travel is withdrawn. (30 March)

179 Woodside – Prenton circular

Service withdrawn (see route 293 below). (30 March)

193/293 Woodside – Arrowe Park/West Kirby

Route 293 is changed around Birkenhead to operate via Borough Road, the Prenton Dell estate and Holm Lane instead of Woodchurch Road, to partly replace withdrawn route 179. The service now finishes at West Kirby Station and no longer extends via lower West Kirby and the Meols extensions are also withdrawn. Times on both routes changed. (30 March)

272/273 Neston – Arrowe Park

Evening and Sunday journeys now operated for Merseytravel by Eazibus. (30 March)

853 Woodside – Eastham

Service withdrawn. (30 March)

38 West Kirby – Clatterbridge/Poulton Lancelyn

Service now operates between West Kirby/Bidston and Bebington Station only, no longer serving Spital, Poulton Lancelyn (see route 112) or Clatterbridge. Frequency is increased to every 15 minutes, but 2 journeys per hour are shortened to run to Bidston Tesco roundabout only, no longer serving Moreton, Meols, Hoylake or West Kirby, where the frequency is reduced to half hourly. Times changed. (7 April)

39 Liscard – Woodside

Service withdrawn. (6 April)

85 Mill Park – Heswall

Service rerouted in Clatterbridge so no longer serves the hospital internal roads. (7 April)

107/207/208/407 Liverpool/Woodside – Moreton/New Brighton

All 407 journeys now run via Castle Street in Liverpool. Times changed. (7 April)

110/410 Clatterbridge – New Brighton

Alternate Saturday route 410 journeys are curtailed to run between Woodside and New Brighton only, reducing the frequency between Woodside and Clatterbridge to every 20 minutes. Times changed. (6 April)

112/113 Heswall – New Ferry

Current services are revised, with route 112 increased to half hourly but now only operating between New Ferry and Poulton Lancelyn, no longer serving Clatterbridge, Thornton Hough or Heswall. This replaces part of the withdrawn 38. Route 113 is reduced to two early evening journeys only. (7 April)

118/119/218/219/418/419 Mill Park – Woodside/New Brighton

Times changed. (6 April)

203/403/413/423 Seacombe – Woodside/Liverpool

Arriva evening journeys are renumbered 423, but are still run with support from Merseytravel. Times changed (6 April)

401 Liverpool – Chester

Service rerouted in Liverpool to operate via Castle Street all day and in Birkenhead to operate via Hamilton Street instead of Bridge Street and journeys towards Liverpool no longer serve Birkenhead Bus Station. Times changed. (6 April)

402 Ellesmere Port – Woodside

Service withdrawn. (6 April)

409 Woodside – Wallasey Village

Some mid-journey times are changed (7 April)

411 Woodside – New Brighton

Service now finishes earlier and the Saturday service starts later. Times changed (6 April)

420 West Kirby – Liverpool

The 0700 journey is withdrawn and the 0730 is retimed to depart at 0720 (7 April)

430 Liverpool – New Brighton

The afternoon journey is withdrawn, and the morning journey is retimed and now finishes at Castle Street in Liverpool. (7 April)

432 New Brighton – Liverpool

The Monday to Saturday evening and Sunday daytime frequency is increased to every 20 minutes. All journeys now serve Castle Street in Liverpool. Times changed. (6 April)

433 New Brighton – Liverpool

All journeys now serve Castle Street in Liverpool. Times changed. (7 April)

437 West Kirby – Liverpool

Monday to Saturday evening and Sunday daytime frequency increased to every 20 minutes. All journeys now serve Castle Street in Liverpool. Times changed. (6 April)

464 New Ferry – Liverpool

All journeys now serve Castle Street in Liverpool, and now run via Hamilton Street and not Bridge Street in Birkenhead. Times changed. (7 April)

471/472/473 Barnston/Heswall – Liverpool

All journeys now serve Castle Street in Liverpool. Route 473 is withdrawn. Times changed. (7 April)

487/488 Neston – Liverpool

All journeys now serve Castle Street in Liverpool, and now operate via Hamilton Street and not Bridge Street in Birkenhead. Times changed. (6 April)

X11 Chester – Liverpool

Journeys now serve Castle Street in Liverpool. Times changed. (7 April)

240/242 Saughall Massie – Mill Park

Services now operated commercially by Avon. Journeys towards Mill Park now serve Birkenhead Bus Station. Times changed. (13 April)

Now onto fleetnews.

A1A Travel have sold Solo S42 FWY to Speedwells, who have now passed it onto the Stafford Bus Centre without use.

A2B Travel have ex-Nottingham Solo S283 NRB, still in Notts green. Thanks to Mike Bennett for this.

ACL/Helms have four ex London Dart SLFs for operation of new services 41/41A/X41 in Chester. The four are V540 JBH [photo], V544 JBH [photo], V547 JBH and V549 JBH [photo]. Also now apparently here is an ex ChesterBus Solo as the second vehicle for the 272/273, identity unknown at present. Sold is Lynx J370 YWX to Alpha Bus & Coach, Bootle.

More vehicle changes at LS have seen Darts 1174/85/6 M174/85/6 YKA depart for Bootle [1174] [1185], whilst 1182 M182 YKA is now at Skelmersdale. 1172/5 M172/5 YKA are also now elsewhere, having originally gone to Llandudno Junction and are now at Wrexham. Vehicles now at LS are DAF/NC 1795/6/7 (N25/4 FWU, M847 RCP) [1795] [1796].

New vehicles for Avon entered service on the 2^nd April, and are ADL Dart 4 SLF 10.9M/MCV Evolutions. They are 108 AE08 DKO [photo], 208 AE08 DKU [photo] and 308 AE08 DKV [photo]. Thanks to Don Roberts for info on body and chassis numbers.

Cass Setra W237 MKY is now registered CAS 724A.

First Chester vehicles now in Barbie 1 are Olympian 30078 B201 DTU and Vario 50045 R255 ERE [photo]. The ChesterBus side of the Chester operation has also had changes, with “new” City Sightseeing open top vehicles arriving for the new season. So far noted are 39932 C814 BYY, 39935 D235 FYM, 39936 D158 FYM and 39938 D238 FYM. 39935 is fully open top whilst the others are partial open top. CCC liveried Solos 53066-9 YM52 TPU/V/X/Y have all departed since the loss of the 41/41A tender, although two did go on loan to the Chester side of the operation whilst the two native Rail Link Solos were away for a repaint into the new livery. I’ve now included all garages in the First Potteries fleet, as to be accurate the Crewe operation is actually classed under the same licence as the RF and Chester operations, and so it is easier to update using the whole fleet instead of two halves!

Happy Als MPDs VU52 UEG/H have both departed for pastures new. Former Dublin Olympians 94-D-194/5 are now registered L47/6 VDM. New here is Volvo/Jonckheere PX07 GXU in David Urquhart livery [photo].

Huggins Olympian 94-D-192 is now registered L990 UTU. Metroliner B608 LSO has been sold for scrap.

Raddoneur Ducato T247 FLJ and MPD DK56 LWJ have both departed.

Fleetlists for A1A Travel, A2B Travel, Aintree Coachline, Arriva NW&W, Avon Buses, Cass Coaches, First Potteries, Happy Als, Huggins and Raddoneur are updated today.

Apologies for the lack of updates regarding fleetlists, I received no PSV Circle news sheets for last month so have had little info to update them with until the flurry of activity at Arriva and Avon over the past couple of weeks. I hope to have a huge update to bring in 2-3 weeks, once replacements arrive in just over a week!

News – Wednesday 13^th February 2008

News first of Helms of Eastham taking over the 272/273 “Neston Rider” CCC contract from Protours. MPD SK02 TYS [photo] has gone to Helms along with the contract, but it appears SK02 VMO hasn’t, as this was owned by Protours and not CCC. The second vehicle on the route at the moment appears to be one of L1/2 SLT, a pair of Plaxton bodied Darts ex-Arriva NW&W. L2 SLT was providing service on the first Monday [photo].

More new regarding Aintree Coachline/Helms is that several vehicles have recently been acquired (on top of the 3 mentioned above), viz Dorchester/Plaxton VIW 4896, Olympian B201 EFM, step Darts J54 EDM and J155 EDM and Scania/Wrights R81/2 EMB. Most of these are ex-Chester Bus, but the Dorchester was new to SYPTE and is ex Manns Travel, Gravesend. Departures include Olympians JFR 7W, F506 NJE and G761 UYT and EuroRider/Beulas GB04 ACL and UK05 ACL. National THX 260S and Olympian E916 KYR are now withdrawn. Thanks to John Cherry, Neil Hilton and Ross Newman for all of this info.

Arriva LS are currently undertaking the 2^nd in a batch of rail replacement work, this time between Birkenhead North and Hamilton Square. Celebrity Olympian 3122 C212 GTU is now allocated to LS in the rail replacement pool, and was seen on the previous blockade a couple of weeks back between Rock Ferry and Hooton [photo]. Other vehicles temporarily at LS are Olympian/ECW 3123-5 D170/1/242 FYM from Bootle and DAF/NC 1795-6 N25/24 FWU and 1797 M847 RCP from Green Lane, whilst Dart 1288 M30 GGY is on loan from the pool fleet. Also here for the previous work were similar 1333 P833 RWU [photo] and 1343 M163 SKR, but these are now reported as gone, confirmation to be sought ASAP.

Permanent reallocations to LS have seen 2109 R609 MHN [photo] and 2123 S623 KHN [photo] come from Bootle, where they had been for a matter of weeks. Olympian 3112 H112 GEV has gone to Speke to replace a DAF decker which in turn has gone to Manchester to replace a fire damage victim.

Once again I’d like to thank Dave Douglas for keeping me informed of happenings over in Liverpool, particularly at Speke.

Rumours are rife that Avon are due some new MCV Evolutions imminently, these will be the first “Enviro” Darts, though technically they are still Dart chassis, but are now called “Dart 4” and not simply “Dart”. Apparently these are to replace the Primo’s. Whilst awaiting delivery of these MAN/MCV Stirling AE04 PFV has been on loan [photo], still in Travel DeCourcey livery. This was returned to Southdown PSV on the 4^th of this month. Thanks to my two contacts at Avon for this info.

Cumfybus have already given up on their fleetnumbering policy, and thus the update today reflects this. Thanks to Graham Ashworth for this. No Wirral fleetnews to report this time, but most journeys on JobLink 874 are to be withdrawn from late March.

Not much at First lately either. The only RF based news is that Ikarus 60025 J426 NCP has been on loan from Chester, mainly on the 38 [photo]. Dart 40130 M972 XVT is reportedly on loan this week, seen on the 38 on Monday by Martin Connolly.

Chester-based news is that the ChesterBus livery is no more, with Marshall Dart 41072 V372 KLG succumbing to Barbification [photo]. Solos 53066-9 YM52 TPU/V/X/Y are soon to be gone, with the 41/41A being withdrawn from late March, Helms providing a part replacement service commercially.

Happy Als are another to scrap the fleetnumbering system. The only other news is that DAF/Van Hool coach V141 EJR has been re-registered A10 ALS and is now in the coach livery.

Protours Volvo B12B/Jonckheere SHV coaches are confirmed as PT71-5 FJ07 VKG/H/K/L/M. MPD SK02 TYS has gone to Helms along with the contract for the 272/3 (see above), no word yet as to whether similar SK02 VMO has been disposed of or not.

Raddoneur Solo X941 NUB is now with TM Travel, Staveley. Two of the Excels have not been seen for a long time along with the MPD and one of the MANs, the MPD at least is reported as having gone back to the leaser. Hopefully more updates to come next time!

Fleetlists for A2B Travel, Aintree Coachline, Arriva NW&W, Cumfybus, First Chester & Wirral, Happy Als, Protours and Raddoneur are updated today.

News – Saturday 29^th December 2007

Arriva have started retreating already in the battle with First, with routes 441 and 470 being withdrawn after operation on the 22^nd December.

More fleet updates, mainly courtesy of Graham Ashworth and the PSV Circle.

A1A Travel now have Transit SB03 CLV, whilst SN04 BWE is fleetnumber 6. MPD KP51 UFJ has returned to Dawsons, whilst LDV M4 JBA is withdrawn.

ACL/Helms have ex-ChesterBus Olympian VRA 124Y, still in Chester blue and cream. There is word John has at least one other Chester Olympian, along with a couple of ex-Arriva Darts and at least one ex-Chester one, details to follow hopefully in the next update.

Avon Primos 556/656 YN56 NHB/C have been sold to EST, Llandow. Currently on demo/loan from MCV/Southdown PSV is the first built MCV Stirling, MAN-based AE04 PFV, rumoured to be here whilst Avon await further new vehicles. Await more news with interest! Thanks to Mike Bennett for some of this info.

First RF Scania decker 31084 H807 TWX has finally transferred down to ChesterBus, whilst former RF Scanias 31080/31110 G803 JYG/H633 VNW are now in an overall advert livery for Stokers furniture shop. Thanks to Eric Yip for this info.

RF-based Olympian 30805 R625 JUB has been repainted into Barbie 1, as can be seen in this [photo] of it at Castle Street in Liverpool.

Quite a lot has happened at Happy Als, the main bit of interest being the withdrawal of ex-Crosville Olympian C206 GTU and the scrapping of the final three ex-Cardiff Olympians in B553 ATX, C561 GWO and C562 GWO. MPD VU52 UEK has been sold to Midland Classic of Swadlincote, whilst ex-MTL Olympian E203 WBG has also been withdrawn, due to serious accident damage so I’m told.

Huggins now have ex-Yorkshire Traction MetroRider N219 VRC, purpose unknown at the moment, I presume a school contract. If anyone knows why they have it I’d appreciate knowing so I can get in a position for a photo!

Protours Merc minis 284 BHY, F405 KOD and M453 EDH have all been sold for scrap.

Fleetlist updates today comprise of A1A Travel, Aintree Coachline, Arriva NW&W, Avon Buses, Cumfybus, Eazibus, First Chester & Wirral, Happy Als, Huggins and Protours.

News – Friday 16^th November 2007

A2B now have Solos YG02 FWJ [photo], MX04 VML [photo], YJ54 BSU [photo], MX05 ELV [photo] and MX05 ELW [photo] for operation of the Merseytravel contracts won in October. There is reportedly a sixth one, but I have yet to find it or be told of it by anyone. There is strong rumour some of these are to be replaced with new Solos soon, so if you want photos, get them now!

Also at A2B, EuroRider W811 AAY was re-registered A2 BDO 12 months ago, but has only just been confirmed with a sighting of it doing a Tranmere Rovers supporters coach to the recent game at Chesterfield [photo].

Aintree Coachline/Helms now have rare Bluebird Q N734 EOT for a schools contract in Cheshire and also here are Olympians L202 SKD and S129 RLE, replacing older Olympians F442 AKB and F259 YTJ which have gone to Ensign for resale. F506 NJE is reported to have gone to an operator in Warrington, can this be confirmed please? Fleetline ULS 658T now resides in Scotland after having been sold for preservation.

Arriva LS Ikarus 1792/3 (K132 TCP, K250 CBA) are now at Green Lane [1792] [1793], whilst 1794 (K510 RJX) is now at St Helens. 1790 remains at LS for the time being and regularly sees service on the 464. Olympians 3113-5 (H113-5 GEV) have also left LS, these are now at Speke and are regulars on the university 699 service.

Many thanks to Dave Douglas for a continuing supply of info for rear adverts for buses around Liverpool. This sort of info is lacking for the Welsh area and also around Manchester, if anyone could provide help it’d be appreciated.

Avon B6LE 10 N100 ALS is now in service, seen on the 17 a couple of weeks back [photo].

New at Eazibus is Solo MX57 CCY [photo], the first one on Merseyside with a MAN engine. This is predominantly used on the 201 between Speke and the Royal Liverpool Hospital, a route won on tender in October.

More major changes have happened at First since last month. At RF, Scania L113/Wrights Ultralows 61529/31 (R117/9 GSF) and 61563 (R343 SUT) along with L94/Wrights Floline 60118 (S102 TNB) and 60200 (X271 USH) [photo] have replaced ‘SMART’ SLF Darts 40135-9 (R977-81 NVT) which have moved down to the ChesterBus fleet [40135] [40136] [40137] [40138] [40139]. Both “dead” vehicles at RF have been carted off for scrap, namely Scania decker 31085 (H808 TWX) and Delta 60050 (H808 GRE). A recent repaint at RF is Olympian 30807 (R627 JUB) into Barbie 1, I'd guess the final two in Barbie 2 are due for paint soon, if not already done. Many other changes have taken place down at Chester, for a full list see the fleetlist updated today, including for the first time a detailed allocation for the ChesterBus fleet, separated from the main Chester depot allocation. A big thanks to Eric Yip for providing a complete Chester, RF and ChesterBus fleet allocation recently, it is much appreciated.

Two Happy Als Van Hool T815’s have now gone, ALZ 1221 being sold to Tattersalls of Bolton and ALZ 4161 being scrapped. Excels R14/15 ALS are now confirmed withdrawn.

Another Protours Volvo B12B/Jonckheere SHV is PT71 FJ07 VKG. I am presuming there is a PT72 and PT73 as FJ07 VKH and FJ07 VKJ (or FJ07 VKK), but until I get confirmation I won’t add these to the list.

Raddoneur Doyen VXU 313 has been sold, despite not moving a wheel since arriving after the cost of the restoration required was fully found!

Many thanks to several contributors who have helped with this update, sorry if I’ve not mentioned you but I’ve deleted emails and not put names on my file for the news! You know who you are and it is appreciated.

Fleetlists are updated for A1A Travel, A2B Travel, Aintree Coachline, Arriva NW&W, Avon Buses, Cumfybus, Eazibus, First Chester & Wirral, Happy Als, Protours and Raddoneur today.

Service changes since the previous update…..

71/72 Liverpool – Heswall

Times around Liveprool are changed. Change effective 4^th November.

84/85 Clatterbridge – Mill Park – Heswall

Routes 84/84A are withdrawn but replaced by route 84 which runs from Clatterbridge to Mill Park via Bromborough and Spital and route 85 which runs from Mill Park to Heswall via Clatterbridge, Raby and Thornton Hough. Both services run hourly during Monday to Saturday daytimes and connect at Mill Park to enable through journeys to be made. Change effective 26^th November.

177 Heswall – Woodside

Most journeys are now extended from Heswall Bus Station to Heswall Shore, with one morning journey from Heswall now serving Wirral Grammar Schools. The final journey from Woodside is curtailed to run to Kings Road/Bentfield Gardens only (after doing a loop of Kings Lane/Town Lane). Times are changed. Change effective 5^th November.