Birtles / Tomlinson Travel, Cheshire

[northwichcat]

I noticed last night a small streamlined minibus running the Tomlinson Travel route 300, just like one Birtles used to have, it even had a Birtles blind fitted (Tomlinson Travel don't seem to bother with blinds.)

It seems Birtles no longer have any routes contracted to them. Have they ceased to operate?

Also, are Tomlinson Travel expanding their fleet or are they planning to get rid of their Mercedes Benz 709D that seems like it's held together with sellotape. Here's a picture of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/psbusdriver/5696534414/in/set-72157626542536425

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The timetable MC102 shows the services from 1745 onwards from Canute Place with the TT symbol for "Journey operated by Tomlinson Travel".

 

[northwichcat]

The timetable MC102 shows the services from 1745 onwards from Canute Place with the TT symbol for "Journey operated by Tomlinson Travel".

Yeah Tomlinson Travel took the route over from Birtles quite a while back but it looks like Tomlinson Travel now have a fairly modern streamlined minibus that Birtles occasionally used on the 300 service when they had it. I can't identify the bus, it went past me earlier tonight and I couldn't see any branding on it to see who manufactured the bus. Birtles don't seem to be listed as operating any routes now.

 

[martinsh]

it looks like Tomlinson Travel now have a fairly modern streamlined minibus that Birtles occasionally used on the 300 service when they had it. I can't identify the bus.

A registration would help !! Is it YP52BPO, an Optare Alero that I have listed with Birtles ?

 

[185]

haha -that's Ian Thomo's bus company, I used to work with him at Selwyns about 15yrs ago. Good to see he's doin well. Can't tell, but looks a bit like him drivin.

He originally started out his Winsford operation as Town and District Travel (based on the fictional 'On The Buses' company name!)

 

[northwichcat]

A registration would help !! Is it YP52BPO, an Optare Alero that I have listed with Birtles ?

I think it is. It is an Optare Alero, I wasn't familiar with that model but Googling it gives the correct type of bus.

 

[Schnellzug]

Tht thing that looks like a large People carrier and sounds like a kind of ice cream?

 

[northwichcat]

An unbranded bus with a blue skirt appeared on the 300 route last night. I think it may have been an Optare Vecta. That could be another former Birtles bus given it's colours, although I only ever saw Mercedes Benz 709D and Optare Aleros in operation with Birtles so it may be cascaded from another operator who just happened to use the same colours as Birtles.

 

[martinsh]

I don't know of any Optare Vecta with Birtles - they only had minibuses

 

[northwichcat]

It may not be an ex-Birtles bus but it's in a similar livery. Like I said I only ever saw a Mercedes Benz 709D and a Optare Alero in service with Birtles.
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A registration would help !! Is it YP52BPO, an Optare Alero that I have listed with Birtles ?

I saw it last night and it is that registration. I thought it was the Birtles vehicle because of the destination blind.

 

[northwichcat]

I don't know of any Optare Vecta with Birtles - they only had minibuses

Turns out it isn't in Birtles branding after all. It appeared light blue in the dark but it was on the 300 route on Friday night and I noticed it's actually lilac branding. I couldn't get the full registration but it's in the format 3 letters, 3 numbers then the letter Z.

 

[martinsh]

I couldn't get the full registration but it's in the format 3 letters, 3 numbers then the letter Z.

Are you sure ? That's not a valid UK registration in any format

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Are you sure that the last letter was "Z"..... and not "S" ?

 

[bb21]

Are you sure that the last letter was "Z"..... and not "S" ?

... or a very badly painted 2?

Do the first three letters contain an I or a Z?

 

[northwichcat]

Relating to the new Tomlinson Travel acquisition. I got a front view of it today on the road next to me in full daylight. The previous times I've seen it has been dark or I've seen it in the distance from inside.

I firstly noticed immediately that it was a Mercedes bus, then realised that while it was bigger than their other Mercedes buses, it's not that much bigger and it is in fact similar to one of the two types of buses Star Line Travel used to use in Knutsford on the 300 route before the North Western takeover. The full registration does indeed have a 2 as the last digit, the full reg being "WLZ 493 2"

And here is the bus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iantherev/3472959931/ It's had the branding removed but the colours remain. It has also been retro fitted with a blind in place of the LED display.

 

[martinsh]

WLZ4932 was new to Tellings Golden miller as R706MJH. Faresaver often loan vehicles out for short periods - does it still have their name on ? Are you saying this bus is now with Tomlinson Travel ?

 

[northwichcat]

WLZ4932 was new to Tellings Golden miller as R706MJH. Faresaver often loan vehicles out for short periods - does it still have their name on ? Are you saying this bus is now with Tomlinson Travel ?

It has no branding on it at all, the purple and white colours remain though. Tomlinson Travel have been using it on the 300 route on an occasional basis.

My above post should have said Tomlinson Travel. I'll correct that.