Trivia: things other than place/stop names on bus destination displays

[py_megapixel]

Nowadays all of Stagecoach Manchester's services that terminate at Piccadilly Gardens say "Piccadilly Gardens" (or something similar) on the destination display. However, I recall that a while ago some of them (the limited-stop ones) used to say "Fast to City" instead.

Any other examples of bus companies using a service destination which isn't actually the name of the place the service terminates?

 

[duncanp]

Many of National Express West Midlands services that terminate in Birmingham city centre just say "Birmingham" on the destination blind, despite there being several terminus points.

Locals know where the bus terminates, but anyone else would have to guess or ask.

 

[Springs Branch]

Almost ancient history now, but the classic example in the Manchester area used to be Salford City Transport and Lancashire United Transport bus services which had city centre termini at either Victoria bus station or at Greengate, under the bridges at Manchester Exchange station.

Both operators' buses used to show the destination 'Manchester', although technically and pedantically they terminated on the wrong side of the River Irwell within Salford.

In fact, Salford City Transport buses (and subsequent incarnations within Selnec and GMT) never had a destination display saying 'Salford' at all - it was either 'Victoria' for local inner-city routes, or 'Manchester' for longer-distance (usually jointly-operated) interurban routes.

 

[PeterC]

Red Rose route 121 just displays Thame Town Service.

 

[Dai Corner]

Back in the days of linen blinds you'd see things like 'Service' and 'Relief'

 

[bussnapperwm]

Many of National Express West Midlands services that terminate in Birmingham city centre just say "Birmingham" on the destination blind, despite there being several terminus points.

Locals know where the bus terminates, but anyone else would have to guess or ask.

Same in Coventry (although some have, in the past, said City Centre) with buses either terminating in Pool Meadow, outside the Transport Museum or by the mini Sainsburys opposite

 

[roadierway77]

Lothian are very good at displaying whether a service is operating part route or on diversion. A box displaying 'part route' is always shown on part route services. Another box showing a kinked arrow is always displayed on routes which are diverted, with the side displays cycling between the destination and 'Service diverted'. In addition, buses serving hospitals display an 'H' icon.

East Coast Buses services in Edinburgh usually also display 'limited stop in city'.

 

[GusB]

On the subject of Lothian, "Circle" was a destination that was displayed some years ago.

 

[PeterC]

Back in the days of linen blinds you'd see things like 'Service' and 'Relief'

Eastern National sometimes just displayed the company name.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

First Glasgow used to have inner and outer circle for the 89/90

On the subject of Lothian, "Circle" was a destination that was displayed some years ago.

 

[ACBest]

Nottingham City Transport use 'City Loop' on services which run an anti-clockwise route around the city centre area from the Broad Marsh area to Victoria, and either Angel Row or the far end of Upper Parliament Street.

Centrebus use 'Town Service' for a selection of routes across the network (14/15 in Melton Mowbray and 36C in Leighton Buzzard - plus formerly the 33 in Market Harborough) which are circular services covering lots of places around the towns they serve - the lower line scrolls through principal places served.

 

[delt1c]

In London Routes used to Display Hackney Station ( Closed Long time before) , later Hackney Central which was Clapton garage

 

[Ken H]

Leeds City Transport displayed a city centre terminus like 'Central Bus Station' or 'Infirmary Street' unless the bus came from outside the city boundary, when they just showed 'Leeds'. The bus timetables followed that pattern in the timetables
This service terminates at 'Central Bus Station' because its wholly in Leeds

Timetable World

timetableworld.com

Whereas this one says Leeds (Central Bus Station) because it the other terminus was Pudsey which was a separate borough to Leeds.

Timetable World

timetableworld.com

1964 timetable.
Links are to timetable images.

 

[Simon75]

Buses to Stoke-on-Trent show Hanley, which is the city centre

 

[Ken H]

Bradford buses just said 'City'. There was no bus station* used by Bradford City Transport before the Interchange so 'City' want that helpful.

The buses from Eldwick (Near Bingley), joint service with West Yorkshire Road Car, used Chester St Bus Station, but was the only service.

 

[LiviCrazy]

There used to be a fair few routes in West Lothian terminated at Shin Etsu, which is a large business on the area. The reality is it’s just the stop nearby, but it’s the closest major landmark.

 

[EdinRH]

Lothian used to display "Asda" on services terminating at The Jewel. This was changed to "The Jewel" in 2000 (?). There was however, one specific bus which did not have its destination blind changed until around 2005 (the same bus noticeably had roller blinds on the side and back displaying the number rather than an electronic display). This meant that it was simply showing "Asda" even after Asda had opened a second Edinburgh branch at Chesser, without specifying which Asda.
,
The same bus was also missing "King's Road" "Leith Links" and "Gyle Centre" from its blind until 2005, so showed "Seafield", "Leith" and "South Gyle" instead.

 

[2192]

What I do find frustrating is Derby buses showing slogans instead of the destination, as I can't be the only one who doesn't know where all the routes are going on their way out of town, just by the numbers. Recent "destinations" have been "Lest we forget" with a red poppy, "EIIR + dates", and encouragement to Derby County FC.

 

[JD2168]

Quite a few First services in Doncaster show Doncaster Frenchgate for a terminal point.

57/57a show Stocksbridge Flyer on the via part of the blind.

X2 when it ran showed Barnsley or Sheffield then FAST alongside it although it was slower that it was before the route came into existence & compared to the X17.

 

[DC21]

Lanarkshire Circle was a destination on First Glasgows 207/209 services when they ran them

 

[PTR 444]

In the Go South Coast area, most return journeys on closed-door school services show the name of the school/college it originated from rather than its final destination. Presumably this is to prevent ordinary passengers from boarding the bus.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Whereas this one says Leeds (Central Bus Station) because it the other terminus was Pudsey which was a separate borough to Leeds.

Buses to Stoke-on-Trent show Hanley, which is the city centre

Quite a few First services in Doncaster show Doncaster Frenchgate for a terminal point.

57/57a show Stocksbridge Flyer on the via part of the blind.

X2 when it ran showed Barnsley or Sheffield then FAST alongside it although it was slower that it was before the route came into existence & compared to the X17.

Surely all of these are actually places on destinations rather than, as the OP asked for

things other than place/stop names on bus destination displays​

As well as bus company names (UNITED used to feature as well as Eastern National), Eastern Counties was very fond of SERVICE so drivers could avoid changing screens, RELIEF and DUPLICATE could also be used and, of course, WORKS or WORKS SERVICE.

The flipside was in Bristol where buses used (until a few years ago) CENTRE as a destination which actually was a destination (relating to the former Tramways Centre - the open area of Colston Avenue) rather than thinking that it was some imprecise term for the city centre.

 

[DunsBus]

On the subject of Lothian, "Circle" was a destination that was displayed some years ago.

Used by the 1/6, 2/12, 19/39, 32/52 and 42/46 - but not the 34/35 or the short-lived, pre-deregulation 48/49.

 

[CBlue]

Cambus for a while had some blinds that displayed CITY via Hospital. Ely also had a "City Service" route under various service numbers over the years - although since Stephensons operated it they have the destination of "Town Service"

Stagecoach also went through some confusion about what to display for the southern terminus of service 3 at Fulbourn Tesco (which is actually located closer to Cherry Hinton)

"Superstore 3"

"Tesco 3"

"Cherry Hinton 3"

were all used in the space of a year. To add to the confusion, the 3 passes another large Tesco superstore as it heads out the other side of the city centre....

 

[_toommm_]

First West Yorkshire at the minute occasionally have ‘Thank you Ma’am (whatever dates she was alive)’ on the top of the display in small lettering.

 

[Ken H]

Back to Leeds City Transport the inner city circulars showed a destination of 'Circular'. Thats 57-64
The Ring Road bus showed 'Ring Road'. Both ways were 9 so unless you knew, you didn't know if it was going to Stanningley or Whitkirk.

 

[Steddenm]

There's a GoAhead Ireland vehicle in Dublin that just shows the service number and the words "Bus Destination via Calling Points". I somehow don't think its been set up properly.

 

[TheSel]

What I do find frustrating is Derby buses showing slogans instead of the destination, as I can't be the only one who doesn't know where all the routes are going on their way out of town, just by the numbers. Recent "destinations" have been "Lest we forget" with a red poppy, "EIIR + dates", and encouragement to Derby County FC.

... and, of course, for far too long we had 'Face Coverings must be worn' (or similar), as on this Arriva Merseyside Wright bodied VDL in Widnes. Even the driver is complying!


Image shows Arriva Merseyside 2698 - CX58EWL - at Green Oaks, Widnes, displaying 'Face coverings must be worn' and the service number (110).

 

[Flying Snail]

There's a GoAhead Ireland vehicle in Dublin that just shows the service number and the words "Bus Destination via Calling Points". I somehow don't think its been set up properly.

For many years there was at least one Dublin Bus KD type with "Glenroe" on the blind, occasionally a witty driver would put it up to amuse/confuse the punters.

While technically a destination, Glenroe was the fictional name of a town in a long running soap opera of the same name.

 

[The exile]

Used by the 1/6, 2/12, 19/39, 32/52 and 42/46 - but not the 34/35 or the short-lived, pre-deregulation 48/49.

The 1 used to display “Clermiston Circle” (probably in pre-Atlantean days, so over 40 years ago)