Thanks for your comments. I didn't realise the Milkwall outstation had no facilities, probably not surprising everything was so dirty given the weather. The Scanias seem pretty bullet proof and may be the best things to keep going with for as long as that continues. It seems to me that mid-life ADL E400s are fairly fragile unless they have been very well maintained. Agree on Mitcheldean, an odd little place, I didn't get the chance to go and see what is where the Rank Xerox factory was but I think it is a largish industrial estate. I wonder if Stagecoach West taking the Oxford operation under its wing has lost a bit of focus in the other areas, I see they are supposedly going to lose Bristol to Stagecoach Wales, which seems odd - a bit like Welsh trains operating a main line in England! Yes, Monmouth looked very shell-shocked by the flooding which had happened out of nothing, although there were warnings. Hopefully it will bounce back quickly.
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Trips by Bus and Coach: Your reports
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Another mini trip report and yet another return to my native North East. Hope you find it interesting.
I couldn't start my day until midday because of family commitments but I eventually started in Barnard Castle, a place now synonymous with eye tests and lockdown breaches. However, Barney (as we call it) is a lovely small town on the hill above the River Tees. I decided my first bus was to be across the border. Now that used to mean North Yorkshire but as Darlington is no longer in Co Durham and for transport reasons is treated as Tees Valley, even the Co Durham Day ticket isn't valid there. However, I was heading to Richmond in North Yorkshire so a cash single was in order.
The 79 is a long established service and was operated by Burrells historically until United/Arriva took it on tender in the early 90s. When Arriva closed their Richmond depot, it passed to independents and is now run by Hodgsons. The base timetable pattern has barely changed since the 1970s and so I paid my bargain £2.50 for an hour of travelling through pretty villages in weak winter sun. It loops around several and we only had 4/5 on leaving but we hoovered more up and probably had about 20 arrive in Richmond which was a surprise for a lunchtime Saturday run. The bus was a dealer spec e200mmc but it was perfectly fine and suitable for the run; I don't think I've done the 79 since the days of Arriva's Metroriders so it was a really nice change.
Richmond is similar to Barnard Castle. A small town above a river (Swale) and lots of fine historic Georgian buildings, a hustle and bustle about the market place which is dominated by the castle keep, town clock and an obelisk - their very own Cleopatra's needle. I took the opportunity to have an explore around the town, wandering down the riverside and just enjoying a very historic and pretty town.
Richmond - my e200mmc and then the market place with a late running Pulsar of Arriva
I wandered back to the market place and then noticed the arrival of an Arriva Pulsar on the main route to Darlington. It was running about 20 mins late so I thought I'd just get on it. Having had the former United depot in the town until about 20 years ago, Arriva is now reduced to the main route running eery 30 mins. It did get an upgrade about 10 years ago with refurbed Omnicities in MAX branding but is now just an average route with Streetlites or Pulsars turfed out. We headed out with a reasonable load and then headed to Scotch Corner where the skeletal carcasses of a new designer outlet have been left as the developer's money appears to have run out. It was then a criss/cross of the A1M, avoiding it and then dropping down to serve a couple of villages en route to Darlington. The Pulsar was standard Arriva fare - it was adequate but nothing more and you do wonder what Martijn Gilbert can do/will do to rouse this firm out of its slumber. I was dropped off at Feethams, a street that used to have Darlington bus station (a hellhole of a place) and it is a town that could really do with a bus station for the interurban routes. However, you are just left to try and find them from a number of town centre stops. I had time to kill and decided to have a trip on a local route to Skerne Park, a formerly notorious estate. The bus was one of a batch of e200mmcs that were new to Jesmond and Ashington depots that were reallocated to Darlington after only about 6 weeks!
Now I love Darlington. It was always a vibrant town but on engineering and not coal or steel (as in many NE towns). However, it is clearly on it's uppers with none of the hustle and bustle, just reduced to nail bars and pound shops. It's pretty dispiriting and unfortunately, it seems to have fallen foul of those people who believe that patriotism is best displayed by cable tying a flag made in a Chinese factory onto a lamppost. The buses are mainly Arriva but Stagecoach did win a couple of routes on tender and it seems odd to see them there having exited the town in the mid 2000s. Moreover, their vehicles are new Yutongs which don't compare against the ageing Pulsars and e400s that maintain most of Arriva's routes.
Darlington - odd to see Stagecoach there now
Having enjoyed my trip around Skerne Park, I got off at Parkside and was then able to wander back through South Park. It's a proper Victorian park with a clock tower, raised flower beds, a cafe - it's just lovely. It allowed me to walk through and onto Grange Road, past the Sainsburys that used to the head office/central works of United Auto. I also walked past Binns department store - one of the last remaining for a firm that was synonymous with advertising on buses in the North East and East Yorkshire back in the day. Darlington is a lovely town but the economic malaise on the high street and generally with North East towns is all to apparent.
My penultimate journey was in fast fading light, and it was a nostalgia one. In the late 1980s/early 1990s, I'd travel on an Explorer ticket but United lost most its tendered work to OK Motor Services (so ticket not valid) so I would often have to travel back to Darlington via one of three routes, the most common being from Bishop Auckland. It would invariably mean a raucous plastic seated Leyland National clattering along a 40 min thrash between the two towns. I was now doing it in reverse, and the modern day Arriva equivalent was a Pulsar. This was one of the recent elderly cascades from the North West so a 16 year old example. Now this is a good comparison - this Pulsar was a little tired but it was in reasonable order. A 16 year old vehicle in the 1980s was absolutely knackered - not everything was better in the past! That said, we had a standing load as we left Darlington and the journey now takes an hour. That's because of two major route changes - it now diverts around Shildon to replace another route (and it does mean it serves that town centre rather than clipping the edge of it) and the service now serves St Helens Auckland and the large retail park there. However, an hour to travel the 13 miles from Darlo to Bishop is a bit much. The Pulsar performed ok and it deposited me in Bishop Auckland on Newgate Street, the bus station is now being rebuilt.
Bishop Auckland and the buttercross at Barnard Castle
Again, I know Bishop Auckland well and had a little time to kill so had a wander to see the bus station being rebuilt. The old one was very much a relic with bus shelters strewn across an area whereas the new one is a proper drive in/drive out design on the same site. However, Bishop Auckland has been gutted - the ever expanding retail park has decimated the town centre and it's stuff like that which has really impacted bus services. So the 1 which was the main route gets a 10 min diversion to serve a car centric development and it's town centre passengers are much reduced.
My last bus was the most interesting route. The service from Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle was historically the sole United interest on a corridor that was the preserve of OK Motor Services. However, Arriva pulled out of most of the Teesdale routes about 10 or more years ago (save the Barney to Darlington route) and so Weardale operate that route. Of course, Arriva bought OK's ops from Go Ahead so they are the main operator on that corridor though Go Ahead now compete as far as West Auckland. In fact, there were some passengers at a stop bemoaning a missing Go North East X21 but I was getting the successor to OK's West Auckland/Evenwood routes with the 6. However, two of the evening routes run to Barnard Castle and I was getting one of those! It was yet another Pulsar but it was one of the original Sapphire spec ones, with 2+1 seating. Our X21 refugees got on board and we began our wander back past that retail park, and then through West Auckland before a steady climb into the Pennines in the darkness before we descended back into Barnard Castle.
Hope you enjoyed the shortened trip report and the photos.
I couldn't start my day until midday because of family commitments but I eventually started in Barnard Castle, a place now synonymous with eye tests and lockdown breaches. However, Barney (as we call it) is a lovely small town on the hill above the River Tees. I decided my first bus was to be across the border. Now that used to mean North Yorkshire but as Darlington is no longer in Co Durham and for transport reasons is treated as Tees Valley, even the Co Durham Day ticket isn't valid there. However, I was heading to Richmond in North Yorkshire so a cash single was in order.
The 79 is a long established service and was operated by Burrells historically until United/Arriva took it on tender in the early 90s. When Arriva closed their Richmond depot, it passed to independents and is now run by Hodgsons. The base timetable pattern has barely changed since the 1970s and so I paid my bargain £2.50 for an hour of travelling through pretty villages in weak winter sun. It loops around several and we only had 4/5 on leaving but we hoovered more up and probably had about 20 arrive in Richmond which was a surprise for a lunchtime Saturday run. The bus was a dealer spec e200mmc but it was perfectly fine and suitable for the run; I don't think I've done the 79 since the days of Arriva's Metroriders so it was a really nice change.
Richmond is similar to Barnard Castle. A small town above a river (Swale) and lots of fine historic Georgian buildings, a hustle and bustle about the market place which is dominated by the castle keep, town clock and an obelisk - their very own Cleopatra's needle. I took the opportunity to have an explore around the town, wandering down the riverside and just enjoying a very historic and pretty town.
Richmond - my e200mmc and then the market place with a late running Pulsar of Arriva
I wandered back to the market place and then noticed the arrival of an Arriva Pulsar on the main route to Darlington. It was running about 20 mins late so I thought I'd just get on it. Having had the former United depot in the town until about 20 years ago, Arriva is now reduced to the main route running eery 30 mins. It did get an upgrade about 10 years ago with refurbed Omnicities in MAX branding but is now just an average route with Streetlites or Pulsars turfed out. We headed out with a reasonable load and then headed to Scotch Corner where the skeletal carcasses of a new designer outlet have been left as the developer's money appears to have run out. It was then a criss/cross of the A1M, avoiding it and then dropping down to serve a couple of villages en route to Darlington. The Pulsar was standard Arriva fare - it was adequate but nothing more and you do wonder what Martijn Gilbert can do/will do to rouse this firm out of its slumber. I was dropped off at Feethams, a street that used to have Darlington bus station (a hellhole of a place) and it is a town that could really do with a bus station for the interurban routes. However, you are just left to try and find them from a number of town centre stops. I had time to kill and decided to have a trip on a local route to Skerne Park, a formerly notorious estate. The bus was one of a batch of e200mmcs that were new to Jesmond and Ashington depots that were reallocated to Darlington after only about 6 weeks!
Now I love Darlington. It was always a vibrant town but on engineering and not coal or steel (as in many NE towns). However, it is clearly on it's uppers with none of the hustle and bustle, just reduced to nail bars and pound shops. It's pretty dispiriting and unfortunately, it seems to have fallen foul of those people who believe that patriotism is best displayed by cable tying a flag made in a Chinese factory onto a lamppost. The buses are mainly Arriva but Stagecoach did win a couple of routes on tender and it seems odd to see them there having exited the town in the mid 2000s. Moreover, their vehicles are new Yutongs which don't compare against the ageing Pulsars and e400s that maintain most of Arriva's routes.
Darlington - odd to see Stagecoach there now
Having enjoyed my trip around Skerne Park, I got off at Parkside and was then able to wander back through South Park. It's a proper Victorian park with a clock tower, raised flower beds, a cafe - it's just lovely. It allowed me to walk through and onto Grange Road, past the Sainsburys that used to the head office/central works of United Auto. I also walked past Binns department store - one of the last remaining for a firm that was synonymous with advertising on buses in the North East and East Yorkshire back in the day. Darlington is a lovely town but the economic malaise on the high street and generally with North East towns is all to apparent.
My penultimate journey was in fast fading light, and it was a nostalgia one. In the late 1980s/early 1990s, I'd travel on an Explorer ticket but United lost most its tendered work to OK Motor Services (so ticket not valid) so I would often have to travel back to Darlington via one of three routes, the most common being from Bishop Auckland. It would invariably mean a raucous plastic seated Leyland National clattering along a 40 min thrash between the two towns. I was now doing it in reverse, and the modern day Arriva equivalent was a Pulsar. This was one of the recent elderly cascades from the North West so a 16 year old example. Now this is a good comparison - this Pulsar was a little tired but it was in reasonable order. A 16 year old vehicle in the 1980s was absolutely knackered - not everything was better in the past! That said, we had a standing load as we left Darlington and the journey now takes an hour. That's because of two major route changes - it now diverts around Shildon to replace another route (and it does mean it serves that town centre rather than clipping the edge of it) and the service now serves St Helens Auckland and the large retail park there. However, an hour to travel the 13 miles from Darlo to Bishop is a bit much. The Pulsar performed ok and it deposited me in Bishop Auckland on Newgate Street, the bus station is now being rebuilt.
Bishop Auckland and the buttercross at Barnard Castle
Again, I know Bishop Auckland well and had a little time to kill so had a wander to see the bus station being rebuilt. The old one was very much a relic with bus shelters strewn across an area whereas the new one is a proper drive in/drive out design on the same site. However, Bishop Auckland has been gutted - the ever expanding retail park has decimated the town centre and it's stuff like that which has really impacted bus services. So the 1 which was the main route gets a 10 min diversion to serve a car centric development and it's town centre passengers are much reduced.
My last bus was the most interesting route. The service from Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle was historically the sole United interest on a corridor that was the preserve of OK Motor Services. However, Arriva pulled out of most of the Teesdale routes about 10 or more years ago (save the Barney to Darlington route) and so Weardale operate that route. Of course, Arriva bought OK's ops from Go Ahead so they are the main operator on that corridor though Go Ahead now compete as far as West Auckland. In fact, there were some passengers at a stop bemoaning a missing Go North East X21 but I was getting the successor to OK's West Auckland/Evenwood routes with the 6. However, two of the evening routes run to Barnard Castle and I was getting one of those! It was yet another Pulsar but it was one of the original Sapphire spec ones, with 2+1 seating. Our X21 refugees got on board and we began our wander back past that retail park, and then through West Auckland before a steady climb into the Pennines in the darkness before we descended back into Barnard Castle.
Hope you enjoyed the shortened trip report and the photos.
Devon Sunset
Member
I’ve never managed to visit Barnard Castle yet but it’s definitely on my list. Richmond is a lovely little town and I love the market square. Some nice independent shops and cafes. Hodgsons seems to do a good job with the local buses. Darlington seems like many urban areas with most of the larger retailers abandoning the town centre for shopping parks on the outskirts although its still a nice place to wander around with some nice architecture and I can recommend a Taylor’s pie of any variety if you’re in the area. When I was there I stayed in the Premier Inn which I’m guessing was on the site of the old depot/bus station. The buses seemed to be well patronised but typically for Arriva they looked a bit down at heel and in need of investment. A nice report from an area I’m fond off.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Indeed - a Taylors pie is very much a local delicacy!!
The whole Premier Inn/DL1 development is on the site of the former combined bus station and depot. Darlington is a really nice town architecturally with the market hall being the obvious high point. It's just a shame that the town centre seems bereft of the energy that I remember from my youth. And yes, if you liked Richmond, then you'll like Barnard Castle too. Very similar places in size and feel.
Devon Sunset
Member
Thanks, I'll give it a go. It was there or Ripon and Ripon won. Also lovely place.
Interesting report from your old stomping ground in the North East. I also love Barnard Castle, I think it is a delightful place. Forget the eyesight and all the politics and judge it on its merits, a very pleasant small town. I travelled the 79 not that long ago and it also had a good load but it was the pm school journey out of Richmond. Richmond is another lovely town, I enjoy just walking round the circuit round the castle with the views in all directions. I also have a soft spot for Darlington but I don't remember it in the old days of having a bus station or much of the weird and wonderful Darlington Corporation fleet of old. I also like Bishop Auckland and the run from there back to Barnard Castle but I'm not sure I would bother with it in the dark. I didn't use the Arriva 6 on this section but Weardale Motor Services run the 85 the same way every two hours. I've also done the routes 'beyond' Barnard Castle to Middleton in Teesdale - I thoroughly recommend a visit to this delightful town.
Turning round Arriva will be one heck of a task. There are so many old vehicles to replace (hopefully) or lose from further retrenchment. Pulsars are good buses but 16 years old is as far as you could reasonably expect them to go and there are plenty of life-expired deckers too. Perhaps they are expecting to lose so much in Merseyside and Yorkshire that cascades will fill the gaps.
Hope everyone has a great festive season and there are more trips to report in the New Year!
Tridentviro
New Member
TRIDENT TRIP PART 1 21-22 November 2025
As there remain less than 50 Dennis Trident buses operating for Stagecoach in the country, I decided to formulate a trip to the nearest area operating Trident buses. That area is Stagecoach South with vehicles based at Basingstoke, Winchester, Andover with one vehicle allocated to Chichester and Guildford. During my research 18081 was withdrawn from service which hastened my plan.
I took at train from my local station, Sandling in Kent to Basingstoke via Tonbridge, Redhill and Clapham Junction. I just made the Poole service to Basingstoke and saw 18387 on its last service of the day from Newfound from Basingstoke Railway Station to Basingstoke Bus Station which I took for a ride. Fare £1.70. I got some food and checked into my hotel which was great value at £58.
The next morning, I checked out the gen as to the 13 Tridents running in the Stagecoach South region and made a rough plan of what to do with the day. The hotel room was very comfortable, and I took a shower and made coffee and again looked at what was working and after breakfast headed for my first move. 18503 on the number 5 service to West Popley and back from Basingstoke bus station. I then took 18510 from Basingstoke station to Newfound on the number 11 and back to the station and took a train heading for Bournemouth for a 19-mile journey to Winchester. Even though it was raining all day long it didn’t dampen my spirits as I was getting great enjoyment from reaping the benefits of my good planning done in the morning. At Winchester I took 18504 to Bar End on a Winchester Park & Ride service which I took to the terminus and then back to the centre of Winchester for an hour-long Cathedral visit. It was great hearing the distinctive sound profile of a Trident engine again, bringing memories of when they operated in Kent.
Above, 18510 departs Basingstoke Railway station for Newfound via Basingstoke bus station.
I walked in the rain to the Winchester City Road bus stop to pick up the incoming 67 service from Petersfield. It was 18521 which I took to Winchester bus station. I was planning on taking the 15:00 departure with the 76 to Petersfield and pick up a train to Guildford which is on the Portsmouth main line. It was earmarked for 18520 which was stabled at the bus station but was in fact worked by 19079, which was still a rateable bus for me, an Enviro 400 Trident.
I took the train in the continual pouring rain, it literally rained all day long, to Guildford and looked for something to eat. I then took at diesel train service to Redhill for another local train to Tonbridge.
When I arrived at Tonbridge there was a train to Hastings on platform 3, of which there was a medical emergency and the train was terminated. Hundreds, and I mean hundreds of people had to cross the footbridge to platform 2. It was like a vast displacement of the masses. Another 8-coach train came in for Hastings already packed full and once all the people boarded from the train that had terminated, it was completely jam packed, like those images one sees of trains in Tokyo. It left, groaning with the weight of hundreds of people. Then platform staff got an update on the medical emergency, thought to be a suspected heart attack victim. Turns out it was someone so inebriated with alcohol, they had collapsed. So much activity and disruption to many a folks journey just for someone off their heads! An uneventful journey back to Hythe with Scania 15475 on the 103, Folkestone to New Romney.
Despite the rain it was a successful trip, lots of research and planning went into the trip but that is part of the fun. I believe Basingstoke depot are to receive 20 new double-deckers so that will spell the end for the Tridents. So, I had rides on 5 different Tridents, most for long runs so it was a successful trip.
18521 arriving at Winchester bus station with the 13:00 from Petersfield.
18520 at Winchester bus station.
TRIDENT TRIP PART 2 05-06 December 2025
I found another opportunity to do a trip and this time I decided to find a base on the south coast with a plan to cover the one working trident based at Chichester and a trip to Winchester to cover what I missed the previous trip and hopefully intercept an Aldershot based trident.
I took the train from Folkestone for a return costing £34. I got off at Warblington, 1 mile away from Havant as the fare was double and it was 15 minute’s walk to the Bear Inn where I was staying for 2 nights. I noticed the Coastliner 700 bus operating to Chichester from Portsmouth so that was potentially a good way to access Chichester the next day.
On Saturday morning I checked to see what was working and saw the 51 Chichester to Selsey service was indeed worked by 18515. I took 11558 on a 700 Coastliner service to Chichester for 19883 on a 51 to The Anchor Inn, Sidlesham to intercept 18515. When it arrived, I sat on the back seat to enjoy the experience of the trident engine. I was content that it worked as some Saturdays it isn’t used.
I then took a 700 Coastliner back to my hotel (11586) in Havant and checked into my new room at the hotel, left my bag and had a coffee before taking the train to Winchester via Southampton. I took a 64 bus to New Arlesford (10889) and alighted at New Arlesford, New Farm Road as it was running 15 minutes late. As I stood waiting at the stop 18521 arrived with a 67 service for Winchester which I had last visit, so I stayed put waiting for required 18520 on the 64 Winchester service which I missed last time as it didn’t work the 76 to Petersfield, as expected. (Pictured below)
A fun rumble on 18520 to Winchester where I looked at some 10th century graves and remains of St Marys Abbey. Below 18520 on arrival at Winchester, forming the next 64 service back to Alton.
Then I took 18512 on the15:00 67 service heading for Petersfield, a route I did on my previous trip, so I took this for a local journey to Winchester – The Arc, which was apt considering the amount of rainfall once more encountered, previous picture at Winchester Bus Station. I then purchased a return rail ticket to Basingstoke to intercept Andover based 18193 which was on the 76 route, between Andover and Basingstoke.
I did see a Salisbury local train heading for Andover from Basingstoke but 11 minutes layover at Andover station was too tight for a 14-minute walk and my propensity for misreading google maps and walking the wrong way which was too much of a risk.
After getting some late lunch I took the number 11 (26315) to Worting Roman Road near Worting junction railway bridge and picked up 18193, one of the oldest Stagecoach South tridents still in service back to Basingstoke. Train back to Havant via Southampton and long journey back on Sunday by rail via Brighton, Eastbourne and Ashford. I was looking to see if 19258 was around in Eastbourne but being a Sunday, not much liklihood,
The next pic shows 18193 departing Basingstoke Railway Station at 17:24 for Andover.
As there remain less than 50 Dennis Trident buses operating for Stagecoach in the country, I decided to formulate a trip to the nearest area operating Trident buses. That area is Stagecoach South with vehicles based at Basingstoke, Winchester, Andover with one vehicle allocated to Chichester and Guildford. During my research 18081 was withdrawn from service which hastened my plan.
I took at train from my local station, Sandling in Kent to Basingstoke via Tonbridge, Redhill and Clapham Junction. I just made the Poole service to Basingstoke and saw 18387 on its last service of the day from Newfound from Basingstoke Railway Station to Basingstoke Bus Station which I took for a ride. Fare £1.70. I got some food and checked into my hotel which was great value at £58.
The next morning, I checked out the gen as to the 13 Tridents running in the Stagecoach South region and made a rough plan of what to do with the day. The hotel room was very comfortable, and I took a shower and made coffee and again looked at what was working and after breakfast headed for my first move. 18503 on the number 5 service to West Popley and back from Basingstoke bus station. I then took 18510 from Basingstoke station to Newfound on the number 11 and back to the station and took a train heading for Bournemouth for a 19-mile journey to Winchester. Even though it was raining all day long it didn’t dampen my spirits as I was getting great enjoyment from reaping the benefits of my good planning done in the morning. At Winchester I took 18504 to Bar End on a Winchester Park & Ride service which I took to the terminus and then back to the centre of Winchester for an hour-long Cathedral visit. It was great hearing the distinctive sound profile of a Trident engine again, bringing memories of when they operated in Kent.
Above, 18510 departs Basingstoke Railway station for Newfound via Basingstoke bus station.
I walked in the rain to the Winchester City Road bus stop to pick up the incoming 67 service from Petersfield. It was 18521 which I took to Winchester bus station. I was planning on taking the 15:00 departure with the 76 to Petersfield and pick up a train to Guildford which is on the Portsmouth main line. It was earmarked for 18520 which was stabled at the bus station but was in fact worked by 19079, which was still a rateable bus for me, an Enviro 400 Trident.
I took the train in the continual pouring rain, it literally rained all day long, to Guildford and looked for something to eat. I then took at diesel train service to Redhill for another local train to Tonbridge.
When I arrived at Tonbridge there was a train to Hastings on platform 3, of which there was a medical emergency and the train was terminated. Hundreds, and I mean hundreds of people had to cross the footbridge to platform 2. It was like a vast displacement of the masses. Another 8-coach train came in for Hastings already packed full and once all the people boarded from the train that had terminated, it was completely jam packed, like those images one sees of trains in Tokyo. It left, groaning with the weight of hundreds of people. Then platform staff got an update on the medical emergency, thought to be a suspected heart attack victim. Turns out it was someone so inebriated with alcohol, they had collapsed. So much activity and disruption to many a folks journey just for someone off their heads! An uneventful journey back to Hythe with Scania 15475 on the 103, Folkestone to New Romney.
Despite the rain it was a successful trip, lots of research and planning went into the trip but that is part of the fun. I believe Basingstoke depot are to receive 20 new double-deckers so that will spell the end for the Tridents. So, I had rides on 5 different Tridents, most for long runs so it was a successful trip.
18521 arriving at Winchester bus station with the 13:00 from Petersfield.
18520 at Winchester bus station.
TRIDENT TRIP PART 2 05-06 December 2025
I found another opportunity to do a trip and this time I decided to find a base on the south coast with a plan to cover the one working trident based at Chichester and a trip to Winchester to cover what I missed the previous trip and hopefully intercept an Aldershot based trident.
I took the train from Folkestone for a return costing £34. I got off at Warblington, 1 mile away from Havant as the fare was double and it was 15 minute’s walk to the Bear Inn where I was staying for 2 nights. I noticed the Coastliner 700 bus operating to Chichester from Portsmouth so that was potentially a good way to access Chichester the next day.
On Saturday morning I checked to see what was working and saw the 51 Chichester to Selsey service was indeed worked by 18515. I took 11558 on a 700 Coastliner service to Chichester for 19883 on a 51 to The Anchor Inn, Sidlesham to intercept 18515. When it arrived, I sat on the back seat to enjoy the experience of the trident engine. I was content that it worked as some Saturdays it isn’t used.
I then took a 700 Coastliner back to my hotel (11586) in Havant and checked into my new room at the hotel, left my bag and had a coffee before taking the train to Winchester via Southampton. I took a 64 bus to New Arlesford (10889) and alighted at New Arlesford, New Farm Road as it was running 15 minutes late. As I stood waiting at the stop 18521 arrived with a 67 service for Winchester which I had last visit, so I stayed put waiting for required 18520 on the 64 Winchester service which I missed last time as it didn’t work the 76 to Petersfield, as expected. (Pictured below)
A fun rumble on 18520 to Winchester where I looked at some 10th century graves and remains of St Marys Abbey. Below 18520 on arrival at Winchester, forming the next 64 service back to Alton.
Then I took 18512 on the15:00 67 service heading for Petersfield, a route I did on my previous trip, so I took this for a local journey to Winchester – The Arc, which was apt considering the amount of rainfall once more encountered, previous picture at Winchester Bus Station. I then purchased a return rail ticket to Basingstoke to intercept Andover based 18193 which was on the 76 route, between Andover and Basingstoke.
I did see a Salisbury local train heading for Andover from Basingstoke but 11 minutes layover at Andover station was too tight for a 14-minute walk and my propensity for misreading google maps and walking the wrong way which was too much of a risk.
After getting some late lunch I took the number 11 (26315) to Worting Roman Road near Worting junction railway bridge and picked up 18193, one of the oldest Stagecoach South tridents still in service back to Basingstoke. Train back to Havant via Southampton and long journey back on Sunday by rail via Brighton, Eastbourne and Ashford. I was looking to see if 19258 was around in Eastbourne but being a Sunday, not much liklihood,
The next pic shows 18193 departing Basingstoke Railway Station at 17:24 for Andover.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Yeah - I wouldn't have done the Bishop to Barney run in the dark but I needed to get back and get the car!! Bishop, Barney, Darlington and Richmond are all good towns though I can forgive @Devon Sunset for heading to Ripon; that's a lovely spot too.
The Pulsars have been good servants and were really well put together vehicles but they are showing their age and you're right in that there's lots of deckers that are also getting on in years too.
I have another couple of trips (or half trips) before I call it a close this year. Happy travelling @RELL6L
That is some commitment to do that. I confess that I'm seldom motivated by a particular type of bus but will sometimes make an exception. However, well done on your Trident odyssey!
Galactic142
Member
A day of buses up the Cumbrian Coast! I’ve not usually done trip reports but I thought I’d post this one because it covers the brand new route X7, connecting Millom and Whitehaven and providing a bus connection between Barrow and the west Cumbrian coastal towns for the first time in years. The 7 (Barrow-Millom) has also been running less than a year, so it’s a pretty impressive change of fortune for bus travel on the A595.
I started my journey in Barrow on Stagecoach CNL’s route 1, on a bus bound for Furness General Hospital. The vehicle was 63987, one of the Enviro 200s that got transferred over from Barnsley back in the spring. These tend to get used on the 1 and they’re showing their age. They are steadily being repainted into the new ‘dark blue’ livery, the only vehicles in Barrow to be getting it at the moment, but there’s still at least one in ‘beachball’ colours – so you can get all three Stagecoach liveries (Beachball, Local and ‘Dark blue’) on one route! I got off the 1 in at Barrow Town Hall, which is the town’s bus hub. Like many places, Barrow no longer has a bus station (it notably got eaten by a dinosaur in a 1980s chewits advert) but the Town Hall stops fulfil the job pretty well. There’s some digital information screens but I’ve never yet seen them switched on and they look pretty old – it’d be nice to get them working again.
There are only two regular bus routes that leave Barrow town (excluding the Blueworks 11 and X7 which are only 1 or 2 weekday journeys per day) and these are the 6/6A/X6 to Windermere/Ulverston/Kendal) and the 7 to Millom. The 7 is run with the new Optare Solo SRs that came to Barrow about 9 months ago. These are smart little buses which also show up on the town routes like the 1 usually only on Sundays, when the route is less busy, and have next-stop announcements. My bus was 48196, which had just come off early-morning runs on the 6 from Windermere.
After leaving Barrow and turning onto the A595 (the coast road) we passed through Askam and then the road climbs to run at high level along the lower flank of Kirkby Moor. You get lovely views out over the Duddon Estuary, with Black Combe rising above Millom on the opposite side. It always looks so close, but by road it would be at nearly an hour until we’d get there! At Grizebeck the A595 is being completely straightened out as part of a big new bypass scheme and it was quite impressive to see the earthworks of the new cutting that will carry the re-alignment. Beyond Grizebeck the road dropped back to the valley floor, past Foxfield station and finally into Broughton-in-Furness.
(View over the Duddon sands towards Millom and Black Combe - still an hour's bus ride away though)
Broughton-in-Furness is a very pretty little place. The signs call it a ‘historic market town’ but it’s smaller than many villages. There’s some very smart buildings in the central square, but the whole place felt extremely quiet – there was literally nobody about, but then it was 9.30am on a Saturday. One of the passengers alighted and the driver went off to the shop, but came back seconds later because it was closed. On the way out we passed the curious ‘CGP Pitstop’ garage, with its giant model cars on the roof – a blast from the past given I used to use CGP Guides when revising for school exams!
Crossing the Duddon, we moved from Westmoreland & Furness (and formerly Lancashire) into Cumberland. The next stop was Millom, a small town which once had a large ironworks and a docks. Now it has neither, and sadly feels pretty isolated. Until this year it didn’t have any buses either, but the 7 was re-instated earlier this year and it now also gets a local town route, the M1, which interworks with the 7 and shuttles backwards and forwards between Millom and Haverigg. All the buses in Millom pull up outside the grand buildings on Market Square. Another 7 was waiting, ready to go back to Barrow, and our driver left to take that one whilst we got a new driver to take us up the coast to Whitehaven. The bus changed its number to X7 and stopped announcing the next stops – maybe they’ve yet to be added onto the system?
We took a detour out through Haverigg before re-joining the A595 at Silecroft. The route then ran along the bottom edge of Black Combe, with intermittent views down towards the sea, through the small village of Bootle and down into the lower end of Eskdale. As the bus descended into the valley to cross the Esk, there were good views of Muncaster Castle, although it’s hard to spot as it camouflages well with the trees. Was there a bus stop at the castle? I’m not sure, but it would be a good idea if there was. The summer Wasdale Explorer bus does call at the castle and people do use the stop there, so I’m sure with a bit of public information there’s potential to make more out of the bus service here. In Ravenglass we circled round the car park outside the Ratty Arms but nobody got on or off. In fact, the only people on the bus were myself and a family who were doing the same as me – taking a ride on the new bus route just for the fun of it. The parents were saying very loudly that they regretted it though, as they’d not realised it would be nearly 3 hours on a bumpy and rattling bus, and there was no way they were getting the bus back instead of the train!
(Muncaster Castle - Hidden in the trees)
The scenery at this point was some of the best on the route, with views up to the high fells around Wasdale and Eskdale – although unfortunately I was sat on the wrong side of the bus to get any good photos. We picked up our first new passenger since Barrow at Gosforth, then hit the upgraded A595 at Thornhill. This is the south end of Stagecoach’s West Cumbria empire, where the number 30 terminates on the end of its journey down from Maryport. I alighted in Egremont and had a look at the castle. Egremont is a small town but the high street was getting busy, and the brass band was playing opposite the main town centre bus stop. I picked up the number 30 towards Maryport, the first double-decker bus of the trip. The bus was 15222, with the dark green Lakes livery and X4/X5 branding. Inside it was clearly an ex-Gold vehicle, with the big storage racks on the lower deck and leather seats, although it didn’t have the Fleur-de-Lys wallpaper that some of them have. The run over the hills to Whitehaven is a nice drive, especially from the top deck of a bus where you could see the sea at times. The bus took a short loop up past the West Cumbrian Hospital on the outskirts of Whitehaven, and from up here you got a good view down over the town and its harbour. The 30 has two branches at the south end, buses alternate between Thornhill via Egremont and Frizington via Cleator Moor, and converge in Whitehaven itself. Whitehaven town centre is a curious place with lots of old (Georgian?) buildings built in a tightly-packed grid pattern. It looked like it might be nice to explore on a day with better weather, but it was starting to rain so I opted to stick on the 30 towards Workington.
(Egremont town centre)
The bus climbed steeply out of Whitehaven – the town is on a small bay so all routes out of it require some sort of uphill climb – and hit the A595 again. As you swing past Parton you’re close to the tops of the cliffs and there were good views out to sea before the bus went inland again. It followed the old course of the A595 through Distington (which now has a bypass) then we crossed the A595 at the south end of Lillyhall to head down past Harrington (a coastal village-cum-suburb that adjoins Workington) and into Workington proper.
Workington must be one of the few places left in the country with a proper indoors drive-through bus station. It’s an arc-shaped building and the buses drive in one side, park up at bays, then drive out the other, and the whole thing is built of lovely red and white brick. I alighted at the bus station and walked into town to find some lunch. Workington town centre was nice enough, and very busy with people. It’s got a modern pedestrianised shopping complex called Washington Square which was nice but it made me wonder what was there before. In particular, between the bus station and the shopping area you cross an old cutting with bridges at either end which definitely looked ex-railway. When I got home I checked the old maps and saw it had been the line through Workington Central, and the station had been just yards away.
(Workington Bus Station)
After getting some lunch I headed back to the bus station. It’s a bright and airy place and Stagecoach do a good job of making it look smart and well cared-for. I was intending to catch the 29A back to Whitehaven and noticed the map on the bus stand showing the 29 and 29A routes (see picture below). It seems a bit odd that it showed Lowca and Distington on the opposite sides to where they geographically are – Lowca is west of Distington, but is on the right-hand side of that diagram! Have they been shown in alphanumeric order rather than as an actual map? It’s definitely not a helpful picture. 48002, a Lakes-liveried Optare Solo SR turned up showing 29, but a passenger asked and the driver confirmed he was a 29A and we set off. The 29A heads straight east out of Whitehaven, and it was surprising just how quickly the town ends going in that direction, compared to the long approach through the suburbs from the south. We had two Stagecoach drivers aboard (besides the actual driver of the bus), which seemed odd until the first place we stopped at was Lillyhall depot! The bus then took a circuitous route round the Lillyhall estate – which is a big out-of-town set of industrial estates which felt rather dead and empty on a Saturday afternoon but no doubt get busy during the weekdays. At the south end we got on the Distington bypass, and a lady shouted to the driver that she thought he should have gone the other way. The driver called out that he’d made a mistake and would turn around – unfortunately the next available point to turn around was at Moresby, virtually back at Whitehaven. Curiously, I don’t think there’s any bus that’s routed straight down the Distington bypass so I’m not sure why we had been going down there anyway. Was this a 29? Was this a 29A? Or something else entirely?
(Misleading route map at Workington Bus Station, with a 300 about to depart for Carlisle behind)
So we went back up the Distington bypass, retracing our steps back to Lillyhall! The driver turned us off and took us to Lowca. As we were running very late, it was an extremely fast ride over the tops of the hills to Lowca, a little village that sits above the cliffs north of Parton. There were great sea views most of the way, and despite being a much older bus the ride was far smoother than the new Solo SR I’d spent two and a half hours on that morning! After briefly rejoining the A595 through Parton the bus turned off again to take the route right over the tops of the cliffs through Bransty, with Whitehaven harbour visible dead ahead of us. The route down from Bransty drops steeply down to go past the railway station, then back into Whitehaven town.
(The view at Bransty - Whitehaven beyond)
I’d not noticed it coming, but Whitehaven has a bus station – just not one in use by buses. It looked similar in style to the one at Workington, but now looked like it was a restaurant or something. The buses now do a loop round the town centre, ending at Strand Street. At this point the bus promptly became a number 3, which took me up to Corkickle in around 5 minutes. I was the only passenger onboard.
(Whitehaven Bus Station - sadly no longer served by buses)
It would be nearly another two hours until the next X7, and there’s not much point doing a scenic bus journey in the dark anyway, so I decided to head for the train. Corkickle station really is very close to Whitehaven town centre. If it turns out that Bransty Tunnel really can’t be fixed and the line is permanently cut then rename it Whitehaven South and it’ll probably do the job okay. Still, I hope they can repair Bransty Tunnel – it was looking pretty forlorn with the temporary barriers blocking it off – and bring the full through service back to the coast line. I was rather looking forward to the novelty of getting a 195 down the Cumbrian Coast, but the train waiting was a regular 156. Still, it’s always a pleasant journey down the coast, especially along the seashore through Braystones and Nethertown. I got back to Barrow in the dark and the rain, so it was probably the right decision not to wait around for the X7.
So, the 7/X7 – is it worth it? Well it’s obviously a novelty to have a complete bus route up the Cumbrian Coast, but it takes a long time (2h 40min), especially on an Optare Solo as they’re not particularly comfortable things. It was interesting that the only people who did the Millom to Whitehaven stretch were both doing it as part of a day ‘bus exploring’, we didn’t have any ‘real’ passengers. Maybe that’s different on a weekday, or will be in the summer, especially if Stagecoach can promote the route (add it to their Lakes booklet maybe) and/or get people like Muncaster Castle or the Ratty to make it obvious to visitors that they have a bus link. But for day-to-day use, I’m not sure where the demand is going to come from. The train is faster, comfier, more frequent and sometimes only £3-4 more expensive so I’m not sure where the bus wins here. I guess the only thing the train doesn’t easily do is serve Gosforth, which was interestingly the only place we picked up a passenger. The Whitehaven/Workington network is solid. The buses come in a variety of liveries (Lakes/Local/Beachball) and it feels like Stagecoach doesn’t quite have the consistent brand that it used to, but that’s true of Stagecoach elsewhere too. There’s a good few local town routes in both Whitehaven and Workington that I didn’t get a chance to try, plus the routes further north towards Carlisle, so it’s a good little network to go back and explore again. But the X7? I’ve done it once, so I can say I’ve sampled the route, but I think next time I’ll go back to the train again.
I started my journey in Barrow on Stagecoach CNL’s route 1, on a bus bound for Furness General Hospital. The vehicle was 63987, one of the Enviro 200s that got transferred over from Barnsley back in the spring. These tend to get used on the 1 and they’re showing their age. They are steadily being repainted into the new ‘dark blue’ livery, the only vehicles in Barrow to be getting it at the moment, but there’s still at least one in ‘beachball’ colours – so you can get all three Stagecoach liveries (Beachball, Local and ‘Dark blue’) on one route! I got off the 1 in at Barrow Town Hall, which is the town’s bus hub. Like many places, Barrow no longer has a bus station (it notably got eaten by a dinosaur in a 1980s chewits advert) but the Town Hall stops fulfil the job pretty well. There’s some digital information screens but I’ve never yet seen them switched on and they look pretty old – it’d be nice to get them working again.
There are only two regular bus routes that leave Barrow town (excluding the Blueworks 11 and X7 which are only 1 or 2 weekday journeys per day) and these are the 6/6A/X6 to Windermere/Ulverston/Kendal) and the 7 to Millom. The 7 is run with the new Optare Solo SRs that came to Barrow about 9 months ago. These are smart little buses which also show up on the town routes like the 1 usually only on Sundays, when the route is less busy, and have next-stop announcements. My bus was 48196, which had just come off early-morning runs on the 6 from Windermere.
After leaving Barrow and turning onto the A595 (the coast road) we passed through Askam and then the road climbs to run at high level along the lower flank of Kirkby Moor. You get lovely views out over the Duddon Estuary, with Black Combe rising above Millom on the opposite side. It always looks so close, but by road it would be at nearly an hour until we’d get there! At Grizebeck the A595 is being completely straightened out as part of a big new bypass scheme and it was quite impressive to see the earthworks of the new cutting that will carry the re-alignment. Beyond Grizebeck the road dropped back to the valley floor, past Foxfield station and finally into Broughton-in-Furness.
(View over the Duddon sands towards Millom and Black Combe - still an hour's bus ride away though)
Broughton-in-Furness is a very pretty little place. The signs call it a ‘historic market town’ but it’s smaller than many villages. There’s some very smart buildings in the central square, but the whole place felt extremely quiet – there was literally nobody about, but then it was 9.30am on a Saturday. One of the passengers alighted and the driver went off to the shop, but came back seconds later because it was closed. On the way out we passed the curious ‘CGP Pitstop’ garage, with its giant model cars on the roof – a blast from the past given I used to use CGP Guides when revising for school exams!
Crossing the Duddon, we moved from Westmoreland & Furness (and formerly Lancashire) into Cumberland. The next stop was Millom, a small town which once had a large ironworks and a docks. Now it has neither, and sadly feels pretty isolated. Until this year it didn’t have any buses either, but the 7 was re-instated earlier this year and it now also gets a local town route, the M1, which interworks with the 7 and shuttles backwards and forwards between Millom and Haverigg. All the buses in Millom pull up outside the grand buildings on Market Square. Another 7 was waiting, ready to go back to Barrow, and our driver left to take that one whilst we got a new driver to take us up the coast to Whitehaven. The bus changed its number to X7 and stopped announcing the next stops – maybe they’ve yet to be added onto the system?
We took a detour out through Haverigg before re-joining the A595 at Silecroft. The route then ran along the bottom edge of Black Combe, with intermittent views down towards the sea, through the small village of Bootle and down into the lower end of Eskdale. As the bus descended into the valley to cross the Esk, there were good views of Muncaster Castle, although it’s hard to spot as it camouflages well with the trees. Was there a bus stop at the castle? I’m not sure, but it would be a good idea if there was. The summer Wasdale Explorer bus does call at the castle and people do use the stop there, so I’m sure with a bit of public information there’s potential to make more out of the bus service here. In Ravenglass we circled round the car park outside the Ratty Arms but nobody got on or off. In fact, the only people on the bus were myself and a family who were doing the same as me – taking a ride on the new bus route just for the fun of it. The parents were saying very loudly that they regretted it though, as they’d not realised it would be nearly 3 hours on a bumpy and rattling bus, and there was no way they were getting the bus back instead of the train!
(Muncaster Castle - Hidden in the trees)
The scenery at this point was some of the best on the route, with views up to the high fells around Wasdale and Eskdale – although unfortunately I was sat on the wrong side of the bus to get any good photos. We picked up our first new passenger since Barrow at Gosforth, then hit the upgraded A595 at Thornhill. This is the south end of Stagecoach’s West Cumbria empire, where the number 30 terminates on the end of its journey down from Maryport. I alighted in Egremont and had a look at the castle. Egremont is a small town but the high street was getting busy, and the brass band was playing opposite the main town centre bus stop. I picked up the number 30 towards Maryport, the first double-decker bus of the trip. The bus was 15222, with the dark green Lakes livery and X4/X5 branding. Inside it was clearly an ex-Gold vehicle, with the big storage racks on the lower deck and leather seats, although it didn’t have the Fleur-de-Lys wallpaper that some of them have. The run over the hills to Whitehaven is a nice drive, especially from the top deck of a bus where you could see the sea at times. The bus took a short loop up past the West Cumbrian Hospital on the outskirts of Whitehaven, and from up here you got a good view down over the town and its harbour. The 30 has two branches at the south end, buses alternate between Thornhill via Egremont and Frizington via Cleator Moor, and converge in Whitehaven itself. Whitehaven town centre is a curious place with lots of old (Georgian?) buildings built in a tightly-packed grid pattern. It looked like it might be nice to explore on a day with better weather, but it was starting to rain so I opted to stick on the 30 towards Workington.
(Egremont town centre)
The bus climbed steeply out of Whitehaven – the town is on a small bay so all routes out of it require some sort of uphill climb – and hit the A595 again. As you swing past Parton you’re close to the tops of the cliffs and there were good views out to sea before the bus went inland again. It followed the old course of the A595 through Distington (which now has a bypass) then we crossed the A595 at the south end of Lillyhall to head down past Harrington (a coastal village-cum-suburb that adjoins Workington) and into Workington proper.
Workington must be one of the few places left in the country with a proper indoors drive-through bus station. It’s an arc-shaped building and the buses drive in one side, park up at bays, then drive out the other, and the whole thing is built of lovely red and white brick. I alighted at the bus station and walked into town to find some lunch. Workington town centre was nice enough, and very busy with people. It’s got a modern pedestrianised shopping complex called Washington Square which was nice but it made me wonder what was there before. In particular, between the bus station and the shopping area you cross an old cutting with bridges at either end which definitely looked ex-railway. When I got home I checked the old maps and saw it had been the line through Workington Central, and the station had been just yards away.
(Workington Bus Station)
After getting some lunch I headed back to the bus station. It’s a bright and airy place and Stagecoach do a good job of making it look smart and well cared-for. I was intending to catch the 29A back to Whitehaven and noticed the map on the bus stand showing the 29 and 29A routes (see picture below). It seems a bit odd that it showed Lowca and Distington on the opposite sides to where they geographically are – Lowca is west of Distington, but is on the right-hand side of that diagram! Have they been shown in alphanumeric order rather than as an actual map? It’s definitely not a helpful picture. 48002, a Lakes-liveried Optare Solo SR turned up showing 29, but a passenger asked and the driver confirmed he was a 29A and we set off. The 29A heads straight east out of Whitehaven, and it was surprising just how quickly the town ends going in that direction, compared to the long approach through the suburbs from the south. We had two Stagecoach drivers aboard (besides the actual driver of the bus), which seemed odd until the first place we stopped at was Lillyhall depot! The bus then took a circuitous route round the Lillyhall estate – which is a big out-of-town set of industrial estates which felt rather dead and empty on a Saturday afternoon but no doubt get busy during the weekdays. At the south end we got on the Distington bypass, and a lady shouted to the driver that she thought he should have gone the other way. The driver called out that he’d made a mistake and would turn around – unfortunately the next available point to turn around was at Moresby, virtually back at Whitehaven. Curiously, I don’t think there’s any bus that’s routed straight down the Distington bypass so I’m not sure why we had been going down there anyway. Was this a 29? Was this a 29A? Or something else entirely?
(Misleading route map at Workington Bus Station, with a 300 about to depart for Carlisle behind)
So we went back up the Distington bypass, retracing our steps back to Lillyhall! The driver turned us off and took us to Lowca. As we were running very late, it was an extremely fast ride over the tops of the hills to Lowca, a little village that sits above the cliffs north of Parton. There were great sea views most of the way, and despite being a much older bus the ride was far smoother than the new Solo SR I’d spent two and a half hours on that morning! After briefly rejoining the A595 through Parton the bus turned off again to take the route right over the tops of the cliffs through Bransty, with Whitehaven harbour visible dead ahead of us. The route down from Bransty drops steeply down to go past the railway station, then back into Whitehaven town.
(The view at Bransty - Whitehaven beyond)
I’d not noticed it coming, but Whitehaven has a bus station – just not one in use by buses. It looked similar in style to the one at Workington, but now looked like it was a restaurant or something. The buses now do a loop round the town centre, ending at Strand Street. At this point the bus promptly became a number 3, which took me up to Corkickle in around 5 minutes. I was the only passenger onboard.
(Whitehaven Bus Station - sadly no longer served by buses)
It would be nearly another two hours until the next X7, and there’s not much point doing a scenic bus journey in the dark anyway, so I decided to head for the train. Corkickle station really is very close to Whitehaven town centre. If it turns out that Bransty Tunnel really can’t be fixed and the line is permanently cut then rename it Whitehaven South and it’ll probably do the job okay. Still, I hope they can repair Bransty Tunnel – it was looking pretty forlorn with the temporary barriers blocking it off – and bring the full through service back to the coast line. I was rather looking forward to the novelty of getting a 195 down the Cumbrian Coast, but the train waiting was a regular 156. Still, it’s always a pleasant journey down the coast, especially along the seashore through Braystones and Nethertown. I got back to Barrow in the dark and the rain, so it was probably the right decision not to wait around for the X7.
So, the 7/X7 – is it worth it? Well it’s obviously a novelty to have a complete bus route up the Cumbrian Coast, but it takes a long time (2h 40min), especially on an Optare Solo as they’re not particularly comfortable things. It was interesting that the only people who did the Millom to Whitehaven stretch were both doing it as part of a day ‘bus exploring’, we didn’t have any ‘real’ passengers. Maybe that’s different on a weekday, or will be in the summer, especially if Stagecoach can promote the route (add it to their Lakes booklet maybe) and/or get people like Muncaster Castle or the Ratty to make it obvious to visitors that they have a bus link. But for day-to-day use, I’m not sure where the demand is going to come from. The train is faster, comfier, more frequent and sometimes only £3-4 more expensive so I’m not sure where the bus wins here. I guess the only thing the train doesn’t easily do is serve Gosforth, which was interestingly the only place we picked up a passenger. The Whitehaven/Workington network is solid. The buses come in a variety of liveries (Lakes/Local/Beachball) and it feels like Stagecoach doesn’t quite have the consistent brand that it used to, but that’s true of Stagecoach elsewhere too. There’s a good few local town routes in both Whitehaven and Workington that I didn’t get a chance to try, plus the routes further north towards Carlisle, so it’s a good little network to go back and explore again. But the X7? I’ve done it once, so I can say I’ve sampled the route, but I think next time I’ll go back to the train again.
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Wow - I am feeling well jealous. I really am. That sounds like a cracking trip out. I've never managed to get along the Cumbrian Coast by either bus or train - Ulverston being as far in one direction, and Whitehaven the other. I hope I can manage to get a trip on the X7 before it disappears as it doesn't sound sustainable. That said, I always thought it odd that Millom lost ALL its services - it used to have a Cumberland depot with deckers running back and forth to Haverigg but guess the decline in industry that you mention explains that. Great photos too - good to see Workington bus station still going too.
Thank you so much for sharing.
I too am very envious, although it sounds a long slog up the bus routes 7/X7. I did the train as part of a great trip which to my astonishment was as long ago as 2016. I went Windermere > Ulverston > Barrow >train> Whitehaven > Workington > Maryport > Cockermouth > Keswick > Seatoller > Keswick > Windermere. One of my most stunning trips, including the open top route into Borrowdale. The train along the coast from Barrow to Whitehaven has fabulous views and I suspect these are better than from the bus, although the bus may get better inland views. The train is also somewhat quicker, taking a shorter route across the Duddon estuary and a fairly straight line along the coast north of Seascale. I loved all the places I visited as well. You covered Barrow, Whitehaven and Workington: Whitehaven is fabulous around the harbour and Workington has some decent areas too, the bus station is old-fashioned but effective. Maryport also has a great harbour and further east is in the Lake District proper. I appear to have taken 287 photos that day....
Much though I support new routes being introduced (or reintroduced) I am not sure the 7/X7 is ever going to compete with the train especially north of Millom. The train is established and takes also school flows not to mention nuclear material flows to Sellafield. As you say the X7 serves Gosforth which is not on the railway line but for pretty much everywhere else the train provides a faster and more frequent service. South of Millom the 7 also serves Broughton in Furness and some other smaller areas and may be worthwhile, while Millom and Haverigg ought to justify a local service. I'd love to try the 7 / X7, maybe one day!
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
After the fabulous Cumbrian Coast adventure of @Galactic142, I feel rather ashamed to relate a much more mundane and less scenic trip. Sorry 
My recent trips have been a bit snatched and this is another partial trip slotted in between competing personal commitments. There again, you sometimes have to take whatever opportunity comes your way. Whilst I've skated around the margins of Merseyside on recent trips e.g. St Helens, and it was nearly 10 years to the day since I really been in the county. So it was that I parked the car in Heswall to begin a trip out.
Heswall bus station is a basic little affair with a pub and car park out the back; this had been the site of the Crosville depot until c.1989, and the pub name has a connection with it too. That Crosville connection was continued with my first bus, being a Stagecoach e400 that used to operate my local Northamptonshire X4 route but lost Gold livery in favour of a commemorative Crosville scheme. The 471/472 are operated jointly by Stagecoach and Arriva as part of a Quality Partnership though vehicles used are generally a bit older than the norm, and this one was looking a little careworn. They take broadly similar routes though with a difference between Heswall and Arrowe Park. It was a dark, drizzly day as we carved our way through the leafy Wirral suburbs before going through more working class areas en route to Birkenhead, the e400 filling up with passengers. Of course, we have the excitement of passing through the Mersey Tunnels which thankfully have great bus priority and dedicated lanes. We popped up in central Liverpool, stopping just by Queen Square bus station which is just a set of large shelters in a central location but no worse for that.
My Crosville tribute act in a very soggy Heswall, and a dark Queens Square in Liverpool
This was just a stepping stone as I went for my next bus. This would be the X2 to Southport, operating as part of the long distance Preston service. This was a newer vehicle with an e400mmc of Stagecoach's Preston depot; some are in a Ribble themed livery but this was in standard local colours. We left Liverpool and have to say that on hitting the odd pothole, the rattles of the ADL body were all too evident. However, the seats were comfortable and we sped along with great views of the new Everton stadium on our left. One thing I noticed were the absence of flags on lampposts though a few were evident on the main road through Bootle, where the Strand shopping centre is being (partly) demolished. We then headed through some really quite pleasant spots in Crosby, Crosby Village and Formby as we almost hugged the coast.
We arrived into Southport which is one of those places which doesn't have a bus station but could really do with one. I actually disembarked by the site of the old bus station/depot that had been a former train station, and is now a Travelodge for the listed frontage, the trainshed/depot having been demolished in favour of a Morrisons. One thing I subsequently realised was that the historic looking Ribble Building is nothing of the sort, being built more recently as it was the entrance/exit gap for the bus station. As well as taking time to grab some lunch, I also had chance to have a bit of a wander. Now Southport is all too remembered for last year's horrific events. Prior to that, it was better known as an affluent place where Liverpool and Everton footballers might live, as well as a genteel and well heeled seaside resort. I have to say, that wasn't quite my impression . The sea is quite the walk past the marine lake, which was nice enough, but the main street (Lord Street) is known for its Victorian architecture and ornate canopies. They're still there but looking a bit scruffy and the whole place was a bit more rundown than I expected...but perhaps it was the weather? Southport's bus stops are stretched along Lord Street and some neighbouring roads and hence a bus station would be a nice to have. I waited for my next bus on the busy Arriva 47 that runs across Southport towards Liverpool. Instead of a decker, it was a former Welsh Pulsar; the route seems to have more singles (usually e200mmcs) but I do like a Pulsar. One of the last delivered, it had a long spell on the Cymru Coastliner service between Llandudno and Caernarfon yet it seemed in pretty good condition despite many miles being racked up. We retraced the steps as per the X2, albeit marginally slower as we headed through Birkdale past Formby and towards Crosby Village.
My e400mmc to Southport outside the former rail/bus station. The bit of the building near the rear of the e400 (to the right of the half timbered section) looks old but isn't. Meanwhile, they still celebrate their favourite equine star
The centre of Southport was home to a massive festive teddy bear... I don't know why. There is a link that crosses from Merseyside to Lancashire to GM - how it will survive in future, I don't know. Note the Victorian canopies and the standard nail bars!
I decided to have a small break here; despite the name, it's a small town whose main street really reminded me of Ormskirk. Before my time, I think it had a Ribble bus station, being very much Ribble territory being between Liverpool and Southport Corporations. Arriva still use the former Southport/Merseyside PTE depot to this day though I guess that services in Crosby were historically mainly worked from Bootle and Aintree garages. I grabbed a Costa, and wandered to the three stops that represent a bus station of sorts. An Arriva e400 duly turned up with the 53 to Liverpool. Unlike the X2 and 47, this follows a different route and I really enjoyed the different route, heading down the backstreets and then into Crosby via the grandly named Waterloo Interchange (a turning loop outside the station) and seeing some nice if slightly tired art deco buildings. There was also a regular supply of closed former pubs as we headed through Seaforth and then back into Bootle and into Liverpool; only here did we hit some traffic but it wasn't too bad.
My trusty Pulsar in Crosby Village. Meanwhile, after Bath, Liverpool has the most Georgian buildings in the country. It's an architectural treat.
My last bus was to retrace my steps back to Heswall, albeit on a 472. Clearly things weren't so good with these routes and rush hour traffic as I caught a Stagecoach e400mmc that was running 20 mins late. It was very busy but I got a seat and settled back, getting slightly irritated by the girl with her boyfriend taking time to vape continuously! However, I just sat back, relaxed into the IrnBru eleather, and enjoyed the trip back to Heswall as darkness fell.
Thoughts.... Well, next time I head to Merseyside, it may be a franchised world. Already, the new Metro livery is visible on some of the new e200mmcs that Arriva has placed into service in Southport and Birkenhead. Given its one of Arriva's powerhouse ops, it is really evident how the lack of investment from DB has impacted what should be a flagship operation. Feels like a lot of 2013-2015 fleet though, in fairness, there are some newer vehicles too. The scenery out to Southport is pleasant and perhaps the town might feel a bit more vibrant in the summer months. However, I did enjoy my somewhat truncated day out and you can never lose with a trip through the Mersey Tunnels! Next time - I must spend more time in Liverpool but I'd not visited Southport since c.2000; however, next time.....
**** 2025 round up ****
I won't quote endless stats or miles or vehicles but 2025 has seen me enjoy Swansea, Northumberland/Borders, Warwickshire, Dartmoor/Sth Hams, Norfolk, Teesside, Rame/Plymouth, Worcestershire, Darlington, and now Merseyside.
I really must have some South East/London trips, Scotland and perhaps, more mundanely, something local. Oh, and Lincolnshire for a change!
Last trip now done and nothing until Feb at the earliest. Thanks to everyone who's read, enjoyed, or not enjoyed but commented all the same. Have a great Christmas and New Year. Happy and safe travels for 2026
My recent trips have been a bit snatched and this is another partial trip slotted in between competing personal commitments. There again, you sometimes have to take whatever opportunity comes your way. Whilst I've skated around the margins of Merseyside on recent trips e.g. St Helens, and it was nearly 10 years to the day since I really been in the county. So it was that I parked the car in Heswall to begin a trip out.Heswall bus station is a basic little affair with a pub and car park out the back; this had been the site of the Crosville depot until c.1989, and the pub name has a connection with it too. That Crosville connection was continued with my first bus, being a Stagecoach e400 that used to operate my local Northamptonshire X4 route but lost Gold livery in favour of a commemorative Crosville scheme. The 471/472 are operated jointly by Stagecoach and Arriva as part of a Quality Partnership though vehicles used are generally a bit older than the norm, and this one was looking a little careworn. They take broadly similar routes though with a difference between Heswall and Arrowe Park. It was a dark, drizzly day as we carved our way through the leafy Wirral suburbs before going through more working class areas en route to Birkenhead, the e400 filling up with passengers. Of course, we have the excitement of passing through the Mersey Tunnels which thankfully have great bus priority and dedicated lanes. We popped up in central Liverpool, stopping just by Queen Square bus station which is just a set of large shelters in a central location but no worse for that.
My Crosville tribute act in a very soggy Heswall, and a dark Queens Square in Liverpool
This was just a stepping stone as I went for my next bus. This would be the X2 to Southport, operating as part of the long distance Preston service. This was a newer vehicle with an e400mmc of Stagecoach's Preston depot; some are in a Ribble themed livery but this was in standard local colours. We left Liverpool and have to say that on hitting the odd pothole, the rattles of the ADL body were all too evident. However, the seats were comfortable and we sped along with great views of the new Everton stadium on our left. One thing I noticed were the absence of flags on lampposts though a few were evident on the main road through Bootle, where the Strand shopping centre is being (partly) demolished. We then headed through some really quite pleasant spots in Crosby, Crosby Village and Formby as we almost hugged the coast.
We arrived into Southport which is one of those places which doesn't have a bus station but could really do with one. I actually disembarked by the site of the old bus station/depot that had been a former train station, and is now a Travelodge for the listed frontage, the trainshed/depot having been demolished in favour of a Morrisons. One thing I subsequently realised was that the historic looking Ribble Building is nothing of the sort, being built more recently as it was the entrance/exit gap for the bus station. As well as taking time to grab some lunch, I also had chance to have a bit of a wander. Now Southport is all too remembered for last year's horrific events. Prior to that, it was better known as an affluent place where Liverpool and Everton footballers might live, as well as a genteel and well heeled seaside resort. I have to say, that wasn't quite my impression . The sea is quite the walk past the marine lake, which was nice enough, but the main street (Lord Street) is known for its Victorian architecture and ornate canopies. They're still there but looking a bit scruffy and the whole place was a bit more rundown than I expected...but perhaps it was the weather? Southport's bus stops are stretched along Lord Street and some neighbouring roads and hence a bus station would be a nice to have. I waited for my next bus on the busy Arriva 47 that runs across Southport towards Liverpool. Instead of a decker, it was a former Welsh Pulsar; the route seems to have more singles (usually e200mmcs) but I do like a Pulsar. One of the last delivered, it had a long spell on the Cymru Coastliner service between Llandudno and Caernarfon yet it seemed in pretty good condition despite many miles being racked up. We retraced the steps as per the X2, albeit marginally slower as we headed through Birkdale past Formby and towards Crosby Village.
My e400mmc to Southport outside the former rail/bus station. The bit of the building near the rear of the e400 (to the right of the half timbered section) looks old but isn't. Meanwhile, they still celebrate their favourite equine star
The centre of Southport was home to a massive festive teddy bear... I don't know why. There is a link that crosses from Merseyside to Lancashire to GM - how it will survive in future, I don't know. Note the Victorian canopies and the standard nail bars!
I decided to have a small break here; despite the name, it's a small town whose main street really reminded me of Ormskirk. Before my time, I think it had a Ribble bus station, being very much Ribble territory being between Liverpool and Southport Corporations. Arriva still use the former Southport/Merseyside PTE depot to this day though I guess that services in Crosby were historically mainly worked from Bootle and Aintree garages. I grabbed a Costa, and wandered to the three stops that represent a bus station of sorts. An Arriva e400 duly turned up with the 53 to Liverpool. Unlike the X2 and 47, this follows a different route and I really enjoyed the different route, heading down the backstreets and then into Crosby via the grandly named Waterloo Interchange (a turning loop outside the station) and seeing some nice if slightly tired art deco buildings. There was also a regular supply of closed former pubs as we headed through Seaforth and then back into Bootle and into Liverpool; only here did we hit some traffic but it wasn't too bad.
My trusty Pulsar in Crosby Village. Meanwhile, after Bath, Liverpool has the most Georgian buildings in the country. It's an architectural treat.
My last bus was to retrace my steps back to Heswall, albeit on a 472. Clearly things weren't so good with these routes and rush hour traffic as I caught a Stagecoach e400mmc that was running 20 mins late. It was very busy but I got a seat and settled back, getting slightly irritated by the girl with her boyfriend taking time to vape continuously! However, I just sat back, relaxed into the IrnBru eleather, and enjoyed the trip back to Heswall as darkness fell.
Thoughts.... Well, next time I head to Merseyside, it may be a franchised world. Already, the new Metro livery is visible on some of the new e200mmcs that Arriva has placed into service in Southport and Birkenhead. Given its one of Arriva's powerhouse ops, it is really evident how the lack of investment from DB has impacted what should be a flagship operation. Feels like a lot of 2013-2015 fleet though, in fairness, there are some newer vehicles too. The scenery out to Southport is pleasant and perhaps the town might feel a bit more vibrant in the summer months. However, I did enjoy my somewhat truncated day out and you can never lose with a trip through the Mersey Tunnels! Next time - I must spend more time in Liverpool but I'd not visited Southport since c.2000; however, next time.....
**** 2025 round up ****
I won't quote endless stats or miles or vehicles but 2025 has seen me enjoy Swansea, Northumberland/Borders, Warwickshire, Dartmoor/Sth Hams, Norfolk, Teesside, Rame/Plymouth, Worcestershire, Darlington, and now Merseyside.
I really must have some South East/London trips, Scotland and perhaps, more mundanely, something local. Oh, and Lincolnshire for a change!
Last trip now done and nothing until Feb at the earliest. Thanks to everyone who's read, enjoyed, or not enjoyed but commented all the same. Have a great Christmas and New Year. Happy and safe travels for 2026
JKP
Member
Many thanks for your excellent report of your trip on Merseyside. I lived at Waterloo for around six months and recall the opening of the Interchange in 1978. Ribble full fronted Leyland PD3s were much in evidence at that time but being replaced with Leyland Atlanteans.After the fabulous Cumbrian Coast adventure of @Galactic142, I feel rather ashamed to relate a much more mundane and less scenic trip. Sorry
Heswall bus station is a basic little affair with a pub and car park out the back; this had been the site of the Crosville depot until c.1989, and the pub name has a connection with it too. That Crosville connection was continued with my first bus, being a Stagecoach e400 that used to operate my local Northamptonshire X4 route but lost Gold livery in favour of a commemorative Crosville scheme. The 471/472 are operated jointly by Stagecoach and Arriva as part of a Quality Partnership though vehicles used are generally a bit older than the norm, and this one was looking a little careworn. They take broadly similar routes though with a difference between Heswall and Arrowe Park. It was a dark, drizzly day as we carved our way through the leafy Wirral suburbs before going through more working class areas en route to Birkenhead, the e400 filling up with passengers. Of course, we have the excitement of passing through the Mersey Tunnels which thankfully have great bus priority and dedicated lanes. We popped up in central Liverpool, stopping just by Queen Square bus station which is just a set of large shelters in a central location but no worse for that.
View attachment 194074View attachment 194075
My Crosville tribute act in a very soggy Heswall, and a dark Queens Square in Liverpool
This was just a stepping stone as I went for my next bus. This would be the X2 to Southport, operating as part of the long distance Preston service. This was a newer vehicle with an e400mmc of Stagecoach's Preston depot; some are in a Ribble themed livery but this was in standard local colours. We left Liverpool and have to say that on hitting the odd pothole, the rattles of the ADL body were all too evident. However, the seats were comfortable and we sped along with great views of the new Everton stadium on our left. One thing I noticed were the absence of flags on lampposts though a few were evident on the main road through Bootle, where the Strand shopping centre is being (partly) demolished. We then headed through some really quite pleasant spots in Crosby, Crosby Village and Formby as we almost hugged the coast.
We arrived into Southport which is one of those places which doesn't have a bus station but could really do with one. I actually disembarked by the site of the old bus station/depot that had been a former train station, and is now a Travelodge for the listed frontage, the trainshed/depot having been demolished in favour of a Morrisons. One thing I subsequently realised was that the historic looking Ribble Building is nothing of the sort, being built more recently as it was the entrance/exit gap for the bus station. As well as taking time to grab some lunch, I also had chance to have a bit of a wander. Now Southport is all too remembered for last year's horrific events. Prior to that, it was better known as an affluent place where Liverpool and Everton footballers might live, as well as a genteel and well heeled seaside resort. I have to say, that wasn't quite my impression . The sea is quite the walk past the marine lake, which was nice enough, but the main street (Lord Street) is known for its Victorian architecture and ornate canopies. They're still there but looking a bit scruffy and the whole place was a bit more rundown than I expected...but perhaps it was the weather? Southport's bus stops are stretched along Lord Street and some neighbouring roads and hence a bus station would be a nice to have. I waited for my next bus on the busy Arriva 47 that runs across Southport towards Liverpool. Instead of a decker, it was a former Welsh Pulsar; the route seems to have more singles (usually e200mmcs) but I do like a Pulsar. One of the last delivered, it had a long spell on the Cymru Coastliner service between Llandudno and Caernarfon yet it seemed in pretty good condition despite many miles being racked up. We retraced the steps as per the X2, albeit marginally slower as we headed through Birkdale past Formby and towards Crosby Village.
View attachment 194076View attachment 194077
My e400mmc to Southport outside the former rail/bus station. The bit of the building near the rear of the e400 (to the right of the half timbered section) looks old but isn't. Meanwhile, they still celebrate their favourite equine star
View attachment 194082View attachment 194083
The centre of Southport was home to a massive festive teddy bear... I don't know why. There is a link that crosses from Merseyside to Lancashire to GM - how it will survive in future, I don't know. Note the Victorian canopies and the standard nail bars!
I decided to have a small break here; despite the name, it's a small town whose main street really reminded me of Ormskirk. Before my time, I think it had a Ribble bus station, being very much Ribble territory being between Liverpool and Southport Corporations. Arriva still use the former Southport/Merseyside PTE depot to this day though I guess that services in Crosby were historically mainly worked from Bootle and Aintree garages. I grabbed a Costa, and wandered to the three stops that represent a bus station of sorts. An Arriva e400 duly turned up with the 53 to Liverpool. Unlike the X2 and 47, this follows a different route and I really enjoyed the different route, heading down the backstreets and then into Crosby via the grandly named Waterloo Interchange (a turning loop outside the station) and seeing some nice if slightly tired art deco buildings. There was also a regular supply of closed former pubs as we headed through Seaforth and then back into Bootle and into Liverpool; only here did we hit some traffic but it wasn't too bad.
View attachment 194084View attachment 194085
My trusty Pulsar in Crosby Village. Meanwhile, after Bath, Liverpool has the most Georgian buildings in the country. It's an architectural treat.
My last bus was to retrace my steps back to Heswall, albeit on a 472. Clearly things weren't so good with these routes and rush hour traffic as I caught a Stagecoach e400mmc that was running 20 mins late. It was very busy but I got a seat and settled back, getting slightly irritated by the girl with her boyfriend taking time to vape continuously! However, I just sat back, relaxed into the IrnBru eleather, and enjoyed the trip back to Heswall as darkness fell.
Thoughts.... Well, next time I head to Merseyside, it may be a franchised world. Already, the new Metro livery is visible on some of the new e200mmcs that Arriva has placed into service in Southport and Birkenhead. Given its one of Arriva's powerhouse ops, it is really evident how the lack of investment from DB has impacted what should be a flagship operation. Feels like a lot of 2013-2015 fleet though, in fairness, there are some newer vehicles too. The scenery out to Southport is pleasant and perhaps the town might feel a bit more vibrant in the summer months. However, I did enjoy my somewhat truncated day out and you can never lose with a trip through the Mersey Tunnels! Next time - I must spend more time in Liverpool but I'd not visited Southport since c.2000; however, next time.....
**** 2025 round up ****
I won't quote endless stats or miles or vehicles but 2025 has seen me enjoy Swansea, Northumberland/Borders, Warwickshire, Dartmoor/Sth Hams, Norfolk, Teesside, Rame/Plymouth, Worcestershire, Darlington, and now Merseyside.
I really must have some South East/London trips, Scotland and perhaps, more mundanely, something local. Oh, and Lincolnshire for a change!
Last trip now done and nothing until Feb at the earliest. Thanks to everyone who's read, enjoyed, or not enjoyed but commented all the same. Have a great Christmas and New Year. Happy and safe travels for 2026
You too have a great Christmas and New Year. I look forward to reading reports of your trips in 2026.
Many thanks for another interesting report from an area which still has much of interest. I think Southport is a very pleasant town and it is worth taking time to head over to the beach some way from the town centre. Good Victoria architecture in the town too. I haven't been to Crosby Village, got to be worth stopping off at sometime. On the Wirral I like the north coast, New Brighton, Hoylake, West Kirby as being the best places - but it has to be on a fine day. I never tire of the centre of Liverpool, so much to see.After the fabulous Cumbrian Coast adventure of @Galactic142, I feel rather ashamed to relate a much more mundane and less scenic trip. Sorry
Heswall bus station is a basic little affair with a pub and car park out the back; this had been the site of the Crosville depot until c.1989, and the pub name has a connection with it too. That Crosville connection was continued with my first bus, being a Stagecoach e400 that used to operate my local Northamptonshire X4 route but lost Gold livery in favour of a commemorative Crosville scheme. The 471/472 are operated jointly by Stagecoach and Arriva as part of a Quality Partnership though vehicles used are generally a bit older than the norm, and this one was looking a little careworn. They take broadly similar routes though with a difference between Heswall and Arrowe Park. It was a dark, drizzly day as we carved our way through the leafy Wirral suburbs before going through more working class areas en route to Birkenhead, the e400 filling up with passengers. Of course, we have the excitement of passing through the Mersey Tunnels which thankfully have great bus priority and dedicated lanes. We popped up in central Liverpool, stopping just by Queen Square bus station which is just a set of large shelters in a central location but no worse for that.
View attachment 194074View attachment 194075
My Crosville tribute act in a very soggy Heswall, and a dark Queens Square in Liverpool
This was just a stepping stone as I went for my next bus. This would be the X2 to Southport, operating as part of the long distance Preston service. This was a newer vehicle with an e400mmc of Stagecoach's Preston depot; some are in a Ribble themed livery but this was in standard local colours. We left Liverpool and have to say that on hitting the odd pothole, the rattles of the ADL body were all too evident. However, the seats were comfortable and we sped along with great views of the new Everton stadium on our left. One thing I noticed were the absence of flags on lampposts though a few were evident on the main road through Bootle, where the Strand shopping centre is being (partly) demolished. We then headed through some really quite pleasant spots in Crosby, Crosby Village and Formby as we almost hugged the coast.
We arrived into Southport which is one of those places which doesn't have a bus station but could really do with one. I actually disembarked by the site of the old bus station/depot that had been a former train station, and is now a Travelodge for the listed frontage, the trainshed/depot having been demolished in favour of a Morrisons. One thing I subsequently realised was that the historic looking Ribble Building is nothing of the sort, being built more recently as it was the entrance/exit gap for the bus station. As well as taking time to grab some lunch, I also had chance to have a bit of a wander. Now Southport is all too remembered for last year's horrific events. Prior to that, it was better known as an affluent place where Liverpool and Everton footballers might live, as well as a genteel and well heeled seaside resort. I have to say, that wasn't quite my impression . The sea is quite the walk past the marine lake, which was nice enough, but the main street (Lord Street) is known for its Victorian architecture and ornate canopies. They're still there but looking a bit scruffy and the whole place was a bit more rundown than I expected...but perhaps it was the weather? Southport's bus stops are stretched along Lord Street and some neighbouring roads and hence a bus station would be a nice to have. I waited for my next bus on the busy Arriva 47 that runs across Southport towards Liverpool. Instead of a decker, it was a former Welsh Pulsar; the route seems to have more singles (usually e200mmcs) but I do like a Pulsar. One of the last delivered, it had a long spell on the Cymru Coastliner service between Llandudno and Caernarfon yet it seemed in pretty good condition despite many miles being racked up. We retraced the steps as per the X2, albeit marginally slower as we headed through Birkdale past Formby and towards Crosby Village.
View attachment 194076View attachment 194077
My e400mmc to Southport outside the former rail/bus station. The bit of the building near the rear of the e400 (to the right of the half timbered section) looks old but isn't. Meanwhile, they still celebrate their favourite equine star
View attachment 194082View attachment 194083
The centre of Southport was home to a massive festive teddy bear... I don't know why. There is a link that crosses from Merseyside to Lancashire to GM - how it will survive in future, I don't know. Note the Victorian canopies and the standard nail bars!
I decided to have a small break here; despite the name, it's a small town whose main street really reminded me of Ormskirk. Before my time, I think it had a Ribble bus station, being very much Ribble territory being between Liverpool and Southport Corporations. Arriva still use the former Southport/Merseyside PTE depot to this day though I guess that services in Crosby were historically mainly worked from Bootle and Aintree garages. I grabbed a Costa, and wandered to the three stops that represent a bus station of sorts. An Arriva e400 duly turned up with the 53 to Liverpool. Unlike the X2 and 47, this follows a different route and I really enjoyed the different route, heading down the backstreets and then into Crosby via the grandly named Waterloo Interchange (a turning loop outside the station) and seeing some nice if slightly tired art deco buildings. There was also a regular supply of closed former pubs as we headed through Seaforth and then back into Bootle and into Liverpool; only here did we hit some traffic but it wasn't too bad.
View attachment 194084View attachment 194085
My trusty Pulsar in Crosby Village. Meanwhile, after Bath, Liverpool has the most Georgian buildings in the country. It's an architectural treat.
My last bus was to retrace my steps back to Heswall, albeit on a 472. Clearly things weren't so good with these routes and rush hour traffic as I caught a Stagecoach e400mmc that was running 20 mins late. It was very busy but I got a seat and settled back, getting slightly irritated by the girl with her boyfriend taking time to vape continuously! However, I just sat back, relaxed into the IrnBru eleather, and enjoyed the trip back to Heswall as darkness fell.
Thoughts.... Well, next time I head to Merseyside, it may be a franchised world. Already, the new Metro livery is visible on some of the new e200mmcs that Arriva has placed into service in Southport and Birkenhead. Given its one of Arriva's powerhouse ops, it is really evident how the lack of investment from DB has impacted what should be a flagship operation. Feels like a lot of 2013-2015 fleet though, in fairness, there are some newer vehicles too. The scenery out to Southport is pleasant and perhaps the town might feel a bit more vibrant in the summer months. However, I did enjoy my somewhat truncated day out and you can never lose with a trip through the Mersey Tunnels! Next time - I must spend more time in Liverpool but I'd not visited Southport since c.2000; however, next time.....
**** 2025 round up ****
I won't quote endless stats or miles or vehicles but 2025 has seen me enjoy Swansea, Northumberland/Borders, Warwickshire, Dartmoor/Sth Hams, Norfolk, Teesside, Rame/Plymouth, Worcestershire, Darlington, and now Merseyside.
I really must have some South East/London trips, Scotland and perhaps, more mundanely, something local. Oh, and Lincolnshire for a change!
Last trip now done and nothing until Feb at the earliest. Thanks to everyone who's read, enjoyed, or not enjoyed but commented all the same. Have a great Christmas and New Year. Happy and safe travels for 2026
In 2025 I have managed 9 trips, around Berkshire, Warwickshire, South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, Manchester, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, The Isle of Wight and the Forest of Dean. Hopes for 2026 to go further north again, perhaps into Scotland, also another visit to the West Country and West Wales, all subject to other commitments.
A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Express380
Member
Whilst trying out all of the routes out of Penzance Bus station (Eventually the whole County) on Tuesday I was lucky enough to bag a Gemini down to Boscaswell on the 17 which got me thinking.
Being that there is a 17E also down to Boscaswell, should I do the whole route again as it's a separate number, or just do it for a couple of stops to say I've been on it. What is everyone's stance?
peterblue
Member
Two reports quite close to me!
@Galactic142 - That's a great trip report in the Cumberland area. I did the X7 too, and I agree with your sentiments that it won't last that long. It was busier for me, with about 10 on board exiting Barrow towards Askam and Kirkby. There were a few local passengers but most people wanted to simply ride the full route. Someone got on at Broughton to go all the way to Whitehaven as a day out. Upon arriving at Millom I had to pay another £3 - not sure if that is something you encountered too. Unfortunately for me by the time I arrived in Whitehaven it was already getting dark so I didn't have enough hours of daylight to make a full trip. You can blame me for not getting out of bed early enough!
The blueworks routes out of Barrow are great too, actually, with Barrow-Ulverston via the coast being the highlight there.
For your question about distington bypass, I'm not sure if any buses go that way now. However, I do know that the 300 (Carlisle - Workington) did use to extend to whitehaven at one point, and it ran direct via Lilyhall and the bypass.
I don't see there being a future for the X7. But the 7 Barrow-Millom does have some use in connecting places like Broughton and Haverigg which aren't rail connected.
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@TheGrandWazoo - Another area that's quite close to me. Heswall's a strange little town that's in Merseyside but doesn't really feel like it. the 472 is nice enough and carves its way through some rather affluent areas - but a good alternative and one I prefer is the views of the borderlands train (especially one of the battery powered ones if running) as it goes to Bidston.The downside is the station's a bit of a trek from the town.
Also in that area - the 22/X22 from Chester to Heswall (and beyond to West Kirkby) is quite scenic in the right conditions as you will be able to see the sea near Neston Parkgate.
The Stagecoach vehicles for the X2 are rather battered rattleboxes now. They've seen better days, unfortunately. A while back, Arriva got some alternative buses (I'm not sure where from, I think from Rhyl?) for the parallel 47 route that are much better in terms of comfort and build quality but there aren't many on the road. Southport isn't as nice as it once was, especially with the pier being out of action, but it's still a pleasant enough place to visit. Seaside towns in general can be rather depressing in the wrong kind of weather.
In terms of franchising, yes, I believe that is coming soon. Liverpool's one of the areas with a lot of "Quality Bus Corridors" and both Arriva and Stagecoach competiting on key corridors (e.g. the 471/2 which you rode on, the 10/A to St Helens, the 53 towards Crosby, various 80s routes towards South Parkway). I'm curious what will become of that eventually. Will those areas be purged of competition suffer a decrease in frequency? Time will tell.
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I hope everyone has a great new year, too.
@Galactic142 - That's a great trip report in the Cumberland area. I did the X7 too, and I agree with your sentiments that it won't last that long. It was busier for me, with about 10 on board exiting Barrow towards Askam and Kirkby. There were a few local passengers but most people wanted to simply ride the full route. Someone got on at Broughton to go all the way to Whitehaven as a day out. Upon arriving at Millom I had to pay another £3 - not sure if that is something you encountered too. Unfortunately for me by the time I arrived in Whitehaven it was already getting dark so I didn't have enough hours of daylight to make a full trip. You can blame me for not getting out of bed early enough!
The blueworks routes out of Barrow are great too, actually, with Barrow-Ulverston via the coast being the highlight there.
For your question about distington bypass, I'm not sure if any buses go that way now. However, I do know that the 300 (Carlisle - Workington) did use to extend to whitehaven at one point, and it ran direct via Lilyhall and the bypass.
I don't see there being a future for the X7. But the 7 Barrow-Millom does have some use in connecting places like Broughton and Haverigg which aren't rail connected.
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@TheGrandWazoo - Another area that's quite close to me. Heswall's a strange little town that's in Merseyside but doesn't really feel like it. the 472 is nice enough and carves its way through some rather affluent areas - but a good alternative and one I prefer is the views of the borderlands train (especially one of the battery powered ones if running) as it goes to Bidston.The downside is the station's a bit of a trek from the town.
Also in that area - the 22/X22 from Chester to Heswall (and beyond to West Kirkby) is quite scenic in the right conditions as you will be able to see the sea near Neston Parkgate.
The Stagecoach vehicles for the X2 are rather battered rattleboxes now. They've seen better days, unfortunately. A while back, Arriva got some alternative buses (I'm not sure where from, I think from Rhyl?) for the parallel 47 route that are much better in terms of comfort and build quality but there aren't many on the road. Southport isn't as nice as it once was, especially with the pier being out of action, but it's still a pleasant enough place to visit. Seaside towns in general can be rather depressing in the wrong kind of weather.
In terms of franchising, yes, I believe that is coming soon. Liverpool's one of the areas with a lot of "Quality Bus Corridors" and both Arriva and Stagecoach competiting on key corridors (e.g. the 471/2 which you rode on, the 10/A to St Helens, the 53 towards Crosby, various 80s routes towards South Parkway). I'm curious what will become of that eventually. Will those areas be purged of competition suffer a decrease in frequency? Time will tell.
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I hope everyone has a great new year, too.
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An interesting one from last week,
On the day when it was really wet and horrible (Thursday 18th?) I still thought "I have a Dorset weekly, I better get some more use out of it" and thought I'd do a round trip to Axminster and back, taking in the Lyme Christmas lights from the bus on the way, also being joined by my sister who has a free bus pass so no cost to her.
Now by the time we had gotten to Bridport bus station the weather was still quite bad and seeing that the next X53 was only 22mins away according to the departures screen we decided to abandon the trip there and head back.
We naturally kept watching the screen and the due time didn't change, and on the bustimes map the bus looked to be stationary, I thought the bus must have broken down but later on we found out there had been a medical incident on board at Charmouth, no biggie in the end and we were finally on our way back after about an hour delay.
Well all was going fine until around the Langton Herring turn on the Chickerell to Portesham section of the coast road when the bus clearly entered limp mode, attempts by the driver to shut the bus down completely to clear the fault ended up with the bus not even turning over. Brilliant!
At that point there was only three of us and the driver (and one managed to get a lift) so in the end the bus was dumped and we all got taken in a car back to Weymouth (I believe in the end a driver going home got word of what had happened so stopped for us, rather than sending someone out specially).
Couldn't fault the driver, he did all he could, and it was an extra bit of excitement on the journey. I guess the bus had been through one too many floods and had thought "enough is enough!"
The next day the weather was much nicer and we tried it all over again without issues, well other than most of the coast road being bypassed because of an accident, but that didn't affect us other than potentially a slight delay getting back.
On the day when it was really wet and horrible (Thursday 18th?) I still thought "I have a Dorset weekly, I better get some more use out of it" and thought I'd do a round trip to Axminster and back, taking in the Lyme Christmas lights from the bus on the way, also being joined by my sister who has a free bus pass so no cost to her.
Now by the time we had gotten to Bridport bus station the weather was still quite bad and seeing that the next X53 was only 22mins away according to the departures screen we decided to abandon the trip there and head back.
We naturally kept watching the screen and the due time didn't change, and on the bustimes map the bus looked to be stationary, I thought the bus must have broken down but later on we found out there had been a medical incident on board at Charmouth, no biggie in the end and we were finally on our way back after about an hour delay.
Well all was going fine until around the Langton Herring turn on the Chickerell to Portesham section of the coast road when the bus clearly entered limp mode, attempts by the driver to shut the bus down completely to clear the fault ended up with the bus not even turning over. Brilliant!
At that point there was only three of us and the driver (and one managed to get a lift) so in the end the bus was dumped and we all got taken in a car back to Weymouth (I believe in the end a driver going home got word of what had happened so stopped for us, rather than sending someone out specially).
Couldn't fault the driver, he did all he could, and it was an extra bit of excitement on the journey. I guess the bus had been through one too many floods and had thought "enough is enough!"
The next day the weather was much nicer and we tried it all over again without issues, well other than most of the coast road being bypassed because of an accident, but that didn't affect us other than potentially a slight delay getting back.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Hello to everyone - first trip report of 2026 and it was remarkably unambitious. In any case, a family crisis also meant it was slightly truncated but hope it is of interest. Here's to hearing from @RELL6L @dgl @Galactic142 @Tridentviro and all the others who've posted in the past as the days get longer and drier (hopefully) during 2026
As my profile says, I live in Somerset. I travel into Bristol regularly (often by car) and Bath (usually by bus) but hadn't been for a proper trip out for ages so it was long overdue. I was interested to experience a couple of the recent new introductions/changes so I headed off across the Mendip and Dundry Hills to arrive at Long Ashton Park and Ride. It was raining... and dodging some pretty heavy showers was to be part and parcel of the day.
First bus of the day was the m2 metrobus service. I completely forgot it was a pay before you board service so had to faff about with the paypoint monolith to get my multi-operator AvonRider ticket. I then clambered on board. The m2 service is operated by First using some 17 plate dual door e400mmcs with Scania chassis though my sources indicate they are to be replaced during 2016. Certainly, they are looking faded on the outside but really tired internally with worn moquette etc. The route into Bristol is a curious one where there are sections of guided busway, a curious flyover across the Portishead line, and then through the new housing being built around Cumberland Basin before traversing the box lattice Ashton Avenue bridge that demands lower height deckers. We then sped alongside the Avon's new cut through the controversial bus gate before looping around the city centre via Temple Meads. It's an interesting little trip as you pass the old bonded warehouses and see the repurposed and new metrobus infrastructure.
Threadbare seats on my 9 year old Scania
Descending the Ashton Gate metrobus flyover; Clifton Suspension Bridge in the distance and the Portishead rail line on the left
The former Ashton Avenue swing bridge - once road/rail and now metrobus
The plinth missing its statue of Colston
It was raining by this time so I waited as long as poss before I left the m2, getting off at Nelson Street and heading to the Centre (aka Colston Avenue) and past the plinth where Colston's statue lived until 2020. Next bus was one of the numerous CNG powered Scania e400cities that First operate. They dominated the north and east of Bristol initially but can be found across the city now and this one was heading south on the 43 that had been extended south across the city to Imperial Park. We headed through the city centre and Bedminster before entering flag central... the southern 'burbs lampposts are festooned with increasingly tatty and fading flags. Loadings on this new extended service were decent for that direction/time although we may have been cannibalising the 76 that runs parallel. 6 of us got off at Imperial Park which is the unique element of the route. Time for a quick coffee before the heavens opened... I ran to the stop and waiting for a slightly late 515, operated by The Big Lemon. The 515 is a long standing tendered route linking bits of south Bristol and has been operated by Wessex, CT Plus, Stagecoach and now Big Lemon - I'd not been on it for years. I could've tried the reintroduced 36 but thought I'd experience BL as I'm a bit fearful of their future. The vehicle was a 9 year old e200, new to CT Plus and so had operated the route in a previous life before Big Lemon picked up the pieces, still carrying some of the old CT vinyls. Fair to say that it's seen better days and we rattled and banged through Whitchurch on our way to Stockwood with another 6 passengers. It's not the most scenic of routes but needs must. I got off in Stockwood which is one of the better post war estates built on the edge of the city. Bang on time was the 2a to Filton, operated by a virtually brand new Yutong U11DD decker of Hengrove depot. Oddly, Hengrove depot had a virtual monopoly of south Bristol services aside from Lawrence Hill operating the 2 service. Now Hengrove participate on that corridor whilst LH depot operates the 43 in equally unfamiliar territory. The Yutongs are superbly put together and with the EV nature, are very quiet. They also feature the new First moquette. We left Stockwood, which is accessed by a nice green area, and then out along the Wells Road before the descent through Totterdown provides scenic views across the city.
The next bit of the city to be explored was via the 77. Now Bristol has had a number of new routes paid for by the Clean Air Zone proceeds but I think the 77 is a BSIP funded service that operates as a large U shaped route that is almost a circular serving Gloucester Road, the centre and then back through Clifton. For the life of me, I can't see the point. We simply followed a new Yutong single for much of the route, and then on the small unique section, we go through affluent back streets in Clifton before heading along Whiteladies Road. I didn't see many people doing journeys that they couldn't already do. The bus was an e400mmc of First in the WECA Westbus livery and is now ten years old... It really irks me that they are repainting these vehicles but not retrimming them with the new moquette when they're at the right age to do so... old enough that they need doing and enough years left in them to be worthwhile. I got off at Blackboy Hill near Clifton Downs and waited for my next steed... the 505. This is a major tendered route linked Long Ashton Park and Ride with Southmead Hospital and provides a number of key links. Operated by Wessex and CT Plus in the past, it is now Stagecoach with a range of vehicles operating it. You can get anything but my chariot was a rather tired looking Stagecoach Gold e400 that was new to for the Swindon to Oxford route. Surprisingly, it had a Bristol timetable booklet available on board as we then headed back through Clifton and down via Hotwells to Ashton Gate.
Scania gas bus (similar to my 43) at Blackboy Hill. Note the now closed Paris style pissoir in just behind it
Looking ok but a little tired inside
The last loop was to involve an extended trip out to the coast but that was truncated, as I'll get onto. I decided to head to Portishead on the X4 and it was another Yutong as Weston super Mare has had a large number delivered for the North Somerset routes. I was pleased as I thought it would be good comparison to the urban journey. These really are good machines though the First spec is perhaps a little dull. We sped through places like Pill, and then crossed the rail line where the rails have recently been lifted in preparation for reopening works. Then a torturous route through Portishead, beset by road closures and traffic lights (it's that time of year as councils and utility firms use up their budgets). Portishead is a really good place to walk around and I'd recommend it. However, the clouds were massing and as I left the Parsons bakery with a coffee, the heavens opened. I took shelter and waited, seeing the Big Lemon arrive with a newly sourced ex Xelabus e200 arrive still in their colours.
I waited for the X5, which is a true Cinderella service that has had very mixed fortunes over the years. I recall its predecessors (X25?) and the X5 which ran from Weston to Cribbs Causeway, being extended to Bristol Parkway and UWE (?) at times before being cut back, withdrawn by First, operated by Stagecoach, and now again First operated but under tender. It usually gets e400mmcs, Streetdecks or even Streetlites but this time, it was another Yutong. It was still lashing it down as we headed out through the Gordano Valley. The X5 is a lovely route and would recommend it to anyone as it links the towns of North Somerset via some lush countryside. Sadly, things were a little too lush but there you go! At this point, my wife texted me - change of plan that evening so I had to get home sooner. My plan had been to go all the way to Weston and then get the extended U2 across the Dundry Hills back to my car. Darn... it'll have to wait. Instead, I abandoned the X5 at Clevedon, just missing a Bristol bound bus. Instead, I had time to kill and ordinarily, I'd go and enjoy the delights of this seaside town. However, whilst the rain had abated a bit, it hadn't stopped so I headed to Coffee #1 for more caffeine and sustenance before returning back to the bus stop; a bus stop where the flag still mentions the 88 and 850 services which have been gone for five years? I waited for the X6 which duly arrived - a bit disappointed to have a former Leicester Streetdeck, hanging on before its despatched for repowering. Even more odd, and something I've heard of but never seen. The top deck was closed off so it was acting as a single decker! That said, having been on the X4 and X5, there was an odd continuity of now being on the X6 which links Clevedon and Bristol via Failand. The weather had closed in (again) and with no upper deck available, the usual fine views that are usually afforded were less accessible. However, the Streetdeck was in fine form - few rattles and it went like hell. A proper thrash through the countryside like a dog's last frantic procreation before being neutered! We easily climbed up through Failand before descending down before I exited at the Ashton pub and walked the short distance under the A370 to be reunited with my car.
Yutong in the torrential rain in Portishead
Not my Streetdeck in Clevedon - this ex Leeds one was heading north when rounding the clock tower
No entry - not exactly a professional job though!
I'd always recommend a trip to and around Bristol. There is so much to see and the m2 is a really interesting route for those transport orientated souls. Clifton is lovely and I'd recommend getting out there, enjoying the village and then heading to the bridge. Whether it needs another route like the 77... I doubt. As for the North Somerset X4/X5/X6 triangle... the countryside is very scenic (esp when its not raining). Odd thing is... last time I travelled around Clevedon area, it was similarly awful weather but that was in autumn. However, get the weather and Clevedon's victorian charm is great to enjoy as are the coastal views. Same (to a lesser extent) with Portishead. The buses were decent too except the Big Lemon e200 which was rather careworn. However, everything turned up and nearly all to time. TravelWest bus stops are appearing in North Somerset but they could do with sorting out the ones in Clevedon soon! Talking of TravelWest/Westbus - an increasing number of First Bus vehicles are appearing in this livery. About time as the number of different liveries is unbelievable. As well as First Urban, Badgerline, Bath City and Mendip Explorer, there are Leeds City, Kernow Green, Cymru examples in red, clipper blue and two tone blue, as well as five different Citylines schemes - it's a mess though with more new buses due, that should be improving soon.
Hope you enjoyed the report
As my profile says, I live in Somerset. I travel into Bristol regularly (often by car) and Bath (usually by bus) but hadn't been for a proper trip out for ages so it was long overdue. I was interested to experience a couple of the recent new introductions/changes so I headed off across the Mendip and Dundry Hills to arrive at Long Ashton Park and Ride. It was raining... and dodging some pretty heavy showers was to be part and parcel of the day.
First bus of the day was the m2 metrobus service. I completely forgot it was a pay before you board service so had to faff about with the paypoint monolith to get my multi-operator AvonRider ticket. I then clambered on board. The m2 service is operated by First using some 17 plate dual door e400mmcs with Scania chassis though my sources indicate they are to be replaced during 2016. Certainly, they are looking faded on the outside but really tired internally with worn moquette etc. The route into Bristol is a curious one where there are sections of guided busway, a curious flyover across the Portishead line, and then through the new housing being built around Cumberland Basin before traversing the box lattice Ashton Avenue bridge that demands lower height deckers. We then sped alongside the Avon's new cut through the controversial bus gate before looping around the city centre via Temple Meads. It's an interesting little trip as you pass the old bonded warehouses and see the repurposed and new metrobus infrastructure.
Threadbare seats on my 9 year old Scania
Descending the Ashton Gate metrobus flyover; Clifton Suspension Bridge in the distance and the Portishead rail line on the left
The former Ashton Avenue swing bridge - once road/rail and now metrobus
The plinth missing its statue of Colston
It was raining by this time so I waited as long as poss before I left the m2, getting off at Nelson Street and heading to the Centre (aka Colston Avenue) and past the plinth where Colston's statue lived until 2020. Next bus was one of the numerous CNG powered Scania e400cities that First operate. They dominated the north and east of Bristol initially but can be found across the city now and this one was heading south on the 43 that had been extended south across the city to Imperial Park. We headed through the city centre and Bedminster before entering flag central... the southern 'burbs lampposts are festooned with increasingly tatty and fading flags. Loadings on this new extended service were decent for that direction/time although we may have been cannibalising the 76 that runs parallel. 6 of us got off at Imperial Park which is the unique element of the route. Time for a quick coffee before the heavens opened... I ran to the stop and waiting for a slightly late 515, operated by The Big Lemon. The 515 is a long standing tendered route linking bits of south Bristol and has been operated by Wessex, CT Plus, Stagecoach and now Big Lemon - I'd not been on it for years. I could've tried the reintroduced 36 but thought I'd experience BL as I'm a bit fearful of their future. The vehicle was a 9 year old e200, new to CT Plus and so had operated the route in a previous life before Big Lemon picked up the pieces, still carrying some of the old CT vinyls. Fair to say that it's seen better days and we rattled and banged through Whitchurch on our way to Stockwood with another 6 passengers. It's not the most scenic of routes but needs must. I got off in Stockwood which is one of the better post war estates built on the edge of the city. Bang on time was the 2a to Filton, operated by a virtually brand new Yutong U11DD decker of Hengrove depot. Oddly, Hengrove depot had a virtual monopoly of south Bristol services aside from Lawrence Hill operating the 2 service. Now Hengrove participate on that corridor whilst LH depot operates the 43 in equally unfamiliar territory. The Yutongs are superbly put together and with the EV nature, are very quiet. They also feature the new First moquette. We left Stockwood, which is accessed by a nice green area, and then out along the Wells Road before the descent through Totterdown provides scenic views across the city.
The next bit of the city to be explored was via the 77. Now Bristol has had a number of new routes paid for by the Clean Air Zone proceeds but I think the 77 is a BSIP funded service that operates as a large U shaped route that is almost a circular serving Gloucester Road, the centre and then back through Clifton. For the life of me, I can't see the point. We simply followed a new Yutong single for much of the route, and then on the small unique section, we go through affluent back streets in Clifton before heading along Whiteladies Road. I didn't see many people doing journeys that they couldn't already do. The bus was an e400mmc of First in the WECA Westbus livery and is now ten years old... It really irks me that they are repainting these vehicles but not retrimming them with the new moquette when they're at the right age to do so... old enough that they need doing and enough years left in them to be worthwhile. I got off at Blackboy Hill near Clifton Downs and waited for my next steed... the 505. This is a major tendered route linked Long Ashton Park and Ride with Southmead Hospital and provides a number of key links. Operated by Wessex and CT Plus in the past, it is now Stagecoach with a range of vehicles operating it. You can get anything but my chariot was a rather tired looking Stagecoach Gold e400 that was new to for the Swindon to Oxford route. Surprisingly, it had a Bristol timetable booklet available on board as we then headed back through Clifton and down via Hotwells to Ashton Gate.
Scania gas bus (similar to my 43) at Blackboy Hill. Note the now closed Paris style pissoir in just behind it
Looking ok but a little tired inside
The last loop was to involve an extended trip out to the coast but that was truncated, as I'll get onto. I decided to head to Portishead on the X4 and it was another Yutong as Weston super Mare has had a large number delivered for the North Somerset routes. I was pleased as I thought it would be good comparison to the urban journey. These really are good machines though the First spec is perhaps a little dull. We sped through places like Pill, and then crossed the rail line where the rails have recently been lifted in preparation for reopening works. Then a torturous route through Portishead, beset by road closures and traffic lights (it's that time of year as councils and utility firms use up their budgets). Portishead is a really good place to walk around and I'd recommend it. However, the clouds were massing and as I left the Parsons bakery with a coffee, the heavens opened. I took shelter and waited, seeing the Big Lemon arrive with a newly sourced ex Xelabus e200 arrive still in their colours.
I waited for the X5, which is a true Cinderella service that has had very mixed fortunes over the years. I recall its predecessors (X25?) and the X5 which ran from Weston to Cribbs Causeway, being extended to Bristol Parkway and UWE (?) at times before being cut back, withdrawn by First, operated by Stagecoach, and now again First operated but under tender. It usually gets e400mmcs, Streetdecks or even Streetlites but this time, it was another Yutong. It was still lashing it down as we headed out through the Gordano Valley. The X5 is a lovely route and would recommend it to anyone as it links the towns of North Somerset via some lush countryside. Sadly, things were a little too lush but there you go! At this point, my wife texted me - change of plan that evening so I had to get home sooner. My plan had been to go all the way to Weston and then get the extended U2 across the Dundry Hills back to my car. Darn... it'll have to wait. Instead, I abandoned the X5 at Clevedon, just missing a Bristol bound bus. Instead, I had time to kill and ordinarily, I'd go and enjoy the delights of this seaside town. However, whilst the rain had abated a bit, it hadn't stopped so I headed to Coffee #1 for more caffeine and sustenance before returning back to the bus stop; a bus stop where the flag still mentions the 88 and 850 services which have been gone for five years? I waited for the X6 which duly arrived - a bit disappointed to have a former Leicester Streetdeck, hanging on before its despatched for repowering. Even more odd, and something I've heard of but never seen. The top deck was closed off so it was acting as a single decker! That said, having been on the X4 and X5, there was an odd continuity of now being on the X6 which links Clevedon and Bristol via Failand. The weather had closed in (again) and with no upper deck available, the usual fine views that are usually afforded were less accessible. However, the Streetdeck was in fine form - few rattles and it went like hell. A proper thrash through the countryside like a dog's last frantic procreation before being neutered! We easily climbed up through Failand before descending down before I exited at the Ashton pub and walked the short distance under the A370 to be reunited with my car.
Yutong in the torrential rain in Portishead
Not my Streetdeck in Clevedon - this ex Leeds one was heading north when rounding the clock tower
No entry - not exactly a professional job though!
I'd always recommend a trip to and around Bristol. There is so much to see and the m2 is a really interesting route for those transport orientated souls. Clifton is lovely and I'd recommend getting out there, enjoying the village and then heading to the bridge. Whether it needs another route like the 77... I doubt. As for the North Somerset X4/X5/X6 triangle... the countryside is very scenic (esp when its not raining). Odd thing is... last time I travelled around Clevedon area, it was similarly awful weather but that was in autumn. However, get the weather and Clevedon's victorian charm is great to enjoy as are the coastal views. Same (to a lesser extent) with Portishead. The buses were decent too except the Big Lemon e200 which was rather careworn. However, everything turned up and nearly all to time. TravelWest bus stops are appearing in North Somerset but they could do with sorting out the ones in Clevedon soon! Talking of TravelWest/Westbus - an increasing number of First Bus vehicles are appearing in this livery. About time as the number of different liveries is unbelievable. As well as First Urban, Badgerline, Bath City and Mendip Explorer, there are Leeds City, Kernow Green, Cymru examples in red, clipper blue and two tone blue, as well as five different Citylines schemes - it's a mess though with more new buses due, that should be improving soon.
Hope you enjoyed the report
ChrisC
Established Member
Thank you @TheGrandWazoo for that interesting report. Sitting here in the house typing this, on yet another day when heavy rain is hitting the windows, it makes me realise that I must try to ignore the weather and get out and about again. Like most areas of the country there has been very little sunshine or indeed even dry days during the last few months. I have been out by car, visited my sister over in Lincolnshire and been on the bus locally into Nottingham, Mansfield, Derby and Chesterfield, but I have not been away on any holidays or even days out by bus.
I‘ve just been checking and it was in November 2017 when I made my one and only visit to Bristol. I did stay there for a few days and found it quite a fascinating city. I did the tourist bits like visiting the SS Great Britain and having a day in Bath which is another city I must return to. On one morning I caught a bus up to somewhere close to Bristol Zoo and had a walk around the Clifton area including walking over the suspension bridge. I really liked Clifton.
What I do remember is after I had walked over the Clifton suspension bridge I continued walking to a bus stop on a main road from where I got a bus down to Portishead. After walking down past the marina to the shore and the RNLI station I walked further west by the sea along a lane through a wooded area. Then climbed up some hilly roads through residential areas to a bus stop on a road which comes out of Portishead and continued along the coast through Walton Bay towards Clevedon. The bus I caught to Clevedon didn’t run very regularly and was run by a small local operator. I got an AvonRider ticket on the first bus of the day rather than a First Day ticket to enable me to use this bus. I remember the driver on the First Bus having great difficulty finding the AvonRider on his machine as there had been some changes to the ticketing a few days previous and it wasn’t where he was expecting it to be. After having a quick look around Clevedon I returned on a direct bus to Bristol. It’s another area I should return to.
I have a hotel booked in April up in Dundee when I plan to spend 7 days using a Stagecoach East Scotland ticket touring the area. Part of my plan is to visit St Andrews and the fishing villages on the Fife Coast including walking parts of the coastal path. Hotel prices in St Andrews were extremely high so I am staying in Dundee which has regular buses to the Fife Coast. I‘ve travelled all over the West and North of Scotland, including many of the islands, but I’ve never been to the Fife Coast. However, April is a long way off still and I must get away for a days at least once before then.
I‘ve just been checking and it was in November 2017 when I made my one and only visit to Bristol. I did stay there for a few days and found it quite a fascinating city. I did the tourist bits like visiting the SS Great Britain and having a day in Bath which is another city I must return to. On one morning I caught a bus up to somewhere close to Bristol Zoo and had a walk around the Clifton area including walking over the suspension bridge. I really liked Clifton.
What I do remember is after I had walked over the Clifton suspension bridge I continued walking to a bus stop on a main road from where I got a bus down to Portishead. After walking down past the marina to the shore and the RNLI station I walked further west by the sea along a lane through a wooded area. Then climbed up some hilly roads through residential areas to a bus stop on a road which comes out of Portishead and continued along the coast through Walton Bay towards Clevedon. The bus I caught to Clevedon didn’t run very regularly and was run by a small local operator. I got an AvonRider ticket on the first bus of the day rather than a First Day ticket to enable me to use this bus. I remember the driver on the First Bus having great difficulty finding the AvonRider on his machine as there had been some changes to the ticketing a few days previous and it wasn’t where he was expecting it to be. After having a quick look around Clevedon I returned on a direct bus to Bristol. It’s another area I should return to.
I have a hotel booked in April up in Dundee when I plan to spend 7 days using a Stagecoach East Scotland ticket touring the area. Part of my plan is to visit St Andrews and the fishing villages on the Fife Coast including walking parts of the coastal path. Hotel prices in St Andrews were extremely high so I am staying in Dundee which has regular buses to the Fife Coast. I‘ve travelled all over the West and North of Scotland, including many of the islands, but I’ve never been to the Fife Coast. However, April is a long way off still and I must get away for a days at least once before then.
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A there was a break in the weather on Saturday I decided to go to Cumbria and try get on some new routes and some routes I have not travelled on for a while.
The day started off a bit differently with a TPE Class 802 to Carlisle. The seats were hard though the carriage was quiet.
The first bus of the day was the 600 from Carlisle to Whitehaven, this is a new route although I have been on the 300. The bus was a 16 plate E400MMC, possibly ex Stagecoach Glasgow. We took a different route out of Carlisle via the Hospital and out to Wigton. I found it hard to sit upright as the seats were very slippy. Its a pleasant run on the A595 to Cockermouth and onwards via Lilyhall Depot to Whitehaven.
After a look around Whitehaven I took a service 30 up to Workington Bus Station. Another double decker, a more comfortable but older E400. There was some nice views across to Scotland on this route.
This was the first time in Workington for a long time and the bus station has had a refresh. I was going to try and head to Maryport and Silloth but the times did not work out. (gives me an excuse to come back) I opted for the next X4/X5 which was boarding.
We only got 300 yards up the road and bus broke down. It was best if everyone got off the bus and went back to the bus station. Wasn't too long until the next X5 turned with a large line awaiting boarding. The X4/x5 are newish E400MMCs. As I was in Keswick last October I decided to stay on and go to Penrith. Loads of passengers got off at Keswick but loads got on too. I I got of at Penrith Railway Station and popped into the Morrisons for some supplies.
The last service of the day is the 104 between Penrith and Carlisle. I like this route as it uses the A6 and is fast. A E200 for the run up to Carlisle.
Next time I am in Cumbria I want to try the X6/X7/7 to Barrow and the 400 route out to Silloth and the service onto Maryport.
The day started off a bit differently with a TPE Class 802 to Carlisle. The seats were hard though the carriage was quiet.
The first bus of the day was the 600 from Carlisle to Whitehaven, this is a new route although I have been on the 300. The bus was a 16 plate E400MMC, possibly ex Stagecoach Glasgow. We took a different route out of Carlisle via the Hospital and out to Wigton. I found it hard to sit upright as the seats were very slippy. Its a pleasant run on the A595 to Cockermouth and onwards via Lilyhall Depot to Whitehaven.
After a look around Whitehaven I took a service 30 up to Workington Bus Station. Another double decker, a more comfortable but older E400. There was some nice views across to Scotland on this route.
This was the first time in Workington for a long time and the bus station has had a refresh. I was going to try and head to Maryport and Silloth but the times did not work out. (gives me an excuse to come back) I opted for the next X4/X5 which was boarding.
We only got 300 yards up the road and bus broke down. It was best if everyone got off the bus and went back to the bus station. Wasn't too long until the next X5 turned with a large line awaiting boarding. The X4/x5 are newish E400MMCs. As I was in Keswick last October I decided to stay on and go to Penrith. Loads of passengers got off at Keswick but loads got on too. I I got of at Penrith Railway Station and popped into the Morrisons for some supplies.
The last service of the day is the 104 between Penrith and Carlisle. I like this route as it uses the A6 and is fast. A E200 for the run up to Carlisle.
Next time I am in Cumbria I want to try the X6/X7/7 to Barrow and the 400 route out to Silloth and the service onto Maryport.
A couple of interesting reports. Good to see @TheGrandWazoo out and travelling so early in the year. I'm afraid I need better weather! Some obscure routes in Bristol that I was not aware of, not sure they will all still exist for long, I certainly can't see the point of the 77. I agree the X5 to Clevedon and Weston is a scenic route - on a decent day - and Clevedon is a lovely small town both in the centre and by the pier. I have not heard of the upstairs being closed off like that since the days of the London Transport XFs (Daimler Fleetlines) on the 424 from East Grinstead in the late 1960s. Do you know why it was closed off? I thought the Streetdecks were only being repowered with batteries when they needed repowering anyway, not being taken out of active service.
@route101 had an interesting trip to Cumbria. The 600 is a much enhanced route from Carlisle to Whitehaven via Cockermouth - it always went as far as Cockermouth, albeit much less frequently, but the extension to Whitehaven is entirely new. Were there many passengers on board? Whitehaven is a superb small town to look round and Workington has good patches too. You mention going from Maryport to Silloth - I have done this and it is a fabulous stretch of route, definitely find a way of connecting into the 400 and visit again. Maryport is well worth stopping off at too. The X7/7 to Barrow looks good but it does take a long time - you could just return by train up the coast as this is very scenic.
Looking forward to getting out again myself and hearing reports from others - happy trips in 2026!
@route101 had an interesting trip to Cumbria. The 600 is a much enhanced route from Carlisle to Whitehaven via Cockermouth - it always went as far as Cockermouth, albeit much less frequently, but the extension to Whitehaven is entirely new. Were there many passengers on board? Whitehaven is a superb small town to look round and Workington has good patches too. You mention going from Maryport to Silloth - I have done this and it is a fabulous stretch of route, definitely find a way of connecting into the 400 and visit again. Maryport is well worth stopping off at too. The X7/7 to Barrow looks good but it does take a long time - you could just return by train up the coast as this is very scenic.
Looking forward to getting out again myself and hearing reports from others - happy trips in 2026!
It was only me that remained on the bus past Cockermouth heading to Whitehaven, we picked up a few people at Distington.
Yes, you have to plan carefully with regards to Silloth and Maryport. There is also the routes out to Bowness on Solway and the 71 to Wigton.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Well @ChrisC .... I am a big fan of Bristol. It's a great city and since when I first visited in 1992, it's become an ever more bohemian place to walk around and visit. This weather has been a bit of a curb on things but after two months of not having an excursion, a local one seemed to be nice way to fill in a spare day and have a look at some of the developments both in terms of fleet and service.
Hello to @RELL6L and no, I don't know why the Streetdeck's top deck was rather crudely sectioned off. As that's a 16 plate vehicle, I believe that it is due to head off for repowering imminently (now some ex Kernow e400mmc have arrived); have to say it's the most spirited Streetdeck journey I've ever had. They couldn't stand the rigours of the 376 across Somerset but this one galloped up the hills.
Now onto @route101 and some serious envy. When I lived up north, I was able to sneak across for journeys relatively easily in the late 80s and early 90s. Services in West Cumbria were greater then, whilst the Lake District routes weren't nearly as extensive as they are now... thanks to the tourist pound. Now the opposite is true - I can't remember the last time I headed out to Workington and Whitehaven, and I do really fancy having a scoot along the coast down to Millom. I did make it to Silloth a couple of years ago but cycling rather than bus... I thought it was a great place, with lots of faded grandeur and a slightly end of the line feel. If you get the chance to get there, my envy will be squared!! Thank you for sharing
Hello to @RELL6L and no, I don't know why the Streetdeck's top deck was rather crudely sectioned off. As that's a 16 plate vehicle, I believe that it is due to head off for repowering imminently (now some ex Kernow e400mmc have arrived); have to say it's the most spirited Streetdeck journey I've ever had. They couldn't stand the rigours of the 376 across Somerset but this one galloped up the hills.
Now onto @route101 and some serious envy. When I lived up north, I was able to sneak across for journeys relatively easily in the late 80s and early 90s. Services in West Cumbria were greater then, whilst the Lake District routes weren't nearly as extensive as they are now... thanks to the tourist pound. Now the opposite is true - I can't remember the last time I headed out to Workington and Whitehaven, and I do really fancy having a scoot along the coast down to Millom. I did make it to Silloth a couple of years ago but cycling rather than bus... I thought it was a great place, with lots of faded grandeur and a slightly end of the line feel. If you get the chance to get there, my envy will be squared!! Thank you for sharing
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
***** Another trip report *****
Stop me if these get boring (get boring??) but thought I'd share another excursion out. It was to be a slightly different trip than it turned out but there you go... best laid plans and all that. I hope you enjoy
I happened to be in South Devon so thought I'd try something nice. Having dipped my toe last year, I thought I'd try to explore a bit more of Dartmoor. So I drove to Plymouth and parked up at Coypool park and ride. Now, I've been to a lot of park and ride sites in my time, and whilst this is rather pleasantly located next to a preserved railway, the site itself is fairly poor. There are 260 spaces but as for customer facilities... a small bus shelter and a set of iffy toilets. It is a basic and uninspiring place to wait for a relatively infrequent (20 min) service operated by anything that Stagecoach's Plymouth depot has spare; a long way from its days as having a branded set of newish vehicles.
Sadly, I need to use the toilets - a crucial delay as I made it around the corner to Marsh Mills...and missed my bus. In fact, I never saw my bus and subsequently checked - it had left a minute early
So I waited for the next one... it is the 51 via Estover to Derriford Hospital. The 50/51 are two circular routes that link parts of Plymouth together on a 20 min headway in each direction, and feature new electric deckers. The one I missed was one of the loaned BYDs so instead I enjoyed one of the Wright Electroliners that arrived about a year ago. It arrived 1 min late... We climbed up through Leigham and Estover, through an expanse of 70s era homes punctuated with the occasional pub and/or rank of shops as we climb and descend around. Passenger numbers are about 20 and there are clear a number of shortish hops as well as serving the large Asda store at Estover. The bus itself is quiet and clean and well presented, and better than the First examples that I've enjoyed in York and Norwich. We arrive into Derriford... one minute late. My connection (Stagecoach's 1 isn't tracking) so I can't tell if I've missed the paper thin connection but I am soon resigned to the fact that it isn't coming. With that, my plans are knackered... A 15 min wait at Derriford allows me to look at the Plymouth Citybus fleet, and it really is a curate's egg of an operation. The brand new stuff is really smart - the rest is a mix of slightly dull red and an unkempt look until a six year old e200 arrives... it looks like it's spent those years in the South Atlantic. Dull paintwork, scuffs, bodged repairs with pot riveting - it looks terrible.
Electric power at Derriford - I'd arrived on the Electroliner whilst the BYD was having a few teething issues
Six years old and it looks like 16. Look at the bodging by the emergency exit
My Tavistock bus appears shortly and we head off, passing through the other park and ride at The George; this is a much bigger site with a flashy building to wait in yet it's clear that the place is filthy. That's part of the problem with P&Rs... councils recognise that they are a nice to have but now seldom have the money to maintain them - this is nearly as depressing as the Shrewsbury Harlescott site. We continue on and head into the southern edges of Dartmoor towards Tavistock - a town I've been to many times but until 2024, not by bus though this was now my third visit. My bus was a former Torbay e400mmc; the Plymouth fleet got a major investment after the ops were sold by First but it now seems to be a slightly forgotten corner, getting the cascades and cast offs from elsewhere in Devon. Still, it was a nice 67 plate and fine for the service. The sun was out, daffodils are supplanting the snowdrops and spring is definitely here as we enter the small interchange at Yelverton and then head off further north. With a fair wind I might just make my onward connection but it would be a stretch... I don't as we arrive into the small bus station at Tavistock on time, the 118 having already left. Darn... time to start making alternative plans as the original idea was to head to Okehampton and then to Newton Abbot via Moretonhampstead and enjoy the delights of Dartmoor. Oh well... the joys of poor 4G as I use the time to get a coffee, replan my route, and take the chance to walk around. Tavistock is a lovely little town that is at the gateway to Dartmoor and well worth a wander around, especially the pannier market - every Devon town has a pannier market! It was full of craft stalls but one that sold everything from lightbulbs to tarpaulins... honestly. I wandered back to the bus station. It's a basic facility built on what had been a combined Western National bus depot and station. There was a small kiosk for sweets and drinks but I've not see it open. It's a busy facility as Devon CC still support local bus services including town services so there are a few Optare Solos around plus the e400mmcs to Plymouth.
Tavistock town and market hall
Skinny roads past Mary Tavy
Brentor Church
Okehampton station with my Solo and the Bude enviro
I'd decided to continue to Okehampton and waited for my bus. At the departure time, a route branded Solo for the 118 RailLink appeared, and then left out of service. Instead, a few mins later, another non branded vehicle appeared - if only the previous one had been this late! The 118 is a long standing service; it lost the number for a few years as it ran from Tavi to Barnstaple but is now the 118. Traditionally a two hour headway, that has now been uplifted with BSIP funds so there's an hourly service marketed as RailLink as it provides trainless Tavi with a link but interestingly, only half the journeys run to/from the station; the others run to Okehampton Hospital recognising that there are other pressing traffic objectives. Mine DOES run to the station, and that's good as I've elected to head to there and get the reopened Dartmoor line to Exeter. The Solo leaves Tavi with 11 passengers and we veer off the main road at Mary Tavy and into some lovely Dartmoor scenery with Brentor church perched on a hill top. Then we head into another larger village of Lydford - it has a National Trust attraction (Lydford Gorge) and a castle plus a nice looking pub - I must return. Then we pass the other 118 (a 74 plate) and then head at pace towards the A30, picking up a passenger (one of the few fare payers) and then into Okehampton, following an e400 that is operating to/from Bude. It might not be Utrecht with through ticketing etc but it is bus/rail integration. Okehampton station is an absolute joy but I only have 10 mins to get a ticket and take a few snaps before I'm on a class 150 heading to Exeter. I'm the only one making the bus to train transfer, with only one off the Bude service too.
Now in truth, the Dartmoor line is fairly scenic but a lot of the early bit is in cuttings so it takes a while before you start getting views but it's really quite pleasant as you approach Crediton. Then we head through more typically Devonian countryside and through Cowley Junction and Exeter St Davids before arriving in Exeter Central. It's then a short walk through busy thronging city streets. I like Exeter and it seems to be doing ok. The old bus station has now been swept away so it's to its replacement. As expected, my bus (38) can't get onto the correct stand as the undersized facility means it's often the case. I remember the X38 with its Stagecoach interurbans running non stop to Plymouth. Now it's a mix of that and the old X39, running via Buckfastleigh and Ashburton before heading through Ivybridge en route to Plymouth. Usual fleet is an e200mmc though this one was comfortable enough and we had about 20 on board, helped by the driver twice shouting down the concourse so people knew which stand to head to. We fairly hurtled along, climbing Haldon Hill into the mist which had now descended onto the hills, and then belting along in parallel with the A38. It's a lovely route as you pass through small towns and large villages. The last of which was Ivybridge - a place I'd passed through but never stopped in. I thought I'd change that.
Enviro-tastic at Ivybridge with my e200mmc about to head to Plymouth; I would explore the town!!!
Plym Valley Railway and a dull bus bodied thing....
The 38 is the lesser service serving the town, only a handful of journeys per day. Instead, Plymouth Citybus operate the 20 via Lee Mill to Plymouth whilst the 80 (was GOLD) is Stagecoach's main fast link. Ivybridge is allegedly a historic town though it has a dormitory feel to it with its proximity to Plymouth. However, I found it really odd... The main bus stop is by the Town Hall - a building built by the inner relief road in 1994. And in fact, most of the town centre had that mid 1990s feel to it. There were the odd older building but even in the old high street (Fore Street), it felt strangely more 1990s than 1790s. I felt like I was in a film set, with a lack of character. Perhaps Ivybridge is not one for your summer hols. My final bus was to be the Plymouth Citybus 20, as that would get me closer to my car than the Stagecoach options. Now here's the thing... the bus stop across the road had a 20 timetable, but not at the shelter I expected. There were timetables for Stagecoach services TO Plymouth (not PCB) but the digital screen was showing departures to Exeter and Paignton. I was certain I was at the right stop but as I had time, I wandered down to the next stop where the correct timetables were there (as well as a reminder that this had been First territory once). Bang on time, a long e200 arrived. Mid life, it was reasonably presented externally and so nicely internally, so I showed my Devon Day Ticket for the last time and off we went to Marsh Mills, passing through Lee Mill and the massive Tesco (almost as big as the village). The same age as my Stagecoach e200mmc, the older design rattled less and was more comfortable - it was a decent machine. We headed through the Plymouth conurbation, through Plympton and Colebrook with several loops to snaffle up passengers with a healthy number (at least a dozen on a late afternoon run). Eventually, we descended down the hill and back to Marsh Mills where I headed back to Coypool to get my car.
I was happy with my day though disappointed that I'd had to rejig things. However, it was partly my own fault - getting to Coypool late and not really giving myself enough time to get to the bus stop to make it comfortably. Still, it was a really nice day out and I did enjoy the journey to Tavistock and a wander around the town, the 118 was a really cracking trip and has inspired me to return, and I did enjoy the train and the beautiful surroundings of Okehampton station. Even the walk through Exeter was pleasant as the rain held off, and I did like the 38...though might not return to Ivybridge so quickly (though I'm sure the people are lovely). All in all, a great day out with the £11 day ticket and the train being £4.50.
As for the operators... it was Stagecoach and Plymouth Citybus (aside from GWR) and they are both curious operators. PCB is a distinctly average operator - the new fleet is impressive but the other fleet is often less than pristine externally (even if usually ok internally). They are a very odd operator and now, there is a greater disconnect in Plymouth with most midlife stuff now in Cornwall so it's either quite old or nearly new. Stagecoach is a different case - it was a really good opco but since Covid/sale, it isn't what it was. The Plymouth fleet is feeling quite middle aged though perhaps that will change when various cascades happen post electrification. That said, I was surprised to still see 2004 Solos pootling around Exeter - there's quite the backlog in fleet replacement and I've seen that too elsewhere. Perhaps it was the whether but the fleet didn't look as well presented as it used to be, and less said about the steel blue livery though that is thankfully not that common. I have real concerns about Stagecoach - I hope they're unfounded. As for park and ride facilities... there's perhaps a thread required about the future of them because the two in Plymouth I saw look pretty forlorn these days. Anyhow, hope you enjoyed the read and the photos.
Stop me if these get boring (get boring??) but thought I'd share another excursion out. It was to be a slightly different trip than it turned out but there you go... best laid plans and all that. I hope you enjoy
I happened to be in South Devon so thought I'd try something nice. Having dipped my toe last year, I thought I'd try to explore a bit more of Dartmoor. So I drove to Plymouth and parked up at Coypool park and ride. Now, I've been to a lot of park and ride sites in my time, and whilst this is rather pleasantly located next to a preserved railway, the site itself is fairly poor. There are 260 spaces but as for customer facilities... a small bus shelter and a set of iffy toilets. It is a basic and uninspiring place to wait for a relatively infrequent (20 min) service operated by anything that Stagecoach's Plymouth depot has spare; a long way from its days as having a branded set of newish vehicles.
Sadly, I need to use the toilets - a crucial delay as I made it around the corner to Marsh Mills...and missed my bus. In fact, I never saw my bus and subsequently checked - it had left a minute early
So I waited for the next one... it is the 51 via Estover to Derriford Hospital. The 50/51 are two circular routes that link parts of Plymouth together on a 20 min headway in each direction, and feature new electric deckers. The one I missed was one of the loaned BYDs so instead I enjoyed one of the Wright Electroliners that arrived about a year ago. It arrived 1 min late... We climbed up through Leigham and Estover, through an expanse of 70s era homes punctuated with the occasional pub and/or rank of shops as we climb and descend around. Passenger numbers are about 20 and there are clear a number of shortish hops as well as serving the large Asda store at Estover. The bus itself is quiet and clean and well presented, and better than the First examples that I've enjoyed in York and Norwich. We arrive into Derriford... one minute late. My connection (Stagecoach's 1 isn't tracking) so I can't tell if I've missed the paper thin connection but I am soon resigned to the fact that it isn't coming. With that, my plans are knackered... A 15 min wait at Derriford allows me to look at the Plymouth Citybus fleet, and it really is a curate's egg of an operation. The brand new stuff is really smart - the rest is a mix of slightly dull red and an unkempt look until a six year old e200 arrives... it looks like it's spent those years in the South Atlantic. Dull paintwork, scuffs, bodged repairs with pot riveting - it looks terrible.Electric power at Derriford - I'd arrived on the Electroliner whilst the BYD was having a few teething issues
Six years old and it looks like 16. Look at the bodging by the emergency exit
My Tavistock bus appears shortly and we head off, passing through the other park and ride at The George; this is a much bigger site with a flashy building to wait in yet it's clear that the place is filthy. That's part of the problem with P&Rs... councils recognise that they are a nice to have but now seldom have the money to maintain them - this is nearly as depressing as the Shrewsbury Harlescott site. We continue on and head into the southern edges of Dartmoor towards Tavistock - a town I've been to many times but until 2024, not by bus though this was now my third visit. My bus was a former Torbay e400mmc; the Plymouth fleet got a major investment after the ops were sold by First but it now seems to be a slightly forgotten corner, getting the cascades and cast offs from elsewhere in Devon. Still, it was a nice 67 plate and fine for the service. The sun was out, daffodils are supplanting the snowdrops and spring is definitely here as we enter the small interchange at Yelverton and then head off further north. With a fair wind I might just make my onward connection but it would be a stretch... I don't as we arrive into the small bus station at Tavistock on time, the 118 having already left. Darn... time to start making alternative plans as the original idea was to head to Okehampton and then to Newton Abbot via Moretonhampstead and enjoy the delights of Dartmoor. Oh well... the joys of poor 4G as I use the time to get a coffee, replan my route, and take the chance to walk around. Tavistock is a lovely little town that is at the gateway to Dartmoor and well worth a wander around, especially the pannier market - every Devon town has a pannier market! It was full of craft stalls but one that sold everything from lightbulbs to tarpaulins... honestly. I wandered back to the bus station. It's a basic facility built on what had been a combined Western National bus depot and station. There was a small kiosk for sweets and drinks but I've not see it open. It's a busy facility as Devon CC still support local bus services including town services so there are a few Optare Solos around plus the e400mmcs to Plymouth.
Tavistock town and market hall
Skinny roads past Mary Tavy
Brentor Church
Okehampton station with my Solo and the Bude enviro
I'd decided to continue to Okehampton and waited for my bus. At the departure time, a route branded Solo for the 118 RailLink appeared, and then left out of service. Instead, a few mins later, another non branded vehicle appeared - if only the previous one had been this late! The 118 is a long standing service; it lost the number for a few years as it ran from Tavi to Barnstaple but is now the 118. Traditionally a two hour headway, that has now been uplifted with BSIP funds so there's an hourly service marketed as RailLink as it provides trainless Tavi with a link but interestingly, only half the journeys run to/from the station; the others run to Okehampton Hospital recognising that there are other pressing traffic objectives. Mine DOES run to the station, and that's good as I've elected to head to there and get the reopened Dartmoor line to Exeter. The Solo leaves Tavi with 11 passengers and we veer off the main road at Mary Tavy and into some lovely Dartmoor scenery with Brentor church perched on a hill top. Then we head into another larger village of Lydford - it has a National Trust attraction (Lydford Gorge) and a castle plus a nice looking pub - I must return. Then we pass the other 118 (a 74 plate) and then head at pace towards the A30, picking up a passenger (one of the few fare payers) and then into Okehampton, following an e400 that is operating to/from Bude. It might not be Utrecht with through ticketing etc but it is bus/rail integration. Okehampton station is an absolute joy but I only have 10 mins to get a ticket and take a few snaps before I'm on a class 150 heading to Exeter. I'm the only one making the bus to train transfer, with only one off the Bude service too.
Now in truth, the Dartmoor line is fairly scenic but a lot of the early bit is in cuttings so it takes a while before you start getting views but it's really quite pleasant as you approach Crediton. Then we head through more typically Devonian countryside and through Cowley Junction and Exeter St Davids before arriving in Exeter Central. It's then a short walk through busy thronging city streets. I like Exeter and it seems to be doing ok. The old bus station has now been swept away so it's to its replacement. As expected, my bus (38) can't get onto the correct stand as the undersized facility means it's often the case. I remember the X38 with its Stagecoach interurbans running non stop to Plymouth. Now it's a mix of that and the old X39, running via Buckfastleigh and Ashburton before heading through Ivybridge en route to Plymouth. Usual fleet is an e200mmc though this one was comfortable enough and we had about 20 on board, helped by the driver twice shouting down the concourse so people knew which stand to head to. We fairly hurtled along, climbing Haldon Hill into the mist which had now descended onto the hills, and then belting along in parallel with the A38. It's a lovely route as you pass through small towns and large villages. The last of which was Ivybridge - a place I'd passed through but never stopped in. I thought I'd change that.
Enviro-tastic at Ivybridge with my e200mmc about to head to Plymouth; I would explore the town!!!
Plym Valley Railway and a dull bus bodied thing....
The 38 is the lesser service serving the town, only a handful of journeys per day. Instead, Plymouth Citybus operate the 20 via Lee Mill to Plymouth whilst the 80 (was GOLD) is Stagecoach's main fast link. Ivybridge is allegedly a historic town though it has a dormitory feel to it with its proximity to Plymouth. However, I found it really odd... The main bus stop is by the Town Hall - a building built by the inner relief road in 1994. And in fact, most of the town centre had that mid 1990s feel to it. There were the odd older building but even in the old high street (Fore Street), it felt strangely more 1990s than 1790s. I felt like I was in a film set, with a lack of character. Perhaps Ivybridge is not one for your summer hols. My final bus was to be the Plymouth Citybus 20, as that would get me closer to my car than the Stagecoach options. Now here's the thing... the bus stop across the road had a 20 timetable, but not at the shelter I expected. There were timetables for Stagecoach services TO Plymouth (not PCB) but the digital screen was showing departures to Exeter and Paignton. I was certain I was at the right stop but as I had time, I wandered down to the next stop where the correct timetables were there (as well as a reminder that this had been First territory once). Bang on time, a long e200 arrived. Mid life, it was reasonably presented externally and so nicely internally, so I showed my Devon Day Ticket for the last time and off we went to Marsh Mills, passing through Lee Mill and the massive Tesco (almost as big as the village). The same age as my Stagecoach e200mmc, the older design rattled less and was more comfortable - it was a decent machine. We headed through the Plymouth conurbation, through Plympton and Colebrook with several loops to snaffle up passengers with a healthy number (at least a dozen on a late afternoon run). Eventually, we descended down the hill and back to Marsh Mills where I headed back to Coypool to get my car.
I was happy with my day though disappointed that I'd had to rejig things. However, it was partly my own fault - getting to Coypool late and not really giving myself enough time to get to the bus stop to make it comfortably. Still, it was a really nice day out and I did enjoy the journey to Tavistock and a wander around the town, the 118 was a really cracking trip and has inspired me to return, and I did enjoy the train and the beautiful surroundings of Okehampton station. Even the walk through Exeter was pleasant as the rain held off, and I did like the 38...though might not return to Ivybridge so quickly (though I'm sure the people are lovely). All in all, a great day out with the £11 day ticket and the train being £4.50.
As for the operators... it was Stagecoach and Plymouth Citybus (aside from GWR) and they are both curious operators. PCB is a distinctly average operator - the new fleet is impressive but the other fleet is often less than pristine externally (even if usually ok internally). They are a very odd operator and now, there is a greater disconnect in Plymouth with most midlife stuff now in Cornwall so it's either quite old or nearly new. Stagecoach is a different case - it was a really good opco but since Covid/sale, it isn't what it was. The Plymouth fleet is feeling quite middle aged though perhaps that will change when various cascades happen post electrification. That said, I was surprised to still see 2004 Solos pootling around Exeter - there's quite the backlog in fleet replacement and I've seen that too elsewhere. Perhaps it was the whether but the fleet didn't look as well presented as it used to be, and less said about the steel blue livery though that is thankfully not that common. I have real concerns about Stagecoach - I hope they're unfounded. As for park and ride facilities... there's perhaps a thread required about the future of them because the two in Plymouth I saw look pretty forlorn these days. Anyhow, hope you enjoyed the read and the photos.
Thanks for another interesting report. Please don't stop travelling or reporting on it! A lovely part of the country and, in places, interesting bus-wise. I've been to most places and routes you visited, as I suspect you have previously too. The 118 is a superb route across western Dartmoor, well worth travelling on and a decent frequent service too. Shame you missed out on the 178 down to Newton Abbot as that is another great route, I managed to do this with stops at Moretonhampstead and Chagford by splitting into separate trips, one tied in with the then Dartmoor Explorer. When I did the 38 it was the X38, with double deckers and seemingly quite a lot faster. I agree that both Stagecoach South West and Plymouth Citibus have lost some of their sparkle having been good companies, but I guess you can't have a new fleet all the time and Cornwall must have drained Plymouth's resources and focus. We will see if the incoming electrics make a difference. Hoping to get out myself soon but this week sadly not possible.***** Another trip report *****
Stop me if these get boring (get boring??) but thought I'd share another excursion out. It was to be a slightly different trip than it turned out but there you go... best laid plans and all that. I hope you enjoy
I happened to be in South Devon so thought I'd try something nice. Having dipped my toe last year, I thought I'd try to explore a bit more of Dartmoor. So I drove to Plymouth and parked up at Coypool park and ride. Now, I've been to a lot of park and ride sites in my time, and whilst this is rather pleasantly located next to a preserved railway, the site itself is fairly poor. There are 260 spaces but as for customer facilities... a small bus shelter and a set of iffy toilets. It is a basic and uninspiring place to wait for a relatively infrequent (20 min) service operated by anything that Stagecoach's Plymouth depot has spare; a long way from its days as having a branded set of newish vehicles.
Sadly, I need to use the toilets - a crucial delay as I made it around the corner to Marsh Mills...and missed my bus. In fact, I never saw my bus and subsequently checked - it had left a minute early
Electric power at Derriford - I'd arrived on the Electroliner whilst the BYD was having a few teething issues
Six years old and it looks like 16. Look at the bodging by the emergency exit
My Tavistock bus appears shortly and we head off, passing through the other park and ride at The George; this is a much bigger site with a flashy building to wait in yet it's clear that the place is filthy. That's part of the problem with P&Rs... councils recognise that they are a nice to have but now seldom have the money to maintain them - this is nearly as depressing as the Shrewsbury Harlescott site. We continue on and head into the southern edges of Dartmoor towards Tavistock - a town I've been to many times but until 2024, not by bus though this was now my third visit. My bus was a former Torbay e400mmc; the Plymouth fleet got a major investment after the ops were sold by First but it now seems to be a slightly forgotten corner, getting the cascades and cast offs from elsewhere in Devon. Still, it was a nice 67 plate and fine for the service. The sun was out, daffodils are supplanting the snowdrops and spring is definitely here as we enter the small interchange at Yelverton and then head off further north. With a fair wind I might just make my onward connection but it would be a stretch... I don't as we arrive into the small bus station at Tavistock on time, the 118 having already left. Darn... time to start making alternative plans as the original idea was to head to Okehampton and then to Newton Abbot via Moretonhampstead and enjoy the delights of Dartmoor. Oh well... the joys of poor 4G as I use the time to get a coffee, replan my route, and take the chance to walk around. Tavistock is a lovely little town that is at the gateway to Dartmoor and well worth a wander around, especially the pannier market - every Devon town has a pannier market! It was full of craft stalls but one that sold everything from lightbulbs to tarpaulins... honestly. I wandered back to the bus station. It's a basic facility built on what had been a combined Western National bus depot and station. There was a small kiosk for sweets and drinks but I've not see it open. It's a busy facility as Devon CC still support local bus services including town services so there are a few Optare Solos around plus the e400mmcs to Plymouth.
Tavistock town and market hall
Skinny roads past Mary Tavy
Brentor Church
Okehampton station with my Solo and the Bude enviro
I'd decided to continue to Okehampton and waited for my bus. At the departure time, a route branded Solo for the 118 RailLink appeared, and then left out of service. Instead, a few mins later, another non branded vehicle appeared - if only the previous one had been this late! The 118 is a long standing service; it lost the number for a few years as it ran from Tavi to Barnstaple but is now the 118. Traditionally a two hour headway, that has now been uplifted with BSIP funds so there's an hourly service marketed as RailLink as it provides trainless Tavi with a link but interestingly, only half the journeys run to/from the station; the others run to Okehampton Hospital recognising that there are other pressing traffic objectives. Mine DOES run to the station, and that's good as I've elected to head to there and get the reopened Dartmoor line to Exeter. The Solo leaves Tavi with 11 passengers and we veer off the main road at Mary Tavy and into some lovely Dartmoor scenery with Brentor church perched on a hill top. Then we head into another larger village of Lydford - it has a National Trust attraction (Lydford Gorge) and a castle plus a nice looking pub - I must return. Then we pass the other 118 (a 74 plate) and then head at pace towards the A30, picking up a passenger (one of the few fare payers) and then into Okehampton, following an e400 that is operating to/from Bude. It might not be Utrecht with through ticketing etc but it is bus/rail integration. Okehampton station is an absolute joy but I only have 10 mins to get a ticket and take a few snaps before I'm on a class 150 heading to Exeter. I'm the only one making the bus to train transfer, with only one off the Bude service too.
Now in truth, the Dartmoor line is fairly scenic but a lot of the early bit is in cuttings so it takes a while before you start getting views but it's really quite pleasant as you approach Crediton. Then we head through more typically Devonian countryside and through Cowley Junction and Exeter St Davids before arriving in Exeter Central. It's then a short walk through busy thronging city streets. I like Exeter and it seems to be doing ok. The old bus station has now been swept away so it's to its replacement. As expected, my bus (38) can't get onto the correct stand as the undersized facility means it's often the case. I remember the X38 with its Stagecoach interurbans running non stop to Plymouth. Now it's a mix of that and the old X39, running via Buckfastleigh and Ashburton before heading through Ivybridge en route to Plymouth. Usual fleet is an e200mmc though this one was comfortable enough and we had about 20 on board, helped by the driver twice shouting down the concourse so people knew which stand to head to. We fairly hurtled along, climbing Haldon Hill into the mist which had now descended onto the hills, and then belting along in parallel with the A38. It's a lovely route as you pass through small towns and large villages. The last of which was Ivybridge - a place I'd passed through but never stopped in. I thought I'd change that.
Enviro-tastic at Ivybridge with my e200mmc about to head to Plymouth; I would explore the town!!!
Plym Valley Railway and a dull bus bodied thing....
The 38 is the lesser service serving the town, only a handful of journeys per day. Instead, Plymouth Citybus operate the 20 via Lee Mill to Plymouth whilst the 80 (was GOLD) is Stagecoach's main fast link. Ivybridge is allegedly a historic town though it has a dormitory feel to it with its proximity to Plymouth. However, I found it really odd... The main bus stop is by the Town Hall - a building built by the inner relief road in 1994. And in fact, most of the town centre had that mid 1990s feel to it. There were the odd older building but even in the old high street (Fore Street), it felt strangely more 1990s than 1790s. I felt like I was in a film set, with a lack of character. Perhaps Ivybridge is not one for your summer hols. My final bus was to be the Plymouth Citybus 20, as that would get me closer to my car than the Stagecoach options. Now here's the thing... the bus stop across the road had a 20 timetable, but not at the shelter I expected. There were timetables for Stagecoach services TO Plymouth (not PCB) but the digital screen was showing departures to Exeter and Paignton. I was certain I was at the right stop but as I had time, I wandered down to the next stop where the correct timetables were there (as well as a reminder that this had been First territory once). Bang on time, a long e200 arrived. Mid life, it was reasonably presented externally and so nicely internally, so I showed my Devon Day Ticket for the last time and off we went to Marsh Mills, passing through Lee Mill and the massive Tesco (almost as big as the village). The same age as my Stagecoach e200mmc, the older design rattled less and was more comfortable - it was a decent machine. We headed through the Plymouth conurbation, through Plympton and Colebrook with several loops to snaffle up passengers with a healthy number (at least a dozen on a late afternoon run). Eventually, we descended down the hill and back to Marsh Mills where I headed back to Coypool to get my car.
I was happy with my day though disappointed that I'd had to rejig things. However, it was partly my own fault - getting to Coypool late and not really giving myself enough time to get to the bus stop to make it comfortably. Still, it was a really nice day out and I did enjoy the journey to Tavistock and a wander around the town, the 118 was a really cracking trip and has inspired me to return, and I did enjoy the train and the beautiful surroundings of Okehampton station. Even the walk through Exeter was pleasant as the rain held off, and I did like the 38...though might not return to Ivybridge so quickly (though I'm sure the people are lovely). All in all, a great day out with the £11 day ticket and the train being £4.50.
As for the operators... it was Stagecoach and Plymouth Citybus (aside from GWR) and they are both curious operators. PCB is a distinctly average operator - the new fleet is impressive but the other fleet is often less than pristine externally (even if usually ok internally). They are a very odd operator and now, there is a greater disconnect in Plymouth with most midlife stuff now in Cornwall so it's either quite old or nearly new. Stagecoach is a different case - it was a really good opco but since Covid/sale, it isn't what it was. The Plymouth fleet is feeling quite middle aged though perhaps that will change when various cascades happen post electrification. That said, I was surprised to still see 2004 Solos pootling around Exeter - there's quite the backlog in fleet replacement and I've seen that too elsewhere. Perhaps it was the whether but the fleet didn't look as well presented as it used to be, and less said about the steel blue livery though that is thankfully not that common. I have real concerns about Stagecoach - I hope they're unfounded. As for park and ride facilities... there's perhaps a thread required about the future of them because the two in Plymouth I saw look pretty forlorn these days. Anyhow, hope you enjoyed the read and the photos.
A correction and a comment. I think if you went around some of the housing estates of Plympton you were on a 20A as the 20 goes fast down the A38 from Lee Mill to Sainsburys at Marsh Mills. Your comment on the condition of the TFC E200 at Derriford, the problem is the Cornish lanes they use were never intended for buses and at times are touching the hedges on both sides at once. Do keep travelling as we enjoy your reports.***** Another trip report *****
Stop me if these get boring (get boring??) but thought I'd share another excursion out. It was to be a slightly different trip than it turned out but there you go... best laid plans and all that. I hope you enjoy
I happened to be in South Devon so thought I'd try something nice. Having dipped my toe last year, I thought I'd try to explore a bit more of Dartmoor. So I drove to Plymouth and parked up at Coypool park and ride. Now, I've been to a lot of park and ride sites in my time, and whilst this is rather pleasantly located next to a preserved railway, the site itself is fairly poor. There are 260 spaces but as for customer facilities... a small bus shelter and a set of iffy toilets. It is a basic and uninspiring place to wait for a relatively infrequent (20 min) service operated by anything that Stagecoach's Plymouth depot has spare; a long way from its days as having a branded set of newish vehicles.
Sadly, I need to use the toilets - a crucial delay as I made it around the corner to Marsh Mills...and missed my bus. In fact, I never saw my bus and subsequently checked - it had left a minute early
View attachment 200428
Electric power at Derriford - I'd arrived on the Electroliner whilst the BYD was having a few teething issues
View attachment 200429
Six years old and it looks like 16. Look at the bodging by the emergency exit
My Tavistock bus appears shortly and we head off, passing through the other park and ride at The George; this is a much bigger site with a flashy building to wait in yet it's clear that the place is filthy. That's part of the problem with P&Rs... councils recognise that they are a nice to have but now seldom have the money to maintain them - this is nearly as depressing as the Shrewsbury Harlescott site. We continue on and head into the southern edges of Dartmoor towards Tavistock - a town I've been to many times but until 2024, not by bus though this was now my third visit. My bus was a former Torbay e400mmc; the Plymouth fleet got a major investment after the ops were sold by First but it now seems to be a slightly forgotten corner, getting the cascades and cast offs from elsewhere in Devon. Still, it was a nice 67 plate and fine for the service. The sun was out, daffodils are supplanting the snowdrops and spring is definitely here as we enter the small interchange at Yelverton and then head off further north. With a fair wind I might just make my onward connection but it would be a stretch... I don't as we arrive into the small bus station at Tavistock on time, the 118 having already left. Darn... time to start making alternative plans as the original idea was to head to Okehampton and then to Newton Abbot via Moretonhampstead and enjoy the delights of Dartmoor. Oh well... the joys of poor 4G as I use the time to get a coffee, replan my route, and take the chance to walk around. Tavistock is a lovely little town that is at the gateway to Dartmoor and well worth a wander around, especially the pannier market - every Devon town has a pannier market! It was full of craft stalls but one that sold everything from lightbulbs to tarpaulins... honestly. I wandered back to the bus station. It's a basic facility built on what had been a combined Western National bus depot and station. There was a small kiosk for sweets and drinks but I've not see it open. It's a busy facility as Devon CC still support local bus services including town services so there are a few Optare Solos around plus the e400mmcs to Plymouth.
View attachment 200430
Tavistock town and market hall
View attachment 200431
Skinny roads past Mary Tavy
View attachment 200432
Brentor Church
View attachment 200434
Okehampton station with my Solo and the Bude enviro
I'd decided to continue to Okehampton and waited for my bus. At the departure time, a route branded Solo for the 118 RailLink appeared, and then left out of service. Instead, a few mins later, another non branded vehicle appeared - if only the previous one had been this late! The 118 is a long standing service; it lost the number for a few years as it ran from Tavi to Barnstaple but is now the 118. Traditionally a two hour headway, that has now been uplifted with BSIP funds so there's an hourly service marketed as RailLink as it provides trainless Tavi with a link but interestingly, only half the journeys run to/from the station; the others run to Okehampton Hospital recognising that there are other pressing traffic objectives. Mine DOES run to the station, and that's good as I've elected to head to there and get the reopened Dartmoor line to Exeter. The Solo leaves Tavi with 11 passengers and we veer off the main road at Mary Tavy and into some lovely Dartmoor scenery with Brentor church perched on a hill top. Then we head into another larger village of Lydford - it has a National Trust attraction (Lydford Gorge) and a castle plus a nice looking pub - I must return. Then we pass the other 118 (a 74 plate) and then head at pace towards the A30, picking up a passenger (one of the few fare payers) and then into Okehampton, following an e400 that is operating to/from Bude. It might not be Utrecht with through ticketing etc but it is bus/rail integration. Okehampton station is an absolute joy but I only have 10 mins to get a ticket and take a few snaps before I'm on a class 150 heading to Exeter. I'm the only one making the bus to train transfer, with only one off the Bude service too.
Now in truth, the Dartmoor line is fairly scenic but a lot of the early bit is in cuttings so it takes a while before you start getting views but it's really quite pleasant as you approach Crediton. Then we head through more typically Devonian countryside and through Cowley Junction and Exeter St Davids before arriving in Exeter Central. It's then a short walk through busy thronging city streets. I like Exeter and it seems to be doing ok. The old bus station has now been swept away so it's to its replacement. As expected, my bus (38) can't get onto the correct stand as the undersized facility means it's often the case. I remember the X38 with its Stagecoach interurbans running non stop to Plymouth. Now it's a mix of that and the old X39, running via Buckfastleigh and Ashburton before heading through Ivybridge en route to Plymouth. Usual fleet is an e200mmc though this one was comfortable enough and we had about 20 on board, helped by the driver twice shouting down the concourse so people knew which stand to head to. We fairly hurtled along, climbing Haldon Hill into the mist which had now descended onto the hills, and then belting along in parallel with the A38. It's a lovely route as you pass through small towns and large villages. The last of which was Ivybridge - a place I'd passed through but never stopped in. I thought I'd change that.
View attachment 200436
Enviro-tastic at Ivybridge with my e200mmc about to head to Plymouth; I would explore the town!!!
View attachment 200437
Plym Valley Railway and a dull bus bodied thing....
The 38 is the lesser service serving the town, only a handful of journeys per day. Instead, Plymouth Citybus operate the 20 via Lee Mill to Plymouth whilst the 80 (was GOLD) is Stagecoach's main fast link. Ivybridge is allegedly a historic town though it has a dormitory feel to it with its proximity to Plymouth. However, I found it really odd... The main bus stop is by the Town Hall - a building built by the inner relief road in 1994. And in fact, most of the town centre had that mid 1990s feel to it. There were the odd older building but even in the old high street (Fore Street), it felt strangely more 1990s than 1790s. I felt like I was in a film set, with a lack of character. Perhaps Ivybridge is not one for your summer hols. My final bus was to be the Plymouth Citybus 20, as that would get me closer to my car than the Stagecoach options. Now here's the thing... the bus stop across the road had a 20 timetable, but not at the shelter I expected. There were timetables for Stagecoach services TO Plymouth (not PCB) but the digital screen was showing departures to Exeter and Paignton. I was certain I was at the right stop but as I had time, I wandered down to the next stop where the correct timetables were there (as well as a reminder that this had been First territory once). Bang on time, a long e200 arrived. Mid life, it was reasonably presented externally and so nicely internally, so I showed my Devon Day Ticket for the last time and off we went to Marsh Mills, passing through Lee Mill and the massive Tesco (almost as big as the village). The same age as my Stagecoach e200mmc, the older design rattled less and was more comfortable - it was a decent machine. We headed through the Plymouth conurbation, through Plympton and Colebrook with several loops to snaffle up passengers with a healthy number (at least a dozen on a late afternoon run). Eventually, we descended down the hill and back to Marsh Mills where I headed back to Coypool to get my car.
I was happy with my day though disappointed that I'd had to rejig things. However, it was partly my own fault - getting to Coypool late and not really giving myself enough time to get to the bus stop to make it comfortably. Still, it was a really nice day out and I did enjoy the journey to Tavistock and a wander around the town, the 118 was a really cracking trip and has inspired me to return, and I did enjoy the train and the beautiful surroundings of Okehampton station. Even the walk through Exeter was pleasant as the rain held off, and I did like the 38...though might not return to Ivybridge so quickly (though I'm sure the people are lovely). All in all, a great day out with the £11 day ticket and the train being £4.50.
As for the operators... it was Stagecoach and Plymouth Citybus (aside from GWR) and they are both curious operators. PCB is a distinctly average operator - the new fleet is impressive but the other fleet is often less than pristine externally (even if usually ok internally). They are a very odd operator and now, there is a greater disconnect in Plymouth with most midlife stuff now in Cornwall so it's either quite old or nearly new. Stagecoach is a different case - it was a really good opco but since Covid/sale, it isn't what it was. The Plymouth fleet is feeling quite middle aged though perhaps that will change when various cascades happen post electrification. That said, I was surprised to still see 2004 Solos pootling around Exeter - there's quite the backlog in fleet replacement and I've seen that too elsewhere. Perhaps it was the whether but the fleet didn't look as well presented as it used to be, and less said about the steel blue livery though that is thankfully not that common. I have real concerns about Stagecoach - I hope they're unfounded. As for park and ride facilities... there's perhaps a thread required about the future of them because the two in Plymouth I saw look pretty forlorn these days. Anyhow, hope you enjoyed the read and the photos.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
satters
Member
I decided on a whim to go to Ludlow last Saturday, 3 buses from my home, changing at Stourbridge & Kidderminster Bus stations, all now Diamond bus (Rotala) routes,
Though it would have been better had timetable books being available as they are with Stagecoach in the lake district, I did get by with the bus stop posters,
The (former Midland Red) 292 route over the Clee Hills was very pleasant, and whilst there were a number of passengers, I was surprised it was not better patronised, there is a distinct lack of advertising,
I'm sure many more people would enjoy a day out by bus on such routes if they knew it was a possibility. I recall Midland Red had good publicity advertising routes on posters and in the Travel centre at their Stourbridge Bus Garage
Though it would have been better had timetable books being available as they are with Stagecoach in the lake district, I did get by with the bus stop posters,
The (former Midland Red) 292 route over the Clee Hills was very pleasant, and whilst there were a number of passengers, I was surprised it was not better patronised, there is a distinct lack of advertising,
I'm sure many more people would enjoy a day out by bus on such routes if they knew it was a possibility. I recall Midland Red had good publicity advertising routes on posters and in the Travel centre at their Stourbridge Bus Garage
Last edited:
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
It's been a long time since I did that trip over to Ludlow by bus - probably c.30 years on a Lynx. The trip through Wyre Forest and Cleobury Mortimer and then Clee Hill is absolutely gorgeous, and Ludlow is a cracking town to visit. I was there just a few weeks ago - a small diversion whilst driving down the A49 - and it is just beautiful.
IIRC, the 192 (as was) was hourly from Birmingham to Ludlow with two hourly projections to Hereford. However, it just got chopped back more and more before it was reduced to a two hourly tendered Kiddy to Ludlow route. Sadly, I wouldn't expect any commercial initiative from Diamond.
voidwxrranty
Member
23/03/2026 - Manchester Day 1.
So I started my trip to Manchester with an Uber from my house to the City of Glasgow, then I caught the 14:34 Avanti West Coast service (1M15) to Preston [PRE], where I then changed for Northern's 17:11 service (1Y82) to Manchester Oxford Road [MCO].
I then alighted the train at Oxford Road, making my way round to Oxford Street, where I picked up a 256 service (Metroline) to take me to White City Retail Park. I then made my way to the hotel afterwards.
Traction for the day was
Skoda Superb
Class 390 Pendolino
Class 195 Civity
Wright Streetdeck Ultroliner
24/03/2026 - Manchester Day 2.
This morning, I made my way on the Red Line tram to The Trafford Centre. I wandered around for about an hour, then I made my way to the bus station.
I then caught a service 30 (Metroline) back to the hotel to drop off some things - then I headed back out to catch a service 250 (Metroline) into the City Centre.
Once in the city, I took some pictures and looked around for a short while, until I noticed one of Stagecoach's new ADL electric minibuses, and I decided to give it a try.
I took the vehicle on service 114 from Piccadilly to Shudehill. A small hop, adequate for a small vehicle. I quite enjoyed my small hop on the vehicle, and I will be sampling more once I'm back in Scotland.
I then met up with a few friends, and afterwards, made my way back to the hotel to end the day.
I got to sample a few vehicles i never have before, thoughts below:
Volvo/MCV BZL SD:
Very comfortable, quick and warm. I quite enjoyed my time on them, my only gripe is a slight harshness in acceleration, but they have all the passenger amenities - Passenger Info Screen, USB A and USB C, as well as very well-marked priority seating. As with Volvo and MCV, the vehicle is built very well, and there were practically no rattles.
Volvo/MCV BZL DD:
With the single deck in mind, getting a very good review from me, the DD version was a bit of a letdown. I sampled both a Metroline-operated and a Stagecoach-operated one, and neither was very nice; the same positives were present as the SD, but the DD felt heavier, more sluggish and just downright bad.
ADL Enviro 100EV:
A very small vehicle, nippy, comfortable, warm. My only gripe is that it really shouldn't be on routes into a busy city centre such as Manchester; other than that, utterly flawless. I'm glad ADL ended their partnership with BYD, as it seems they have finally managed to produce a decent product - yes, ADL, making a decent product.
And the ones I forgot to add from the report from Day 1 (23/03/2026):
Class 390 Pendolino:
Standard Pendolino, really. If you've been on any post-refurbishment train, it was bog standard. Wireless chargers were on the tables, as were power sockets and USB-A points at your seat. I am quite fond of Pendolinos; they're very comfortable trains, and I would happily take one from Glasgow to London.
Class 195 Civity:
I did not like these trains one bit, rattly, noisy, uncomfortable, cold... a far cry from the Sprinters they replaced.
Wright Streetdeck Ultroliner:
These are great buses, 7-speed boxes in their lumps, and they can fly if you put your foot down. They were also comfy, warm and had all the passenger amenities, the same as the BZL's and 100EV. I was only on this for a short hop, and I've not been on another since, so my opinion may change.
26/03/2026 - Manchester Day 4.
--DISCLAIMER: No Post for the 25/03, I had the chance to meet with a few friends and took the opportunity.--
So, since it was my birthday, I decided to take a small trip to Leeds. I travelled over and back with Transpennine Express.
On my way into the City Centre, i had tram 3125 for a Red Line service, then followed by 3083 for a Blue Line to Piccadilly. Nothing of note, just a regular tram journey.
On the way over from Manchester, I had a pair of Class 185's, 185102 and 185106. I noticed when we arrived into Huddersfield, that the train was extremely warm. I asked around a few others, and they all agreed the train was a couple hundred metre long sauna with wheels.
Speaking to the guard, I asked if the heat could be turned down, as a few people including myself were starting to feel ill from the heat. I felt for the people on that train going all the way to York or Middlesborough, they would've came off of it melted.
I spent a few hours sampling the First Leeds network, I have to say, the network is good. I had two Volvo B9TL's, a Streetdeck and a 75 plated Arriva Enviro200 MMC.
On the return leg, I was lucky enough to have timed it perfect to catch one of TP's Class 802 "Nova 1" sets, this being 802219. The journey was quick as it was operating a service from Newcastle to Liverpool, only calling at Huddersfield, then Manchester Victoria (where i alighted). The Nova 1 was like a rabbit compared to a snail with the 185, the 185 was comfier, yes. Whereas the 802 was nippier.
I then made my way home via the trams since i had a day ticket for Zones 1 and 2. I had tram 3129 for a Pink Line from Manchester Victoria to Deansgate-Castlefield, then 3064 on the Red Line back to the hotel.
Seen below is a photo from today:
First Leeds' Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37648 (YJ58 RNV) is seen here at East Garforth Terminus after working a 19A.
flic.kr
So I started my trip to Manchester with an Uber from my house to the City of Glasgow, then I caught the 14:34 Avanti West Coast service (1M15) to Preston [PRE], where I then changed for Northern's 17:11 service (1Y82) to Manchester Oxford Road [MCO].
I then alighted the train at Oxford Road, making my way round to Oxford Street, where I picked up a 256 service (Metroline) to take me to White City Retail Park. I then made my way to the hotel afterwards.
Traction for the day was
Skoda Superb
Class 390 Pendolino
Class 195 Civity
Wright Streetdeck Ultroliner
24/03/2026 - Manchester Day 2.
This morning, I made my way on the Red Line tram to The Trafford Centre. I wandered around for about an hour, then I made my way to the bus station.
I then caught a service 30 (Metroline) back to the hotel to drop off some things - then I headed back out to catch a service 250 (Metroline) into the City Centre.
Once in the city, I took some pictures and looked around for a short while, until I noticed one of Stagecoach's new ADL electric minibuses, and I decided to give it a try.
I took the vehicle on service 114 from Piccadilly to Shudehill. A small hop, adequate for a small vehicle. I quite enjoyed my small hop on the vehicle, and I will be sampling more once I'm back in Scotland.
I then met up with a few friends, and afterwards, made my way back to the hotel to end the day.
I got to sample a few vehicles i never have before, thoughts below:
Volvo/MCV BZL SD:
Very comfortable, quick and warm. I quite enjoyed my time on them, my only gripe is a slight harshness in acceleration, but they have all the passenger amenities - Passenger Info Screen, USB A and USB C, as well as very well-marked priority seating. As with Volvo and MCV, the vehicle is built very well, and there were practically no rattles.
Volvo/MCV BZL DD:
With the single deck in mind, getting a very good review from me, the DD version was a bit of a letdown. I sampled both a Metroline-operated and a Stagecoach-operated one, and neither was very nice; the same positives were present as the SD, but the DD felt heavier, more sluggish and just downright bad.
ADL Enviro 100EV:
A very small vehicle, nippy, comfortable, warm. My only gripe is that it really shouldn't be on routes into a busy city centre such as Manchester; other than that, utterly flawless. I'm glad ADL ended their partnership with BYD, as it seems they have finally managed to produce a decent product - yes, ADL, making a decent product.
And the ones I forgot to add from the report from Day 1 (23/03/2026):
Class 390 Pendolino:
Standard Pendolino, really. If you've been on any post-refurbishment train, it was bog standard. Wireless chargers were on the tables, as were power sockets and USB-A points at your seat. I am quite fond of Pendolinos; they're very comfortable trains, and I would happily take one from Glasgow to London.
Class 195 Civity:
I did not like these trains one bit, rattly, noisy, uncomfortable, cold... a far cry from the Sprinters they replaced.
Wright Streetdeck Ultroliner:
These are great buses, 7-speed boxes in their lumps, and they can fly if you put your foot down. They were also comfy, warm and had all the passenger amenities, the same as the BZL's and 100EV. I was only on this for a short hop, and I've not been on another since, so my opinion may change.
26/03/2026 - Manchester Day 4.
--DISCLAIMER: No Post for the 25/03, I had the chance to meet with a few friends and took the opportunity.--
So, since it was my birthday, I decided to take a small trip to Leeds. I travelled over and back with Transpennine Express.
On my way into the City Centre, i had tram 3125 for a Red Line service, then followed by 3083 for a Blue Line to Piccadilly. Nothing of note, just a regular tram journey.
On the way over from Manchester, I had a pair of Class 185's, 185102 and 185106. I noticed when we arrived into Huddersfield, that the train was extremely warm. I asked around a few others, and they all agreed the train was a couple hundred metre long sauna with wheels.
Speaking to the guard, I asked if the heat could be turned down, as a few people including myself were starting to feel ill from the heat. I felt for the people on that train going all the way to York or Middlesborough, they would've came off of it melted.
I spent a few hours sampling the First Leeds network, I have to say, the network is good. I had two Volvo B9TL's, a Streetdeck and a 75 plated Arriva Enviro200 MMC.
On the return leg, I was lucky enough to have timed it perfect to catch one of TP's Class 802 "Nova 1" sets, this being 802219. The journey was quick as it was operating a service from Newcastle to Liverpool, only calling at Huddersfield, then Manchester Victoria (where i alighted). The Nova 1 was like a rabbit compared to a snail with the 185, the 185 was comfier, yes. Whereas the 802 was nippier.
I then made my way home via the trams since i had a day ticket for Zones 1 and 2. I had tram 3129 for a Pink Line from Manchester Victoria to Deansgate-Castlefield, then 3064 on the Red Line back to the hotel.
Seen below is a photo from today:
First Leeds' Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37648 (YJ58 RNV) is seen here at East Garforth Terminus after working a 19A.
First Leeds 37648 - YJ58 RNV.
First Leeds' Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37648 (YJ58 RNV) is seen here at East Garforth Terminus after working a 19A.
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