Arriva Merseyside & North West 2026 onwards

[gka472l]

Seems there's no dedicated thread about the above fleets (or at least one in the last few years), so as Arriva Merseyside will be massively effected by the upcoming Liverpool City Region bus franchising, probably worth having this thread to discuss developments & news in these fleets.

St Helens franchising starts on 6/9/26 with Stagecoach replacing Arriva, having won the franchise for this area.

Likely to be mass vehicle moves on 5/9/26, with most, if not all the E400's currently at St Helens, going to Speke to replace older deckers (get the 61 plate Wright deckers in while you can!). Pulsars 12 plate & newer to go to other depots, 61 plate and older likely for disposal, as nothing older than 2012 should be in the Arriva Merseyside/NW fleet by the end of the year. Unknown what the Optare Solo's are doing, possibly some to Wales?

Wirral franchising starts 25/10/26 with Go North West replacing Arriva, having won the franchise for this area

Like St Helens, mass vehicle movements likely on 24/10/26, Streetlites to Southport, 'METRO' E200MMC's to Runcorn. 20 of the B5LH's are to be converted to full diesel and used as driver trainers in Arriva generally (NW, NE, Yorkshire & London all getting some so I hear), first one (4851) already out of service for this....

HTH

 

[W176 XMA]

Asked this on the other thread but probably more relevant here, where are Southports E200 MMCs going when replaced by Streetlites?

 

[Simon75]

Runcorn is not part of the franchise, so i guess that will be the only garage left

 

[gka472l]

Asked this on the other thread but probably more relevant here, where are Southports E200 MMCs going when replaced by Streetlites?

Probably nowhere until the Sefton franchise starts. They're all standard Arriva inside so could end up anywhere and in blue, as LCR is ordering all the vehicles by the looks of it.

 

[JasonL]

Honestly I can see a lot of E400s going to Speke from St. Helens and some to Bootle to replace the older E400s

 

[Statto]

Arriva have 40 Pulsars at Runcorn, 8 are on 14 plate, 4 on 12 plate, the rest 61 plate & older, that are going need replacing, i know the Birkenhead E200MMCs are replacing some of the Pulsars, but that won't be enough to replace everything.

 

[markymark2000]

Arriva have 40 Pulsars at Runcorn, 8 are on 14 plate, 4 on 12 plate, the rest 61 plate & older, that are going need replacing, i know the Birkenhead E200MMCs are replacing some of the Pulsars, but that won't be enough to replace everything.

On the other thread (link and quote below) they mention that Streetlites are supposedly off to Southport to replace the E200MMCs that would suggest those E200MMCs could also move to Runcorn. That gives 34 buses between both the Southport and Birkenhead 200MMCs. That's to replace 40 pulsars. Depending on moving about any other buses, the 8 14 plate Pulsars could move to Southport too to release more Metro 200MMCs to Runcorn. Purely speculative though and just my thoughts on what could happen.

(https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...n-bus-franchising.282426/page-22#post-7864998)

The Streetlites are transferring to Southport to replace their YX17 E200MMC batch.

 

[W176 XMA]

Probably nowhere until the Sefton franchise starts. They're all standard Arriva inside so could end up anywhere and in blue, as LCR is ordering all the vehicles by the looks of it.

It was mentioned the YX17 ones were leaving and being replaced by Streetlites but I understand how plans always change

 

[CN12 AWU]

Asked this on the other thread but probably more relevant here, where are Southports E200 MMCs going when replaced by Streetlites?

Could they join the metro liveried ones in Runcorn

 

[childwallblues]

Reported on the Merseyside Dennis Dart website that 4670 was involved in an RTA on West Derby Road in Liverpool.

 

[Statto]

I'm not sure about Arriva's plans for interworking the 360 with the X30 when the 360 moves to Runcorn is a good idea.

I was on the X30 yesterday (11.03 from Warrington to Chester) the M56 westbound was gridlocked with a lot of the traffic migrating to the A56 through Preston Brook as an alternative, making the A56 & surrounding roads gridlocked as well, then add in congestion on the Hoole Road, that the X30 i was on arrived at Chester 40 minutes late at 13.06 (should have arrived at 12.26). The return from Chester (which should have departed 12.31) was about 40 late throughout too & arrived in Warrington at 14.37 instead of 13.59.

It then struck me anytime the M56 goes belly up between Runcorn & the M53, traffic then migrates causing chaos to the A56 (& nearby roads) thus causes havoc with reliability to the X30, which will make things fun when the X30 interworks with the 360.

 

[markymark2000]

I'm not sure about Arriva's plans for interworking the 360 with the X30 when the 360 moves to Runcorn is a good idea.

I was on the X30 yesterday (11.03 from Warrington to Chester) the M56 westbound was gridlocked with a lot of the traffic migrating to the A56 through Preston Brook as an alternative, making the A56 & surrounding roads gridlocked as well, then add in congestion on the Hoole Road, that the X30 i was on arrived at Chester 40 minutes late at 13.06 (should have arrived at 12.26). The return from Chester (which should have departed 12.31) was about 40 late throughout too & arrived in Warrington at 14.37 instead of 13.59.

It then struck me anytime the M56 goes belly up between Runcorn & the M53, traffic then migrates causing chaos to the A56 (& nearby roads) thus causes havoc with reliability to the X30, which will make things fun when the X30 interworks with the 360.

The 360 is the exact same when anything happens on the M6/M62. All traffic diverts via Warrington Town Centre and the 360 gets stuck in the traffic then. I think it will be a disaster waiting to happen if the X30/360 plan is tried. I only hope that Arriva sees sense and changes the plan.
That said, I'm not sure how long the 360 will last anyway long term with the 612 running half hourly from Newton Le Willows to Wigan, unless there is a very strong flow to/from Warrington, or Arriva has some very loyal passengers, then I struggle to see how the 360 will be sustainable after September.

 

[childwallblues]

Volvo B5/Wright Eclipse Gemini 4857 KX13 AYN is currently operating off Laird Street. Possibly a loan?

 

[gka472l]

Volvo B5/Wright Eclipse Gemini 4857 KX13 AYN is currently operating ogg Laird Street. Possibly a loan?

Replacement for Streetlite 6005 which is off to Southport

 

[Budge1980]

Now that Bus Times is settling down after the St Helen's transfer, I was wondering what is the status of the Hydrogens that were all too briefly used on the 10 and 10A back in June 2024. Fleet numbers 4900-4909. Is it right they still show as part of the Arriva Merseyside fleet and are they stored at another Arriva Merseyside garage?

Fleet list – Arriva Merseyside – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Now that Bus Times is settling down after the St Helen's transfer, I was wondering what is the status of the Hydrogens that were all too briefly used on the 10 and 10A back in June 2024. Fleet numbers 4900-4909. Is it right they still show as part of the Arriva Merseyside fleet and are they stored at another Arriva Merseyside garage?

Fleet list – Arriva Merseyside – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

Aren't they the property of the combined authority (rather than Arriva) and slated for conversion to EVs?

 

[childwallblues]

A post on facebook states that 4474 4439 and 4454 have transferred to Arriva North East.

 

[Mollman]

Aren't they the property of the combined authority (rather than Arriva) and slated for conversion to EVs?

Yes

 

[Rob T]

A post on facebook states that 4474 4439 and 4454 have transferred to Arriva North East.

They have been de-branded, so probably sold to another operator in the region and not to Arriva NE.

 

[Statto]

Looking at bustimes.org the 329 & 360 still interwork with each other rather than the planed 329 interworking with 110, & 360 interworking with X30.

 

[gka472l]

First of the E400's from Rhyl have seemingly transferred to Speke, 4537/8, although not in service yet.

 

[darylyates17]

Is there a possibility all the Gemini 2 Hybrids could end up at Laird Street in there final couple of weeks since it looks like they will be withdrawn once LS goes to Go Ahead.

 

[gka472l]

Is there a possibility all the Gemini 2 Hybrids could end up at Laird Street in there final couple of weeks since it looks like they will be withdrawn once LS goes to Go Ahead.

Who knows.....but 4492/5 have transferred to Birkenhead this week, with just 4855/6/9-61/3/4 remaining at Speke

 

[JasonL]

First of the E400's from Rhyl have seemingly transferred to Speke, 4537/8, although not in service yet.

They have, it's been seen on the Arriva group on Facebook

 

[childwallblues]

Rhyl has received many of its new E400s and some of those that they have replaced have been stored at Laird Street on their way to new homes/scrapyard. These include 4489 which had a varied career being new to Macclefield (with 4490/91) for route 38 to Crewe. Moved to Winsford when Macclesfield closed then on to Speke were it spent many years before ending up at Rhyl.

 

[joieman]

I've heard Arriva Midlands' Wright Streetdeck/Newpower EV Conversion 8600 (6764 MW) is on loan from Leicester to Liverpool?

 

[gka472l]

I've heard Arriva Midlands' Wright Streetdeck/Newpower EV Conversion 8600 (6764 MW) is on loan from Leicester to Liverpool?

I believe something from Leicester is on loan, as well as Arriva's E400EV AR74ZEB....presumably in connection with the Labour conference in Liverpool next week....

 

[childwallblues]

4408 has been re-registered back to CX58EZV and transferred to Green Lane to replace 4841 whilst its accident damage is repaired. 4408 was seen. in service on route 27 yesterday