D&G Buses

[semppec]

They're in service now, and have been discussed on here already. The Versas are at Stoke but two have been loaned to Crewe to cover for the two new MMCs transferring to Shrewsbury. The additional MMC is going to Shrewsbury.

D&G also have a plain white slimline mini Solo on loan at the Macclesfield depot. It has 25 seats crammed into a small space, with the seats being the same type as on the Belle Vue Versas, that used to be the TfGM school buses.

I've also noticed a plain white 64 reg Enviro 200 has appeared on the bus times fleet list, it's been given fleet number 5028 and is tracking on the 12 route today.

3 of the Versas are currently on loan to Crewe: 788, 789, 792. As replacements for 573, 5011, 5012 that have gone to Shrewsbury.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2026 ==

I believe the E200MMC is ex-Moffat & Williamson SN66WHR, which is yet to enter service

SN66WHR, is currently having work done at Crewe. Soon to be on the roads hopefully numbered 5222

 

[em81]

Very few buses tracking today. The Congleton locals were, but nothing else seemed to be.

 

[nonabrow]

Very few buses tracking today. The Congleton locals were, but nothing else seemed to be.

This is purely speculative, but the Congleton locals may have been tracking as the regular bus on it also used to operate those routes for Hollinshead, who may have used different ticket machines, and they were never changed to match the rest of D&G's fleet.

 

[em81]

This is purely speculative, but the Congleton locals may have been tracking as the regular bus on it also used to operate those routes for Hollinshead, who may have used different ticket machines, and they were never changed to match the rest of D&G's fleet.

Congleton locals require 3 vehicles now due to the enhancements since Hollinshead ran them. Solo 3018 was tracking on them yesterday, 3019 today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Sep 2026 ==

There are D&G and Hotspur tickets but they cost more than what's now called D&G Staffordshire and Cheshire.

They also have an introductory offer of £10 weekly tickets for the Shrewsbury zone.

Our Fares | D&G Bus

www.dgbus.co.uk

 

[theshillito]

The Hotspur website is live too https://hotspurbus.co.uk/ , which seems to be very inconsistent on it being "HOTSPUR" (all capitals) and "Hotspur" (title case). I notice some special day return fares too, with a "connect ticket" ("Purchase a Hotspur Connect ticket on route 301 and use the same ticket to travel to/from Newcastle, Hanley or Shrewsbury on route 64 or to/from Whitchurch and Wellington on route 340") and a service 20 discounted return fare. I also notice they're using the myTrip app that D&G used to use before they made their own (also interestingly, the myTrip Hotspur "All Zones" ticket includes D&G, hopefully that won't cause confusion for D&G drivers).

EDIT: At what point does Hotspur require a new thread being made separate to D&G?

 

[Simon75]

The Hotspur website is live too https://hotspurbus.co.uk/ , which seems to be very inconsistent on it being "HOTSPUR" (all capitals) and "Hotspur" (title case). I notice some special day return fares too, with a "connect ticket" ("Purchase a Hotspur Connect ticket on route 301 and use the same ticket to travel to/from Newcastle, Hanley or Shrewsbury on route 64 or to/from Whitchurch and Wellington on route 340") and a service 20 discounted return fare. I also notice they're using the myTrip app that D&G used to use before they made their own (also interestingly, the myTrip Hotspur "All Zones" ticket includes D&G, hopefully that won't cause confusion for D&G drivers).

EDIT: At what point does Hotspur require a new thread being made separate to D&G?

Already done a few weeks ago

Hotspur (Centrebus)

New thread for Hotspur (part of D&G/ Centrebus) Current timetables on bustimes.org https://bustimes.org/operators/hotspur

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[nonabrow]

At what point does Hotspur require a new thread being made separate to D&G?

Im fairly certain there already is one.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

The Hotspur website is live too https://hotspurbus.co.uk/ , which seems to be very inconsistent on it being "HOTSPUR" (all capitals) and "Hotspur" (title case).

Not really. The logo, which acts as the fleetname on the buses, with the Knight imagery as the O and other detailing, is capitalised and so in places where the logo would be shown such as the headers of the the web page that is used but where writing it in a sentence it is just a word and so is title case as it would be for any other company name.

There did appear to be some confusion about whether the S would be capitalised as some of the initial social media posts had but that doesn't appear to have survived that initial viewing.

 

[theshillito]

Not really. The logo, which acts as the fleetname on the buses, with the Knight imagery as the O and other detailing, is capitalised and so in places where the logo would be shown such as the headers of the the web page that is used but where writing it in a sentence it is just a word and so is title case as it would be for any other company name.

There did appear to be some confusion about whether the S would be capitalised as some of the initial social media posts had but that doesn't appear to have survived that initial viewing.

I'm sure I saw it in all capitals in more places, but now it seems just the "HOTSPUR Connect" ticket retains all caps.

 

[capitalpotter]

D&G have a new route 9B Tunstall to Hanley starting 28th September.
It looks like it will interwork with the 9A with a PVR of 4

 

[SeanM1997]

D&G have a new route 9B Tunstall to Hanley starting 28th September.
It looks like it will interwork with the 9A with a PVR of 4

9A reduces from half-hourly to hourly, with 9B also operating hourly

9B - Tunstall - Hanley

D & G Bus

bustimes.org

This is partially to replace the 90 which Stanton's of Stoke service ends on 26 September 2026:

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[SeanM1997]

From 28 September 2026, improvement to local services in Congleton:

- 90 gets new Monday - Saturday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1835, 1935 and 2100
- 90 gets new Sunday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 0930, 1100, 1330, 1500 and 1630
- 91 gets new Monday - Saturday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1853, 1953 and 2118
- 91 gets new Sunday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 0947, 1117, 1347 and 1517
- 92 gets new Monday - Saturday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1915, 2015 and 2140
- 92 gets new Sunday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1010, 1140, 1410 and 1540
- 93A gets new Monday - Saturday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1810, 2040 and 2200
- 93A gets new Sunday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1030, 1200, 1430 and 1600
- No changes to 93C timetable


Sunday Schedule for Congleton Locals:
0930 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 0945
0947 91 Congleton – Mossley – Congleton 1007
1010 92 Congleton – Bunglatown – Congleton 1028
1030 93A Congleton – Viking Park – Congleton 1048
1100 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 1115
1117 91 Congleton – Mossley – Congleton 1137
1140 92 Congleton – Bunglatown – Congleton 1158
1200 93A Congleton – Viking Park – Congleton 1218
BREAK
1330 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 1345
1347 91 Congleton – Mossley – Congleton 1407
1410 92 Congleton – Bunglatown – Congleton 1428
1430 93A Congleton – Viking Park – Congleton 1448
1500 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 1515
1517 91 Congleton – Mossley – Congleton 1537
1540 92 Congleton – Bunglatown – Congleton 1558
1600 93A Congleton – Viking Park – Congleton 1618
1630 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 1645

 

[Simon75]

From 28 September 2026, improvement to local services in Congleton:

- 90 gets new Monday - Saturday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1835, 1935 and 2100
- 90 gets new Sunday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 0930, 1100, 1330, 1500 and 1630
- 91 gets new Monday - Saturday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1853, 1953 and 2118
- 91 gets new Sunday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 0947, 1117, 1347 and 1517
- 92 gets new Monday - Saturday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1915, 2015 and 2140
- 92 gets new Sunday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1010, 1140, 1410 and 1540
- 93A gets new Monday - Saturday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1810, 2040 and 2200
- 93A gets new Sunday services leaving Congleton Bus Station at 1030, 1200, 1430 and 1600
- No changes to 93C timetable


Sunday Schedule for Congleton Locals:
0930 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 0945
0947 91 Congleton – Mossley – Congleton 1007
1010 92 Congleton – Bunglatown – Congleton 1028
1030 93A Congleton – Viking Park – Congleton 1048
1100 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 1115
1117 91 Congleton – Mossley – Congleton 1137
1140 92 Congleton – Bunglatown – Congleton 1158
1200 93A Congleton – Viking Park – Congleton 1218
BREAK
1330 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 1345
1347 91 Congleton – Mossley – Congleton 1407
1410 92 Congleton – Bunglatown – Congleton 1428
1430 93A Congleton – Viking Park – Congleton 1448
1500 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 1515
1517 91 Congleton – Mossley – Congleton 1537
1540 92 Congleton – Bunglatown – Congleton 1558
1600 93A Congleton – Viking Park – Congleton 1618
1630 90 Congleton – Bromley Estate – Congleton 1645

Don't think Congleton locals have ever had a Sunday service , at least non since 1986, though they have had evening services years ago

 

[em81]

Don't think Congleton locals have ever had a Sunday service , at least non since 1986, though they have had evening services years ago

Glancing at the Cheshire East plan it states local town services on Sunday. In the case of Poynton, Wilmslow and Knutsford the town services are intertown services that leave the main road to serve residential streets. The 391 has recently got a Sunday service. I wonder if the 88 should be next.

 

[station_road]

Not D&G but part of the same Cheshire East improvements, from today the 39 from Crewe to Nantwich is increased to hourly Monday to Saturday daytime - operated by Mikro

 

[martinsh]

Not D&G but part of the same Cheshire East improvements, from today the 39 from Crewe to Nantwich is increased to hourly Monday to Saturday daytime - operated by Mikro

Got a link to the timetable ?

 

[theshillito]

Got a link to the timetable ?

The timetable is here https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/public-transport/service-39-web.pdf

I notice bustimes.org hasn't updated yet. I feel like nobody knew this was happening until today when it already started.

 

[TheSel]

Don't think Congleton locals have ever had a Sunday service , at least non since 1986, though they have had evening services years ago

Latest I can find - April 1985 - attached.

Hourly Crosville evening services on Bromley & West Heath (K90) and Buglawton (K92), plus a single journey via Canal Road by PMT's 313 service.

Only Sunday services were hourly Crewe - Congleton - Macclesfield K38 (first journey approx 1330 each way, last journey 2225 to Crewe & 2332 to Macc), and (generally) hourly Congleton - Biddulph K87, again starting 1330 - last return 2130 ex Congleton, 2155 ex Biddulph, Park Lane Estate.

 

[em81]

The timetable is here https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/public-transport/service-39-web.pdf

I notice bustimes.org hasn't updated yet. I feel like nobody knew this was happening until today when it already started.

Have they got enough vehicles? They have 3 showing on bus times and yesterday the Eclipse was switched for the Enviro part way through the day.

There's also quite a number of photos on Flickr showing Mikro vehicles without working destination displays and a 39 card in the front windscreen.

 

[theshillito]

Have they got enough vehicles? They have 3 showing on bus times and yesterday the Eclipse was switched for the Enviro part way through the day.

There's also quite a number of photos on Flickr showing Mikro vehicles without working destination displays and a 39 card in the front windscreen.

So in theory they just need two vehicles from what I've read (Mikro do a lot of school trips alongside this single public route). The 39 paper in the window is normal even before the timetable change, they don't seem to care enough to actually have destination displays. The Ticketer machine is one of the handheld ones bolted to the dash too

 

[semppec]

Have they got enough vehicles? They have 3 showing on bus times and yesterday the Eclipse was switched for the Enviro part way through the day.

There's also quite a number of photos on Flickr showing Mikro vehicles without working destination displays and a 39 card in the front windscreen.

Mikro have I believe close to around 17 vehicles, with 6 of them being single deckers which would suit the 39. These can be used on the 39 when not doing school runs as demonstrated recently when the metrocity was off the road for a while.

 

[nonabrow]

Mikro have I believe close to around 17 vehicles, with 6 of them being single deckers which would suit the 39. These can be used on the 39 when not doing school runs as demonstrated recently when the metrocity was off the road for a while.

Interesting that 6 of them are SD; its surprising that only 3 of them currently show up on the 39 if thats the case.

 

[semppec]

Interesting that 6 of them are SD; its surprising that only 3 of them currently show up on the 39 if thats the case.

The others are mainly used for school services that they run, normally when they have to use one of the buses they just use another buses ticket machine.

 

[nonabrow]

The others are mainly used for school services that they run, normally when they have to use one of the buses they just use another buses ticket machine.

That makes sense, thanks for clarifying.

 

[WestCountry]

So in theory they just need two vehicles from what I've read (Mikro do a lot of school trips alongside this single public route). The 39 paper in the window is normal even before the timetable change, they don't seem to care enough to actually have destination displays.

They don't seem to care about running the service either.

When I was last in Nantwich there were a couple of people, including a youngish teenager on his own, waiting at the stand for the last 39 of the day.

A Mikro bus was parked up in the layover corner with nothing displayed and at departure time the driver appeared, hopped in and drove straight off without pulling up to the stand or checking for passengers, both of whom were left behind trying to make other arrangements.

 

[PaulWC]

Latest I can find - April 1985 - attached.

Hourly Crosville evening services on Bromley & West Heath (K90) and Buglawton (K92), plus a single journey via Canal Road by PMT's 313 service.

Only Sunday services were hourly Crewe - Congleton - Macclesfield K38 (first journey approx 1330 each way, last journey 2225 to Crewe & 2332 to Macc), and (generally) hourly Congleton - Biddulph K87, again starting 1330 - last return 2130 ex Congleton, 2155 ex Biddulph, Park Lane Estate.

A search through the excellent Railwaymedia website shows that even going back as far as 1965 when the original North Western were running the Congleton services, none of the estates had a Sunday service.

Timetables

RAILWAYMEDIA-British Railway Pictures

www.railwaymedia.co.uk

Odd that Cheshire East have a new pdf timetable for the Congleton locals, yet D&G still haven't updated their downloadable timetable and it's not even mentioned in the service updates.

 

[em81]

I presume a Solo with the fleet number 3020 will enter service somewhere soon, given they've used 3019 and then 3021, and they both have the same registration sequence.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 12:34 ==

Odd that Cheshire East have a new pdf timetable for the Congleton locals, yet D&G still haven't updated their downloadable timetable and it's not even mentioned in the service updates.

Agreed it's strange. 5013 is showing as tracking on the Congleton locals right now. Saying that, notices on buses and at bus stops would probably be more effective, as the majority of regular passengers probably won't check the operator's website regularly.

 

[PaulWC]

I presume a Solo with the fleet number 3020 will enter service somewhere soon, given they've used 3019 and then 3021, and they both have the same registration sequence.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 12:34 ==



Agreed it's strange. 5013 is showing as tracking on the Congleton locals right now. Saying that, notices on buses and at bus stops would probably be more effective, as the majority of regular passengers probably won't check the operator's website regularly.

The day after I posted that, D&G actually updated the downloadable timetables, although they still haven't mentioned the Congleton changes in the service updates. D&G are usually pretty good on keeping most of the website up to date - although the map of Northwich services is 3 years old and the Winsford one has simply been taken down.

 

[markymark2000]

D&G are usually pretty good on keeping most of the website up to date - although the map of Northwich services is 3 years old and the Winsford one has simply been taken down.

Shame that the Northwich map isn't being updated. I was quite pleased and surprised to see the other maps being updated though.
Bit confusing on the Stone and Uttoxeter maps though to include the Chaserider routes when the ticket acceptance between both operators is so poor (and both websites can't even agree what tickets are available).

 

[SeanM1997]

D&G to vary bus routes 2 and 5 from 1 November 2026. This is the same day that First Potteries will cut its service 2 and remove all evening services on route 5. Be interesting if D&G have won the contracts for evening services on both routes, which would be beneficial for passengers given D&G operate the daytime services.