Trivia: UK local bus routes that use motorways

[Bayum]

Please note that this thread was started on 09.12.2022 and has had some posts from earlier threads merged in. There will be a noticeable gap between the dates of some of the posts and we advise checking the date of a post before replying.

Just wondering if anyone has a complete list of in-service buses that use the motorway?


I only know of the 51 in Leeds, which uses the M621 for part if it's journey - the coastliner to York University uses part of the M1 near Cross Gates, but this is only a recent introduction.


Anymore out there?

 

[telstarbox]

In Greater Manchester, the 126 and 132 both use the M60 between Junction 13 (Worsley) and Junction 10 (for the Trafford Centre).

The X43 "Witch Way" runs on the M66 between Rawtenstall and Prestwich.

 

[Nym]

Sticking with Gtr Manchester, the Witch Way buses to Burnley, Accrington etc, all use the M60 and M66

 

[34D]

Just wondering if anyone has a complete list of in-service buses that use the motorway?


I only know of the 51 in Leeds, which uses the M621 for part if it's journey - the coastliner to York University uses part of the M1 near Cross Gates, but this is only a recent introduction.


Anymore out there?

The coastliner 844 does indeed use the M1 from J46 to A1 J44. Coastliner 743 uses M1 J45 to A1 J44. Transdev 770 771 840 842 843 and 845 use the A64(M) briefly in Leeds city centre.

X60 Leeds-Great Preston (Arriva) uses the M1 from J45 to J46.
X62 Leeds-Hull also (stagecoach) uses the M62.
X64 Leeds-Kippax (M-Travel) uses the M1 from J45 to J46.

 

[bb21]

De Courcey's X6 goes along the M69.

 

[causton]

Round my way, Uno's 614/644, 615, 625/635, 712/714 (for as long as it still runs!) all use the A1(M) (and the latter: the 712 uses the M1 instead)

 

[Deerfold]

In Leeds, the X25 am only from Elland and the X62 to/from Hull also use the M621 with the X62 going onto the M1 (and then as 34D says onto the M62).

Transdev's Lancashire Way X41 also goes from Manchester along the M60 and M56 on its way to Blackburn.

 

[BrianTheLion]

Glasgow to Largs - 901/6/8 all use the M8
Glasgow to Ayr - X77 uses the M77

 

[83G/84D]

I've seen some First buses heading South on the M5 at Bristol near Cribb's Causeway.Always been going the other way myself so don't know anymore.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

First Scotland East X37 (Falkirk - Glasgow) and X39 (Stirling - Glasgow) both use the M80.

McGill's X23 (Glasgow - Erskine) also uses the M8.

First Glasgow X8 - Pollok Circular uses the M77.

 

[david16]

Glasgow to Largs - 901/6/8 all use the M8
Glasgow to Ayr - X77 uses the M77

Isn't the X77 Glasgow to Ayr a coach service? At least it's promoted as a coach service rather than a standard bus service.

The (X)37 and (X)39 from Falkirk and Stirling to Glasgow are standard bus services using the M80.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

My school bus runs on the M53 from junction 8 (or whatever the one that meets the A41) to Clatterbridge Junction . Not really going to say what school bus though TBF our bus isn't really suitable for motorway use, neither is the driver.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also the bus that runs from Ellesmere Port to Runcorn uses the M53. A daily extension used to see it run from Chester to Manchester Piccadilly Gardens, I used it once and it took AGES, more time going through all the villages around E.Port than Runcorn to Manchester!

 

[overthewater]

Isn't the X77 Glasgow to Ayr a coach service? At least it's promoted as a coach service rather than a standard bus service.

The (X)37 and (X)39 from Falkirk and Stirling to Glasgow are standard bus services using the M80.

X77 is a coach service but it does get E300 along with x76 popping up on the routes.

X5 first Glasgow goes all the down M80.

747 stagecoach fife has most it's route down m9 spur , does that count?

 

[Mojo]

I've seen some First buses heading South on the M5 at Bristol near Cribb's Causeway.Always been going the other way myself so don't know anymore.

There's the X25 from Cribbs Causeway to Portishead via the M5 (First) and Wessex Bristol run a similar route CCS. There's also Wessex Bristol's EXP from Portishead to UWE, express via then M5 but joining urban roads through Aztec West and Patchway.

Wessex Bristol's X27 and Wessex Red's 14 run along the M32. I think there may be a First route using the M32 as well?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I've seen some First buses heading South on the M5 at Bristol near Cribb's Causeway.Always been going the other way myself so don't know anymore.

The X25 uses the M5 between Cribbs Causeway and somewhere around J15.

There's the odd route in Bristol that uses the M32 as well, and the Bristol - Chepstow/Newport uses the Severn Bridge, on the M48 I think

EDIT: Mojo beat me to it! But yes I forget which route I was on, but I was on a First Day South West bash and was on one of First's ALX400's and we went on the M32

 

[anthony263]

Newport bus operate their service X30 along the A48 & M4 between Cardiff and Newport.

Stagecoach service X3/X33 Cardiff - Abergavenny also uses the A48/M4 between Cardiff and the outskirts of Newport.

First Cymru's X4 Bridgend - Neath used to operate along the M4 between Sarn (Mc Arthur Glen) and Pyle

 

[GaryMcEwan]

X77 is a coach service but it does get E300 along with x76 popping up on the routes.

X5 first Glasgow goes all the down M80.

747 stagecoach fife has most it's route down m9 spur , does that count?

Yeah I've also seen the odd E400 on the X77 and X76...

And also Stagecoach Western X19 (Glasgow - Easterhouse) uses the M8 and Stagecoach Western X25/X25A (Glasgow to Abronhill) uses the M80.

 

[PermitToTravel]

There's a London bus that uses the motorway! Route A10 uses the M4 (Heathrow Spur) in its entirety

London bus route X26 is also occasionally diverted to run non-stop between Hatton Cross and New Malden via the A30, M25, and A3, whenever there are sporting events closing the Kingston town centre (most recently, Prudential RideLondon)

 

[gnolife]

The 199 is on the M56/M60 between Manchester Airport and Stockport.

 

[bnm]

14, X27, X42, N50, X73, 327, 329, 342, 462, 462A and 689 all use the M32 into and out of central Bristol.

CCS (Wessex Bus) Portishead <-> Cribbs Causeway uses the M5.

X10 Bristol <-> Magor uses M32, M4 & M48
X11 Bristol <-> Chepstow uses M5, M4 & M48
X14 Bristol <-> Chepstow uses M32, M5, M4, M48

With that X14 can any other scheduled bus service in the UK beat 4 different numbered motorways on one journey?

The plural of bus is buses.

 

[83G/84D]

Not a motorway however some of the First bus Truro College services and service X18 get a good old thrashing along the A30 dual carriageway from around 3 miles out of Truro to Hayle.

Passed an elderly Olympian last week doing around 55 mph,although it was going downhill!

 

[DunsBus]

First Glasgow's X1 service uses the M73 and M8.

In response to Overthewater's query the M9 spur is a motorway, so the 747 can be included in the list.

 

[Eagle]

In response to Overthewater's query the M9 spur is a motorway, so the 747 can be included in the list.

It's also technically now part of the M90 (although the signs won't change until the new road bridge opens).

 

[ScottishIain]

First Glasgow's X1 service uses the M73 and M8.

As well as the M74. The First Glasgow X11 service also takes in all 3 of them too.

 

[gingerheid]

Stagecoach Scotland West X34/X36/X37 use the M8, and the X44 uses the M77.

Whatever the bus from Glasgow to the Airport is called these days uses the M8.

The McGills X6A, X7 and X7A use the M8.

 

[CatfordCat]

Probably quite a lot.

First Berkshire's 'Green Line' 701/2 (Bracknell - London) is registered local bus service throughout, and uses the M4 between Langley (Slough) and the point where the M4 turns in to the A4. From memory, I think the distance between the last stop in Langley and Hammersmith is just within the threshold to keep it as a bus not a coach.

First Berkshire's X74 (Slough - High Wycombe) uses the M40 between Beaconsfield and Loudwater.

I am not sure if any bits of the assorted Oxford - London / Heathrow services are legally 'local bus' at any time when they are on the motorways, likewise don't think the Reading - Heathrow 'Railair' is local bus at the moment.

Some bits of some National Express routes are legally 'local bus' and some of these could be on motorway.

There must be a few London commuter coach services which qualify as 'local bus' that use bits of motorway.

Ensign Bus X80 uses the Dartford Crossing, but the Dartford crossing isn't actually part of the M25 - don't think this route uses any bit that's legally M25.

London Buses route 8 used to run on the A 102 (M) between Old Ford and Bow (quite a lively ride towards Bow if the bus was running late and the driver was more interested in tea / going home than overtime) but that bit's no longer motorway.

Think there are a few occasional, longer distance, services in to Lakeside and Bluewater that use bits of motorway.

 

[swt_passenger]

M275 and M27 both have bus routes using them. No idea what the numbers are, but I do know the M275 is shortly to gain a southbound bus lane from the new Tipner junction...

 

[starrymarkb]

The X25 uses the M5 between Cribbs Causeway and somewhere around J15.

There's the odd route in Bristol that uses the M32 as well, and the Bristol - Chepstow/Newport uses the Severn Bridge, on the M48 I think

EDIT: Mojo beat me to it! But yes I forget which route I was on, but I was on a First Day South West bash and was on one of First's ALX400's and we went on the M32

In Bristol

X25 joins the M5 at J19, over the Avon Bridge then comes off again at J17 for Cribbs

X14 uses the M5/M4/M48 between Cribbs and Chepstow

In Glasgow
500 uses the M8 for most of it's route.

 

[northwichcat]

Out of interest how many of the mentioned routes have buses/coaches that can safely run at 70mph on Motorways and how many are fitted with seat belts?

I know the Burnley & Pendle/Lancashire United routes mentioned don't have seat belts and I don't think double deckers ever seem to run at 70mph. The school bus I used to catch had about 5 miles on a 70mph dual carriage and if it was a single decker coach it did the journey quicker than a double decker bus.

 

[starrymarkb]

You won't get a bus/coach doing more then 100km/h (62mph) because of the EU mandated limiter.

The 500 in Glasgow uses ADL E300s with high back seats but no belts. After a wave of flights has landed they are often full and standing.