Trivia: UK local bus routes that use motorways

[northwichcat]

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

When did that become compulsory? It's just I remember seeing something about a 62mph limit on the back of modern coaches around the tun of the millennium but there were two occasions between around 2000 and 2005 that I was on a coach which was clocked by a speed camera on a 70mph road.

 

[Shrimper]

Stagecoach operate the X5 (Stockport-Sale) from Junction 1 of the M60 to Junction 2 of the M56 (and vice-versa).

The Finglands 141/241 school services also use the M56 between junctions 3 and 6. The former 142 route also used the M60 briefly between junctions 1 and 27.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

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).

The X25 Starts from Brighouse instead as the Elland extention was scrapped a few years back.

Before getting axed in '07 the X33 use to use the M606 and M1 on its route from Bradford to Sheffield via Cleckheaton, Dewsbury, Barnsley and Meadowhall.

Despite it not being a motorway but it certainly has that feel to it service 17 Horsham to Brighton uses the southern bit of the A23.

 

[34D]

When did that become compulsory? It's just I remember seeing something about a 62mph limit on the back of modern coaches around the tun of the millennium but there were two occasions between around 2000 and 2005 that I was on a coach which was clocked by a speed camera on a 70mph road.

Complicated subject. Depends on weights, and whether or not it is a bus or a coach (which is dictated by factors that aren't how the body looks).

New vehicles nowadays (in general) need to be limited to 59.9mph if not belted or 62mph if belted.

 

[MK Tom]

The twice weekly Grant Palmer 197 from Biggleswade to Milton Keynes uses the M1.

The Stagecoach 99 also uses it - sort of a coach route, but frequently has Darts running it too.

 

[Eagle]

Also I'm sure I've been on a bus in Manchester which used the Mancunian Way, which is the A57(M). TfGM's website seems to disagree with me though.

 

[BlueFox]

The 103 Carlisle to Penrith goes on the M6 between junctions 43 and 42.

Several years ago one of the Leicester to Groby routes was extended to Fosse park shopping centre, via the M1 between j21a and j21. I got the bus one afternoon after the service had been running for a couple of months and the driver said I was the first passenger he'd had on that part of the route. Not surprisingly the service was reverted to its original route soon afterwards.

 

[Whistler40145]

Does South Lancs Travel service 300 from Bolton to Trafford Centre count?

It goes via the A666 & M60.


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[185]

420 Liverpool - Tunnel - M53 Motorway - West Kirby

Used to be loads of fast buses down the M53, the 417, 418, X8 then Arriva and FirstGroup took over.

 

[gnolife]

Also I'm sure I've been on a bus in Manchester which used the Mancunian Way, which is the A57(M). TfGM's website seems to disagree with me though.

Some 84s (Reddish - East Didsbury - Southern Cem - Chorlton - Trafford Bar - Manchester) and 256s (Flixton - Urmston - Stretford - Trafford Bar - Manchester) run via the A57(M) if there's an event at Old Trafford football ground or the LCCC.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

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.

A couple of Stagecoach Perth's East Lancs Kinetics can quite easily reach 69-70mph on the motorway, the best one for it was 22507 before it got destroyed by fire. And a couple of their E400's can reach 65 without breaking a sweat.

The East Lancs don't have seatbelt's, but the E400's do...

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

I'm sure the Runshaw College buses use the motorway between Preston and Leyland. Unaware of numbers though.

 

[starrymarkb]

When did that become compulsory? It's just I remember seeing something about a 62mph limit on the back of modern coaches around the tun of the millennium but there were two occasions between around 2000 and 2005 that I was on a coach which was clocked by a speed camera on a 70mph road.

IIRC it was in the mid 1990s and only applied to new vehicles. There wasn't a requirement to retrofit. Of course some limiters were easily disabled (eg the old Mercedes LK truck's limiter could be disabled by pulling out a certain fuse which was accessible in the cab, my old boss was passenger in one doing 90mph UP Haldon hill without a trailer)

 

[Shrimper]

Also I'm sure I've been on a bus in Manchester which used the Mancunian Way, which is the A57(M). TfGM's website seems to disagree with me though.

It is a common diversion route (eg today with the TUC march http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/Documents/Information/TUC-March-290913-Service-Info.pdf) for buses from the south to avoid Oxford Road and/or Portland St due to events or roadworks.

 

[WatcherZero]

Ive regularly passed some running near Bolton on the M61, didnt get the number though.

 

[Nym]

Ive regularly passed some running near Bolton on the M61, didnt get the number though.

Could have been the X61 to Preston.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Is there any truth in that you are not allowed standing passengers on a service which uses the motorway? I was on service 52 the other day in Leeds, it was a single and the driver refused any standing passengers because it used the motorway but i'm sure i have used this service in the past with passengers standing.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

My school bus, which I had mentioned earlier as one that uses the motorway, always has people standing when it's double or single decker.

 

[Stan Drews]

Is there any truth in that you are not allowed standing passengers on a service which uses the motorway?

None whatsoever.
Provided a bus/coach is licensed to carry standing passengers, it can carry up to that authorised number, anywhere it likes!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I suppose there isn't a law to say you have to be seated at all times though? You can walk to the loo on the NatEx coach on the motorway without being told off, don't know if that counts differently though as it's more of a personal needs break..

 

[nag67]

Arriva's 345 peak hour service from Skelmersdale to Liverpool (via Waddicar) uses the M58 between J3 and J1.

 

[34D]

Is there any truth in that you are not allowed standing passengers on a service which uses the motorway? I was on service 52 the other day in Leeds, it was a single and the driver refused any standing passengers because it used the motorway but i'm sure i have used this service in the past with passengers standing.

May be an insurance co stipulation?

 

[dvboy]

There are 8 services which use the A38 (M), with one of these continuing onto the M6

 

[northwichcat]

I suppose there isn't a law to say you have to be seated at all times though? You can walk to the loo on the NatEx coach on the motorway without being told off, don't know if that counts differently though as it's more of a personal needs break..

One National Express service I was on (the Sheffield to Blackpool service - I forget who the franchisee is for that) the driver announced that unless you are going to or from the toilet then you must be in your seat wearing your seat belt and if you're not and there's an accident then National Express are not liable for any injury you may suffer.

However, on the next occasion I used National Express (which was operated by Haytons Coaches and wasn't a National Express branded coach) the driver made no such announcement.

 

[Deerfold]

One National Express service I was on (the Sheffield to Blackpool service - I forget who the franchisee is for that) the driver announced that unless you are going to or from the toilet then you must be in your seat wearing your seat belt and if you're not and there's an accident then National Express are not liable for any injury you may suffer.

However, on the next occasion I used National Express (which was operated by Haytons Coaches and wasn't a National Express branded coach) the driver made no such announcement.

Such announcements are fairly common these days (mostly after the change in the law which means that if seat belts are fitted they must be worn). Though often they'll just point out you're breaking the law - I suspect that may play a part in invalidating any insurance.

 

[madannie77]

First's X22 uses the M1 between Rotherham and Barnsley.

 

[starrymarkb]

One National Express service I was on (the Sheffield to Blackpool service - I forget who the franchisee is for that) the driver announced that unless you are going to or from the toilet then you must be in your seat wearing your seat belt and if you're not and there's an accident then National Express are not liable for any injury you may suffer.

However, on the next occasion I used National Express (which was operated by Haytons Coaches and wasn't a National Express branded coach) the driver made no such announcement.

The last NatEx trip I did (Parks/Trathens) the Driver both announced that belts must be worn unless using the toilet before departure from Victoria and then went back through making sure all passengers were wearing them. At Heathrow after the pre-recorded NatEx safety announcement the driver made a manual announcement to "buckle up"

 

[heart-of-wessex]

This is South Glos Bus & Coach, the NatEx 402. Very rare to have an announcement on the way out at pick up points, generally one about Heathrow when we are near it, that's about it. We have Levante's which don't seem to have auto announcements, unless a Plaxton Panther works it.

The driver does walk through though, and also there is generally an announcement about seatbelts on the return only though.

Only time you don't get a check on the way out is if the long haired bloke is driving. He get's off at every pick up/set down point for a fag...

 

[mirodo]

Many years ago, the school bus I caught from Burnley to Blackburn used to use the M65 for part of the journey.

On at least one occasion, the service was operated by one of Burnley & Pendle's "Eastenders" buses - ex London Transport Routemasters!

 

[spargazer]

X5 as per link http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/RouteMaps/X5.pdf