Warrington's Own Buses

[Andyh82]

I’m also not a fan of that livery

Not sure why they’d dropped the red and blue, which I’m sure isn’t even *that* old.

 

[KX03HZY]

I’m also not a fan of that livery

Not sure why they’d dropped the red and blue, which I’m sure isn’t even *that* old.

The rationale is that with yellow publicly-owned buses being introduced in Liverpool and Manchester, that surround Warrington, Warrington should also have yellow publicly-run buses to blend in with the two cities and have some sort of integrated feel.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Have to say I’m rather confused with this whole rebranding - the use of the neon yellow/black and calling it zebra? But still utilising the wolf from Warrington’s current brand.

ZEBRA is the government scheme that has contributed to the upgrade (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area).

The wolf is a symbol of Warrington linked to the rugby league team, which is probably easier to market with when compared with the town's nickname of Wire.

As for yellow - KX03HZY explains that above.

 

[Andyh82]

The rationale is that with yellow publicly-owned buses being introduced in Liverpool and Manchester, that surround Warrington, Warrington should also have yellow publicly-run buses to blend in with the two cities and have some sort of integrated feel.

Sounds a bit of a silly reason

They will look integrated because they are a different shade of yellow, but won’t be integrated in any other way such as ticketing

 

[buslad1988]

ZEBRA is the government scheme that has contributed to the upgrade (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area).

The wolf is a symbol of Warrington linked to the rugby league team, which is probably easier to market with when compared with the town's nickname of Wire.

As for yellow - KX03HZY explains that above.

I’m aware of the government ZEBRA scheme but that means nothing to Warrington locals (where as the wolf does) - and it’s not like zebras are yellow/black! Their publicity uses #ridethezebra tagline and a zebra emoji.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The rationale is that with yellow publicly-owned buses being introduced in Liverpool and Manchester, that surround Warrington, Warrington should also have yellow publicly-run buses to blend in with the two cities and have some sort of integrated feel.

Arguably, they could've used primrose and blue.... the colours of Warrington RLFC

 

[Mollman]

Sounds a bit of a silly reason

They will look integrated because they are a different shade of yellow, but won’t be integrated in any other way such as ticketing

Which is where Transport for the North should come in and hopefully Project Coral will allow tap-on tap-off capping across multiple authority areas.

 

[SeanM1997]

Warrington's Own Buses to launch a new N3 route between Northwich - Moulton - Northwich (circular) operating hourly Monday - Friday between 0955 and 1358 from 2 April 2024:

N3 - Northwich - Kingsmead - Moulton Village (Circular)

Timetable for N3 - Northwich - Kingsmead - Moulton Village (Circular)

www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk

Pardon Our Interruption

Service is not supported by subsidies

Additionally, minor timetable changes on N4 route serving Barnton - Northwich - Leftwich (circular) from 2 April 2024:

Pardon Our Interruption

N4 - Barnton - Winnington - Northwich - Leftwich - Kingsmead (Circular)

Timetable for N4 - Barnton - Winnington - Northwich - Leftwich - Kingsmead (Circular)

www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk

Update: BusTimes seem to suggest it only operates 2-12 April, so half term only? Interesting if so... let's see:

N3 - Northwich - Kingsmead - Moulton Village (Circular)

Warrington's Own Buses

bustimes.org

Route:

N3 - Northwich - Kingsmead - Moulton Village (Circular)

Warrington's Own Buses

bustimes.org

 

[northwichcat]

That N3 timetable looks like a service that could be run using the vehicle + driver off a school or college bus, allowing for a break between the service and the afternoon scholar working.

 

[Danfilm007]

Warrington's Own Buses to launch a new N3 route between Northwich - Moulton - Northwich (circular) operating hourly Monday - Friday between 0955 and 1358 from 2 April 2024:

N3 - Northwich - Kingsmead - Moulton Village (Circular)

Timetable for N3 - Northwich - Kingsmead - Moulton Village (Circular)

www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk

Pardon Our Interruption

Service is not supported by subsidies

Additionally, minor timetable changes on N4 route serving Barnton - Northwich - Leftwich (circular) from 2 April 2024:

Pardon Our Interruption

N4 - Barnton - Winnington - Northwich - Leftwich - Kingsmead (Circular)

Timetable for N4 - Barnton - Winnington - Northwich - Leftwich - Kingsmead (Circular)

www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk

Update: BusTimes seem to suggest it only operates 2-12 April, so half term only? Interesting if so... let's see:

N3 - Northwich - Kingsmead - Moulton Village (Circular)

Warrington's Own Buses

bustimes.org

Route:

N3 - Northwich - Kingsmead - Moulton Village (Circular)

Warrington's Own Buses

bustimes.org

Yes the new N3 looks interesting, I hope it isn't just for a few weeks as I know it will go down well in Davenham and Moulton!

 

[SeanM1997]

From Monday 2nd April, a new N3 service will be operating on behalf of Cheshire West and Cheshire Council in Northwich connecting Northwich, Kingsmead and Moulton.
On the same day, the N4 will be revised to improve timekeeping and will no longer serve Kingsmead.

We’re thrilled to announce new connections in Northwich starting on Monday 2nd April. - Warrington's Own Buses

www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk

 

[northwichcat]

Kingsmead actually sees a reduction in operating hours. First bus into Northwich at 10:12 instead of 09:34 and last bus out at 13:30 instead of 14:05

 

[Simon75]

Kingsmead actually sees a reduction in operating hours. First bus into Northwich at 10:12 instead of 09:34 and last bus out at 13:30 instead of 14:05

I thought the 31 or 37 served the above?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I thought the 31 or 37 served the above?

They serve Leftwich rather than Kingsmead

 

[northwichcat]

Kingsmead was built in the late 90s as a new estate. Leftwich has existed for a very long time and London Road through Leftwich is the old A533. The Davenham bypass was built around the same time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Mar 2024 ==

Not sure why they’d dropped the red and blue, which I’m sure isn’t even *that* old.

I think red and blue came in when they introduced the MMCs. The Cheshire Cat branded buses got a new orange and blue livery, and the rest got red and blue. I'm pretty sure they brought in a new MD around that time who wanted a rebrand from the mainly red Network Warrington branding. I think less than 20 years ago they were still using a white and red Warrington Borough Transport brand.

 

[Jase_in_CW]

N3 is really interesting. Covers sections given up by Ariva after covid. 31 served Moulton village and 37 served Davenham village rather than just the main roads through the villages. Historically, E37 and E39 routings. Current D&G 37 is ex K37. So many underserved or abandoned routes in Mid Cheshire. This is the first good news in a long time.

 

[ClydeCoaster]

Interestingly, when compared against my own photograph of it, the bus used for the launch was the not-very-discreetly disguised BZL demonstrator BV72 KPF.
View attachment 154048View attachment 154049
Makes me wonder - are they using it disguised for the launch event because the buses aren’t ready until May, or are they buying the demonstrator from Volvo outright? If its the former, then… well, why not wait to do the big launch in May?

BV72KPF, fleet number EV1, has been in service since 20th March, so looks like they've bought it outright.

EDIT: Though it does have a Volvo logo on the side alongside Warrington Borough Council, UK Govt etc. under the "Powered by" logo.

 

[ServerHoster]

Will N3 have the same/similar fares as N4?

 

[Danfilm007]

Will N3 have the same/similar fares as N4?

I believe so, yes.

The Route is being funded by BSIP funding from Cheshire West I believe, on a trial basis currently

 

[northwichcat]

Will N3 have the same/similar fares as N4?

I think £2 singles are the norm for all routes at the moment. There's an exception on the N4 whereby there's a £1 ticket to the infirmary if you travelled into Northwich on another route.

 

[MasterSpenny]

The first of the Volvo BZLs have arrived, with the first one having been delivered being under the registration BV24LPN. It bears a fleet number of 1001. A photo (not mine) is below.

Warrington 1001 8

The first of the new electric fleet to show its face in Warrington is no 1001 (BV24 LPN), which is seen on driver familiarisation, 9 July 2024.

www.flickr.com

 

[danbarjon]

Did they order deckers as well?

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Did they order deckers as well?

They did - the entire order is a mix of different length single-decks and a number of 'deckers, although the exact split I'm not sure of.

 

[Edvid]

72 singles and 33 deckers, according to Buses Magazine.

Although they share a common driveline and bodybuilder, not all the BZLs will be the same. They fall into four sub-types that reflect the varied make-up of the current diesel fleet. Out of 72 single-deckers, 49 will be 10.8m long, 19 will be 12m and four of them 9m; the other 33 will be double-deckers. There has been a revival in double-deck operation in recent times, but these will be the first bought new for 35 years.

 

[PaulWC]

I saw that 1001 coming down Legh Street on Tuesday afternoon. Very nice, still not sure about the yellow though!!!

I was coming back from Bradford on the train on Saturday and I noticed a line of Warrington double deckers parked up behind the big Kammac Logistics warehouse on Dallam Lane next to Warringtons depot. No idea if that's a regular occurence or whether it was to make room for new deliveries?

I know the area around that Kammac warehouse is used for all sorts of things, with a Maynes coach regularly parking up round there during the week, a HGV driving centre round the side, lots of empty Sainsburys trailers parked up, and even a filimg crew using part of the land at the Kerfoot Street end for a week.

 

[SW Buses]

Does anyone know if Warrington’s Own Buses are running any extra journeys or special services associated with the Creamfields Festival? I seem to recall they have prior years, but can’t see anything on their website?

 

[markymark2000]

Does anyone know if Warrington’s Own Buses are running any extra journeys or special services associated with the Creamfields Festival? I seem to recall they have prior years, but can’t see anything on their website?

Warrington don't run extra journeys on their own services, they are however running the C1 Creamfields shuttle from Manchester and C2 shuttle from Warrington Bus Station. I don't know if this is Creamfields contracting WOB to run the service, or whether it's a WOB commercial service.

I watched the Warrington shuttle a few years ago and while there were passengers, it was nowhere near as busy as it should be. Buses seemed to be running about every 30-60 minutes. Nowhere near what I would expect considering Warrington is the closest mainline station. Direct trains from Scotland, London, Leeds, Manchester, North Wales etc and yet they get a low frequency shuttle which doesn't even serve the mainline station. Bit weird. Taxi drivers do a roaring trade due to the poorish bus links.

 

[SW Buses]

Warrington don't run extra journeys on their own services, they are however running the C1 Creamfields shuttle from Manchester and C2 shuttle from Warrington Bus Station. I don't know if this is Creamfields contracting WOB to run the service, or whether it's a WOB commercial service.

I watched the Warrington shuttle a few years ago and while there were passengers, it was nowhere near as busy as it should be. Buses seemed to be running about every 30-60 minutes. Nowhere near what I would expect considering Warrington is the closest mainline station. Direct trains from Scotland, London, Leeds, Manchester, North Wales etc and yet they get a low frequency shuttle which doesn't even serve the mainline station. Bit weird. Taxi drivers do a roaring trade due to the poorish bus links.

Thank you. I see. to recall they did advertise the C2, but wasn’t sure if that was a one-off.

 

[sonic2009]

Seems to be quite a few of the new buses out in service now.

I travelled on one on Saturday on the CAT9 Warrington-Northwich

When is the full fleet expected to be in service?

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Seems to be quite a few of the new buses out in service now.

I travelled on one on Saturday on the CAT9 Warrington-Northwich

When is the full fleet expected to be in service?

They are due across the summer and autumn. Looks like the 10.8m examples (all 49 of them) are coming first, with the shorter/longer examples and the 'deckers coming later in the year.