Trip to Birkenhead 03-05-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2460	Birkenhead BS	King's Parade, New Brighton	410	Arriva North West & Wales
2460	King's Parade, New Brighton	Birkenhead BS	410	Arriva North West & Wales
2461	Birkenhead BS	King's Parade, New Brighton	410	Arriva North West & Wales
4412	King's Parade, New Brighton	Woodside BS	411	Arriva North West & Wales
4412	Woodside BS‎	Birkenhead BS	411	Arriva North West & Wales

A bank holiday Monday trip... Didn't know quite what to expect today with it being a Sunday service, so we thought we would play thing by ear. When we got to Birkenhead, first order of the day was to find somewhere to get something to eat! The usual burger van in the corner of the market was closed, as was the rest of the market. Just around the corner we found a cafe that was open called Platters. We all ate here, it wasn't to bad... Next on to the bus station. Whilst mum went shopping, we stood with Matthew whilst he took some pictures.


First PMT 60172 in Birkenhead bus station. (Matthew)



Avon 107 approaches Birkenhead bus station. (Matthew)

We also had a look to see what was working. There only seemed to be 3 different types of Arriva bus out today. Enviro Trdent 2 double deckers,VDL's and Goldfish bowls. So we decide to ride on the older buses. We worked out that an easy out and back trip would be to catch the 410 to New Brighton. Sure enough 2460 appeared on the next New Brighton service, so we purchased our day rovers and off we went...


2460 approached birkenhead bus station (Matthew)

The bus was surprisingly full for a bank holiday, fuller than buses we are used to catching anyway. We made our way to the back of the bus, it was hot and crowded indeed....


2460 in New Brighton (Matthew)

On arrival we asked Matthew which bus he wanted to catch back. He opted to get straight back on 2460 back to Birkenhead. The was another child on the bus who appeared to be autistic with his mother on this bus. She asked us if Matthew went to the same school as her son and we explained that we were not from round here. Matthew and the boy seem to make an instant connection as if they knew of each other shared interest in transport! at Birkenhead bus station we said our goodbye's and went our separate ways...
We had already decided that we would go back to New Brighton on the next service. Whilst waiting we also noticed service 411 New Brighton went past the bus station in one direction and appeared back 10 minutes later. We surmised correctly that bus was going to the Woodhead ferry terminal. Next bus to New Brighton in was 2461. So once again we got on, and once again it was crowded!


2461 in New Brighton (Matthew)

This time we persuaded Matthew not to get straight back on the bus. I looked up the move on the 411, taking in Woodhead bus station for the first time. After Matthew gave us the run around in the nearby park / tennis courts, we caught back a double decker 4412.


4412 heads a Liverpool bound bus in New Brighton (Matthew)

4412 took us down the East coast of the Wirral, via Seacombe and then into Woodhead bus terminal. We didn't get up very quickly, and the bus didn't stop...So we decided to go back to the main bus station! When we got back in we retired back to the car to a waiting supply of sausage rolls...


Mark