Trip to Lichfield / Rugeley 17-01-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2732	Lichfield BS	Hednesford BS	62	Arriva Midlands
3703	Hednesford BS	Rugeley BS	31	Arriva Midlands
3756	Rugeley BS	Lichfield BS	X25	Arriva Midlands
3758	Lichfield BS	Rugeley BS	825	Arriva Midlands
3764	Rugeley BS	Lichfield BS	825	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to revisit Lichfield. We checked the weather and all destinations to the North with at risk of snow showers, so we decided to go South. Matthew got up around 10:30 and he had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We gave him a list of destination to the South of us and from those Matthew chose Lichfield. We set off at around 12:15. As we drove down Beaconsfield Drive we saw First Potteries 60069 on the #22 to Dresden. We joined the A5035 and we went towards Trentham. As we joined the A34 we saw ABC Supreme YX03 JVZ going North. Further South we passed First Potteries 65042 going towards Hanley on the #101. W e went around Stone and we joined onto the A51 to head towards Lichfield. Today we decided to eat in Lichfield so we went straight past the top of Rugeley on the A51. We carried on into town and we stopped just short of the bus station to visit the chip shop. Matthew had chips sausage and gravy and a can of Coke. We got back in the car and we parked in the car park adjacent to the bus station whilst we ate our food. Once we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we visited the toilet. We weren't sure what buses we were going to do today. On one of the X55 turns was dud Central Buses YX63 ZXK.

Central Buses YX63 ZXK in Lichfield bus station

The buses had changed quite significantly here since our last visit in December. The X65 Tamworth - Lichfield had been replaced with the X60 Cannock - Tamworth. On a Cannock bound X60 was dud Arriva Midlands 3731.

Arriva Midlands 3731 in Lichfield bus station

We then saw the 2 hourly #35 Lichfield - Walsall service arrive. Today it was being worked by required Central Buses YJ59 PKA.

Central Buses YJ59 PKA in Lichfield bus station

On a X12 to Sutton Coldfield was required Midland Classic 83.

Midland Classic 83 in Lichfield bus station

We were considering doing required Arriva Midlands 3766 which was on the X25 to Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3766 in Lichfield bus station

As we waited for the X25 to be readied for service, we saw required Arriva Midlands 2732 on a #62 to Cannock via Hednesford.

Arriva Midlands 2732 in Lichfield bus station

We decided to do this bus. The plan now was to visit Rugeley for the first time, and we would go via Hednesford. We got on the bus and we brought a Midland Day Saver ticket. We sat down towards the back of the bus sand the bus set off out of town. We headed West towards Pipe Hill and we climbed up and into Burntwood. At Sankey crossroad we turned left and we headed into Chase Terrace. As the bu got emptier Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 2732.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2732

We carried on on a winding route to Hednesford via Cannock Wood, Rawnsley, Hazelslade & Littleworth. As we approached Hednesford we started to see some familiar landmarks. We passed an Aldi and then we saw the large Tesco Extra store. There was a lot of traffic and we had to queue to get onto to town end of Victoria Street. Eventually we got to the bus station area and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then got another picture of Arriva Midlands 2732.

Arriva Midlands 2732 in Hednesford bus station

We walked up the road a little and crossed the road at a zebra crossing. We got to the right stop and we saw Select Bus Y3 NBB on a #23 service. We didn't have to wait long for required Arriva Midlands 3703 on the #31 to Rugeley.

Arriva Midlands 3703 in Hednesford bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the ticket before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off on the A460 and we set off towards Rugeley. The run to Rugeley is one straight road along the A460 about 6 Km distance. As new entered town we crossed under the railway and we headed into the bus station. The bus terminated and everyone got off. Matthew took a picture inside the now empty Arriva Midlands 3703.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3703

We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3703, which was now about to work the #24 local service to Brereton.

Arriva Midlands 3703 in Rugeley bus station

Matthew wanted to use the toilet so we crossed over the bus station to the tardis toilet. Before he went in we saw Arriva Midlands 2701 on the next #31 to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 2701 in Rugeley bus station

On the X25 to Stafford was required Arriva Midlands 2939.

Arriva Midlands 2939 in Rugeley bus station

We also saw dud Arriva Midlands 3762 on the #825 to Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3762 in Rugeley bus station

We checked the time of the next bus to Lichfield and there was a gap in the service. At the bus stop Matthew had a can of Dandelion & burdock and Galaxy Caramel. So we decided to visit the market tostockup the trip bag. At the sweet stall Matthew had £1 worth of sugar free mint chews and a can of Coke. We walked back to the Lichfield stop and on the way we saw Arriva Midlands 2735 on a #26 to Springfields.

Arriva Midlands 2735 in Rugeley bus station

As we waited the last few minutes for the bus, we saw white Optare Excel V204 ENU on rail replacement work. The next X25 to Lichfield turned up and it was required Arriva Midlands 3756.

Arriva Midlands 3756 in Rugeley bus station

We got on the bus and flashed the tickets before sitting down near to the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we saw National Express West Midlands 1890 on 'Contract' work. We climbed the hill through Brereton and we joined onto the A51. We had a good fast run through Longdon and we passed the A515. When we got to the Hedgehog pub we joined Stafford Road / Beacon Street for the run into town. we passed near to the Cathedral and then we headed to the bus station from Saint John Street. When we got to the bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3756.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3756

On the local #20 circular service was required Rotala Diamond Solo 20838.

Rotala Diamond 20838 in Lichfield bus station

On the #66 to Burntwood we saw Central Buses EU06 WGM.

Central Buses EU06 WGM in Lichfield bus station

Matthew visited the toilet and on the way out we saw required Midland Classic 82 on the X12 to Sutton Coldfield.

Midland Classic 82 in Lichfield bus station

At the same time dud Midland Classic 81 was going towards Burton on the X12.

Midland Classic 81 in Lichfield bus station

On the #825 to Stafford we saw required Arriva Midlands 3758.

Arriva Midlands 3758 in Lichfield bus station

We decided to do this bus to Rugeley so we got on the bus and flashed the Day Saver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of town and onto Beacon Street. We continued onto Stafford Road before joining the Northbound A51. We continued Northward for around a mile before turning right onto the A515. We conitinued for around 3/4 mile up the A5035 before turning left on to the B5014. We went through the village of Handsacre and then into Armitage and nearby the sanitaryware factory. We carried on down the A513 and we joined onto the A51 for a short run before turning right into Brereton and running into town. From our last visit we knew the X25 left the bus station around 33 minutes past the hour and the #825 left at 38 minutes past the hour. A we descended the hill into Rugeley it was 16:35 and we passed the X25 going the other way. We pulled into the bus station and we could see the #825 was already on stand. We jumped off the bus when it came to a stop and we ran up towards the #825. I ran to the front of the bus and Matthew took a picture of required Arriva Midlands 3764.

Arriva Midlands 3764 in Rugeley bus station

We jumped on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midland Day saver ticket for the last time today. The bus set off out off town and we climbed the hill through Brereton. When we got to the A51 we turned left and then ran to the next junction where we turned right onto the A513. We went through Armitage and Handsacre and we dropped of most of the other passengers. As we stormed through the countryside along the B5014 Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3764 facing forwards.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3764

We joined the A515 and then we went onto the Southbound A51. At the pub once again we went onto Stafford Road for the run into town. Stafford Road became Beacon Street and then we went into the town centre, approaching the bus station one more from Saint Johns Road. Whenwe got to Lichfield we saw the X25 that had passed us earlier. It was required Arriva Midlands 3766.

Arriva Midlands 3766 in Lichfield bus station

On an X60 to Cannock was required Arriva Midlands 3004.

Arriva Midlands 3004 in Lichfield bus station

We headed back to the car and mum was waiting for us with sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of town and we joined the Northbound A51. The road back was dark and we were stuck behind a slow moving car from just outside Rugeley all the way to Weston where there is a short stretch of dual carriageway. We continued North onto the A34 and then we turned onto the A5035 at Trentham. We continued up to Longton where we went to check up on what was happening at Z carz. There were no vehicles on the spare ground once again today. In Willow Row there were only a couple of minibuses and one of these was Z Carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We rejoined the A50 and we headed to Heron Cross. We came off the A50 and we headed down Blurton Road. We turned right at Critchlows Corner onto Church Road and then Right onto Beaconsfield Drive. At the bottom of Beaconsfield Drive we saw First Potteries 60069 again on the #22 to Dresden exactly six hours later than when we last saw the bus. We got home around 18:20. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark