Trip to Tamworth / Sutton Coldfield 18-04-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4409	Tamworth bus interchange	Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham), Gracechurch Shopping Centre (Stop SD)	110	Arriva Midlands
4408	Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham), Gracechurch Shopping Centre (Stop SH)	Tamworth bus interchange	110	Arriva Midlands
3001	Tamworth bus interchange	Coton Green, Opp Helingham	3A	Arriva Midlands
3808	Coton Green, opp Fox Inn	Lichfield BS	X60	Arriva Midlands
3807	Lichfield BS	Tamworth bus interchange	X60	Arriva Midlands
4410	Tamworth bus interchange	Fazeley, Adj The Square	110	Arriva Midlands
4412	Fazeley, Nr The Square	Tamworth bus interchange	110	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Tamworth. Matthew had also said that he wanted to visit Lichfield too. We had checked the weather and it was for fine and sunny weather all over the Midlands and North West. We gave him a list of places to go and from the list he chose Tamworth. Matthew got up around 10:00 and he had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off at 12:00 and we went down to the A5035 and turned right towards Trentham. At the A34 we turned left and headed South. Near to Stone we passed ABC Supreme VK06 LTV going North towards the hospital. We carried on passed the edge of Stone and we turned left onto the A34 to head towards Rugeley. We passed along through Staffordshire passing Arriva Midlands 3763 on the #825 to Stafford. Instead of heading through Lichfield we decided to drive around it. We went around town on the A5192 and we saw Rotala Diamond 20854 on the #21 service. We headed South on the A38 and we went down A5148 as the A38 route towards Tamworth wasn't signpost until we had already committed to the other road! We joined the Eastbound A5 and we headed East until we got to the Junction by Ventura Park. We came off and headed North up to the A51 and we turned east again to come into town. We parked up in the car park adjacent to Corporation Street and Aldergate. We headed to Cafe Rio and Matthew had a brunch with bread and butter washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and Matthew used the toilet in the Tourist information office. The old toilet block had now closed down. We went back on to Corporation Street to the interchange and we saw required Arriva Midlands 3017 on a #3 to Coton Green.

Arriva Midlands 3017 in Tamworth bus interchange

We headed down the row and we took a few more pictures... In between #82 services was Solus Coaches MX12 CGE.

Solus Coaches MX12 CGE in Tamworth bus interchange

On a #2 to Gillway was required Arriva Midlands 3016.

Arriva Midlands 3016 in Tamworth bus interchange

We decided we were going to do a double decker on the #110 service. We had a few minutes to wait for the next bus on this quarter hourly service. Whilst we waited we saw required Arriva Midlands 3511 on a #785 to Lichfield.

Arriva Midlands 3511 in Tamworth bus interchange

A few minutes later the double decker on the #110 appeared. It was dud Arriva Midlands 4409.

Arriva Midlands 4409 in Tamworth bus interchange

Whilst we were waiting to get on the bus, Matthew pointed to Sutton Coldfield on the side of the bus. This meant that we need an Arriva Midlands Day Saver in stead of a Tamworth and Lichfield one. We got on the bus and we booked the Day Saver tickets at £6.20. We went upstairs and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 4409 too.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4409

The bus set off towards the A51 before turning South towards Ventura Park. The bus announced each stop as we approached it and also displayed this information on a screen. We headed South to Fazeley and then we headed West to Mile Oak. At Mile Oak we headed south again through a ore rural part of the route. We passed Bassetts Pole round about and continued South to Sutton Coldfield. We circumnavigated the one way system into town and we turned into the Grazechurch shopping centre area. We got off the bus and we photographed the Scania Onicity double decker behind us. It was required National Express West Midlands 4780.

NX West Midlands 4780 in Sutton Coldfield

We also saw National Express West Midlands 4299 on a #77 to walsall.

NX West Midlands 4299 in Sutton Coldfield

We crossed over victoria Road and we saw Arriva Midlands 3006 on the next #110 back to Tamworth. We crossed back over the road onto the other side of the shopping centre street ready to return towards Tamworth, and in the mean time we took a few more bus and coach pictures. we then saw Alfa coach 44 dropping off passengers.

Alfa 44 in Sutton Coldfield

Matthew had a Milky Way whilst we were waiting to take more pictures. We then saw National Express West Midlands 4916 on a #902 service to Hill Hook.

NX West Midlands 4916 in Sutton Coldfield

This was followed by National Express West Midlands 4329 on a #6 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 4329 in Sutton Coldfield

We also saw National Express West Midlands 4799 on a #914 to Birmingham via the Aston Expressway.

NX West Midlands 4799 in Sutton Coldfield

Next was National Express West Midlands 2111 on a #71 to Solihull.

NX West Midlands 2111 in Sutton Coldfield

Across the road we saw another Scania Omnicity double decker, National Express West Midlands 4778 which arrived and went out of service.

NX West Midlands 4778 in Sutton Coldfield

On a #904 to falcon Lodge was National Express West Midlands 4918.

NX West Midlands 4918 in Sutton Coldfield

Eventually our bus back to Tamworth arrived, and it was required Arriva Midlands 4408.

Arriva Midlands 4408 in Sutton Coldfield

We got on the bus and we flashed the Midlands day saver ticket at the driver. We went upstairs and sat down near to the back of the bus. We set off Northwards around the towns one way system and we passed the graveyard and adjacent Good Hope hospital... We carried on north and into rural Staffordshire. We raced north to Bassetts Pole and up to mile Oak before heading Eastwards towards Fazeley. At Fazeley square we went North and passed Ventura Park. We continued North up to the A51 and then turned by the Fire station and onto Aldergate. We turned into Corporation Street and into the interchange. We got off the bus and we saw a bus going towards Lichfield. Matthew went to the toilet in the Tourist Information office and by the time he had finished the bus to Lichfield had departed. We decided to look what else was working. At the other end of the interchange we saw required Arriva Midlands 3001 on a #3A to Coton Green.

Arriva Midlands 3001 in Tamworth bus interchange

We asked Matthew if he wanted to do Arriva Midlands 3001 and he said yes. Behind us we saw dud Arriva Midlands 3509 on a #115 to Coleshill.

Arriva Midlands 3509 in Tamworth bus interchange

We got on the bus and we flashed the Midlands day saver ticket at the driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus. There was a few minutes to wait for departure time and the bus started to fill up. The bus was still empty behind us so Matthew took a picture of the inside of Arriva Midlands 3001 behind us.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3001

I couldn't remember which way around the loop the #3A went... The bus set off and I saw we were going along the A51 towards Lichfield. I asked Matthew if he wanted to get off the bus at Coton Green and to catch something forwards towards Lichfield and he said yes. A couple of miles out of town we turned of the A51 near to the fox Inn and we decided to get up and get off the bus. As to bus carried on on it's loop towards Lichfield, Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3001.

Arriva Midlands 3001 in Coton

We walked back to the A51 and at the stop we saw there was an X60 bus due at that very moment! A minute or so later we saw a VDL Pulsar II approaching. It was dud Arriva Midlands 3808.

Arriva Midlands 3808 in Coton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Midlands day saver ticket at the driver. The bus carried on Westward along the A51 right to the edge of town. We turned right and we headed under the Lichfield City railway line before turning right again to get to the bus station. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3808.

Arriva Midlands 3808 in Lichfield bus station

We decide to take Matthew to the toilet. on the way there we took a picture of National Holidays NH06 NEH which was terminating.

National Holidays NH06 NEH in Lichfield bus station

After he had been we went to the shop around the corner. Matthew had a couple of cans and a chocolate bar to re-stock the bag. Next we saw Midland Classic 87 on a X12 to Burton-on-Trent.

Midland Classic 87 in Lichfield bus station

We decided to walk down the bus station to photographs of the buses and coaches we had seen on the way in to the bus station. On a #23 town service was Rotala Diamond 20840.

Rotala Diamond 20840 in Lichfield bus station

parked up in the bus station was Pulham's Travels brand new coach PU15 HAM.

Pulham's Travel PU15 HAM in Lichfield bus station

We walked to the end of the bus station to see the other coach parked up. It was Garfield Travel Van Hool bodied coach YJ12 KFK which was on a Mystery excursion that end up at Lichfield.

Garfield Travel YJ12 KFK in Lichfield bus station

We then saw Arriva Midlands 2938 on the X25 to Stafford service.

Arriva Midlands 2938 in Lichfield bus station

We then saw required Arriva Midlands 3807 on a X60 to Tamworth. We walked back down and it was still in the bus station so we decided to catch it.

Arriva Midlands 3807 in Lichfield bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Midlands day saver ticket at the driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus and then required Arriva Midlands 4217 made an appearance on the #7 to Burton-on-Trent.

Arriva Midlands 4217 in Lichfield bus station

The bus set out and we turned left under the City railway line we traveled a further 1/2 a mile or so southwards and then we turned left onto the A51. We then had a long straight run through Whittington and passed the barracks. We passed Parkington free range Pork Farm or 'Pigs in Space', and through the village of Hopwas. We entered town and we got to the bus interchange. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3807.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3807

Matthew went to the toilet again before it shut for the evening and when we came back out we saw Stagecoach Midlands 36176 parked up between duties on it's service to Nuneaton.

Stagecoach Midlands 36176 in Tamworth bus interchange

We decided to do one more short out and back on the #110 service. Whilst we waited Matthew sat on the wall and ate some Milky Stars and drank a can of Barr limeade. We also saw Arriva Midlands 3007 on the #6 to Ventura Park whilst we waited too.

Arriva Midlands 3007 in Tamworth bus interchange

The next #110 to Birmingham arrived and it was required Arriva Midlands 4410.

Arriva Midlands 4410 in Lichfield bus station

We queued up to get on the bus and the bus started to load. We got on the bus and we flashed the Midlands Day saver ticket at the driver. We went upstairs as there were people front and back on the bus Matthew took a picture of the empty seats opposite to us.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4410

The bus set off West out of town until we got to the first big roundabout and then we went South. We crossed over the rivers Anker and Tame and we headed East for a short while before continuing South past Ventura Park. At Fazeley Square the bus went westwards and we got up and got off the bus.

Arriva Midlands 4410 in Fazeley

We had just missed one bus going back to Tamworth, so we decided to get some chips from the chip shop on Coleshill Road. We headed back to the square and we sat on a bench and we ate the chips quickly. Matthew also had a can of Vimto. We just finished and went around the corner and then the bus made and appearance. It was required Arriva Midlands 4412.

Arriva Midlands 4412 in Fazeley

We got on the bus and we flashed the Midlands Day saver ticket at the driver for the final time today. We went upstairs and the rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took his picture inside the bus immediately.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4412

The bus paused for a short while until it was time to carry on North. We passed Ventura Park and we crossed the rivers Tame and Anker before turning Eastwards past the Fire station on onto Aldergtate. We turned into Corporation Street and into the interchange. We took a couple more pictures before we headed back to the car... We saw dud Arriva Midlands 3509 running out of service, which was passing required Arriva Midlands 3511 which was on the #765 to Lichfield.

Arriva Midlands 3509 in Tamworth bus interchange

We headed back to the car and mum was waiting with some Greggs sausage rolls. I got some Irn Bru out of the boot of the car ans we set off out of town. This time we went back along the A51 to Lichfield. We passed through Lichfield town and we carried on westward along the A51 through Rugeley, Colwich and Weston. Near to Salt we passed Coach Leasing Setra 581 AET. We joined the A34 and we went north past the edge of Stone. North of Stone we saw First Potteries 53405 on a #23 service. We carried on Northwards up the A34 and we turned right onto the A5035. We stopped for diesel at the BP garage and then we continued on to Longton to see what was on Z Carz. On the spare ground there were 3 buses. First we saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Next to this was Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Last in the row was another Mercedes minibus, Z Carz S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned into Willow Row we saw Z Carz Ford minibus BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we came off it at Heron Cross. We headed through Blurton and we saw First Potteries 60068 on a #22 to Longton. The previous service had been the last #22 to serve Dresden. We got home around 18:50. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by mini doughnuts. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark