Trip to St Helens / Widnes 07-11-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2719	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	34A	Arriva NW&W
719	St Helens BS	Widnes, Vicarage Road	17	Arriva NW&W
2536	Widnes, Town Hall	Widnes, Green Oaks	110	Arriva NW&W
14	Widnes, Green Oaks	St Helens BS	17	Halton Transport
2708	St Helens BS	Prescot BS	89	Arriva NW&W
4603	Prescot, Adj Stanley Crescent	St Helens BS	10	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit St Helens. We had checked the weather for today and the forecast was for cloudy and clear weather for the sfternoon, clearing up from the rain that was predicted in the morning. We gave Matthew a choice of destination from the Midlands and North West and from the list he chose St Helens. Matthew got up just after 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off a fraction after 12:00 and as we travelled towards the A5035 we saw First Potteries 50296 in the distance on a #23A to Hanley. We turned right onto the A5035 and then right again onto Stanley Matthews Way. As we approached the Britannia Stadium we looked for 'The special one's' chair, but we didn't see it. We joined the A50 down to Sideway and then we joined the North bound A500. As we crossed under Glebe Street where we saw D&G 117 on a Hanley bound X14 service. Further up the A500 we passed Southbound Robin Hood Coaches MKZ 1877. We joined the Northbound M6 and we travelled Northwards we saw Daw2Door MA59 KME & Hollinshead RIL 1023. When ew got to the M62 we went westwards for one junction to Winwick, where we got onto the A49 up to Newton-le-Willows passing passing Network Warrington 93 on the #22 and Arriva NW&W 2980 on the #360 service. In Newton we turned left onto the A572 turning left to go into Earlestown when we got to the Texaco petrol station. We went into town and we parked up in the free car park near to the bus station. We walked past the bus station and we had dinner in Crumpets cafe as we usually do when in this part of the world. Matthew had a breakfast wash down with a glass of Coke. After we had finished we went to the toilets along from the cafe and we saw Hatton's Travel MX55 YBA,

Hatton's Travel MX55 YBA in Earlestown bus station

We then headed back to the bus station. We said goodbye to mum who was staying in Earlestown for a while, and I ran back to the car to get the trip bag and we saw required Arriva NW&W 2719 on a #34A to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2719 in Earlestown bus station

I got back from the car and the bus was still there so we jumped onto Arriva NW&W 2719 and we booked North West Day Saver tickets at £5.20 each. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off out off the bus station and through the housing estate to the South of the A572. We joined the main road and we headed West into St Helens. We had to travel through two sets of temporary traffic lights before Joining the A58 on the Eastern edge of town. We left Parr Street and went onto Corporation Street and we went into the bus station and staright onto stand for the returned departure. We let the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2719.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2719

It was still raining when we got off the bus. We decided to have a quick walk around taking a few picture whilst we decided what to catch next. On layover on Corporation Street was required Arriva NW&W 2981.

Arriva NW&W 2981 in St Helens bus station

Further inside the bus station we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2493 on a #38 to Rainford.

Arriva NW&W 2493 in St Helens bus station

We had previously been on Arriva NW&W 2493 on a #20 service from New Boston to Earlstown back in July 2012. We went onto Bickerstaffe Street which is on the other side of the bus station and we saw required Arriva NW&W 719 on a #17 to Widnes.

Arriva NW&W 719 in St Helens bus station

As we had got an Arriva tickets and not a Merseyside Saveaway ticket, we decided to do the Solo SR and leave the Merseyside area. We got on the bus and we flashed the North West Day Saver tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off through the town and as we passed World of Glass we saw PG Coaches coach YX55 FVA. We went across the roundabout near to KFC and We went along Peasley Cross Lane and under the railway line. We went South and we joined the A569 and there appeared to be a cross country event taking part in Sherdley park. We went over the railway line at Lea Green and we went towards Clock Face. We went through the estate and we ended up on Jubits Lane. We went past The Dream and we crossed over the M62 and the A557. We joined the B5419 and we went South. At Victoria Park we turned left onto Locketts Road. We went South down Peel House Lane. We arrived at a busy shopping area with quite a few bus stops. As we passed the stops we saw Springfield East Lancs double decker F16 HOW on a X62 to Runcorn. We went West back onto the B5419 and we carried on Southwards. We turned into a side street and everybody got off the bus. We had reached the terminus. The bus was now empty and Matthew got a picture inside Arriva NW&W 719.

Inside Arriva NW&W 719

We got off the bus and we took another picture of Arriva NW&W 719 in Widnes.

Arriva NW&W 719 in Widnes

We remembered our last visit to Widnes back in July 2015, and we walked down onto Victoria Road to wait for a Green Oaks bound Arriva Service. We had a choice of catching a #79C or a #110 which end up in Liverpool or Warrington respectively. Whilst we waited we saw required Halton Transport 19 on a #2 service to Halebank.

Halton Transport 19 in Widnes

A few minutes later we saw an Arriva bus approaching... As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 2536 on a #110 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2536 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we flashed the North West Day Saver tickets to the driver. We had asked the driver if the bus called at the Green Oaks retail park and an elderly passenger sat near to the front of the bus thought it was odd we were only travelling 3 stops up the road! The bus travelled up the road and we turned into the retail park. When we got to the main stops we got up to get off the bus. The gentleman was still wondering about our journey and he said that 'it's no wonder kids are unfit today!'. We got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 2536 in full sunshine before it carried on towards Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2536 in Widnes

Whilst we waited for the bus Matthew was going to visit the toilet. On the way we saw Halton Transport 31 going Southwards.

Halton Transport 31 in Widnes

We also saw required Arriva NW&W 2668 on the #79C to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2668 in Widnes

Matthew visited the toilet and when we got back we around 5 minutes to wait. Whilst we waited we saw Halton Transport 34 on a #61 to Liverpool.

Halton Transport 34 in Widnes

A few minutes later we saw the #17 branded bus turn the corner and it was required Halton Transport 14.

Halton Transport 14 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we flashed our Arriva North West Day Saver ticket to the driver, valid on this bus due to the Quality Bus partnership agreement between bus companies and Merseytravel. We sat down near to the back and we set off out of the Green Oaks retail park and onto Peel House lane. We turned left at Lockett Road and right onto the B5419. We travelled North through Farnworth and into Lunts Heath. We went North up Wilmere Lane and over the A557 and the M62. The road became Jubits Lane and then we turned into Gartons lane. We zigged through the housing estate and we came out on Clock Face Road. At the big roundabout we crossed over and went over Lea Green railway station on the A569. We went up Marshall Cross Road and past Langtree Park again. We crossed under the railway line and we went into town via Parr Street, Church Street and Hall Street were the bus terminated around the corner from the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside Halton Transport 14.

Inside Halton Transport 14

We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Halton Transport 14.

Halton Transport 14 in St Helens

We walked around the corner into Bickerstaffe Street and we had a quick look around to see what we could do. It had just gone 16:00 so we needed to do another bus quickly before it went dark. There was a Volvo on the #34 and we considered doing this. We also saw a Volvo on the #89 to John Lennon Airport... As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 2708.

Arriva NW&W 2708 in St Helens bus station

We decided to do this bus anyway, as we could do a double decker back from Prescot. We got on the bus and whilst I flashed the Arriva North West Day Saver ticket to the driver, Matthew took a picture of the inside of Arriva NW&W 2708.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2708

This was a bus we first had back in March 2013, from Leigh to Lane Head near to Newton-le-Willows on a #34 service. The bus set off out of the bus station and into the town. we picked up a few more passengers before we went onto the A58. Part way along Prescot Road we turned down Grange Park Road and we followed the route down through Portico and past Eccleston Park railway station. We came out on the A57 opposite Whiston hospital and then we carried on into town along the A57. We turned left into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. The bus carried on towards Huyton and Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 2708.

Arriva NW&W 2708 in Prescot bus station

We walked back up to the A57 and Matthew indicated that he wanted to go to the toilet. There was a pub on the corner by the bus station called The Sun Inn, and Matthew wanted to go in there. We purchased a drink which happened to be a can of Coke so we could take it with us, and then Matthew used the toilet. After we had finished we went outside and we crossed the road at the crossing before waiting on the opposite side of the road for a return service to St Helen. It was going to be either a #10 or #10A service. It could either be an Arriva double decker or a Stagecoach single decker. Matthew shared a Milky Way double bar with uncle Dave and I, and then we saw 3 buses approaching... There were 2 Arriva double deckers and a Stagecoach single decker. The Stagecoach single decker pulled over at the stop down the road and the Arriva double decker on the #10 came first. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 4603.

Arriva NW&W 4603 in Prescot

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva North West Day Saver ticket to the driver foe a final time today. We went upstairs and Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of the top deck of Arriva NW&W 4603.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4603

The bus set off Eastwards along the A57 and then we turned left onto St Helens Road. At the roundabout we turned right onto the A58. It was now dark albeit a small slit of light coming from the west under the clouds that were now overhead. As we travelled Eastwards it started to rain again. We got back to St Helens very quickly along the A58, in around 15 minutes... We came into town from the west end and we ran past the town hall and into Corporation Street. We got up and got off the bus and we took another picture of the double decker. In front of us was Arriva NW&W Volvo B10BLE 2720, which was also on layover. We crossed the road to get a better picture of 2720...

Arriva NW&W 2720 in St Helens bus station

We walked towards the toilets, which were closed today... Then we remembered that Matthew had already been in the pub in Prescot. We walked up to the car which was now just around the corner from the bus station, where mum was waiting for us with Greggs sausage rolls. Matthew washed his down with a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off past the North West Museum of Road Transport and we joined back onto Corporation Street. We joined the Eastbound A58 which we did for a few hundred yards and then we turned right onto the A572. We went back through Earlestown and into Newton-le-Willows and we turned right onto the A49. We went South and we saw Network Warrington 51 on the #22 service and Arriva NW&W 3050 on the #360 service. At Winwick as we waited to get onto the A49/M6 link road we saw a Red Kite midicoach go past us. We ran the mile or so along the dual carriageway A49 Winwick Link Road and we got onto the southbound M6 at Junction 22. Going Southward we had quite heavy rain so we took our time. There was also the radio commentary of the Stoke City match to listen to, which kicked off at 17:30. We made steady progress and we saw Paul's of Stoke coach M41 KCU. When we got to junction 16 we came off the M6 and we saw Hodsons coaches Y2 HOD at the roundabout. Further down the A500 we saw MT Travel DK60 CWY. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we came off it at Longton to see what was parked at Z Carz. In the front row was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

Near bus on the front row Z Carz Ford minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

The nearest vehicle in the second row was Z Carz Ford minibus FP06 WTW used for school transport.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was in the compound, There we saw Z Carz taxi minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we went to Tesco to fill up with diesel. When we had finished we went West on the A50 and we heard that Marko Arnautovic score his goal on the commentary. We headed through Blurton and we got home around 18:45. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a Pudsey Bear shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:45... Mark