Trip to Cannock / Rugeley 23-01-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3718	Cannock BS	Hednesford BS	26	Arriva Midlands
2748	Hednesford BS	Cannock BS	19	Arriva Midlands
3740	Cannock BS	Penkridge, Opp Crown Bridge	75	Arriva Midlands
3721	Penkridge, Adj Crown Bridge	Cannock BS	75	Arriva Midlands
3702	Cannock BS	Rugeley BS	70	Arriva Midlands
2736	Rugeley BS	Cannock BS	70	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Cannock. We check the weather for the North West and Midlands, and it was for mild cloudy weather until around 17:00 when rain was due to move in from the West. We gave Matthew a choice of destination from the North West and Midlands and from the list Matthew chose Cannock Hi, thanks for this blog, i was having trouble finding out whether the 154 was national express west midlands or arriva, many thanks, cheers!. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and strawberry juice. We set off a fraction before 12:00 and we went onto the A5035. We went over thr raiway line into Trentham and we conrinued down to the A34 where we went North. Turning left at Whitmore Road We then joined the A519 for a few hundred yards before going onto the South bound M6. Travelling down the M6 we saw several national Express coaches going Northwards... One of these was Selwyns YN10 FKP. We also saw a silver mini coach Passenger Plus+ with black and orange decals. We came off the M6 at the A5 and we went Eastwards to to Southern end of Cannock. We then we into town up the final Km or so along the A4601. At the top of the ringway we turned into the Multi-storey car park and we parked on the roof in one of the long stay spaces. Once we had parked up we went down to the shopping centre and Matthew used the toilet. We carried on through the shopping centre and we went to the The Copper Kettle cafe which overlooks the bus station. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. Whilst eating we saw required Arriva Midlands 3718 on the #25 Pye Green circular and national Express west Midlands 851 which was on the relatively new #154 service from Hednesford to Wolverhampton. We also saw plain white coach Happy Days Coaches H1 HDC arrive to pick up West Brom fans for their home match against Aston Villa. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked down to the bus station. As we entered the bus station we saw required Arriva Midlands 3721 on the #75 to Stafford and required Arriva Midlands 2748 on the #19 Cannock outer circular service.

Arriva Midlands 2748 in Cannock bus station

We also saw required Arriva Midlands 3718 now on the #26 Pye Green circular.

Arriva Midlands 3718 in Cannock bus station

We asked Matthew which of the buses he wanted to do and he chose Arriva Midlands 3718. We decided we were going to do this bus up to Hednesford. We got on the bus and we booked a Midlands Day Saver ticket for £6.20. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off out of town eastwards and onto the A4601. We traveled North Eastwards parallel to the railway line before we turned left onto Crab Lane. We turned right onto Moss Road before we joined the main road, turning right onto Cannock Road. We crossed the roundabout and we continued North for another few hundred yards before we turned right onto Market Street and then left into Victoria Street where we decided to get up an off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3718.

Arriva Midlands 3718 in Hednesford bus station

We checked the timetable and we saw that there was a #19 service due in a few minutes followed by a #70 to Rugeley. Whilst we waited we saw National Express West Midlands 850 arriving on the #154 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 850 in Hednesford bus station

A few minutes later we saw required Arriva Midlands 2748 on the #19 outer Cannock circular.

Arriva Midlands 2748 in Hednesford bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands day Saver tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down to the roundabout and we turned around and headed back up Victoria Street. We turned left onto Market Street and then right onto Anglesey Street. At the end we turned left onto Stafford lane and we went across the roundabouts over the A460. We carried on Hill Stree and we traveled South for a round a thousand yards before we turned left into Langholm Drive. We wound trough the estate up to Wimblebury and we came back South onto Hednesford Road down Bank Street. On Hednesford Road we took the second left and went down Gorsemoor Road. We turned right onto Meadow Way and we went North up to and into Tesco. After turning around in Tesco we went South down Heath Way and right onto the A5190. At the A460 we turned right and headed South. After a few hundred yards we turned left into the Orbital Retail Park. We whizzed around the park and we came back onto the A460 further South. We joined the main road Junction to the South East of town where we saw an engineering train on the railway above. We then headed bcak into town up the A34 and along the Ringway before coming into the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 2748.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2748

We had a bit of a walk around now to see what buses were about We saw Arriva Midlands 3308 on a #1 service to Walsall.

Arriva Midlands 3308 in Cannock bus station

Coming into the bus station running out of service we saw required Arriva Midlands 2741.

Arriva Midlands 2741 in Cannock bus station

A bus came and parked up outside the bus station in the layby for bus parking. It was required Social Travel Dart Social Travel Y338 FJN on layover between runs on the #74 to Stafford.

Social Travel Y338 FJN in Cannock bus station

A few minutes later we saw required Arriva Midlands 3740 arrive about to work the next #75 to Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3740 in Cannock bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3740 before we sat down.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3740

We decided we were going to do the bus up to Penkridge. We set off out of the bus station and we traveled North up the A34. We went through Huntington and when we got to the edge of Cannock Chase we turned right onto Pottal Pool Road. We went West for a couple of miles and we crossed over the M6. We turned left into a housing estate and we went along Wolgarston Way. We turned right onto Vale Gardens and then forwards onto Filance Lane. We turned left into Francis Green Lane and the we paused for a few second to wait time. We then went left onto New Road and right onto Wolverhampton Road. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3740 before it carried on towards Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3740 in Penkridge

The bus back to Cannock was due in just a few minutes. We crossed the road and we tried the toilet which was locked. Almost immediately the bus turned up and it was required Arriva Midlands 3721.

Arriva Midlands 3721 in Penkridge

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off Southwards down Wolverhampton Road and we turned left into New Road. We whizzed around the estate and back onto Cannock Road. We carried on straight onto Pottal Pool Road and we went right onto the A34. We headed South through Huntington and down into town. When we got into Cannock bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3721.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3721

We were going to go to the toilet. On the way we stopped to photograph Select Bus Services Dart 1 which was on the #67 to Wolverhampton.

Select Bus Services 1 in Cannock bus station

We walked into the shopping centre and Matthew used the facilities. After we had finished we walked back into the bus station and we took a few pictures. We saw required Arriva Midlands 4201 come in on the #74 service and then go on layover.

Arriva Midlands 4201 in Cannock bus station

We also saw National Express West Midlands 853 on the #154 to Hednesford.

NX West Midlands 853 in Cannock bus station

A few minutes later we saw dud Arriva Midlands 3702 on the #70 to Rugeley.

Arriva Midlands 3702 in Cannock bus station

We decided to do this bus so we waited for the bus to start loading. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set out of the bus station and went North out of town onto Brunswick Road. At the end of Brunswick Road we turned right onto Old Fallow Road. At the double roundabout we veered left onto Huntington Terrace Road at the end of the road we turned right onto Belt Street. We joined onto Cannock Road and we headed North up to Market Street. We turned left onto Victoria Street and we stopped briefly in the bus station area. We joined the Northbound A460 and we continued for around 5 miles before going into Queensway. We whizzed around a small estate and we came back out of Queensway before continuing up the A460 into town. At the main roundabout we went straight ahead into the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3702.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3702

As we came into the bus station we noticed a minibus parked up. We got off the bus and we walked over to the minibus which was William's Coaches MX08 NCA.

William's Coaches MX08 NCA in Rugeley bus station

We decided to got to the toilet straight away. The tardis toilet was closed so we walked over to the Burger King/Subway across the road. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards we purchased a couple of medium portions of fries from Burger King.We walked back across to the bus station and we sat down and ate the fries between the three of us. Afterwards we walked into the market and we purchased £1's worth of pick and mix from the sweet stall. Back outside we saw required Arriva Midlands 2745 on the R1 free Tesco bus service.

Arriva Midlands 2745 in Rugeley bus station

We decided to go back across the road and visit the petrol station to get a few supply to stock up the trip bag. Matthew had a can of Coke and and a bottle of Irn Bru as well as some chocolate. After we had paid for the things we crossed back over the road. Back in the bus station we saw Arriva Midlands 3757 on a #825 to Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3757 in Rugeley bus station

A few minutes later the next #70 service to Wolverhampton cam into the bus station. It was required Arriva Midlands 2736.

Arriva Midlands 2736 in Rugeley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands day Saver tickets to the driver for the final time today. The bus sat in the bus station awaiting time. When it was time we set off out of the bus station and straight onto the A460. We turned left onto Queensway and we and we whizzed around the estate before returning onto the A460. We traveled South for 5 miles and we entered to up Victoria Street. We passed through the bus station and we joined the Southbound Cannock Road. At the roundabout we turned right onto Belt Street. We turned left onto Huntington Terrace Road. At the double roundabout we veered right onto Old Farrow Road and we turned left onto Brunswick Road. We came into town and we entered the bus station. The bus emptied and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 2736.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2736

When we got back into the bus station mum was waiting for us. We walked through the shopping centre and matthew visited the toilets. We went down the escalator and out of the shopping centre and across to the stairs for the car park. We climbed the stairs and mum was waiting for us as she had taken the lift. Once we got out of the car we drove out of the the car park and we went West on the Ringway. At the roundabout we did a 180' and went back East on the Ringway and the we went down the A34. As we did the #19 earlier in the day we had seen a Sainsbury petrol station selling diesel at 97.7p. At the big roundabout we went North up the A460 and into the Orbital Retail Park and we stopped for some Diesel. Once we had toppd up we went back to the big roundabout and we joined the Westbound A460. We traveled West for a couple of miles before joining the Northbound M6. It was now raining quite hard and we drove up to junction 15 of the M6 before taking the Northbound A500. At Sideway we went East on the A50 up to Longton, where we came off to check out what was at Z Carz this evening. In the first row we saw Z Carz X599 WDY

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

Next to this was Z Carz green Ford minibus T418 WYJ.

Z Carz T418 WYJ in Longton

At the near end of the first row was Z Carz minibus BU04 GYW

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

Closest minibus in the second row was Z Carz FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

At the back of the site we saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. At the front of the compound we saw Z Carz YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

Also in the compound was Z Carz Y569 DSF.

Z Carz Y569 DSF in Longton

We rejoined the A50 and we went West to Heron Cross where we left the A50 and we went onto Blurton Road. We traveled up through Blurton and forwards onto Church Road before turning right into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 18:20. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out until bedtime around 01:00... Mark