Trip to Leigh / Atherton 23-04-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
39245	Leigh BS	Ellenbrrok, nr Newearth Road/East Lancs Road	V1	First Manchester
32211	Ellenbrook, adj Newearth Road/East Lancs Road	Boothstown, Booths Hall Way	VH1	Rotala Diamond
32211	Boothstown, Booths Hall Way	Ellenbrook, adj Newearth Road/East Lancs Road	VH1	Rotala Diamond
39241	Newearth Road, Guided Busway Stop	Atherton, Market Street/Co-op (Stop C)	V2	First Manchester
69524	Atherton, Market Street/Co-op (Stop C)	Leigh BS	582	First Manchester
10445	Leigh BS	Boothstown, Simpson Road/Boothstown Precinct (Shopping Ctr)	34	Stagecoach Manchester
32211	Boothstown, Simpson Road/Boothstown Precinct (Shopping Ctr)	Boothstown, Booths Hall Way	VH1	Rotala Diamond
32211	Boothstown, Booths Hall Way	Ellenbrook, adj Newearth Road/East Lancs Road	VH1	Rotala Diamond
39253	Newearth Road, Guided Busway Stop	Leigh BS	V1	First Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Leigh so we could ride on the new guided busway. We checked the weather for Leigh today and it was for manly sunny and dry weather with some cloud. Mathew got up around 10:30 and had some toast washed down with summer fruit juice. We set off around 12:00 onto the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way. We went West on the A500 to Sideway and then North onto the A500. Traffic was moving well and we got up to the M6 quite quickly. As we went North up the M6 we passed a number of coaches coming South. We saw An Antony's Travel coach, 3 x Vision coaches, A blue Options tri-axle coach, National Express liveried FJ12 FXT. An Edwards Coaches coach, a BSS coach and Bakers Dolphin coach. We ran up to junction 22 and we turned East onto the A579. We ran up to Lowton and we turned right. Before we crossed the A580 we saw Swans YP15 NLE stop outside a pub. We continued North into town and we turned right and went past the bus station and main shopping centre. We doubled back to the shopping centre car park abd we parked up. We then walked through the shopping centre to the bus station. On the corner of the bus station was one of the new First Manchester vantage branded buses for the guided busway. It was required First Manchester 39250 on a V1 service.

First Manchester 39250 in Leigh bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and then we went to the burger van by the bus station with the gazebo and outdoor dining space. For dinner Matthew had a bacon and egg barm washed down with a small bottle of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and First Manchester 39250 had now been replaced by required First Manchester 39245.

First Manchester 39245 in Leigh bus station

We queued up to get on the bus and it was quite busy. When we got on the bus we booked System One bus only tickets at £%.20 each. We went upstairs and we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus pulled out of the bus station and we turned left onto Spinning Jenny Way. At the end we went straight and onto the start of the guided busway where there is a park and ride facility. The first thing that was noticeable about the journey was the speed. It didn't seem to go particularly fast, but that might because the route is almost straight and traffic free with the exception of passing other buses coming the other way. The other thing of note that it used to be an old railway line, but the track seems very undulating... Im not sure if the landscaping was introduced to speed up and slow down buses as they leave and approach the stops. As we traveled East we passed a number of Vantage buses going the other way. In the first section of the guided busway up to Tyldesley we passed First Manchester 39240 on a V1 service. We also saw Rotala Diamond 20727 at one of the crossing on a #684 Tyldesley circular service. At the Astley Street stop it was a more substantial stop with passing loops and stops for ordinary buses. This is where the V2 enters and exits the guided busway for journeys up to Atherton. As we traveled East from this point we saw First Manchester 39252/9246 on V2 services and First Manchester 39243/39239 on V1 services. We got to the last stop on the busway and the bus turned right onto Newearth Road where we got up and got off the bus. On the other side of the road we saw First Manchester 39254 on a V2 service and a white Rotala Diamond bus. As First Manchester 39245 loaded up with more passengers, we took another picture before it continued to Manchester.

First Manchester 39245 in Ellenbrook

We decided to cross the road to have a look at the white Rotala Diamond Streetlite. Before we did we took a picture of required Rotala Diamond 32211 on the VH1 Boothstown circular.

Rotala Diamond 32211 in Ellenbrook

We decided to have a ride on the bus so we got on and asked the driver about the service and he gave us a timetable. It appeared to be a feeder service for the V1 that started in February. Before we sat down as the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 32211.

Inside Rotala Diamond 32211

The bus set off up Newearth Road and we turned right into Ellenbrook Road just short of the guided busway. We followed the road onto Bridgewater Road and we continued West to Mosley Common. We then turned left onto Mosley Common Road and we crossed over the A580. We continued South onto Simpson Road and we went past the main shopping plaza in Boothstown before we turned right into Booths Hall Way. Part way down the road we stopped to wait time. After the stop we continued around this very nice housing estate. We turned left onto Amberhill Way and then right onto Highclove Lane. There were a couple or horses coming the other way so the driver stopped the bus and shut the engine off until after the horses had gone by. The bus was re-started and we continued up to Booths Hall Way and Leigh Road. As the route is figure of eight like, we turned right onto Simpson Road and we past the shops in Boothstown again before we turned left onto Ellenbrook Road. We crossed the A580 and we went forwards onto Newearth Road, completing the circle, so we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 32211 before we walked off up the road towards the guided busway.

Rotala Diamond 32211 in Ellenbrook

It was close to a quarter of a mile up to the guided busway stop, as we started going up the road we saw a couple of Manchester bound Vantage service. The first bus we saw was required First Manchester 39243 on a V1 service.

First Manchester 39243 in Ellenbrook

A few seconds later we saw First Manchester 39246 on a V2 service to Manchester.

First Manchester 39246 in Ellenbrook

We crossed Ellenbrook Road and we turned to see required Stagecoach Manchester 36798 on a #32 to Wigan, which we could have caught up to Atherton. A few yards further up the rod we turned left into the Newearth Road guided busway stop. There was a display with the bus service times, as the times weren't evenly spaced it must have been real time bus information. It said that the next bus due was a V2 service to Atherton, and indeed it was when it turned the corner out of Newearth Road. It was required First Manchester 39241.

First Manchester 39241 in Ellenbrook

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus wasn't as rammed full as the Manchester bound V1 service. We set off Westwards along the guided busway and we traveled the approximate 3.5 Kilometre of guided busway to the Astley Street Stop. After a brief stop at the platform we turned right onto Astley Street and we left the guided busway. At the top we turned left onto Manchester Road and into Tyldesley town centre. It was the first time that we had ever been to our namesake town... We left toen along the A577 and we went North Westwards the mile or so to Atherton. We went forwards onto Market Street and as the bus advised us with it's talking stop announcement, we got up as this was the main town centre stop. Before we went downstairs Matthew took a picture in the now empty First Manchester 39241.

Inside First Manchester 39241

We got off the bus and we crossed the road and Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39241 as it prepared to returned to Manchester.

First Manchester 39241 in Atherton

As we didn't manag to get to the bank earlier and we spotted a Lloyds by the bus stop, we crossed back over the road to use the cash machine. Whilst we were there we saw Rotala Diamond 33005 on a #132 service to Wigan.

Rotala Diamond 33005 in Atherton

We returned to the bus stop and we looked at the timetable. Most of the service from this stop were now hourly including the once frequent #32 Manchester to Wigan service. The only frequent service from this stop was the #582 from Bolton to Leigh. There was one due in a few minutes. We gave Matthew a small bottle of Cherryade, and as often is the case as soon as we give food or drink a bus turned up! It was required First Manchester 69524 on a #582 to Leigh.

First Manchester 69524 in Atherton

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes, so we climbed aboard and we flashed the System One bus tickets to the driver before we sat down at the back of the bus. The bus set off along market Street and at the end it veered left onto Leigh Road. We then traveled the 3 or so mile down the one straight road through Howe Bridge and into the North end of Leigh. When we got into town we entered the bus station off King Street. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 69524.

Inside First Manchester 69524

We decided to take Matthew to the toilet whilst we had the chance, and after he had finished we had a look around for something to catch. On the next V1 to Manchester was required First Manchester 39244.

First Manchester 39244 in Leigh bus station

We also saw required Stagecoach Manchester 10445 on a #34 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10445 in Leigh bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to do the new Stagecoach bus. Presumably these were purchased for this route to compete with First Vantage service to Manchester bus over conventional roads. There was a driver change, and whilst we waited we had a walk around the bus station. We saw required Arriva North west and wales 2717 on a #34 to St Helens as well as required First Manchester 39249 on the following V1 service. We saw the driver return to the bus so we headed back to Stagecoach Manchester 10445. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. As the top deck was empty Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 10445.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 10445

As we waited for departure time we saw First Manchester 33709 come into the bus station o a #582 to Bolton. When it was time to go we left the bus station and we went out onto Spinning Jenny Way. At the end we turned right onto Chapel street and we headed out of town Eastwards. Chapel Street became Manchester Road and we went a few miles and into the village of Astley. At the other end of Astley we passed coach ROI 8235. We crossed the the A580 and roads became familiar as we entered the Boothstown area. We passed the Leigh bound #34 service so we knew we wouldn't be getting that service back to Leigh, or at least not for another 20 minutes... When we got to the shopping plaza area we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 10445 as it carried on towards Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10445 in Boothstown

Right behind the #34 service was required Rotala diamond 32220 on a #126 to the Intu Trafford centre.

Rotala Diamond 32220 in Boothstown

We decided to get some shopping so we headed over the Plaza to the Sainsbury's local shop. In the shop we brought a can of Coke and a couple of bars of chocolate as well as a Drumstick lolly. After we had finished I took Matthew to the toilet in the adjacent betting shop. We walked back to the main road and at the bus stop Matthew had a Curly Wurly and a small bottle of Coke. We had decided to do the VH1 service again as we knew it would take us back to the guided busway. Whilst we waited we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10447 on a Manchester bound #34 service.

Stagecoach Manchester 10447 in Boothstown

A few minutes later we saw the white Rotala Diamond Streetlite approaching, and as expected it was Rotala Diamond 32211 again.

Rotala Diamond 32211 in Boothstown

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Simpson Road and we turned right into Booths Hall Way. The bus stopped for it's booked waiting time before we circled around via Amberhill Way, Highclove Lane and Leigh Road before going past Simpson Road again. We turned left onto Ellenbrook Road and we crossed the A580 onto Newearth Road where we got up and got off the bus. This time going up to the guided busway we didn't see a bus coming the other way. We step onto the platform at Newearth Road and almost immediately we saw a bus turn the corner. It was required First Manchester 39253 on a V1 to Leigh.

First Manchester 39253 in Ellenbrook

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus wasn't as full as the V1 we had done earlier, but it was more well filled than the Atherton Bound V2. We set off Westwards and we asked Matthew if he wanted to make this the last bus today and he said yes. As we traveled towards Leigh the bus slowly emptied out and by the time we came off the guided busway it was almost empty. We went forwards onto Spinning Jenny Way and we turned right into the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 39253.

Inside First Manchester 39253

Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet and then we had a last look a round the bus station before we went back to meet mum. As we walked around the bus station we saw Rotala Diamond 30920 departing on a #517 to Blackrod.

Rotala Diamond 30920 in Leigh bus station

We also saw Jim Stones Enviro200 BUS 1S on a #586 Gin Pit to Parsonage Retail Park service.

Jim Stones BUS 1S in Leigh bus station

In one of the layover spaces at the bottom end of the bus station was Rotala Diamond Solo 20727.

Rotala Diamond 20727 in Leigh bus station

As we walked back up to the top end of the bus station we saw First Manchester 69525 on a #582 to Bolton.

First Manchester 69525 in Leigh bus station

We walked up Union Street and we turned into Lord Street where mum was now parked. We got in the car and matthew had a Greggs sausage roll which we washed down wit a small bottle of Irn Bru. We drove around the shopping centre and back onto Spinning Jenny Way where we saw Wigan Coachways Scania Omnicity 402 entering the bus station on an unidentified service. We turned left into King Street and we started to head out of town and we stopped to get a few chips from a Chinese chip shop which we shared. We carried on out of town and across A580 into Lowton. We turned left onto the A579 and we ran down to Junction 22 of the M6. As we traveled South passed a few of the coaches we had passed going the other way. At junction 16 we came off the M6 onto the A500 which we did to Sideway. We went east on the A50 up to Longton so we could check out what was on Z Carz this evening. On the spare ground was Z Carz Ford minibus BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

Also in the row was Z Carz BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

Nearest on the front row was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Also on the spare ground was Z Carz green Ford minibus T418 WYJ.

Z Carz T418 WYJ in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and there were a few buses in the compound too. Nearest to the gate was Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LFY.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

We set off back onto the high level A50 and we crossed over the A50 to visit the Tesco petrol station. Here I did one of the most stupid things I have probably done in a while... I accidentally put petrol in our diesel car. I only realised when I was getting the nozzle out of the car and I accidentally splashed a small amount of fuel on my face! We told the cashier and she recommended we phone someone to sort it out before we started the car up. Mum called the A and we took Matthew to the bus station for a while. We walked along Baths Road and when the bus station was in sight Matthew decided he needed the toilet. We went into Tesco and Matthew used the facilities and then we brought him a can of Coke. The phone rang and the AA man was now in position to tow the car. Matthew rode in the AA van and me mum and uncle Dave rode in the car being towed. We set off out of the petrol station and over the A50 onto Foley Road. We turned right onto Longton Hall Road and then left onto Blurton Road. At Critchlow's corner we followed the road around to the right onto Church Road and then right onto the A5035. We got home around 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers & mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark