Trip to Telford / Oakengates 15-10-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3326	Telford BS	Madeley Centre (Stand C)	2	Arriva Midlands
3333	Madeley, opp Court Centre	Telford BS	4	Arriva Midlands
3310	Telford BS	Ketley Bank, Third Avenue (NW bound)	14	Arriva Midlands
3310	Ketley Bank, Third Avenue (NW bound)	Telford, opp Matheson House	14	Arriva Midlands
3753	Telford, opp Matheson House	Oakengates BS	5	Arriva Midlands
3339	Oakengates BS	Wellington BS	4	Arriva Midlands
3338	Welligton BS	Oakengates BS	4	Arriva Midlands
3783	Oakengates BS	Telford BS	5	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Telford. We checked the weather for today and it was generally dry with some sunshine all across the Midlands and North West. Matthew had originally said that he wanted to travel to Hampshire, but I told him that we would have to plan it and we would have to get up very early to travel that far. Matthew then picked Telford having looked at the map of the area that we could travel to within an hour or so. Research consisted of downloading the Telford area Arriva map and looked at the available bus tickets on the Arriva website. Matthew got up around 10:00 and he had toast and orange juice for breakfast. He also wore his Doug Stoke City top for the first time this season in the hope that it would bring the tram some better luck! We set off around 11:30 and we initially went North to get gas for the car. We set off onto the A5035 and then we went North up Stanley Matthews Way past the BET365 Stadium where Stoke were to host Sunderland later today. We went West onto the A50 and we saw Ausden Clark coach BIG 4611 which we followed onto the Northbound A500. As we ran North we saw Bakers Coaches 272 going the other way. We ran up through Stoke and we came off the A500 at Shelton onto Shelton New Road. We ran past the old Twyfords factory and we went to the gas garage to fill the car up with gas. We then got onto the A53 and we went West to the A500. We then turned left onto the Southbound A500 and we ran down to the end where we got onto the Southbound A519. As we crossed the A51 we saw Bennetts mini coach FY52 GOP turn onto the A519 ahead of us. We ran down to Eccleshall where we turned right onto High Street. after turning around we parked up at the side of the road and we went to the Star Cafe for dinner. After using the toilet, Matthew had a brunch with toast which he washed down with a can of orange Tango. After we had finished we got back in the car and we continued south down the A519. Close to newport we got on the A41 to go around town before getting onto the Westbound A518. As we got to the A442 we accidentally took a wrong turn into the village of Trench and we went past a small coach operation, where we saw M&B Coaches X856 HEE & SN11 CTU. We got back onto the A442 via Wombridge Road and Wrockwardine Wood Way and we continued down until we got to past the railway station at Telford. We came off the A442 and we turned right onto Hollinsgate. We went Forwards onto Grange Central and right onto Northfield Street where we turned right into the Brown Elms car park opposite to the bus station. It took a while to get in the car park, not sure what was going on the the barriers weren't letting anyone in. Whilst we waited to get in we noted down National express West Midlands coach BX65 WBD on a #545 to London. We parked up and then we said goodbye to mum before we crossed over the road and entered the bus station area. On layover we saw Arriva Midlands 2748 and on stand was Arriva Midlands 3749 on a #5A to Donnington Asda.

Arriva Midlands 3749 in Telford bus station

We went to the toilet which is situated just inside the Telford shopping Centre and then we returned to the bus station to see what we could catch. There wasn't much in when we got back to the bus station. Down the bottom end was Arriva Midlands Streetlite 3326 on a #2 to Sutton Hill.

Arriva Midlands 3326 in Telford bus station

We decided to do this bus down to Madeley, where the #1, #2 and #4 all converge. We got on the bus and we booked Arriva Local Day Plus tickets at £4.70 each. The rear of the bus beyond the step was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3326.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3326

As we set off we saw Banga Travel Solo V262 DRC on a #891 to Wolverhampton. We set off out of the bus station onto Malinsgate and we rounded the Taverners pub onto Brunel Road. We headed South towards Dawley. At the end of the road we turned left onto Mount Road and we headed through the estate onto King Street. We ran South along the High Street and onto New Street and we crossed over Finger Road (B4373) onto New Road. We headed around the estate onto Trinity Road and we re-joined B4373 further South. We turned right onto Majestic Way and we ran to the roundabout and crossed over the A4169. We re-joined the B4373 and we turned right onto Woodside Avenue. We ran around the Woodside estate and at the end we turned left onto Ironbridge Road. At the Abraham Darby Academy opposite there was a coach and several minibuses. We ran into the centre of Madeley along Park Street and Park Avenue ans as we got to the town centre we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3326 before it carried on back to Telford via Sutton Hill.

Arriva Midlands 3326 in Madeley

Once we got off the bus we walked around the corner onto Park Street and we turned left on Parkway where we found the nearest bus stop on the #4 route. The #4 was every 15 minutes from Madeley to Telford, Oakengates, Wellington and on to Leegomery. We checked the Traveline site to find there was a bus due immediately. A minute or so later we saw a bus waiting to come out of Court Street. It was required Arriva Midlands 3333 on the #4 to Leegomery as expected.

Arriva Midlands 3333 in Madeley

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver plus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The #4 bus was slightly more direct then the #2 that we had caught down to Madeley. The bus did still do a loop of the Woodside estate first though. We ran West along Parkway and we joined onto Ironbridge Road. We turned right onto Woodside Avenue and we ran around the estate before turning left onto the B4373. At the roundabout we turned right onto Queensway and we ran fast around the South East corner of town. We came off the A442 at Stirchley and left onto Stirchley Avenue. We ran into town and forwards onto St Quentin Gate before carrying on to Northfield Street. We got off the bus and we immediately looked for something else to catch. I thought it would be a good idea to go towards Oakengates and Wellington so we looked at bus going this way. Other than the #4 that we had just got off, there was a #5 Stafford service which went via Oakengates, and the board at the stop said the #14 went to Oakengates too. We had a choice between doing Arriva Midlands 3749 on the #5 and 3310 on the #14.

Arriva Midlands 3310 in Telford bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Day Saver tickets to the driver and asked for Oakengates. The driver informed us that this service wasn't going to Oakengates, so we planned to get off somwhere along the route common the the #4 service on Holyhead Road. We set off out of the bus station and we ran North over the A442 and M54 and we turned right onto Priorslee Avenue. We ran into Priorslee and around the estate to the North of Castle Farm Way before descending back towards town along the A5. We turned right onto Snedshill Waya nd right again onto Holyhead Road. This is where we should have got off but, but trying to navigate town using the small Telford Area Arriva Bus map proved to be too difficult. By the time we had crossed the next roundabout and turned onto First Avenue I knew we had gone too far. We ran around the Ketley bank estate and we ran back into town along the A442. I started to recognise where we were so I decided to get off at the first stop after we went over the A442 and I towards town as the rear of the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3310.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3310

We crossed the A442 and we ran up the hill into town. We got up to get off the bus and it just happened to be the last stop before the bus station! We got off the bus and Matthew took a picture of Arriva Midlands 3310 as it carried on towards the bus station.

Arriva Midlands 3310 in Telford

We crossed the road and we walked over to the stop opposite. The stop had no information, no timetable, no flag on with it's location and we weren't even sure it was actually in use! We though we had seen a #4 stop there as we were getting off the bus bus but we couldn't be 100% sure. Someone else came to the bus stop to catch a bus, we just hoped they weren't waiting there because we were... We tried to look up the bus stop on google maps and there did appear to be buses stopping there. There was a #5 to Stafford via Oakengates due right then. We saw a Streetlite approaching, and it turned out to be required Arriva Midlands 3321 on a #3 to Brookside, which we turned down. A few minutes later we saw a bus turn the corner and it was required Arriva Midlands 3753 on a #5 to Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3753 in Telford

We got on the bus and we flashed the Day saver Plus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of town and over the A442 and we turned into the railway station. After stopping outside the station we returned back to the roundabout and we joined the Northbound A5. We turned left onto the B5061 and we ran West past Wickes and back over the A442. We joined Station Road and we ran North to Oakengates. Outside the railway station we Uxacona Way and we ran Northwards around the town centre and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3753 before it carried on towards Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3753 in Oakengates bus station

Once off the bus we walked out of the bus station just a few yard to the Co-operative food store. Matthew chose a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. We walked back to the bus station and we saw Arriva Midlands 3338 on a #4 to Leegpomery.

Arriva Midlands 3338 in Oakengates bus station

Matthew wanted the toilet so we spotted the toilet block next to the bus station and Matthew used the facilities. We stood at the stop and we decide to catch the next #4 forwards to Wellington, another place we had been to back in 2008. Whilst we waited for the next bus Matthew had a Milky Way and a bottle of Cherryade. The 10 minutes passed quickly and before we knew it the next Leegomery bus appeared... It was required Arriva Midlands 3339.

Arriva Midlands 3339 in Oakengates bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver Plus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Uxacona Way and we ran down to the railway station. We turned right onto Lions Street and we ran out of town and we joined the westbound B5061. The back seat of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3339.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3339

We ran West for a couple of miles through Ketley and we went past the Telford United ground where we saw a black and grey coach, possibly FC United Swans of Chadderton MX59 BLZ. We turned right onto Mill Bank and forwards onto King Street. We crossed the railway line and we turned right onto Victoria Road and we crossed back over the railway line. We then turned right into the bus station, a small terminus next to the railway station. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3339 before it carried on towards Leegomery.

Arriva Midlands 3339 in Wellington bus station

We had a quick walk around and then we saw Arriva Midlands 3732 on a #7 to Telford. We were considering doing this then Matthew decided to he wanted the toilet. There was a toilet block adjacent to the bus stand so we walked over and used the facilities. When we came out there was a bit of activity in the bus station. At the far end we saw Arriva Midlands 2148 on a #15 service.

Arriva Midlands 2148 in Wellington bus station

At the same time Arriva Midlands 3338 came in on a #4 to Madeley. We decided to do this bus so we walked over to the other side of the bus station and we got on it. We flashed the Arriva Day Saver Plus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Victoria Road and we turned right onto King Street and we ran through town and onto the B5061. As the back seat of the bus was emnpty, Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3338.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3338

We ran East for a couple of miles and we ran into Oakengate, As we approached town I asked Matthew if he wanted to go forwards to Telford on this bus, or get off in Oakengates and catch another bus forwards, and he chose to do the latter... We turned left onto Hartshill and we ran into town. By the railway station we turned left onto Uxacona Way and around the North end of town before entering the bus station. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3338 before it carried on towards Madeley.

Arriva Midlands 3338 in Oakengates bus station

We got off the bus and we waited for around five minute. We then saw required Arriva Midlands 3783 on a #5 to Telford.

Arriva Midlands 3783 in Oakengates bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver Plus ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We ran down Uxacona Way and by the railway station we turned left onto station Road. We crossed over the A442 and we ran East along the B5061 until we got to the A5. We went South over the M54 and we headed to Telford railway station. There we nobody there to get on or off the bus so we came straight back out and onto the roundabout. We crossed over the A442 and onto Hollinsgate before going forwards onto Grange Central. We turned right onto Northfield street and we ran into the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3783.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3783

As we got off the bus we saw Alfa coach 72 and Arriva Midlands 3343, which was not in service.

Arriva Midlands 3343 in Telford bus station

We met up with mum and we crossed over Northfield Street and we got in the car where Matthew had sausage rolls and a small bottle of Irn Bru. We drove out of the car park onto Southwater way and we left town along hall Park way and onto the M54. We ran East for around 15 miles and as we travelled Eastwards we saw an unidentified Lakeside Coach and Rhiew Valley B3 RVM. We came of the M54 at junction junction 2 and we went North up the A449 to Gailey. We went East on the A5 for around a mile and then we got onto the Northbound M6. As we travelled up the M6 we saw an unidentified Stagecoach Megabus and an unidentified Arriva Midlands Dart. We came off the M6 at junction 15 and we went North up the A500. On the A500 we saw an unidentified Mikro coach. At Sideway we went East along the A50 and we saw Paul's of Stoke Y11 POS. We came of the A50 at Longton to see what was at Z Carz this evening. In Tesco we saw MT Travel parked up DK60 CWY. At Z Carz this evening we saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

At the front of the first row was Z Carz minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

In the front of the second row was Z Carz minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We turned left into Willow row to see what was parked up in the compound this evening. Outside the depot was Z Carz minibus BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

Inside the compound we saw Z Carz Citroen minibus LV59 DZC.

Z Carz LV59 DZC in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we crossed over onto Baths Road. We stopped at Tesco to take on some petrol and we returned onto the A50. we came of the dual carriageway at Heron Cross and we ran through Blurton along Blurton Road. We turned right onto Church Road and right again onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 18:45. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00.... Mark