Trip to Widnes / Runcorn 07-01-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2538	Widnes, Green Oaks	Runcorn BS	110	Arriva NW&W
2526	Runcorn BS	Halton Lea, Hospital stop A	79C	Arriva NW&W
2541	Halton Lea, Hospital stop B	Runcorn BS	79	Arriva NW&W
2528	Runcorn BS	Murdishaw Central	79C	Arriva NW&W
5008	Murdishaw Central	Halton Lea, Hospital stop B	1	Arriva NW&W
2527	Halton Lea, Hospital stop B	Runcorn BS	110	Arriva NW&W
3136	Runcorn BS	Murdishaw Central	X1	Arriva NW&W
2530	Murdishaw Central	Halton Lea South	110	Arriva NW&W
2540	Halton Lea South	Widnes, Green Oaks	79	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit Widnes. We had checked the weather for today and it was for a dull cloudy day all around here, so we gave Matthew a list of medium distance location from the North West and Midlands and from the list Matthew chose Widnes. Research consisted of looking at the Arriva North West website for a map but it was 6 years out of date! We then look at Halton Borough council maps for Widnes & Runcorn. Matthew got up around 11:00 today as he had been awake half the night. As we were about to set off around 11:30 we realised that Matthew hadn't had any breakfast, so we set off through Blurton along Beaconsfield Drive and right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we stopped at the sandwich shop for a bacon oatcake for Matthew, to keep him going until we got to Widnes. We carried on up to Heron Cross and we joined the Westbound A50. Near to the roundabout at Sideway we saw Silverdale coach MV12 ODS. We went North up the A500 to Shelton and we passed S&S Travel M940 JBO and a white unidentified tri-axle Volvo Olympian. We went along Shelton New Road and past the old Twyford factory to the gas garage. After we had filled up we headed back onto the A500 via the A53. We travelled North up the the A34 and we came off to fill up with petrol at the Shell garage. Once we had filled up we got back onto the A500 and we passed Howards double decker F18 HOW. We joined the Northbound M6 and we travelled North up to the M62 we saw Howards Y22 HOW, Tyrers CHO 213Y & Ashton Travel V1 NNK. At the M62 we went West a few junctions to A557 and we travelled South into Widnes. As we entered town we followed Vision coach BK63 ZSW. We parked up near to the Market and bus stops and set off to the Market. On the way we saw required Arriva NW&W 2542 on a #82A to the Liverpool ONE bus station.

Arriva NW&W 2542 in Widnes

We walked into the market and we went to Av U Et? at the back corner of the market. Matthew went to the adjacent toilet whilst mum ordered the food and uncle Dave saved he table. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a small bottle of Coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and walked through the market back to the bus stops. Whilst we waited for the next bus to Runcorn we saw Halton Transport 19 on a #26A to Cronton.

Halton Transport 19 in Widnes

A few minutes later the bus turned up and it was required Arriva NW&W 2538 on a #110 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2538 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we booked Arriva NW&W Daysaver tickets at £.530 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto Green Oaks Way and we turned right onto Gerrards Street. We ran forwards onto Milton Road and we turned left onto the B5419. We went through the old town and across the roundabout onto Victoria Road. We turned right onto Hutchinson Road and we joined the the A533. We crossed over the Jubilee Bridge and we caught up with Arriva NW&W 2541 on the #79C to Murdishaw. We crossed the bridge into Runcorn and we wheeled around onto Station Road and into the old town. We crossed over the canal and past 'The Archers' pub and onto the High Street. We turned into the bus station and we saw Antony's Travel minibus TB65 ANT leaving as we arrived. We got up and got off the bus and we saw Arriva NW&W 3140 on a X1 to Liverpool ONE bus station.

Arriva NW&W 3140 in Runcorn bus station

We let Arriva NW&W 2541 on the #79C go and we then had a wait of around 15 minutes. Whilst we waited we saw Halton Transport 52 on a #62 to Warrington.

Halton Transport 52 in Runcorn bus station

A few minutes later we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2526 on a #79C to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2526 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of town and as we got close to the town hall on Heath Road, we turned right into Ivy Street and left into Langdale Road. We ran through Halton Lodge Norleane Crescent and Linkway. We ran clockwise around Grangeway and we joined the busway and we ran though Halton Lea North close to the library. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture of the empty seat opposite on Arriva NW&W 2526.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2526

We decided to go a bit further East to the library. We continued along the busway and around the corner to the hospital where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2526 as it carried on towards Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2526 in Halton Lea

As we got off the bus we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 37440 on a X2 service to Chester. We crossed the road to the other side to wait for a bus back towards Runcorn town centre. Going the other way we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2520 on a #3C circular service and Arriva NW&W 2530 on a #110 to Murdishaw. A few minutes later a bus to Runcorn appeared and it was required Arriva NW&W 2541.

Arriva NW&W 2541 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the busway Westwards and we stopped on the Southside of the Halton Lea shopping centre. We carried on West onto Grangeway. At the end we ran forwards onto Linkway and right onto Laburnum Grove. We turned right onto Windsor Grove and we followed the road around. We ran North up Norleane Crescent and we turned left onto Heath Road. We then did a loop around Langdale Road and Ivy Street before we rejoined Heath Road, this time going Northwards. We continued up the B5155 and we followed the road to the left over the canal. We then travelled via Lena Way into the town centre and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2541 as it carried on towards Hough Green.

Arriva NW&W 2541 in Runcorn bus station

We decided to have a short comfort break. On the way to the pub we saw Ashcroft's Travel YK04 KWJ on the #52 Beechwood circular service.

Ashcroft's Travel YK04 KWJ in Runcorn bus station

We crossed over Church Street to the Wetherspoon's pub The Ferry Boat and Matthew used the toilet. We then went to the bar and Matthew had a small Coke. Once we had finished we went outside to meet back up with uncle Dave. We walked back up to the bus station and we waited for the next bus towards Halton. Around 10 minutes later we saw a bus approaching and it was dud Arriva NW&W 2528 on a #79C to Mudishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2528 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of town and as we got close to the town hall on Heath Road, we turned right into Ivy Street and left into Langdale Road. We ran through Halton Lodge Norleane Crescent and Linkway. We ran clockwise around Grangeway and we joined the busway and we ran though Halton Lea North close to the library. We decided to go a bit further East to Murdishaw. We ran past the hospital and we traveled East for about a mile and the busway opened out at a turning circle and we guessed we had reached the end of the run. we got up and we let the bus empty before Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2528.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2528

Once off the bus we saw Halton Transport 86 on layover in between working duties on the #61A to Huyton.

Halton Transport 86 in Murdishaw

We went to the adjacent Co-operative food store and Matthew had a can of Coke and a small bottle of Irn Bru as well as a couple of chocolate bars. Once we got the thing we went to the till to pay for them and Matthew made friends with the lady behind one of the checkouts. We walked up to the bridge to have a look a the buses parked up. Matthew also liked the view of the lamppost.

Lamppost in Murdishaw

We headed back down to the bus stops and Matthew had a double Milky Way. The next bus that turned us was dud Arriva NW&W 5008 on a #1 circular service.

Arriva NW&W 5008 in Murdishaw

We decided to do this bus as far as the hospital. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus in front was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Inside Arriva NW&W 5008.

Inside Arriva NW&W 5008

The bus turned around the turning circle and we ran West up the busway to Halton Lea hospital where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 5008 before it carried on around the circle to the Halton Lea South terminus.

Arriva NW&W 5008 in Halton Lea

We decided to wait for the next Runcorn bound bus. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 3137 on a #79C to Murdisham and Stagecoach Merseyside 37444 on the X2 to Chester. A few minutes later our bus appeared and it was required Arriva NW&W 2527 on a #110 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2527 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off along the busway Westwards. We then stopped on the Southside of the Halton Lea shopping centre. The busway went around an Asda store and North under the Halton Link Road. the busway was on a sweeping curve to the right and we went through the middle of the Castlefields area. After around 3/4 of a mile we left the busway and went forwards on Tyrell Way. We followed the road around to the left and we turned left onto Castlefields Avenue East. We crossed over the A558 Daresbury Expressway and we then turned left onto another busway. We ran Westwards through the Astmoor area of town which is an industrial estate and docks. The busway crossed over road every couple of hundred yards and there were traffic lights which usually turned to green and we approached them. We also passed under the Southern end of where the Mersey Gateway bridge is being built. We went under the B5155 adjacent to the canal and we turned right at a roundabout off the busway onto Lieria Way with the town centre in sight. We ran down the hill and we turned left into the bus station. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2527 before it carried on towards Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2527 in Runcorn bus station

The plan was to get the next bus back to Widnes, but Matthew had other ideas... Matthew indicated that he wanted to go to the toilet, so I though we were going to The Ferry Boat again to use the facilities there. As we walked towards it, required Arriva NW&W 3136 pulled up in the bus stop opposite to us and Matthew decided he wanted to do that instead!

Arriva NW&W 3136 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. It was now fully dark and we had never done the X1 service in this direction before... We set off out of the bus station and onto Lieria Way. We then turned left onto the bus way and we ran along through the industrial area as if we were on a #110 service. We joined the Astmoor DSpine Road as if we were on a #110 but instead of going towards Halton Lea we took the busway in the opposite direction. The bus way was perhaps and old railway line as this part seem to run through a cutting, but it has no lighting so we couldn't see where we were. We seemed to run for ages, and we decided to get up at the next place we recognised. Unbeknown to us we had run around the Windmill Hill and Norton Village part of Runcorn passing close to Runcorn East railway station on the Manchester to Chester line. We came out into a lit area and we recognised it as the turning circle at Murdishaw, so we got up and got up and got off the bus. There was a bus on layover so we knew we would have to wait long for another bus back towards Widnes. A few minutes later the bus pulled of the layover bay and onto the bus stop. It was dud Arriva NW&W 2530 on a #110 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2530 in Murdishaw

We got on the bus for what we thought would be the final time today, and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2530.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2530

The bus turned around the turning circle and we ran West up the busway to Halton Lea hospital. We continued along the busway and as we approached the Southside of the Halton Lea shopping centre, Matthew indicated that he wanted to go to the toilet and stared to get up. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 2530 before it carried on towards Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2530 in Halton Lea

Once the bus had departed we went into the shopping centre and we went down one floor on the escalator and around the corner until we came to the toilets. After Matthew had used the facilities we walked back through through the shopping centre and back up the escalator to the bus terminal. We looked at the time table and we saw that we had another 10 minutes to wait. I called mum to let her know that we would be later than expected and we sat down to wait for the bus. Whilst we were there we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 37443 on a X2 service to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 37443 in Halton Lea

A few minutes later we saw bus approaching up the hill onto the elevated road to the bus terminus. As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 2540 on a #79 to Hough Green.

Arriva NW&W 2540 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus for what was actually the final time today, and we flashed the Arriva NW Day Saver ticket to the driver. We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off along the Busway. We carried on West onto Grangeway. At the end we ran forwards onto Linkway and right onto Laburnum Grove. We turned right onto Windsor Grove and we followed the road around. We ran North up Norleane Crescent and we turned left onto Heath Road. We then did a loop around Langdale Road and Ivy Street before we rejoined Heath Road, this time going Northwards. We continued up the B5155 and we followed the road to the left over the canal. We then travelled via Lena Way into the town centre and into the bus station. After a short stop in the bus station, we set off up the High Street and we passed close to the Waterloo pub as was and we joined the A533. We crossed over the Mersey and we ran into the old town of Widnes up Victoria Road. We crossed over the roundabout and we ran through a bus lane into the Asda car park. We joined onto Gerrard Street past Marks & Spencers and we turned left onto Green Oaks Way. We we got to the bus stops by Green Oaks we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2540 before it carried on towards Hough Green.

Arriva NW&W 2540 in Widnes

On the way back to the car we saw Arriva NW&W 710 on a #17 to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 710 in Widnes

We crossed over the road and we walked over to the car. Mum was waiting with sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru for Matthew. We set off onto Green Oaks way and we ran South to the roundabout. We got on the Northbound A557 we we ran the 2 miles up to the M62. As we went Eastwards along the motorway we saw Selwyn's coach YJ06 LFV join the motorway ahead of us. We continued East for around another 5 miles an then we joined the Southbound M6. As we travelled South we saw Afford Rent-a-Car HN16 CNC, Sharps of Nottingham ACZ 103 & Selwyn's (National Express) BX16 CKF on a #550 service to Southport. We made good progress going South apart from a small section where the motorway went down to two lanes through the roadworks. We continued down to junction 16 and then we got onto the Southbound A500. As we travelled South we saw Paul's of Stoke M41 KCU, First Potteries 67642 running out of service, an unidentified grey Bakers coach. At Sideway we went East up the A50 where we saw an unidentified S&J Travel minibus. We continued to Longton so that we could see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. In the first row was one of the newer arrivals, Z Carz Mercedes minibus LV52 TZY.

Z Carz LV52 TZY in Longton

Also in the front row was Z Carz minibus YS09 LWV.

Z Carz YS09 LWV in Longton

We also saw Z carz Ford minibus FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

Closest minibus in the first row was Z Carz Renault minibus PE10 MJK.

Z Carz PE10 MJK in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound this evening. On the road we saw Z Carz silver Renault minibus YJ61 GYZ.

Z Carz YJ61 GYZ in Longton

In the compound was Z Carz minibus LV59 DZC.

Z Carz LV59 DZC in Longton

Also in the compound was Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

We spotted another minibus further up the road so we drove up to investigate we turned around and Matthew got a picture of DG10 VMJ.

Z Carz DG10 VMJ in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we saw Paul's of Stoke M20 BUS. We ran West to Heron Cross and we came off the A50 onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. At the end we turned right onto the A5035 and we got home around 19:30. For a late tea we had bangers & mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit.Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark