Trip to Crewe / Chester 15-04-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4409	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W
4410	Nantwich BS	Chester BS	84	Arriva NW&W
2666	Chester BS	Mold BS	4	Arriva NW&W
2663	Mold BS	Chester, Lakewood	X4	Arriva NW&W
1007	Chester, Lakewood	Chester railway station	1	Arriva NW&W
4410	Chester BS	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit Crewe. With Arriva pulling out of Winsford & Macclesfield in just over a week this would be our last chance to do an Arriva bus in the area. Research consisted of checking the Arriva app for tickets (the web site is uselesss) and checking the weather, which was for mainly dry with some sunshine. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. mum arrive home from work and we set off around 11:30. We got in the car and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. We came off at Stoke and we turned left onto Church Street. We ran around the one-way system and we turned left at Sainsbury's onto London Road. We ran to the end and we turned right onto the Northbound A34. We past the retail park where they are building something new. We turned left onto Clayton Lane and we ran forwards onto Stafford Avenue. We turned right onto the Northbound A519 and we turned left onto Abbots Way. We turned left onto Edwards Avenue and we ran forwards onto The Plaisaunce. We stopped to pick up a friend and we crossed over the square onto Pilkington Avenue. We turned right onto the A53 and we ran towards Newcastle. We joined the northbound A34 and we ran through Milehouse and Chesterton up to Talke. We turned left and joined the A500 and we ran up to Barthomley. We crossed under the M6 and we ran for a further 2 miles. We turned right onto the B5472 and left to stay on the B5472. At the roundabout we ran forwards onto the A532. We turned left onto Cowlet Way and we stopped at Crewe Truck Stop for dinner. As we parked up we saw Chiltern Travel T19 HWT in the car park in Shearings Holiday livery.

Chiltern Travel T19 HWT in Crewe

After taking a picture and then going to the toilet we went into the truck stop. Matthew had a small breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we got back in the car and we set off along Cowley Way. We turned left on to the A532 and we ran past the railway station and continued Northwards. We turned left to follow the A532 into the town centre and we crossed over the railway line. We turned right onto Vernon Way and left onto West Street. We stopped at Asda and we parked up. We said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the temporary bus station. Rhis is situated to the West of the site of the old bus station between Victoria Street and Delamere Street. As we walked into the bus station area we saw D&G Bus 54 on layover.

D&G Bus 54 in Crewe bus station

We continued into the temporary bus station and we saw Arriva NW&W 2160 arrive on a #6 service.

Arriva NW&W 2160 in Crewe bus station

We saw a double decker whizz along Delamere Street so we assumed it would shortly appear on Victoria Street and enter the bus station from the Northern end. A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 4409 on a #84 to Nantwich.

Arriva NW&W 4409 in Crewe bus station

We decided to do thia bus so we got on and we booked a Arriva NW&W duo ticket at £11.50. The electronic payment was not working and I didn't have all the money. I gave the driver everything I had which amounted to about maybe £8 and the driver had that. I hope that the driver didn't have to pay the shortfall because Arriva can't be bothered to fix the equipment or send out a bus with working equipment. We went upstairs and the rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside of Arriva NW&W 4409.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4409

The bus set off out of the bus station and we went along Delamere Street and around the corner onto Chester Bridge. We went forwards onto Edleston Road and we passed D&G 4410 on an inbound #84. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A534 and we headed West. After traveling a couple of miles we turned left onto Wistaston Road and just before he level crossing we turned right onto Coppice Road. At the end of the road we re-joined the westbound A534 and we crossed over A51 at the Peacock Roundabout. Just before town we turned right onto Millstone Lane passing Arriva NW&W 4405 on a #84 to Crewe. By the tractor shop, we turned left onto Beam Street. We passed Marks & Spencer's and the library and we entered the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4409 before it returned on a #84 to Crewe.

Arriva NW&W 4409 in Nantwich bus station

The bus had been running a few minutes late, presumably becasue of the faulty payment machine. We rushed to the market and Matthew used the toilet. On the may back we stopped at the sweet shop and we brought some mint toffees, paid for electronically! We headed out onto the street and we could see the bus to Chester already on stand. As we got closer we saw as expected Arriva NW&W 4410 on a #84 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4410 in Nantwich bus station

We got on and we placed the Arriva Day Saver Duo tickets under the scanner before we went upstairs we sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Beam Street We crossed the river Weaver and we went forwards onto Welsh Row. We carried on under the Shropdhire Union canal and through Acton. We joined the A51 and we passed Snugbury's Ice Cream. We crossed over a branch of the canal. We carried on along the A51 through Wardle, Caveley and Alpraham. We joined the A49 and then we diverted right onto High Street into the village. We joined the A49 and we then we went through Tarporley where we saw Arriva NW&W 4406 on a #84 to Crewe. we left Tarporley and we got back onto the A51. We ran around another 5 miles along the A51 before turning off to go into Tarvin village. We went up Tarporley Road and we turned into High Street and we re-joined the A54. A few hundred yards down the road the at the next roundabout we joined the Westbound A51 and we ran through Littleton and over the A55 and A41 into Vicars Cross. We crossed the Shropshire Union Canal and we saw an unidentified white midi coach in a car park set back from the road on the right hand side. We went around the one way system onto Christleton Road. We continued West along the A51 into Chester and we went around The Bars before turning right onto St Oswald's Way. We veered off the road and into the new Interchange. We got up and got off the bus and we had a walk around to see what we might catch. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 26055 on a PR2 park and ride service to Broughton Heath.

Stagecoach Merseyside 26055 in Chester bus station

We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27903

Stagecoach Merseyside 27903 in Chester bus station

We were considering doing a #11 towards Rhyl when we saw Arriva NW&W 2666 on a #4 to Mold.

Arriva NW&W 2666 in Chester bus station

We got on and we placed the Arriva Day Saver Duo ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Gorse Stacks and turned right into Foregate Street. We went past the Admiral Casino. We turned right onto Love Street. We continued onto Lower Bridge Street and we turned left onto Old Dee Bridge into Handbridge. We continued onto Overleigh Road and we crossed the A483. After we had passed the Sealand turning the traffic was better and we went over the dee towards Wrexham. We turned onto the A51054 and we went through Lache and up to Broughton via Saltney. After calling into the busy Broughton Shopping Park. After a brief stop we contined along A5104. We turned right onto the B5125, and we turned right onto Manor Lane. We turned right ointo the industrial estate and we turned around at the roundabout. We stopped outside the garage for a driver change and we saw Arriva NW&W 2665 parked up at the garage. We returned onto Manor Lane and we turned right onto the B5125. We ran through Hawarden and into Ewloe. We turned left onto Wood Lane and we headed South and crossed over the A55. We ran forwards onto Burntwood Road and we ran into Burntwood. We turned right onto Drury Lane and at the crossroad we turned left onto Church Road. We turned left onto the A549 and we ran towards Buckley. We turned left onto Mill Lane and we turned right onto Mold Road. After pausing briefly in the centre of Buckley we rand forwards onto the A549 and we ran out of town. We turned right onto Murcia Drive and right onto Ellesmere Road. We turned left onto Park Avenue and we ran Northwards. We turned right onto Llewellyn Drive and left onto Bryn Road. We turned right onto Chambers Lane and we ran forwards onto Byrn Y Baal Road. We crossed over the A494 and we ran into New Brighton. We turned left onto the A5119 and we ran for about a mile and a 1/2 into Mold. We crossed over a roundabout onto the B5444 and we turned left into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of Townlynx YX17 NZB on a #6 to Pantymwyn.

Townlynx YX17 NZB in Mold bus station

We walked onto Chester Street and we turned right onto Chester Street. We went to HSBC to draw out some cash and we somehow missed seeing Lloyds bank on the corner of the Street. Afterwards we walked back down High Street and we turned left onto Chester Street. We stopped at The Fat Boar and we went upstairs to use the toilet. We came back downstairs and we had a glass of Coke. Whilst we drank our drinks we had a look at the bustimes.org site to see when the next bus to Chester was due. We saw that there was a X4 service to Chester railway station due right now. We finished our drinks and we went outside to uncle Dave. The bus hadn't been whilst we were in the pub, kit was running a few minutes late. We walked up to the top end of the bus station and we saw the bus approaching. As it came into the bus station we saw it was Arriva NW&W 2663 on a X4 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 2663 in Mold bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Arriva Day Saver Duo ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto the A5119 past the site of the former Checkpoint car service centre which is soon to be a new KFC & Greggs. We turned right onto the Southbound A541 and we headed Eastwards out of town. We crossed the A494 and we ran forwards onto the A549. We turned right onto High Street and we entered the centre of Buckley. We turned left onto Mill Lane and we crossed over the A549 onto the Northbound A5127. We crossed over the A55 and we ran through Ewloe Green. We crossed under the A494 and we ran forwards onto the B5125 into Ewloe. We continued through Hawarden and we turned left onto Manor Lane. We turned right into Hawarden Industrial Park and we ran to the end of the industrial estate past the Arriva garage. We did a u-turn on the roundabout at the end and we turned left onto Manor Lane and we continued South towards Broughton. We veered left onto the A5104 and at the next roundabout we turned right into Broughton Shopping Park. We stopped outside of Tesco and we and after running around the retail park we ran forwards onto Beeby Way. We did a u-turn at the roundabout and we turned right onto the A55. We ran fast for about 3 mile and we came off the A55 onto the Northbound A483. I checked the timetable for other buses and there was a #1 to Chester due about the same time. We turned right onto Heronsway and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2663 before it continued towards Chester railway station.

Arriva NW&W 2663 in Chester

Almost as soon as we got off the bus we saw the next bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 1007 on a #1 to Chester railway station.

Arriva NW&W 1007 in Chester

We got on and we placed the Arriva Day Saver Duo tickets under the scanner before we went upstairs we sat down. The bus set off along Heronsway and we ran around the estate before turning right onto the Northbound A483. We ran the last few miles into town and we crossed over the river Dee. We ran forwards onto Grosvenor Street and we continue donto Pepper Street past the Roman Amphitheatre. We ran forwards onto Vicars Lane and we turned left onto Love Street. We turned right onto Foregate Street and we went around around The Bars and forwards onto City Road. We ran to the end of City Road and at the end the bus stopped where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 1007 before it returned on a #1 to Wrexham.

Arriva NW&W 1007 in Chester

We had a look around to see if there was anything we could catch back to the Interchange. We looked at the stop for the #40 and we saw that it had finished for the day. We decided to walk back to the Interchange and on the way we saw Helms 122 on a #41 to Whitchurch.

Helms 122 in Chester

We walked along City Road and onto The Bars. We turned right onto St Oswald's Way and and we walked down to the roundabout. We went into the roundabout and when we realised that we could not get through to the interchange. We walked back from under the the roundabout and onto Frodsham Street. We walked into the Interchange and we saw that the toilets were closed. We had about 15 minutes before the #84 was due. We decided to do the bus back to Nantwich and go to a pub there. Whilst we waited we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 36808 on layover.

Stagecoach Merseyside 36808 in Chester bus station

Another vehicle seen was Arriva NW&W 4642 on a #11 to Rhyl.

Arriva NW&W 4642 in Chester bus station

A few minutes later the bus appeared. As it came on stand we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4410 on the #84 to Crewe.

Arriva NW&W 4410 in Chester bus station

We got on and we placed the Arriva Day Saver Duo tickets under the scanner for the final time today before we went upstairs we sat down. The bus set off out of the Interchnage and onto Gorse Stacks. We turned right onto Frodsham Street and we turned left onto Foregate Street. We ran around The Bars and we went forwards onto the A51. We headed Eastwards out of town and we crossed the Shropshire Union Canal and the railway line. We crossed over the A41 and A55. As we ran out of town we were passed by Pauls of Stoke Y18 POS on a returning day trip from Rhyl. We turned left onto the A54 and we turned right onto High Street. We ran through Tarvin and we ran forwards onto Church Street. We continued onto Tarporley Road and we turned left onto the A51. We ran through Duddon and Clotton and we crossed over the A49 to Rode Street. We continued onto High Street and we ran through Tarporley. We turned left onto the A49 and we ran forwards onto the A51. We ran through Barretts Green and Wardle and at the edge of town we ran fowards onto the B5341. We ran forwards onto Welsh Row and we crossed over the crossroad onto High Street. We veered left onto Swine Market and we continued onto Beam Street and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4410 as it continued towards Crewe.

Arriva NW&W 4410 in Nantwich bus station

we crossed over Beam Street to go to The Red Cow, but the was a private event there. We walked back along Beam Street and we went to Malbank. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. When we had finished we walked back along Beam Street and left onto Market Street. We visited The Market Plaice and we brought food. We headed to the car on the Civic car park and Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Dandelion & Burdock. We set off onto Beam Street and we turned right onto the B5074. We crossed over the railway line and we ran forwards onto the A51. We ran forwards onto Cheerbrook Road and forwards onto Green Lane. We turned right onto Eastern Road and right onto Rope Hall Lane. We turned left onto Main Road and we ran into Shavington. We turned left onto the B5071 and we ran Northwards. We turned right onto the A500 and we to the South of Crewe. We continued to the M6 and we crossed over the roundabout and contnued towards Stoke-on-Trent. We turned right at Talke and we joined the Southbound A34. We ran through Chesterton and Milehouse and around Newcastle. We turned right and we joined the Southbound A53 and we ran up the hill. We turned left onto Pilkington Avenue. We crossed over the square onto The Plaisaunce and we dropped of our friend. We returned onto Abbots Way and we turned left onto the A519. We crossed over the roundabout and we joined the Southbound A34. We joined the Northbound A500 and we ran up to Stoke. We turned right onto City Road and right onto Whieldon Road. We went under the railway line and we stopped at uncle Dave's house. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards drank some of uncle Rob's Irn Bru. He also updated uncle Dave's calendar with the details of today's trip. We said goodbye to uncle Dave and we set off back to Blurton. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto the A5035 we got back to Blurton around 20:30. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. We watched TV and Matthew got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:30... Mark