Trip to Widnes / Runcorn 27-05-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2542	Widnes, Green Oaks	Runcorn BS	79C	Arriva NW&W
2726	Runcorn BS	Widnes, Green Oaks	79C	Arriva NW&W
2539	Widnes, Green Oaks	Runcorn BS	79C	Arriva NW&W
X989 CNO	Runcorn BS	Halton Lea South	52	Ashcroft's Travel
5003	Halton Lea South	Murdishaw Central	1	Arriva NW&W
2529	Murdishaw Central	Runcorn BS	79C	Arriva NW&W
2533	Runcorn BS	Widnes, Green Oaks	110	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit Widnes. In light of recent events in Manchester, we wanted to go somewhere where there were plenty of buses but not a particularly big town. We had checked the weather for today and it was for warm cloudy weather with the possibility of thunder storms. We gave Matthew a list of small town in the North West and Midlands and from the list Matthew chose Widnes. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:45 and we ran through Blurton along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and left again onto Blurton Road. We ran up the hill and over the A50 through Heron Cross. We turned left onto Grove Road and we ran down into Fenton and forwards onto Wheildon Road. We joined onto the A500 near to Stoke and we passed National Express liveried Traveller's Choice coach FN63 PXB on the #333 to Bournemouth. Further up the A500 we saw Intercity SV07 VLD, white minibus PN66 KKM and Bullocks YN16 UAL / RB11 BUL. After a short while queuing on the A500 near to junction 16 we got on the Northbound M6. Once on the M6 we made good time as it wasn't as busy as anticipated. As we travelled North we saw Luxury Travel YJ16 EKC, an unidentified blue Fiat minibus & an unidentified Hartley's minibus. At junction 21A we headed West along the M62 for a few junctions. Whilst travelling towards the A557 we saw SP Travel MX05 NYW and an unidentified white Mercedes minibus. We travelled South down the A557 where we saw Dan's Luxury Coaches BL16 FYV. We turned right into the town and right again up to the Green Oaks retail park. We parked up and in the car park we saw silver minibus NK15 CCZ & white minibus PE03 TZV. We headed towards the market where we we going for dinner and on the way we stop to see what was in the bus station. We saw required Halton Transport 25 on a #14 service to Liverpool.

Halton Transport 25 in Widnes

A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 2726 on a #79C to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2726 in Widnes

We crossed the road and we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2540 on a #82A to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 2540 in Widnes

We walked into the market and we walked to the back corner. Mum ordered the food whilst uncle Dave saved a table and Matthew went to the toilet. Matthew seemed to take a little longer than usual and when he came out he had an asset tracking barcode which he must of peeled off something stuck to his chin! After we binned the barcode, we sat down to wait for the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. We said goodbye to mum and we walked back through the market. We walked out to the bus station and we saw Halton Transport 11 on a #61A to Murdishaw.

Halton Transport 11 in Widnes

A few minutes later the bus turned up and it was required Arriva NW&W 2542 on a #79C to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2542 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we booked Halton Daysaver tickets at £4 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 saw Orion Travel FHZ 9593 near to the railway station on rail replacement work. 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 W10 ANT. We got up and got off the bus and we managed to get a picture of Anthony's Travel W10 ANT before it left the bus station.

Anthony's Travel W10 ANT in Runcorn bus station

We had seen what was probably the most interesting bus allocated to the Arriva Runcorn depot, 2726 going towards Murdishaw earlier. We figured out that it would probably be the next #79C back to Liverpool. We decided to cross over to the other side of the bus station to wait for it. A few minutes later as expected we saw required Arriva NW&W 2726 on the #79C to Queens Square bus station.

Arriva NW&W 2726 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Halton Daysaver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off up the High Street and we passed close to the Waterloo pub as was and we joined the A533 and we saw Vision coach BK63 ZSW on rail replacement work by the railway station. 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. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2726 as it carried on towards Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 2726 in Widnes

We crossed over to the other side of the bus station to catch a bus back towards Runcorn. Almost immediately a bus came around the corner and it was required Arriva NW&W 2539 on a #79C to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2539 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we flashed the Halton Daysaver tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto Green Oaks Way and we saw Link Network MX05 ELJ on a #110 service to Warrington. 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 saw Selwyns YJ04 HHZ near to the railway station on rail replacement work. 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 got up and got off the bus. In the bus station waiting for departure time was required Ashcroft's Travel X989 CNO on the #52 Beechwood circular service.

Ashcroft's Travel X989 CNO in Runcorn bus station

We decided we were going to do this bus, so we waited for the driver to ready the vehicle for service. We got on the bus and we booked single fares to Halton Lea South at £1.10 each. There was a short wait for departure time, and at 15:20 we set off out of the bus station. We went Eastwards onto the B5155. We crossed the canal and we turned left onto Halton Road. We travelled around 1/2 mile and we turned left onto Halton Brow, running under the A533. At the end of Halton Brow we turned right onto Main Street through and old part of the town with older building that you typically find in a rural village in Cheshire. The road curved around to the East ans we turned right onto Holt Lane. We ran through part of the Halton Lea shopping centre that were very run down and the we circle around onto the Southway and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Ashcroft's Travel X989 CNO before it carried on around the circle.

Ashcroft's Travel X989 CNO in Halton Lea

We decided to go the toilet whilst we were near to the shopping centre so we went down the stairs ans into the shopping centre we walked forwards into the main plaza and e turned right past the shops and right to the toilets. Matthew used the facilities and then we returned back to the bus station up the escalators. When we go back we saw required Arriva NW&W 5003 on a #1 Halton Lea circular.

Arriva NW&W 5003 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and we flashed the Halton Daysaver tickets to the driver. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 5003 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 5003

We set off out of the bus station along the busway and we went clockwise around the large circuit. We passed Pheonix park and we continued past Castlefields and Windmill Hill. We past close to Runcorn East railway station and then we emerged into the Murdishaw turning circle. We got up and got off the bus and we turned down a bus so that we could visit the Co-operative Food store. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a small bottle of Irn Bru as well as a couple of chocolate bars. We went outside and we saw required Arriva NW&W 2529 arrive on a #79C service.

Arriva NW&W 2529 in Murdishaw

The bus went on layover so we went up to the bridge to take a few pictures. Matthew also ate one of his milky Way bars. We went back down to the bus stop and we saw Arriva NW&W 5004 on a #2 Halton Lea circular service.

Arriva NW&W 5004 in Murdishaw

A few minutes later Arriva NW&W 2529 was readied for service and pulled onto stand. We got on the bus and we flashed the Halton Daysaver tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the busway towards Halton Lea Hospital. The bus in front was enpty so Matthew took a picture inside Inside Arriva NW&W 2529.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2529

We passed the hospital and then we stopped at Halton Lea South. 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. We then got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2529 before it carried on towards Hough Green.

Arriva NW&W 2529 in Runcorn bus station

Whilst we waited for a bus back to Widnes we saw Arriva NW&W 3139 on a X1 service to Liverpool ONE bus station.

Arriva NW&W 3139 in Runcorn bus station

A few minutes later we saw dud on a #110 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2533 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Halton Daysaver tickets to the driver for the last time before we sat down towards the back of the bus. 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 and we got up to get off the bus. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2533.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2533

Once we got off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2533.

Arriva NW&W 2533 in Widnes

Mum had moved the car to a space by the bus station but she hadn't got back from the shops, so we waited in the bus station taking a few pictures. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 2495 which was an unusual bus on the #17 to Widnes.

Arriva NW&W 2495 in Widnes

A few minutes later mum turned up and we got in the car. Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off onto Green Oaks Way and we did a u-turn at the roundabout and headed back to the A557. We travelled North for around 3 mile before we turned right onto the Eastbound M62. As we travelled towards the M6 we saw white minibus YC17 BVL. At junction 10 we got onto the Southbound M6 and as we travelled towards home we saw Malbank HN64 DBX & Artists Delight (Austria) IM GIAN 1. At junction 16 we went South down the A500 to Sideway where we turned left onto The Eastbound A50. As we travelled up towards Longton we passed Parks of Hamilton coaches KSK 948 & LSK 613. We ca,e off the A50 and we went to Z Carz to see what was parked up on the spare ground this evening. In the first row we saw Z Carz Citroen minibus LV59 DZC.

Z Carz LV59 DZC in Longton

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

Z Carz PE10 MJK in Longton

Next to the Renault was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

Also in the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

Adjacent to the Ford minibus was Z Carz Ford minibus LG09 JVX.

Z Carz LG09 JVX in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz Airport Division ford minibus MJ03 DPU.

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. We saw Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

Also in the compound was Z Carz LDV minibus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

We carried on along Willow Row to turn the car around and we saw Z Carz Vauxhall minibus X599 WDY parked on the road.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

We returned onto the A50 and we came off at Heron Cross where we saw white minibus DU64 RXA. and we ran through Blurton along Blurton Road. We turned right onto Church Road and we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got back home around 19:00. 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.