Trip to Redditch / Alexandra Hospital 25-11-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
30944	Bromsgrove BS	Redditch BS	43	Rotala Diamond
30164	Redditch BS	Winyates, opp Winyates Centre	57	Rotala Diamond
32218	Winyates, adj Winyates Centre	Redditch BS	58	Rotala Diamond
32122	Redditch BS	Alexandra Hospital	247	Rotala Diamond
YT13 HKZ	Alexandra Hospital	Redditch BS	150	Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel
32308	Redditch BS	Greenlands, opp Post Office	57	Rotala Diamond
30006	Greenlands, adj Post Office	Redditch BS	58	Rotala Diamond

Today we decided to re-visit Bromsgrove. We had checked the weather for today and it was for winter shower in the North West and North Midlands and clearer sunnier weather further South. We gave Matthew a list of destinations and from the Midlands and from the list he chose Bromsgrove. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:45 onto the A5035 and we ran Westwards to Trentham and we joined the Northbound A34. We turned left onto Whitmore road and we ran up the hill to Hanchurch and the A519. We turned right onto the A519 and at the roundabout we joined the Southbound M6 motorway. Traffic slowed a little for a short distance as we passed a problem on the Northbound M6. Once we had passed the problem we continued down at road speed to junction 10A. As we travleled South we saw Lugg Valley YN11 FUU, Eastville coaches FJ08 FZB, national Holidays BX64 JZV & Parrot Motors BX05 UVL. We slowed down at little as we entered the West Midlands and at junction 8 we joined the Southbound M5. We had a slight delay as 2 lanes went down to one in the roadworks and then went through a 30mph section on the elevated part of the motorway South of junction 1. As we travelled South we saw Boultons BU07 KFZ & white minibuses MM66 LWA and YN61 CKU. we came off the M5 at junction 4 onto the A38 and we saw First Worcester 33403 waiting to follow us Southwards on a #144 to Worcester. We travelled South down the A38 for a few miles an on the edge of town we turned right onto Birmingham Road, At the traffic light s where we waited to join the Southbound A448 we saw Bromsgrove Coaches Y799 UDT & W393 DAK go across us onto Stourbridge Road. Once we had go into town we parked up at Asda and we walked across to the bus station. As we crossed the road we saw new to the area First Worcester 69449 on a #144 to Birmingham. We headed to the toilet and mum and uncle Dave went to order the food form the Market Plaice. Matthew took a picture of former Hansonbus Enviro E20D 2640 which is now in the Rotala Diamond fleet. It was dud Rotala Diamond 31101 on the #318 to railway station.

Rotala Diamond 31101 in Bromsgrove bus station

We also saw Rotala Diamond 30002 on the #202 to Halesowen.

Rotala Diamond 30002 in Bromsgrove bus station

We continued onto the Market Plaice and we sat outside on the covered area. We weren't able to get a table inside today so we sat outside in the cold! Matthew had sausage chips and gravy with a bap washed down with a can of Coke. He also helped mum to drink her Cherry Coke, Whilst we ate we saw First Worcester 66698 on a #144A to Catshill, Clearway MX06 AEB on the #93 Charford circular and dud Eurobus YX62 AXM on the #97 Sidemoor circular. Once we had finished eating we walked out onto the bus station and we saw required First Worcester 67663 on a #144 to Birmingham. We decided to turned that down and wait for another bus. A few minutes later we saw required Rotala Diamond 30944 on a #43 to Redditch.

Rotala Diamond 30944 in Bromsgrove bus station

We decided to do this bus as we had been to Redditch for a while. We got on the bus and we booked Worcestershire Connecta day tickets at £7.50 each. We sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we went Southwards onto the A448. We went forwards onto Worcester Road and we saw an unidentified Barnes coach and Turners (silver / blue) coach in Bromsgrove School. We also passed Aston Coaches YN16 WVT. We turned left into the Charford estate and we ran past the Golden Lion pub. We went around the estate and we crossed the A38 and we turned left into Warrick Avenue and we went around the estate coming out near to Bromsgrove Railway station. We ran to the station before returning back onto the B4184. We crossed over the railway line and we went past Bromsgrove Rugby Club as we headed towards Finstall. We ran along the B4148 through Tardebrigge to Hewell Grange were we joined the B4096. We continued South for a couple of miles and we crossed over the A448. We ran along Birchfield Road into Webheath and we turned left under the A448 onto Bromsgrove Road. Another mile or so and we came into Redditch. We saw the railway station and we went straight ahead and into the bus station under the Kingerfisher Shopping centre. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 30944.

Inside Rotala Diamond 30944

Once off the bus we had a quick look around to see what we could catch. We saw required Stagecoach Midlands 36940 leaving the bus station on a X19 service to Stratford.

Stagecoach Midlands 36940 in Redditch bus station

We also saw crew minibus Johnsons BJ13 LYK parked up at the top end of the bus station.

Johnsons BJ13 LYK in Redditch bus station

On the other side of the bus station we saw Rotala Diamond 30165 on a #146 to Birmingham.

Rotala Diamond 30165 in Redditch bus station

Back on the other side of the bus station we saw Rotala Diamond 30006 on layover in between trip on the #58 Matchborough circular service.

Rotala Diamond 30006 in Redditch bus station

Rotala Diamond 30006 is still carrying the red Wessex version of the Rotala Diamond livery. We decided to catch a bus n a driection that we were familiar with so when we spotted required Rotala Diamond 30164 on a #57 Matchborough circular service, we decided to do it.

Rotala Diamond 30164 in Redditch bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed our Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto Station Way. We went down the hill and around the corner onto Ipsley Street. At the roundabout we went straight across onto Holloway Lane and under the A441. Holloway Lane became Studley Road and we crossed under Warwick Highway. We went forward over a 'Buses Only' section of road and into the Woodrow estate. To an outside it seems like a very unusual place. It seems to be a series of housing estates that link directly onto fast roads. Only buses can travel between the estates and motorist have to travel in and around town along the raised fast main roads. We passed nearby an industrial estate and then we turned left at the next roundabout onto Washford Drive. At the next roundabout we followed Washford Drive along the right hand turn off the roundabout and then we crossed the river Arrow we turned left onto the B4497 and as we turned right onto Matchborough Way. We passed the Sticky Wicket pub and we continued North under the A4189 onto Wynyates Way. We ran to by the Wynyates Centre where it looked familiar so we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once we got off the bus we crossed over the road and we got another picture of Rotala Diamond 30164 before it returned to Redditch.

Rotala Diamond 30164 in Winyates

We walked over to the One Stop shop and Matthew had a can of Coke as well as a couple of chocolate bars and a packet digestive biscuits. We walked back to the stop and we decided to go back towards town on a #58 service. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching and it was required Rotala Diamond 32218 on a #58 Matchborough circular service.

Rotala Diamond 32218 in Winyates

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Wynyates Way and under the A4189 and onto Matchborough Way and towards Washford. We went up to Studley Road past the park Farm industrial estate and into Woodrow. We crossed back into the Lakeside area of town before going under the A441. We then ran into town along Ipsley Street and Station Way. We went into the bus station and before we got off the bus Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 32218.

Inside Rotala Diamond 32218

Matthew decided to go to the toilet so we walked into The Hub. After Matthew had used the facilities we went back down into the bus station. We spotted required Rotala Diamond 32122 on #247 to Evesham.

Rotala Diamond 32122 in Redditch bus station

Even though we weren't sure where we could do this bus and get back, Matthew decided he wanted to do it anyway. We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Station Way. I checked the #247 timetable a saw there wasn't a bus back for 2 hours! We could however do the bus up to the Alexandra Hospital and still get back on one of a number of other services. We went down the hill onto Mount Pleasant Road and under the A448. We continued onto Evesham Road into Headless Cross and we ran down to a large roundabout. We turned left onto the A441 and we ran forwards onto Rough Hill Drive. At the next roundabout we went right onto Woodrow Drive and we went Eastwards to the hospital. We entered the hospital grounds along Quinney's Lane and after going around a turning circle we stopped at the bus stop where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 32122 as it carried on towards Evesham.

Rotala Diamond 32122 in Alexandra Hospital

There was a real time bus departure board at the hospital, and we saw there was a Johnsons #150 service to Redditch due soon. In the 10 minutes or so that we waited we turned down required Rotala Diamond Dart 30701 on a #48 to Redditch and required Rotala Diamond 30008 on a #67 to Redditch.

Rotala Diamond 30008 in Alexandra Hospital

A few minutes later the Johnsons bus turned up and it was required Johnsons YT13 HKZ on the #150 to Redditch.

Johnsons YT13 HKZ in Alexandra Hospital

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the hospital along Quinney's Lane and we turned right onto Woodrow Drive. At the roundabout we turned left onto Studley Road. We continued up Studley Road past the park Farm industrial estate and into Woodrow. We crossed back into the Lakeside area of town before going under the A441. We then ran into town along Ipsley Street and Station Way. We went into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Johnsons YT13 HKZ before it returned North on the #150 to Birmingham.

Johnsons YT13 HKZ in Redditch bus station

We had just missed a bus back to Bromsgrove so we decided to do another quick out and back. We walked down to the bottom of the bus station and we saw required Rotala Diamond 32308 on a #57 Matchborough circular.

Rotala Diamond 32308 in Redditch bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed our Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto Station Way. We went down the hill and around the corner onto Ipsley Street. At the roundabout we went straight across onto Holloway Lane and under the A441. Holloway Lane became Studley Road and we crossed under Warwick Highway. We got up and got off the bus near to the Mayfly pub in Greenlands. Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 32308 as it carried on around the route towards Matchborough.

Rotala Diamond 32308 in Greenlands

We crossed the road and waited at the stop opposite for the bus back to Reddictch. Whilst we waited Matthew had a can of Vimto. Just as Matthew finished drinking the can we saw the bus approaching and it was required Rotala Diamond 30006.

Rotala Diamond 30006 in Greenlands

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver for what turned out to be the final time today before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off Studley Road and under the A4189. We crossed back into the Lakeside area of town before going under the A441. We then ran into town along Ipsley Street and Station Way. We went into the bus station. When we got back Matthew insisted on going into the toilet even though we only had 4 minutes for the bus back to Bromsgrove. Matthew went to the toilet missing seeing Stagecoach Midlands 19398 on the X19 to Stratford. After we had missed the bus Matthew decided to come out of the toilet. On layover was required Rotala Diamond 30528 in between runs on the #47 service.

Rotala Diamond 30528 in Redditch bus station

A short while later we saw Johnsons YN63 BYP on a #150 to Birmingham.

Johnsons YN63 BYP in Redditch bus station

We walked down to the railway station to wait for mum to drive up from Bromsgrove. Around 20 minutes latr mum arrived and we got in the car. Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a bottle of Coke. We set off out of the railway station onto Unicorn Hill. we continued onto Bromsgrove Road and we joined the Westbound A448. We ran for around 3 miles to the edge of Bromsgrove and then we joined the Northbound A38. A few miles up the road we joined the Northbound M5. As we ran North up the M5 we saw an unidentified Sixty Sixty coach, grey minibus PN57 JOV & JKT International C8 JKT. We joined the Northbound M6 and we continued towards Staffordshire. On the M6 were Blackpool minibuses NJ06 JVL & Ferris YN67 CDY and an unidentified Ausden Clarke coach. We joined the Northbond A500 and we ran up to Sideway where we went eastwards onto the A50. On the A50 we saw Hollinshead tri-axle coach DH15 HOL. We came off the A50 at Longton to check out what was parked up at Z| Carz this evening. There was nothing on the spare ground, but we saw Lucky Seven minibus VX63 WYK.

Lucky Seven VX63 WYK in Longton

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

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We returned onto the A50 and We ran Westwards and we came off at Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road we saw First Potteries 67154 on a #23 to Hanley. We ran through Blurton before turning right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some more of the Blog and out our bus pictures online. Matthew went to bed around 01:00... Mark.