Trip to Altrincham / Trafford Centre 31-03-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3101	Altricham Interchange	Trafford Centre BS	245	Arriva NW&W
69141	Trafford Centre BS	Eccles Interchange	2	First Manchester
66863	Eccles, Library (Stop F)	Trafford Centre BS	2	First Manchester
19335	Trafford Centre BS	Stretford, Metrolink (Stop K)	23	Stagecoach Manchester
3099	Stretford, Arndale (Stop G)	Sale, Dane Road	18	Arriva NW&W
3095	Sale, Chapel Road	Altricham Interchange	18	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit Altrincham for the first time since February 2012. Since our last visit they have re-built the transport interchange. We had checked the weather for today and it was for cool cloudy weather with occasional showers. Mum hab been very busy at work so we showed matthew the map and told him we should go no further than 30-40 miles. We made a few suggestions but he didn't seem happy. He originaly chose Wilmslow, but with only 2 different buses service the town and these being different operators, and there being no Cheshire bus ticket, I suggested that we try Altrincham again, to which he agreed. I did a very quick resecrh of parking and also we looked at a couple of places where we could eat. I didn't get back from work until 11:00 and mum was a few minutes later. Matthew got up just after 11:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:15 and we ran down to the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthew Way. We joined the WEstbound A50 and at Sideway we got onto the Northbound A500. It seemed quiet in Stoke but as we got to the top end of the A500 it was busy. We queued for a short while to get on the M6 and as we came up the sliproad we saw an unidentified Baker Dolphin coach go past us on the main carriageway. As we travelled Northwards we saw Reays PJ14 ENR, white minibus HX66 WUV, blue minibus PL65 ECE, silver minibus MF15 CHO and Green & white minibus RX05 SXA. We came off the M6 at junction 19 and we went Eastwards along the A556. At the motorway junction roundabout we went forwards on to the A56 for the last couple of miles into town. We turned right off the A56 and we ran into town along Regents Road. As we approached we saw Springfield RH66 HOW on a #289 to Northwich. We initally tried to park on Street on Stamford New Road but the car parking was limited to 20 minutes. We returned onto Regent Road and into the car park. We parked the car and Matthew went to the toilet. Once Matthew had used the facilities We walked down Regent Road to Bap where we had dinner. Matthew had to check out the toilets there too and we found a table whilst mum ordered the food. Matthew had a bacon and sausage bap washed down with a can of Pepsi. He also helped mum to eat here bacon and sausage bap too. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we continued down Regent Road and left onto New Stamford Road. On the way to the interchange we saw required Network Warrington 41 on a #5 to Warrington.

Network Warrington 41 in Altrincham

We continued down to the interchange. As the level of the road is higher than the level of the interchange you can stand on the road and look down onto the buses and get good pictures. We saw required Rotala Diamond 20671 on a #286 Timperley circular.

Rotala Diamond 20671 in Altrincham Interchange

Almost immediately we asaw required Arriva NW&W 4165 to Wythenshawe Interchange

Arriva NW&W 4165 in Altrincham Interchange

We weren't quick eneough to get around the interchange to get on the Arriva bus, so we continued taking a few more pictures whilst we decided what to do. We saw required Rotala Diamond 20720 on a #283 Hale Barns circular.

Rotala Diamond 20720 in Altrincham Interchange

In the layover area we saw required Arriva NW&W 3101 which was going to work a #245 to The Trafford Centre.

Arriva NW&W 3101 in Altrincham Interchange

Also on layover was required Rotala Diamond 20799 in between local services.

Rotala Diamond 20799 in Altrincham Interchange

We walked back into the interchange and we deicded to Arriva NW&W 3101 on a #245 to The Trafford Centre. We got on the bus and we booked System One bus only tickets at £5.60 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A538 and we ran Northwards out of town. We crossed over the A560 and we continued up to the A56 where we turned right. We crosed over the Bridgewater Canal and and we ran into Broadheath. The road turned slightly to the East as we ran through West Timperley and we continued for another couple of miles into Sale. We past the point to which we had traveled back in February 2012 on Arriva NW&W Dart 2242. We continued Northwards under the M60 and into Stretford. We passed Stretford Mall and we turned left onto the A5145 which was clearly the centre of town. We continued Westwards along the B5213 under the M60 and we ran for just over a mile into Urmston. We turned right into the B5214 and we ran North for a short while. We turned left into Moorside Road and into Davyhulme. We passed the Trafford General hospital and close to the Manchester Ship Canal before we turned Northwards onto Woodsend Road. We continued East along Davyhulme Road and we turned left onto Woodhouse Road. We re-joined the Northbound B5214 and back under the M60. We passed the TRafford Golf Centre and then we turned right into the Trafford Centre bus station next to the BP garage. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 3101.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3101

Once off the bus we looked for a toilet as it was quite a long journey. We spotted one at the entrance of the shopping centre. Once Matthew had used the facilities. We saw required Arriva NW&W 3099 which had done a a #247 into Alrinham and got to the the bus station before us. We also saw Stagecoach Manchester 10616 on a X50 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10616 in Trafford Centre bus station

Matthew wanted to do this bus but as it was non-stop into the centre of the City we thought it would be too far to travel on a day that we had already had a late start on. Matthew wasn't too happy with not doing this bus, but a few minutes later we saw First Manchester 69141 on a #2 to Bolton.

First Manchester 69141 in Trafford Centre bus station

We saw that the Bolton bus ran via Eccles and this was only about a 15 miute ride away so we decided to do this bus. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned right on to the B5214. At the next roundabout we turned left onto the B5211 and we ran North over the river Manchester Ship Canal. We ran Northwards through Barton upon Irwell and we ran alongside the Bridgewater Canal. We turned right onto the A57 and we crossed over the canal. We ran the 1/2 mile into Eccles. We continued forwards onto Church Street and we entered the Interchange. Once we got off the bus we had a look around. Matthew wanted the toilet the tardis toilet was out of order. We decided to head back to The Trafford Centre. There were a few buses back but the stops were a little cofusing. We saw required First Manchester 37368 on a #100 to Warrington which we could have done.

First Manchester 37368 in Eccles Interchange

As we had missed the bus at the stop we decided to walk Westwards to the next stop. At the other end of the interchange we saw required Arriva NW&W 2517 on a #484 to Whitefield via Prestwich.

Arriva NW&W 2517 in Eccles Interchange

We walked to the stop outside the Library and we waited for the next bus to The Trafford Centre. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 66863 on a #2 to The Trafford Centre.

First Manchester 66863 in Eccles

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Church Street and forwards onto Liverpool Road. We turnd left onto the B5211 and we headed into Barton upon Irwell and over the Manchester Ship Canal. We turned right onto the B5214 and we came into the Trafford Centre from the North end. We entered the bus station and we let the bus empty. Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 66863 before we got off.

Inside First Manchester 66863

Once we got off the bus we need to catch something as soon as possible so that we didn't get caught on the wrong side of the Manchester United football traffic. We saw required Stagecoach Manchester 12253 on a #250 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 12253 in Trafford Centre bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and then we came back into the bus station to catch something. We spotted required Stagecoach Manchester 19335 on a #23 to Stockport via Stretford.

Stagecoach Manchester 19335 in Trafford Centre bus station

We decided to do ths bus as far as Stretford where we could catch something else down through Sale back to Altricham. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off out of the bus station onto the B5214. We went Southwards under the M60 and straight down into the centre of Urmston. We turned left onto the B5213 and we ran Eastwards inti Stretford. We decided to do the bus to the next stop on the other side of the crossroads. After a stop in the centre of Stretford we crossed the crossroads and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of Stagecoach Manchester 19335 as it continued towards Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 19335 in Stretford

We stopped at the newsagent and Matthew brough supplies. We then crossed the road and walked down to the stop on the Southbound A56 opposite the Mall. We didn't have to wait long before a bus came around the corner. It was required Arriva NW&W 3099 on a #18 to Altrincham.

Arriva NW&W 3099 in Stretford

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off Southwards into the traffic and we slowly went South. As we approached the M60 we saw Delta Travel YG58 SXY,& Anderson Travel YN17 OOE. We crossed under the M60 into Sale and as we had only done 5 buses and I needed the toilet we decided to get off the bus. Once off the bus we walked Southwards for a couple of hundred yards until we saw a pub on the opposite side of the road. We crossed over and went into the pub. I brough a couple of drinks and then Dave sat down whilst I took Matthew to the toilet. Afterwards Matthew sat with Dave whilst I used the facilities. We finished our drinks and as we came out we just missed required Arriva NW&W 3092 on a #245 to Altricham. We stood at the stop and eventually saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 3095 on a #18 to Altrincham.

Arriva NW&W 3095 in Sale

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Southwards down the A56 through Sale and for another 2 miles or so into West Timperley. The roas verred to the South and we continued to the edge of Altricham. We turned left onto the A538. and we ran into the interchange. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 3095.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3095

As we headed back to the car we took a few more bus pictures. We saw required Arriva NW&W 3103 on Layover in between runs on the #19 to Wythenshawe.

Arriva NW&W 3103 in Altrincham Interchange

Afterwards we saw required Arriva NW&W 2749 on a #263 to Manchester

Arriva NW&W 2749 in Altrincham Interchange

Also seen was required Stagecoach Manchester 36421 on a #11 to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 36421 in Altrincham Interchange

As we walked back towards the car Matthew spotted a cake shop. He had a slice of Victoria sponge to take away. We turned right into Regent Road and back to the car. Mum was waiting for us with Greggs sausage rolls and bottle of Fanta. As the jam was seeded, matthew shared the jammy half of the cake with mum. We set off along Regent Road and we turned left onto the A56. We ran down to the A556 and we saw Selwyn's FJ65 XRX. We continued onto the A556 and we joined the M6 at junction 19. As we heeaded down the M6 we saw quite a few coaches. We saw an unidentified Parr's coach, Paul's of Stoke M20 BUS, an unidentified Glen Valley coach, 2 x unidentified Rothwell's coaches, 2 x unidentified Holmeswood Coaches(including a VIP coach), 2 unidentified swans coaches, 2 x Moving People coaches, an unidentified Eavesway coach, an unidentified Pride of the Clyde coach and blue minibus YN06 UFH. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and onto the Southbound A500. As we travelld South we saw silver minibus SB07 YWS and Lucky Seven PK61 FBB. We came off the A50 at Sideway and onto the Eastbound A50. We stopped at Longton Tesco and we filled up with petrol. We continued to Z Carz to see what was parked up there this evening. There was nothing on the spare ground as expected so we turned left into Willow Row. We saw Z Carz Vauxhall minibus DG10 VMO.

Z Carz DG10 VMO in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz Ford minibus FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

We re-joined the A50 and we ran Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran down the hill into Blurton. In Blurton we saw Alfa 64 by the BP garage. We continued up to Chgurch Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Avenue and back home at 19:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread bicuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.