Trip to Widnes / Runcorn 02-02-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
5015	Widnes, Green Oaks	Runcorn BS	500	Arriva NW&W
2642	Runcorn BS	Halton Lea North	110	Arriva NW&W
2540	Halton Lea South	Runcorn BS	110	Arriva NW&W
5001	Runcorn BS	Weston, The Cross	3C	Arriva NW&W
5001	Weston, The Cross	Runcorn BS	3C	Arriva NW&W
5012	Runcorn BS	Murdishaw Central	500	Arriva NW&W
5007	Murdisham Central	Halton Lea South	1	Arriva NW&W
49	Halton Lea South	Widnes, Green Oaks	62	Halton Transport

Today we decided to re-visit Widnes. It had snowed in the week and the weather wasn't the best so we decided to do a medium distance trip. We gave Matthew a choice of nearby destinations in the Midlands and North West and from the list Matthew chose Widnes. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off a little after 12:00 on the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthew Way. We ran to the Northern end past a new building that is appearing next to the Audi garage. We joined the Westbound A50 and we ran down to Sideway. At the roundabout we joined the Northbound A500. Traffic was light and we made good progress. We joined the M6 at junction 16 and we ran Northwards. As we travelled North we saw Edwards Coaches National Express liveried coach BU18 OTL on a #528 to Haverfordwest, an unidentified KT Coaches coach and an unidentified gold coloured coach. When we got to Thelwall Viaduct we could see the snow on top of Winter hill to the North side of Bolton. At junction 21A we turned left and we joined the Westbound M62. We came off at junction 7 and we headed Southwards down the A557. After a few miles we did the designated u turn onto the Northbound side of the A557 and we veered left onto Watkinson Way. At the next roundabout we turned left onto Green Oaks Way and after the bus station entrance we turned left into the car park. As we were parking up the car we saw a Stagecoach coach approaching. Once out of the car we headed over to the bus station to see Stagecoach Merseyside 53290 on a X5 to Liverpoool One.

Stagecoach Merseyside 53290 in Widnes

Also in the bus station was Halton Transport Dart 3 on a #17 to St Helens.

Halton Transport 3 in Widnes

Mum caught up with and we headed over to the market. On the way was saw Dial a Ride minibus DK66 CKJ parked up near to Morrisons.

Dial a Ride DK66 CKJ in Widnes

We headed into the market and Matthew used the toilet. We had dinner at the nearby Widnes market Cafe. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked towards the exit near to the bus station. We stopped on the way at a sweet stall and Matthew had a few eggs and a couple of jelly snakes. We asked which buses Matthew wanted to do and he chose Arriva. We decided to head over the river first so we stood on the North side of the bus station. Whilst we waited we saw Halton Transport 92 on a #62 to Halebank.

Halton Transport 92 in Widnes

Matthew considered changing his mind as we saw Halton Transport 6 on a #61 to Halton Hospital.

Halton Transport 6 in Widnes

Across the way was Arriva NW&W 719 on a #17 to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 719 in Widnes

A few minutes later we saw an Arriva bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 5015 on a #500 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 5015 in Widnes

We got on the bus and we brought Arriva NW&W daysaver tickets at £5.50 each. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 5015.

Inside Arriva NW&W 5015

We set off out of the bus station 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 got onto the new A533 and we crossed over the new Mersey Gateway Bridge. We then headed back Westwards and then joined Leiria way to run into Runcorn town centre. We ran onto the High Street we ran past the bus station before turning right into the bus station so we were pointing the right way to go towards Halton Lea. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 5015 as it continued towards Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 5015 in Runcorn bus station

We decided to go forwards towards Halton Lea on the next bus. A few minutes later we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2642 on a #110 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2642 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Church Street. We ran forwards onto Leiria Way and at the first roundabout we ran forwards onto the busway. We ran the industrial areas around Astmoor and under the Mersey Gateway bridge. We joined Castlefield Avenue East and we got onto the busway at the corner of Tyrrel Way by the McColls Store. We ran through the Castlefields area and we stopped at the library side of the Halton Lea shopping centre where we got up and got off the bus. After taking a few bus pictures we set off to go into the shopping centre. There was an old lady who was struggling to get to the shopping centre due to there being an elevated walkway and her being quite afraid of heights. I helped her to the lift and I also guided he out of the lift into the shopping centre after I had walked down the stairs. We walked through the shopping centre and we went to the toilets. After we had used the toilets we headed over to the South side of the shopping centre where the Runcorn bound buses stop. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 2552 on a #1 Halton Lea circular service which Matthew decided to turn down.

Arriva NW&W 2552 in Halton Lea

We waited for the next bus back to Runcorn. A few minutes later dud Arriva NW&W 2540 on a #110 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2540 in Halton Lea

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Daysaver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus stattion onto busway, and we 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. 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 the Mersey Gateway bridge. 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 we got to the station we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2540 before it continued of towards Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2540 in Runcorn bus station

Once we had seen the bus depart towards Warrington Matthew want a short break away from the buses. He walked to the bottom end of the bus station and played with the ice on the wall, clearing much of it away. On the other side of the bus station we saw Arriva NW&W 2536 on a #110 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 2536 in Runcorn bus station

A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 5003 on a #500 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 5003 in Runcorn bus station

A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 5001 on a #3C Weston circular.

Arriva NW&W 5001 in Runcorn bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to do this bus, which seemed a little surprising. It turned out we had never done the Weston section of the #3C circular, so it was quite an interesting journey. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva North West Daysaver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto the High Street. We went past 'The Archers' and over the A557. We went under the A533 and past the railway station. We continued along Picow Farm Road and we turned left into Penn Lane. We turned right onto Holloway and right onto Weston Road. As we travelled around Weston as the bus climbed up a little there were great views of the Mersey and the chemical plant below. As we got to a tur in the road we noticed the Selwyns coach depot in front of us. In the gate was Selwyns double decker SN16 OGW. We followed the road to the left and we got another view of the depot and saw Selwyns midicoach FJ65 XRW. We turned right onto Rocksavage Way and under the A557. We ran adjacent to the chemical plant and into the Weston Point area. We ran forwards onto Bankes' Lane and forwards again onto Lydgate Lane. We turned right onto South Parade and left into Sandy Lane. We crossed back under the A557 and we turned left onto Russell Road. We turned right onto Westfield Road and at the end we turned left onto Holloway. We turned left onto Penn Lane and Right onto Picow Farm Road. We ran past the railway station and under the A533. We crossed over the A557 and forwards onto High Street and into the bus station. We got off the bus and it was at this point Matthew decided to go to the pub across the road. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards he had a glass of Coke. Once he had finished his drink we re-joined uncle Dave who waited outside and we went back up to the bus station. We decided to go to Murdishaw and back to Widnes. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. It was required Arriva NW&W 5012 on a #500 to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 5012 in Runcorn bus station

We got on the bus and flashed the Arriva Daysaver 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 travelled East for about a mile and the busway opened out at a turning circle and we had reached the end of the run. We got up and we got off the bus. After taking a few bus pictures off the footbridge we went into the Co-operative food store. Mathew had a bottle of Coke. He also had some Milky Way and a Flake. Once we had done our shopping we went to the till. Whilst we waited to catch an Arriva bus we saw Halton Transport 63 on a #14A to Liverpool One.

Halton Transport 63 in Murdishaw

We had seen required Arriva NW&W 5013 which was going to work the next #500 to Widnes. Whilst we waited we saw dud Arriva NW&W 5007 on a #1 Halton Lea circular service.

Arriva NW&W 5007 in Murdishaw

We got on the bus and flashed the Arriva Daysaver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off around the turning circle and onto the Southbound busway we ran through the Palacefields area and past Halton Hospital. We continued down to the Halton Lea shopping centre and we got up. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 5007 before we got off the bus station.

Inside Arriva NW&W 5007

Once off the bus we saw Halton Transport 49 on a #62 to Halebank.

Halton Transport 49 in Halton Lea

Also seen was Arriva NW&W 2535 on a #110 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2535 in Halton Lea

Matthew decided to do Halton Transport 49 so we got on the bus and booked the final bus journey of today to Widnes. We set off 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 brief stop we set off up the High Street We turned right to go onto the Leiria Way.joined the A533. We crossed over the Mersey on the new bridge. 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 we got up and got off the bus. Once we got off the bus Matthew took another picture Halton Transport 49 before it carried on towards Halebank.

Halton Transport 49 in Widnes

We took a few bus pictures before we returned to the car. We saw Halton Transport 46 on a #62 to Murdishaw.

Halton Transport 46 in Widnes

We walked back to the car and mum was waiting for us with Greggs sausage rolls and a can of Irn Bru. We set off onto Green Oaks Way and we did a U-turn at the roundabout and headed Southwards. We turned left at the roundabout and we joined the Northbound A557. We ran the 3 miles or so up to the M62 and we got onto the Eastbound M62. We ran for around 8 miles to junction 10 and we joined the Southbound M6. As we travlled down the M6 we saw Intercity SF07 DHU, an unidentified GDS Travel minibus, and Pod Tre? MC14 BYR. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we joined the Southbound A500. Seen on the A500 was an unidentified National express liveried coach (#325). At Sideway we left the A500 and got onto the Eastbound A50. Seen on the A50 was an unidentified A1 Travel minibus. We came off the A50 at Longton and we went to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. The spare ground was empty so we went to Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW in the compound.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

We turned around and got back onto the A50 and we went Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We ran forwards onto Church Street and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. As we got home we saw Afford rent-a-car WX18 WKF. We got home just before 19:00. For a late tea bangers and mash with carrots followed by jam filled shortbread biscuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.