Trip to Leicester / South Wigston 13-04-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4202	Leicester Haymarket BS	South Wigston, South Leicestershire College	47	Arriva Midlands
4203	South Wigston, South Leicestershire College	Leicester Haymarket BS	44	Arriva Midlands
66963	Leicester Haymarket BS	Braunstone, Hallam Crescent East	18	First Leicester
66974	Braunstone, Caldecote Road	Leicester Haymarket BS	18	First Leicester
28624	Leicester Haymarket BS	Oadby, Opp Waitrose	X7	Stagecoach Midlands
4209	Oadby, Adj Waitrose	Leicester Haymarket BS	X3	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Leicester. We wanted somewhere a little further afield now that we are on BST and that we hadn't been very often. We gave Matthew a list place to choose from and from the list he chose Leicester. Research for the trip consisted of checking the name of the multi-operator ticket and downloading the area map. Matthew got up around 10:30 and toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off in the car around 12:00 we saw The Lambourne white minibus NC57 TXH. We ran down to the A5035 and we headed through Dresden into Longton. We Crossed over the A50 and we joined the Eastbound carriageway. We travelled up through Meir and we saw a Copelands Tours unidentified white Van Hool & MIB 302. We continued Eastwards towards Uttoxeter and we saw Parrs FJ10 EZO, Barratt's P50 BCL on an Eastbound day trip. We continued past Uttoxeter and close to Burton. As we travelled Eastwards we saw Sharpe's EX18 SON, silver minibus SF19 KFG, Silverdale MV12 ODY, Tiger European SF06 VXE, ex London T105 and Paul S Winson XX66 PSW. Web ran to the end of the A50 and we joined the South M1. Seen on the M1 were Hammonds NH07 HAM and an unidentified white minibus. We left the M1 at junction 22 to resume the journey along the A50. Seen on the A50 was Z Carz PY08 KDX stopped at a roadside food truck. We ran into Leicester town centre over frog Island and we ran forwards onto St Margaret's Way. We joined the clockwise inner ring road and we turned right onto Belgrave Gate. We ran into the Haymarket shopping centre car park and we parked up. Mum put 4 hours on the car and we walked through the shopping centre to the bus station. we saw First Leicester 66845 parked up on layover.

First Leicester 66845 in Leicester bus station

We grabbed some seats at the food stop at the bus stop and Matthew went to the toilet and mum ordered the food. Matthew had a burger and we shared a few fries. He washed it down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eaten we said goodbye to mum and we walked down the stands to see what we could catch. We spotted required Arriva Midlands 4202 on a #47 to South Wigston and we decided to do this bus.

Arriva Midlands 4202 in Leicester bus station

We got on the bus and we brought Flexi multi-operator tickets at £5.20 each. We went upstairs and the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 4202 before we sat down.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4202

The bus set off out of the bus station we saw First Leicester 66965 on layover in its heritage Leicester bus livery. We set off ouf of the bus station and we turned right onto Charles Street. We turned right onto Rutland Street and we ran forwards onto Belvoir Street. We turned left onto the A594 and we ran past the prison. We ran past the Leicester Tigers rugby ground and we ran forwards onto Counting House Road. We ran past Morrison and the retail park and we turned left onto the A426. At the junction we turned left onto the B5366. We travelled through Aylestone Park and past a empty shop. We continued Southwards and We Crossed the Pork Pie roundabout onto Saffron Road. We ran past South Wigston railway station and we turned left onto Blaby Road. A couple of stops up the road we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Arriva Midlands 4202 before it returned to Leicester on the #47.

Arriva Midlands 4202 in South Wigston

As we got off the bus we saw required Arriva NW&W on a #44 from Leicester. The driver changed the display to a #44 to Leicester. We decided to crossed over the road and catch a bus going back the other way. We crossed over Station Street and we crossed over Blaby Street at the crossing. We stood at the bus stop and we saw required Arriva Midlands 4203 had turned around at the roundabout and coming back up Blaby Road in the opposite direction on a #44 to Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 4203 in South Wigston

We got on the bus and we placed the Flexi Day tickets under the scanner before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off along Blaby Road and we turned right onto Saffron Road. We Turned right into Gloucester Crescent and we ran though an estate. There were a few industrial premises on the right hand side and further up the road we passed Wood coaches garage. We continued onto Glenborne Road and we turned right onto the B5418. We turned left onto Shackerdale Road and we ran along side the A563. We crossed the A563 and we ran forwards onto Aberdale Road. We crossed the A5199 and we ran forwards onto Overdale Road. We turned right onto Meadvale Road and left onto Carisbrooke Road. We turned left onto Knighton Road and right onto Queens Road. We ran through Clarendon Park and we turned right onto Victoria Park Road. We ran alongside the park up to the A6 and we came into familiar territory. At the roundabout we turned left onto London Road and we saw Royale OY67 DXJ. We ran through the leafy suburbs of Leicester and we ran past the railway station. We ran forwards onto Charles street and into Haymarket Bus Station. Once off the bus we spotted Stagecoach Midlands 27685 on a X7 to Milton Keynes.

Stagecoach Midlands 27685 in Leicester bus station

On an adjacent stand was First Leicester 66963 on a #18 to Braunstone.

First Leicester 66963 in Leicester bus station

We got on the bus and we put the Flexi multi-operator day tickets before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station. We turned left into Belgrave Gate and we turned right into Church Gate . We turned left into Mansfield Street and right into East Bond Street. We turned left onto Causeway Lane and we joined the anti-clockwise ring road. We joined the Westbound A47 and we crossed over the River Soar. We travelled out of town along the A47 for around a mile, through the Western Park area of town. We turned left onto Cort Crescent and into Braunstone. We ran alongside we ran alongside Braunstone and over a large green filled roundabout. We continued along Cort Crescent and forwards onto Hallam Crescent East. We ran to the large grassy roundabout in the centre of the estate and the bus terminate at the stop there where we got up and off the bus. Once off the bus we took a picture of First Leicester 66963 before it returned on the #18 to Leicester.

First Leicester 66963 in Braunstone

Once we had taken the picture we walked back along Hallam Crescent East as we had spotted a Co-operative food store as we went past on the bus. We went in the shop and we brought a bottle of Cherry Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. We walked back towards the terminus as few yard to the nearest bus stop and we waited for the next #18 whilst we waited for the bus we saw a couple of Arriva double decker in the distance go past on Waltham Avenue on the #104 to Fosse Park. We saw the bus go up to the terminus and it was required First Leicester 66974. After a few minutes the bus returned and was as expected First Leicester 66974 on the #18 to Leicester.

First Leicester 66974 in Braunstone

We got on the bus and we put the Flexi multi-operator day tickets before we sat down towards the back of the bus. we set off off along Hallam Crescent East and we crossed over Waltham Avenue. We continued onto Cort Crescent and we ran past the entire length of Braunstone Park. At the end we turned right onto the Eastbound A47. We ran for around a mile into town and we crossed over the River Soar. We joined the clockwise ring road and we ran around to the North West corner of town passing Skills National Express liveried coach BD65 JFJ on a #440 to Derby. We past John Lewis and we turned right into Abbey Street. We ran past the end of St Maragrets Bus station and we turned right into Belgrave Street before entering the Haymarket bus station from the North end. We pulled onto stand B and in the adjacent stand was Stagecoach Midlands 28624 about to depart on the X7 to Milton Keynes. Matthew decided he wanted to do this bus and got straight off First Leicester 66974 and straight onto Stagecoach Midlands 28624. We checked with the driver that we were valid on the bus and how far we could do it. We decided we could go to Oadby so we placed the Flexi day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned sharp right onto Charles Street and we headed South Eastwards. We joined the Southbound A594 and we went past the railway station on the the A6. AS we travelled down the A6 we saw Ausden Clark YT61 FDU. We travelled out of town for a further 2 1/2 miles and the bus stopped on the A6 opposite to Waitrose. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Midlands 28624 before it continued South on the towards Milton Keynes.

Stagecoach Midlands 28624 in Oadby

Once off the bus we headed into Waitrose and Matthew used the toilet. We went around the shop and Matthew brought a small can of Coke. We paid for the can and we went outside onto the A6 to wait for a Leicester bound bus. Opposite we saw Arriva Midlands 4208 on a X3 to Market Harborough.

Arriva Midlands 4208 in Oadby

Whilst we waited Matthew had a double Milky Way and me and uncle Dave shared a Bounty. A few minutes later we saw a double decker approaching in the distance. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva Midlands 4209 on a X3 to Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 4209 in Oadby

We got on the bus and we placed Flexi multi-operator tickets under the scanner for the final time today before we went upstairs. We noticed that the X3 service terminated at the St Maragrets bus station. The Bus set off Northwards up the A6. We ran through the leafy suburbs of Leicester and we ran past the railway station. We ran forwards onto Charles street. We stopped in the street outside the Haymarket Bus Station and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of Arriva Midlands 4209 before it continued to the St Maragrets bus station.

Arriva Midlands 4209 in Leicester

Another bus seen was Arriva Midlands 2955 on a #58A to Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 2955 in Leicester

We walked into Haymarket Bus Station and we went to the toilet. Afterwards we had a final walk around the Haymarket Street bus station area taking pictures before we returned to the car. We saw First Leicester 63352 on a #25 to Mowmacre Hill.

First Leicester 63352 in Leicester bus station

Also seen was Arriva Midlands 3717 on a #56 to Thurnby.

Arriva Midlands 3717 in Leicester bus station

afterwards we saw First Leicester 66964 on a #18 to Braunstone.

First Leicester 66964 in Leicester bus station

We walked back up the the North entrance to the bus station and we saw First Leicester 35190 on a #54 to the Beaumont Centre.

First Leicester 35190 in Leicester bus station

Another vehicle seen was Arriva Midlands 2523 on a #6 to Thurmaston Asda.

Arriva Midlands 2523 in Leicester bus station

A short while later we saw Arriva Midlands 4206 on a #31A to Oadby.

Arriva Midlands 4206 in Leicester bus station

We walked back into the shopping centre and up the stairs to the car park level. Mum was waiting at the car with Morrisons sausage rolls and a large can of Irn Bru. We set off out of the shopping centre onto Belgrave gate and we ran Northwards to the end and turned left onto the ring road and we saw Edwards National Express liveried coach BV17 GUX on a #339 to Grimsby. We turned right onto St Margarets Way and we ran forwards onto Frog Island. Instead of continuing along the A50 we turned left onto Fosse Road North. We turned right onto Glenfield Road. We turned right onto Sandhurst Road and left onto Aikman Avenue. We ran through the estate to the end and we turned right onto New Parks Way. At the next roundabout we turned left by the hospital and we re-joined the A50. We ran the last few mile North Westward and we joined the Northbound M1 at junction 22. Seen on the M1 was an unidentified Belle Coaches coach, Collingtree Coaches AE55 ??? and an unidentified Woods coach. We came off the M1 at junction 23A and we ran parrallel to the motorway along the A453 to the big roundabout by junction 24. We ran near to the roundabout and straight onto the A50. As we travelled Westwards into the evening sun we saw Orion Travel 8201 VC, an unidentified Sharpes coach, an unidentified Travel Wright coach, Barratts P50 BCL, an unidentified white Van Hool Copeland's Tours coach and Tiger European SF06 VXE. We came off the A50 at Longton and we went to Z Carz to see what was at their depot. The spare ground was empty as you would expect these days so we turned into Willow Row. Outside the depot on the road was Z Carz Renault minibus YJ61 GYZ.

Z Carz YJ61 GYZ in Longton

Inside the compound we saw Z Carz Renault minibus DS07 LSN.

Z Carz DS07 LSN in Longton

Also in the compound was Z Carz Renault minibus YE52 UZX which is currently not in use.

Z Carz YE52 UZX in Longton

We went West along the A50 to Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. we got back home at 19:30. When we got back for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a small lemon meringue pie. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.