Trip to Southport 09-07-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2143	Esplanade Park & Ride	Southport, Union Street (Stop Gb)	PR1	Arriva NW&W
2821	Southport, Union Street (Stop Gb)	Ainsdale, Ainsdale Village	49A	Arriva NW&W
7654	Ainsdale, Fairfield Road	Southport, Monument	49A	Arriva NW&W
4074	Southport, Lord St, Duke St (opp)	Meols Cop, Haig Avenue (adj)	375	Arriva NW&W
4060	Southport, Everard Road (adj)‎	Southport, Lord St, Duke St (adj)	375	Arriva NW&W
2144	Southport, Monument	Esplanade Park & Ride	PR1	Arriva NW&W

Matthew had been away in As he hadn't been out on a bus since then, we arranged to take Matthew out on a more distant trip. Originally it was going to be Shrewsbury, until mum realised that it was Southport she was thinking of! We set off a fraction after 12:00 and we stopped for LPG at Longport on the way. It was a mainly sunny day but there was plenty of cloud about too. Traffic was relatively light, we passed through Ormskirk quite quickly and we got into the Esplanade P&R just before 14:00. As we drove in we noticed that the Cleveland cafe was closed so we needed to look for another eatery. We also noticed a big music festival in the park opposite the P&R called Southport rocks! On the P&R bus, which was 2143 this time, we spotted the thistle tea room and grill at the first stop on Lord Street so we jumped off the bus. We had 3 breakfasts and a sausage sandwich, 2 cokes and a tea which came to around £19. The food was nice, but the sausage sandwich was a bit on the expensive side! As we ate matthew was able to see some of the buses out today. First 49A that we spotted was Marshall 7637. we also saw 7636, 7656, 7652 and a B6 which I can't remember.


Arriva NW&W Marshall 7637 on a 49A service to Woodvale(Matt)


7656 on a #49A service (Matt)

having just missed one 49A Woodvale service, we crossed the road and waited for the next one. After about a 10 minute wait required but slightly disappointing Volvo B6 2821 rounded the corner...


B6 2821 0n a #49A to Woodvale (Matt)

The journey was quite quick and we passed 2291 on Carr lane about to start it's journey on a #43 High Park service. When we got off Matthew got another picture of this bus.


2821 in Ainsdale (Matt)

After he took the picture we crossed the road and within about a minute we could we a Marshall approaching. The bus was required 7654.


7654 in Ainsdale (Matt)

Another relatively uneventful journey back to Southport passed on this fine beast. We saw 2294 on carr lane on a terminating #46 service. we alighted somewhere in the middle of lord Street and Matthew took another picture of 7654.


7654 in Lord Street, Southport heading towards Crossens (Matt)

When we got off we crossed the road and it had been my intention to catch another #49A to try and get some of the required Marshalls working on this service. The next 49A Woodvale was another Volvo B6 we matthew didn't want to do. I asked Matthew what bus he did want to do and I gave him the Southport bus map and a pen. He wrote '375' on the map. We started walking along Lord Street looking at stops to see if they were for the 375. We got to one stop and it said 375 Southport so we knew we had to cross the road at this point. as we were walking along we could see a double decker in the distance. The bus then turned at the roundabout and stopped on the 'Duke Street (opp)' which is the starting point of the service. We walked briskly to the stop and managed to get on it before it left. We sat downstairs... originally we sat under to stairs in the bay with 3 seat, but when someone got on with a pushchair we moved to the back. The back of these refurbished buses can be likened to a plush troop carrier with windows as all seats but the back seat itself face each other across the bus. As we didn't really now where we were going we booked to Scarisbrick New Road and it was mt intention to get off towards the end near Meols Cop. We couldn't really see where we were going at the back and we got off one stop short just before the King George V College. Matthew took a picture here...


DAF ALX 400 4074 heading towards Wigan along Scarisbrick New Road (Matt)

we crossed the 2 main roads and stood at the stop. we checked the timetable and saw there was a 375 Southport due in 5 minutes. First there was a 42 and this was B6 2804. About a minute behind this was another DAF ALX400 4060.


4060 on Scarisbrick New Road (Matt)

Matthew insisted in going upstairs, and when we got off Matthew took a picture of the upper deck.


Inside 4060 (Matt)

As it was getting on towards 17:00 as we got off the bus, we decide we were going to meet up with mum and do the P&R bus back. we walked up the the bandstand and met her there. as we walked up matthew took a few more pictures.


Arriva NW&W 3033 in Lord Street, Southport (Matt)

We waited for the P&R1 service and this was 2144. when we got to the Eco Centre, matthew photographed the inside of the bus.


Inside 2144 (Matt)

After a quick toilet stop Matthew went to look at the coaches across the way. Some of the coaches he looked at a bit too closely, but eventually we managed to get him back to the car for a quick sausage roll snack before we hit the road. As we left Southport we passed 7648 on a 375 Southport. The journey back was pleasant and quick, and we got in a little before 19:00... Mark

Trip to Southport 04-12-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2144	Esplanade Park & Ride	Southport, Monument	PR1	Arriva NW&W
2287	Southport, Monument	Ainsdale, Ainsdale Village	49A	Arriva NW&W
2288	Ainsdale, Fairfield Road	Lord Street, Stop B	49A	Arriva NW&W
3044	Lord Street, Stop B	Birkdale, Birkdale Station	49A	Arriva NW&W
7656	Birkdale, Birkdale Station	Southport, Monument	49A	Arriva NW&W
2144	Southport, Monument	Esplanade Park & Ride	PR1	Arriva NW&W

Despite the bad weather, Matthew had not been out on a trip for 3 weeks and we knew it would be at least another 2 weeks before he could go out again if we did not go out today! Snow and ice lay all around in these parts, but we hoped that the coastal towns would be milder and hopefully free from ice and snow. Matthew had indicated to us before that he wanted to go to Southport, but previous plans to travel here were always changed and he ended up somewhere different. Research for this trip consisted of printing out the Arriva network map for Southport, plus the Southport area map from the Mersey Travel site. From the Sefton local government site, we also learnt that Southport had no bus station as such and was all on street bus stops. The weather was checked the night before, and it said there would be heavy rain all afternoon! We discussed on whether we should divert to Chester because of the predicted weather. On the day of the trip, we checked the weather. The situation had now improved to fog and drizzle! we asked Matthew again if he want to go to Chester or Southport and he was adamant we were going to Southport. We departed at around midday. As we left Staffordshire most of the ground was covered in ice and snow. Travelling North along the M6 and then onto M58, by the time we reached the A570 there was virtually no snow anywhere, just fog and light drizzle. Our route took us through Ormskirk, where we saw a taste of thing to come passing a Comfybus Optare Solo and an Arriva double decker. On entering the town centre, it looked fairly busy and I could not spot anywhere obvious to park, so I decided to drive through town and follow the signs for the park and ride. Just the other side of town was the Esplanade park and ride site. on arrival we ate some of our packed lunch and toiled before getting on a bus. First arrival was Arriva Enviro 200 2144, which we promptly did back into town.


Arriva North West & Wales 2144 on P&R service PR1 by the Monument in Lord Street (Matt)

The usual thing for us to do on arrival in any new town is to stand and watch the buses for a short while whilst we try and learn what kind of services run and what type of buses work on them.
The first bus that we saw was a wrinkly dart 2287 on service #49A to Woodvale, which pulled up right behind us and had a driver change. Whilst this was going on I looked at the map and decided that this would be a good bus to start riding on, and also it was freezing cold and damp outside! I checked with the driver what the service frequency was to which he replied "15 minutes". Tickets purchased, We decided to go to Ainsdale which was just before the loop end of this service.


2287 on a service #49A to Wood Vale (Matt)

On arrival at Ainsdale, we crossed the road and waited for the return journey into Southport. At this point we weren't sure if we would get the same bus back, or a different one. A few minutes later, a wrinkly Dart appeared from around the corner. Expecting it to be the same bus, we were most surprised when it turned out to be 2288!


Arriva North West & Wales 2288 on service 49A to Crossens seen here at Ainsdale (Matt)

So on we went back to Southport. When we in town, we had previously neglected to check out the local landmarks so we could tell if we were back at the same stop. When we got off in Lord Street this time we were a stop further down, and we were opposite a bandstand instead of the monument. On the previous journey we had passed a couple of different Marshall bodied darts, which we knew Matthew would welcome travelling on, so plan the was to go back in the same direction, but this time we were only going to travel as far as Birkdale. The next #49a to turn up was 3044. A bit on the new side, but we decided to it anyway because there was a good chance of something interesting coming back. As wet got off, Matthew photographed the bus as it disappeared around the corner...


Arriva North West & Wales 3044 on the service 49A to Woodvale departs from Birkdale (Matt)

Crossing the road, we had about a 10 minute wait for the bus back. Matthew was kept amused by the scrolling advertising in both of the town bus stops. As expected Marshall bodied Dennis Dart rounded the corner,


Inside a busy 7656 (Matt)

We did the short journey back to town. During the journey we contacted mum so that she could get some food and we could meet up. She explained she would be about 5 minutes and then she would get some hot food to take back to the car. This time we went to the monument bus stop in Lord Street. Matthew photographed the bus as we left.


7656 in Lord Street on a service #49A to Crossens (Matt)

So whilst we waited, Matthew and I were able to take a few more photographs in the fading light of an early December evening. By this time, the rain had all but stopped so we had barely gotten a drop of rain on ourselves during this dismal afternoon. Most photographs at this time were taken of still buses, leaning against street furniture to steady the camera
.

Arriva North West & Wales 2287 seen on a 49A to Woodvale (Mark)

After letting 2 very full P&R service go waiting for mum, she turned up with chips which we sealed up in our rucksack. after a short wait, 2144 turned up and was once again or transport back to the park and ride site. On arrival, we went around the outside of the building and took a distant photograph of the bus and terminal, steadied on a metal fence post.


Arriva North West & Wales 2144 at the Esplanade Park & Ride site (Mark)

Back to the car, we ate chips before an uneventful journey home. Despite only minimal planning and bad weather, this turned out to be a good trip and we will definitely return here again in the future... (Mark)