Saturday 20 August 2016

Trip to Widnes / Runcorn 20-08-2016




































































BusFromToServiceOperator



2526Widnes, Green OaksRuncorn BS110Arriva NW&W
2525Runcorn BSHalton Lea, Hospital stop A3CArriva NW&W
2533Halton Lea, Hospital stop BRuncorn BS79Arriva NW&W
2519Runcorn BSMurdishaw Central79CArriva NW&W
5006Murdishaw CentralHalton Lea North2Arriva NW&W
2523Halton Lea SouthRuncorn BS110Arriva NW&W
2540Runcorn BSHalton Lea, Hospital stop A79CArriva NW&W
2543Halton Lea, Hospital stop BWidnes, Green Oaks79CArriva NW&W


Today we decided to re-visit Widnes. We had checked the weather for today and it was for mainly cloudy weather with some rain, better in the North West. Matthew had been in respite for most of the week. We gave Matthew a short list of destination in the Midlands and North West and from the list he chose Widnes. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and ornge juice for breakfast. We set off just after 11:30 and we ran through Blurton along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and left again onto Blurton Road. At Heron Cross we joined the Eastbound A50 to try and avoid the matchday traffic, and we ran up the A50 Link Road onto City Road. We ran down City Road under the railway line and onto the A52. In Stoke we saw McDowell, minibus J111 TMT and Paul's of Stoke coach M221 AGL. We joined the Northbound A500 and going up we saw Global Travel T5 XLA, Barrett's T9 BCL, Bakers BX64 AEN / NUI 7726 / FJ04 ETD, Selwyns SEL 702 and ABC Coaches PO16 HSA. We joined the Northbound M6 and we saw Park's of Hamilton (National Express) LSK 808, Stagecoach trainer X822 ???, Eavesway grey minibus / YJ14 BYG and Grey minibus YJ64 BVA.


YJ64 BVA on the M6
Further up the M6 we passed an unidentified Tyrers coach and an unidentified Charlton mini Coaches minibus. We went west on the M62 a couple of junction and then we went South on the A557 into Widnes. We turned off into town and on the edge of town we saw Cable Cars minibus MX57 SFJ. We parked up in the car park next to the Green Oaks retail park and on the way to the market we saw Halton Transport 88 on a #14C to Hough Green.


Halton Transport 88 in Widnes
We went to the outdoor market and brought some cake whilst mum used the facilities. We went to the market Cafe in the far corner of the market hall and Matthew used the toilet. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked back out of the market to the bus stops. As we got there we saw required Arriva NW&W 2526 on a #110 to Murdishaw.


Arriva NW&W 2526 in Widnes
We also saw Halton Transport 90 on a #14 to Liverpool.


Halton Transport 90 in Widnes
We decided to do 2526 on the #110 so we walked over to the bus and we got on. We booked Arriva NW&W Daysaver tickets at £.530 and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto Green Oaks Way and we turned right onto Gerrards Street. We ran forwards onto Milton Road and we turned left onto the B5419. As the bus in front was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2526.


Inside Arriva NW&W 2526
We went through the old town and across the roundabout onto Victoria Road. We turned right onto Hutchinson Road and we joined the the A533. We crossed over the Jubilee Bridge into Runcorn and we wheeled around onto Station Road and into the old town. We crossed over the canal and past 'The Archers' pub and onto the High Street. We turned into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2526 before it carried on towards Murdishaw.


Arriva NW&W 2526 in Runcorn bus station
We decided to catch the next Arriva bus towards the hospital. Whilst we waited we saw Halton Transport 15 on a #61A to Huyton.


Halton Transport 15 in Runcorn bus station
A few minutes later we saw an Arriva bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 2525 on a #3C to Halton Lea hospital.


Arriva NW&W 2525 in Runcorn bus station
We decided to do required Arriva NW&W 2525 on the #3C service to Halton Hospital. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned right and up the hill. We crossed the canal and we went under the A533. We turned left into Boston Avenue and we ran Eastwards. We turned left into Halton Brook Avenue and then we turned right into Halton Brook Avenue. We went forwards off Halton Brook Avenue on to Brackendale and after crossing over the B5155 onto Halton Lodge Avenue we turned left onto the busway. With Runcorn being radically different, there are three types of Roads. We ran under the A533 central expressway and into the Halton Lea shopping centre. The Eastbound busway calls at the library on an elevated road. After a brief stop we continued to the hospital where the bus terminated. We got off the bus and crossed over the road to stop B. We crossed the road and we saw Arriva NW&W 2533 on a #79 to Hough Green.


Arriva NW&W 2533 in Halton Lea
We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver ticket to the driver. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off along the busway Westwards. We stopped on the Southside of the Halton Lea shopping centre. We carried on West 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. We got off the bus and we crossed over to the other side to catch something back West. Across the other side was Arriva NW&W 2537 on a #82A to Liverpool.


Arriva NW&W 2537 in Runcorn bus station
A few minutes later we saw Ashcroft's Travel Solo YK04 KWJ arrive on the #52 Beechwood Circular service.


Ashcroft's Travel YK04 KWJ in Runcorn bus station
The Solo went on layover for a short while. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 2545 on a #110 to Murdishaw.


Arriva NW&W 2545 in Runcorn bus station
Matthew didn't want to do this bus. On the opposite saide of the bus station we saw Arriva NW&W 2536 on the #110 to Warrington.


Arriva NW&W 2536 in Runcorn bus station
A few minutes later we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2519 on a #79 to Murdishaw.


Arriva NW&W 2519 in Runcorn bus station
We decided to do this bus rather than pay to go on a Solo! We got on Arriva NW&W 2519 and flashed the Arriva day Saver ticket to the driver. We set off out of town as we had done on the #3C earlier 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 traveled East for about a mile and the busway opened out at a turning circle and we guessed we had reached the end of the run. we got up and we let the bus empty before Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2519.


Inside Arriva NW&W 2519
We got off the bus and then Matthew then took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2519.


Arriva NW&W 2519 in Murdishaw
After taking a few bus pictures off the footbridge we went into the Co-operative food store. Mathew had a can of Coke and a small bottle of Irn Bru. He also had some Milky Way and some Curly Wurlies. Once we had done our shopping we went to the till and Matthew said hello to the girl behind the counter. Whilst we waited to catch an Arriva bus we saw Halton Transport 36 which went on layover.


Halton Transport 36 in Murdishaw
A few minutes later we saw Arriva NW&W 5006 #2 Halton Lea circular.


Arriva NW&W 5006 in Murdishaw
We decided to do this bus, so we got on and we flashed the Arriva day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. As this was a service we hadn't done before we immediately covered new ground. The #1 and #2 Halton Lea circulars run completely on Busways, The #1 being the clockwise service and the #2 being the anti-clockwise. We set off North out of Murdishaw central along the busway and we past near to Runcorn East railway station. We ran around the Windmill Hill area of town and then we went into a more familiar section than we had cover on a Runcorn bound #110 service. We travelled through Castlefield and past the McColls store and then we ran into Halton Lea. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of Arriva NW&W 5006.


Inside Arriva NW&W 5006
We decided to get off at the Halton Lea North terminal as we had never been there before. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 5006 as it carried on back towards Murdishaw.


Arriva NW&W 5006 in Halton Lea
We went down an flight of stairs and underneath the busway and we entered the shopping centre. We guessed where the toilet where from our previous visit, but we approached then from the opposite direction. In the center of the mall was a 'Halton's got talent' competition going on. Matthew visited the toilet and from the 5 minutes we were near to the competition we can safely say the Halton didn't have talent... We walked through the rest of the bus station and we followed the smell of the Subway shop which is situated near to the South bus terminal. We went up an escalator and into the bus station an we saw Arriva NW&W 2552 on a #21 to Chester.


Arriva NW&W 2552 in Halton Lea
A few minutes later we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2523 on a #110 to Warrington.


Arriva NW&W 2523 in Halton Lea
Matthew decided that we were doing this bus. We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We traveled back through Castlefields via the busway. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture of the empty seat behind us on Arriva NW&W 2523.


Inside Arriva NW&W 2523
We headed back into Runcorn via the busway through Astmoor. When we got back into Runcorn Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2523 before it carried on towards Warrington.


Arriva NW&W 2523 in Runcorn bus station
We decide to go East one last time before we returned to Widnes, so we crossed over the bus station to wait for the next Eastbound Arriva bus. Whilst there we saw Halton Transport 87 on a #14A to Murdishaw.


Halton Transport 87 in Runcorn bus station
A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching and it was required Arriva NW&W 2540 on a #79C to Murdishaw.


Arriva NW&W 2540 in Runcorn bus station
We got on Arriva NW&W 2519 and flashed the Arriva day Saver ticket to the driver. We set off out of town as we had done on the #3C earlier 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. The bus emptied out and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2540.


Inside Arriva NW&W 2540
We ran clockwise around Grangeway and we joined the busway and we ran though Halton Lea North close to the library. We continued East and when we got to the hospital we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2540 as it carried on towards Murdishaw.


Arriva NW&W 2540 in Halton Lea
We crossed over to Sop B and we waited for the next bus back. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 2543 on a #79C to Liverpool.


Arriva NW&W 2543 in Halton Lea
We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Day Saver ticket to the driver for the final fine today. The bus set off along the busway Westwards and we stopped on the Southside of the Halton Lea shopping centre. We carried on West 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 and we passed close to the Waterloo pub as was and we joined the A533. We crossed over the Mersey and 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 Way. We we got to the bus stops by Green Oaks we got up and got off the bus. Once we got off the bus Matthew took another picture Arriva NW&W 2543 before it carried on towards Liverpool.


Arriva NW&W 2543 in Widnes
We walked over to mum and we got in the car. Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll washed down with a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off onto Green Oaks Way and we went North to the roundabout and did a u-turn. We went South to Tesco where we filled up with diesel at the petrol station. We got back onto Lugsdale Road and we joined the Northbound A557. We ran the 3 or so miles up to the M62 and we joined the Eastbound road. Traveling back along the M62 we saw Vision travel double decker N590 BRH. We then joined the Southbound M6. Going down the M6 we saw an unidentified Bell Vue coach and unidentified red white Routemaster. As we travelled South we caught up with a short wheelbase coach. As we got closer we saw that it was Finesse Travel BIG 7662.


Finesse Travel BIG 7662 on the M6
We joined the Southbound A500 and we saw Bagnalls minicoach BAG 563S & Bakers coach BN63 NYC. At Sideway we joined the Eastbound A50 which we did up to Longton. We ran up to Z Carz to see what was parked up there this evening. In the front row we saw Z Carz Ford minibus FP06 WTW.


Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton
Next to that was Z Carz silver Renault minibus DS07 LSN.


Z Carz DS07 LSN in Longton
On the front of the row was Z Carz white LDV minibus PN06 ONM.


Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton
In the second row we saw Z Carz white Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ.


Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton
We turned the corner into Willow Row to see what was in the compound. Closest to the gate was Z Carz white Ford minibus GL04 CVE.


Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton
We re-joined the A50 and we ran West up to Heron Cross and we came off onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road and then right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got home just before 18:30. For a late tea we had banger and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. We then chilled out on the computer and watching telly until 01:00... Mark

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