Operators based in North East Wales

[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
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Oares Brynford, Holywell
New here is ex Bryn Melyn BX54VTM BMC Falcon 1100F - S60F. After leaving GHA in one of the auctions it went in 8/2016 to Elliots, Shepshed, Leicestershire and has now joined Oares fleet to join sibling BX54VUF which was purchased back in 2016. <Poor photo in garage being worked on>
X901PBA (Volvo B7R / Plaxton Prima) has been withdrawn since Dec 2018.

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt
The Solo YJ09EZH which was with GHA has now been given the firms excellent livery <PHOTO>. It was owned by the Local Council (Fleet 628) and operated by GHA until 7/2016 - it was returned to Flintshire County Council and stored until April 2018 - it was submitted to Auction in Manchester but not sold - it then joined the P and O Fleet last May 2018.

Voel Coaches, Dyserth, Rhyl
NH06MEH one of the pair of Volvo B12M / Van Hool Alizee purchased in January 2019 has now been given Voel full livery <PHOTO>. Sibling NH06NEH has arrived in dealer white having been converted to S70F and has seen service but it is shortly going to be painted into the orange livery.

Olympian K580RRH has been sold and has gone to a private owner hopefully for preservation.

About to arrive is Neoplan Tourliner OY67DXU which until recently was with Highland Coaches, Dalmally since new in February 2018.

Coastline Taxis Rhyl [JWS (CARS) LTD]
Solo YJ18CZL has now been repaired following the major RTC last October. For a short while it will be working the local Prestatyn service. The loan Enviro 20D YX14RZE is being returned to Mistral this week.

[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
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Unicorn Travel, Llay, Wrexham
Arrived today is YN14MVR a Scania 360EB4 / Irizar i6 which currently has 36 seats but will be reduced to 32 after two tables are installed. <PHOTO YN14MVR> <PHOTO inside> It was new in 3/2019 to City Circle, Hayes {49}.
The operators smart livery will soon be applied. Their MB Atego / UNVI Cimo YN55KWB is passing to Pats Coaches, Southsea.

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham
A2CNX a Scania K124IB4 / Van Hool Alizee has joined the fleet. It was new in 1/2001 to Birmingham Coach, Tividale as X423WVO for National Express work. In 7/2007 it went to Thandi, Smethwick where it became RUI2059 and then in 7/2010 it went to Aziz, Sparkbrook where it gained its current number. <PHOTO A2CNX>
Also joining the fleet, as indicated, above is Unicorn's MB Atego / UNVI Cimo YN55KWB. It was new in Oct 2005 to Excelsior, Bournemouth (201) before joining Unicorn Travel at Llay in September 2014.
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[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales

(18/03/2019 19:01)DLG817 Wrote:  .
Unicorn Travel, Llay, Wrexham
Arrived today is YN14MVR a Scania 360EB4 / Irizar i6 which currently has 36 seats but will be reduced to 32 after two tables are installed. <PHOTO YN14MVR> <PHOTO inside> It was new in 3/3019 to City Circle, Hayes {49}.
The operators smart livery will soon be applied. Their MB Atego / UNVI Cimo YN55KWB is passing to Pats Coaches, Southsea.

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham
A2CNX a Scania K124IB4 / Van Hool Alizee has joined the fleet. It was new in 1/2001 to Birmingham Coach, Tividale as X423WVO for National Express work. In 7/2007 it went to Thandi, Smethwick where it became RUI2059 and then in 7/2010 it went to Aziz, Sparkbrook where it gained its current number. <PHOTO A2CNX>
Also joining the fleet, as indicated, above is Unicorn's MB Atego / UNVI Cimo YN55KWB. It was new in Oct 2005 to Excelsior, Bournemouth (201) before joining Unicorn Travel at Llay in September 2014.
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Pats Coaches, Southsea
In addition I have now been informed that P7WXM (Scania L94IB4 / Van Hool T9 Alizee) was sold yesterday to Peyton Travel, Bridgend and that X804HCT (Mercedes Benz O814D / ACl) is going to Davies Motors, Ruthin

[iMarkeh]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
Any news on who won the Flintshire tenders?

[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
End of the 40 Mold to Wrexham via Treuddyn and the 63(previously DB1) Mold to Kinnerton via Treuddyn Nercwys etc).
An unfortunate date (1st April) but today marks the end of the former 40 Bus service from Mold to Wrexham (via Nercwys, Treuddyn, Llanfynydd, Ffrith, Cymau) and the 63 service (known previously as the DB1) which ran from Mold through Nercwys. The reason for the withdrawal is due to the reduction in subsidy for the services.
The replacement for these is a new service LT7 which runs from Mold to Hope. through Nercwys, Treuddyn, Llanfynydd, Ffrith, Cymau and Caergwrle. There are just four journeys leaving Mold at 6.35am, 10.10am, 12.20pm and 4.20pm. These runs are timed to connect with the Mold to Wrexham service at Caergwrle and also the train service from Bidston to Wrexham again at Caergwrle.
The contractor operating the service is Wrexham and Prestige Taxis and they are using a 16 seat Ford Transit minibus AY15ZXW <PHOTO>. Unfortunately unlike the previous buses used on the routes the minibus involves a climb into the vehicle, there are no wheelchair facilities and no adequate space for pushchairs etc. The service in to Mold at 10.00am this morning was well patronised (some 13 passengers). Most passengers were not able to work the door and the driver was very happy to leave his position walk around to the entrance to open / close the door.
Whilst timetables have been posted at a number of bus stops on the route there is yet to appear any information of these changes on the Flintshire web site as of today. In fact still on the said website is the timetable for the Buckley Town Service 21, 21A/B which ceased at the end of January.

Wrexham also suffers bus losses.
Today marked the absence of the 42 service to Stockwell Grove and the 44 service to Barkers Lane. These routes have not been well served by bus operators ever since GHA collapsed in the summer of 2016. After an absence for a while they were operated by D Jones and Son but that firm ceased trading at the end of 2017. Another absence and they were then operated by easyCoach who also ceased trading suddenly. With the hope of some stability the services were taken over by Arriva but they have now decided to stop running the services. Other reductions in service provision for the travelling public occurred today in Wrexham by Arriva involving less journeys to Penycae, no service to the Moreton Estate in Johnstown and the Mold service no longer serving the Pendine Way Estate in Gwersyllt.

Unusual visitor to King Street Bus Station Wrexham
Stagecoach Training bus 28540 (X266USH) a Scania L94UB / Wrightbus Axcess Floline <PHOTO 28540>

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham
The very recently arrived A2CNX a Scania K124IB4 / Van Hool Alizee has left the fleet and has been sold to Andy's Minibuses, Holyhead.

easyCoach
A visit to their depot in Rhosymedre revealed that a number of the Optare Tempos that were used on the Oswestry service have now left the depot. It is understood that they have returned to a finance company. It apperas that three Tempos (YJ56WVU, WVS and WVV) remain at the depot together with a Solo (LXZ6238 [YJ06YSE]), the VDL SB120 /Wright Cadet (CB54BUS) and two of the Ford Transits used on the airport runs.

[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
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Hutchinson, Buckley
The Solo MX58ACO has been sold last month to Hodgson Coaches, Barnard Castle, Teesside. The bus was purchased new by Hutchinson in September 2008 and used on the Buckley Town Service. It was sold to P and O Lloyd in June 2014 when the contract was lost but re-purchased in July 2015 when the contract was won again. The vehicle now used on the much reduced Buckley Town service is a minibus on loan from Flintshire County Council who support the service.

Unicorn, Llay, Wrexham
The Scania K360EB4 / Irizar i6 purchased recently has now been re-registered from YN14MVR to R27UTW. It has been named Rhiannon Louise. It has also had tables installed and the seating is now C32Ft. < PHOTO with Vinyls>

Wrexham and Prestige Taxis
New to this fleet is YX11FSD a Fiat Ducato with Bluebird Orion Plus body. It was new in August 2011 to South Lanarkshire Council. It is a low floor vehicle with a wheelchair ramp at the front and a wheelchair lift at the rear. It currently has 20 seats. <PHOTO -front> <PHOTO - rear>

[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
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Unicorn Travel, Llay, Wrexham,
Newly arrived and just about to go on its first trip, which happens to be to Lourdes in France, is brand new Scania K410 Interlink demonstrator which will be on loan to Unicorn for a few weeks due due to a delay in the arrival of their new coach. This 'Interlink' was only registered yesterday YT19DXA and Unicorn is the first operator to use the coach. <Coach> <inside> <cab>

Their 2011 MAN Neoplan N2216SHD Tourliner has been re-registered from MV11LVR to R1UTW <photo>

[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
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D Jones and Son, Acrefair
The three ex Webber Bus Versas YJ60LTA/F/N have been sold and departed yesterday to CT4N Ltd, Nottingham.
AE07DZB/C ADL Darts SLF / MCV, DK07NPY Optare Solo M950, YJ13HJO Optare V1170 Versa and YX05AVK Mercedes-Benz Vario O814D / Autobus Classique remain to be sold.

[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
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Routemasters 4 Hire of Llay.

This company have started tours from Llangollen using one of their Routemasters. As the weather is so great this weekend the open topper is in use. RM1783 (783 DYE) was new in January 1964 to London Transport - converted to open top for use in 1984 Liverpool Garden Festival - used by London Sightseeing and also in Bath and Newquay then went to be preserved.
One tour visits the Horseshoe Pass and the other Pontcysyllte, each takes about an hour with 30 minutes of that time at the destination Operating this Easter then probably most school holidays.
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[DLG817]

RE: Operators based in North East Wales
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E Jones and Sons, Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham
Latest arrival is YN15EKM a Scania K360EB4 / Irizar I4 - C70F. It was new in June 2015 to Doig, Glasgow. This is the 4th high capacity Scania from this Scottish fleet.

Unicorn Travel, Llay, Wrexham
L647AYS the Volvo B10M-60 / Van Hool Alizee which has been with Unicorn since the beginning of the year has now left the fleet and has been purchased by dealers Davies Motors, Ruthin.

Ruthin receives an Award as a Coach Friendly Town
Ruthin has become Denbighshire's first coach-friendly town and joins a few select places in Wales such as Betws-y-Coed, Conwy and Cardiff which already have the status.
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (Cymru) has presented this award and factors considered includes clear signage for visiting coaches, adequate coach parking provision, facilities for groups and a website providing information for coach groups.