Route History

[MTL0201]

RE: Route History
When did Merseybus take completely over the 284 route?

The 284, has its origins in the Ribble S1/S2/S3 which was Liverpool-Southport, 1978 the S1/S2/S3 were renumbered S4/S5 & cut to operate Liverpool-Formby/Freshfield, the Freshfield terminus was the roundabout Southport Road/Formby By Pass in 1983 these were renumbered 284/285, at d-reg the 284 was extended to Southport 285 Liverpool-Freshfield, which gave a 30 minute service Liverpool-Freshfield & hourly to Southport, i think the 285 was withdrawn sometime 1988, 284 left stand alone on an hourly frequency. When North Western refused the use of saveaways on there buses, Merseybus added extra journeys & this became a North Western/Merseybus joint service, Merseybus using Skelhorne Street bus station part of the bus & coach station, before it closed, which was weird to see.

Not sure when North Western withdrew from the 284 leaving Merseybus to operate the route alone, not sure when it was extended to Crossens

After d-reg ABC Travel started a 284, later transferred to CMT after CMT brought ABC, main difference to Merseybus/North Western route ABC/CMT route diverted via Birkdale station. Stagecoach withdrew the 284, but whole route is effectively covered by the X2

The 47 has it's origins in the 17 Crossens-Formby, later Banks-Formby, Arriva renumbered the 17 to 47 & extended it to Liverpool, 284 was renumbered 48/48A, 48A extended to operate Southport-Liverpool Airport, although the Airport extension didn't last long, 48A went via the Dock Road 47/48 via Scotland Road, 48/48A were eventually withdrawn & 47 increased to every 20 minutes