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Mercedes Sprinters have actually been popping up on the 111 a few times recently.

Thinking on too, the ALX200 Y196 KNB was on the 258 (Stockbridge - Huyton) yesterday too instead of on the Garstons as the Garstons had 3 MPDs and an Enviro out yesterday.

The ALX200 can only operate the 258 Saturdays (or when the schools are off) as it is far too big to get around the car park at St John Bosco school that route 663 operates which is part of the same diagram! It was tight enough getting one of the bigger Solos, W603 PTO around that the other day!

Acquired primarily for Merseylink use is another Volkswagen LT46/VDL Kusters, SF05 GFJ


HTL Buses SF05 GFJ by buses7675!, on Flickr

Very similar to white SF05 GGK, other than this one has a destination box/screen, this vehicle is B15F and ex Little Red Bus (covered in http://www.littleredbus.co.uk branding when it arrived last week) - While primarily for Merseylink use it does have a working destination and a ticket machine base so could potentially see use on 8xx routes to supplement the Mercedes Sprinters.

It could be used on any route as we have seen in the past lol.

Very rare allocation for a Sunday (never ever known it before!) was of Dart MPD SN06 BMV on routes 196/147 today!



HTL Buses SN06 BMV by buses7675!, on Flickr


Optare Solo M710SE YJ11 EKN is now back at HTL again too having been away for repairs (and the bus that replaced it while it was away, Enviro200 KX57 FMF has returned to Dawsonrentals), the Solo noted in the depot this afternoon.


HTL Buses YJ11 EKN by buses7675!, on Flickr

one of the all white enviros is in hattons travels depot.

KX59 CYV has returned from Hatton's (it was there getting some sort of work done, not sure what however!) and was in HTL's depot yesterday afternoon.

According to the Merseytravel Travel News Update, Warrington Coachways are taking-over the morning 196 journeys:

"196 St Helens - Prescot
Monday to Saturday morning buses will be operated for Merseytravel by Warrington
Coachways. (The route and the times will be unchanged)."

(http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travel-up...0April.pdf )

HTL don't have the morning journeys and never have done. It's a separate tender to the eve/Sun service and has most recently been operated by Stagecoach. It was previously attached to a school contract in the St Helens area (Rainford High service 790 if I remember correctly) and prior to Stagecoach operation, was operated by Strawberry/South Lancs who withdrew from the 196 but not the school contract thus separating the contracts. Stagecoach have been operating the service on what I would assume has been an emergency tender basis with a Solo which ran back to Gillmoss dead.

The VOSA registration for Warrington Coachways was noted sometime ago. I suspect it's a way of utilising a vehicle prior to use on the 157 Rainford - Ashton service.

(12/04/2013 14:52)CX54 DKD Wrote: [ -> ]HTL don't have the morning journeys and never have done.

Sorry - was thinking of the morning 194.