Old Merseytravel Contract Routes

[buses7675 (Website Founder)]

Old Merseytravel Contract Routes
Hi All,

I've been looking through various old timetables and was amazed over time the number of changes that have been made to various Merseytravel routes, some of which even as small circular routes were at times commercial.

On the old forum I remember when HTL took on route 174 (Belle Vale - Penny Lane/Allerton Library) after Peoplesbus, there was a discussion about who operated it over the years and I've managed to find some info and dates.

It seems the route started on 29/11/1993 as a contract operated by Wingates replacing in part the Merseybus commercial route 47A. Route 147 continued to run between Lee Park - City Centre in the early mornings, operated by Merseybus and Liverline at this time.

At this time the 174 didn't interwork with the 173 (which was already running by that time) with the 173 being operated by J.C. Minis.

After that (not sure on exact dates as I can't find timetables) A1A Travel ran it for a short time, after which J.C. Minis operated it, in their case, primarily with yellow MCW Metoriders.

Supertravel won the route for the first time on 27/10/1996 at which time route 147 was also withdrawn so the 174 journeys began earlier from this point to cover for the withdrawn 147. Supertravel operated the route mainly with tri-axle Talbot Pullmans, though occasionally newer minibuses did make it, especially during early 1999 when the 3 Merecedes Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2s S8/9/10 STM were delivered.

On 28/11/1999 route 174 (and route 173) became Smart Eco routes, operated by Dart MPDs. Route 173 was extended to run to Greenbank at this time and presumably (though I'm not quite sure if it did happen earlier or not) this is when the routes began interworking as they do today. Later on various other low floor types were used, some in Smart Eco livery, some in Supertravel livery.

From around 2005 (no exact date sorry!) the evening/Sunday 174 was extended to operate via Wavertree Clock Tower (apparently due to the evening 78 being withdrawn, though how that made sense I don't know!), still operated by Supertravel.

Supertravel dropped the contract after running on Sunday 10/07/2011, after a week with no service (due to short notice of Supertravel dropping the route) Peoplesbus who were due to start the route from October 2011, began operating the routes from Monday 18/07/2011, mainly with 4 Dawsonrentals Dart MPDs, though the odd MetroRider and Solo demo did make it on!

Peoplesbus too gave their notice in on the contract and so from Sunday 09/10/2011 HTL Buses began operating the routes, mainly with Dawsonrentals Enviro200s however other buses frequently noted on it are Dart MPDs and Solo M710SEs.

[television]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes
7675, do you remember when the 173 was (re-introduced) in 1992 by North Western using Atlanteans showng 'white blank'?
I also seem to recall SMC doing the lates using VW LT55's on the 174 at the time J.C were doing the days on the 173s using Talbots at first then latterly the MCWs as you say.

The 173's then went onto the 111 of an evening. CVE Omnis were also a common feature on the 173's for JC.

In addition, Blue Triangle done the SUN am journeys on the 147 circa 91/92 IIRC?

[buses7675 (Website Founder)]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes
Sadly I can't remember that, I was only 10 in 1992 however to see that running would have been great.

Route 173 sounds more interesting than the 174 in some ways, I don't think I've ever been on a CVE Omni!

Shame really as in the mid 90s when I did start taking pics of buses and more notice of what was going on I never really took any photos of the minibuses on any of the routes, real shame seeing as how near to home they ran!

[MTL0201]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes
Talking about Merseytravel Contracts, remember RedRider operating the Evening & Sunday 175 Pier Head-Huyton, with buses & drivers coming from Moreton depot, RedRider ended up operating commercially 475 Moreton to Pier Head as positioning journeys which was quite weird considering the 175 was Merseytravel Contract.

[St Helens Rider]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes
They also ended up commercialising the 175, thus eventually renumbering it 75.

[MTL0201]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes

(20/06/2012 22:31)St Helens Rider Wrote:  They also ended up commercialising the 175, thus eventually renumbering it 75.

Think i remember that strange thinking back now the 75/175 had different operators, but now it's replacement the 15 has one operator, operating all day.

[Phil]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes

(18/06/2012 15:27)buses7675 Wrote:  It seems the route started on 29/11/1993 as a contract operated by Wingates replacing in part the Merseybus commercial route 47A. Route 147 continued to run between Lee Park - City Centre in the early mornings, operated by Merseybus and Liverline at this time.

Did the 147 travel all the way along Smithdown Road or as per route 47A via Ullet Road/Lodge Lane because I seem to remember getting it to the Aldi.

Was gutted when the 47A was withdrawn. A great route!

[wirralbus]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes
There is numerous Merseytravel contracts that have gone over the years but down the seemingly improbable commercial route .

177 Woodside - Heswall
186 Eastham Ferry / Mill Park - Leasowe
240 Mill park - Saughall Massie .

On the other hand only a few routes have been lost all together on the wirral the 147 and 151 being just a few , the 147 was a creation at deregulation that didnt last beyond the first year if i remember correctly.

[MTL0201]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes

(21/06/2012 06:32)Phil Wrote:  

(18/06/2012 15:27)buses7675 Wrote:  It seems the route started on 29/11/1993 as a contract operated by Wingates replacing in part the Merseybus commercial route 47A. Route 147 continued to run between Lee Park - City Centre in the early mornings, operated by Merseybus and Liverline at this time.

Did the 147 travel all the way along Smithdown Road or as per route 47A via Ullet Road/Lodge Lane because I seem to remember getting it to the Aldi.

Was gutted when the 47A was withdrawn. A great route!

No, 47/47A went vis the 86 from Pier Head to Upper Parliment Street then down Lodge Lane Ullett Road, Smithdown Road to Penny Lane then followed the 73 to Childwall Fiveways before using the 79A route to Belle Vale, the 47 went to Netherley 47A think was Lee Park

[wirralbus]

RE: Old Merseytravel Contract Routes
Some Wirral Merseytravel contracts have changed over the years .

The 112 survives intact after several years being removed when the 38 operated to Poulton Royd and not New Ferry. It does make you think was there any commercial objective there .

The 114 and 214 operated from New Ferry Pier to Broadway (Higher Beington) operating in a circular via Town Lane and Kings Lane , service . The 114 and 214 operated the same route one clockwise and the other anticlockwise. The Avon 77 covers both Kings lane and Town Lane in a loop en route between Birkenhead and West Kirby , dont ever make the mistake of thinking it will quickly get you to West Kirby from Birkenhead.

Another route that has been lost is the 128 Leasowe - Manor Drive peak hour only service , i really dont understand the history in this route , Manor Drive terminus was at the very bottom end of Upton so there was no logical focal point as such probably just a decent place to turn a bus around to return without going into Upton Village . This route no longer exists though the 181 covers it mostly now .

151 Birkenhead Park - Port Sunlight , which then became Woodside - Port Sunlight sadly this route has succumbed to Merseytravel financial pressures over the years and now doesnt exist leaving one of Merseyside's finest villages with no buses travelling to it .