GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

[DLG817]

RE: GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)
The last few weeks has seen a number of very interesting events occurring so I set out below a review

New fleet number system – I am still awaiting a response from the company as to why the T3 TrawsCymru Scania is sporting fleetnumber 2101 and not 2102 as per the original list supplied to me which I have published on my website. This is the only non-'15' registered vehicle so far seen by me bearing the new fleet numbers.

New services – A range of new or revised services were introduced mainly on 7th April. Services. In the Denbigh / Ruthin area contracts have been won from M&H Coaches including the 76 Denbigh – Llandyrnog – Ruthin service and the Tremeichion services. This has displaced 3 of the M&H Solos. Staff were transferred between the companies. A new commercial service 44 Crewe – Shavington – Nantwich has commenced and also the 45 Warrington – Northwich service has been augmented by a 16 service to Warrington Hospital. The Llangollen corridor has been significantly revised with Bryn Melyn and Vale Travel no longer operating services. The 5 service now terminates at Llangollen and operates 3 times and hour. The Cefn Mawr service has been re-designated the 5C and has an increased frequency of 3 times an hour giving a 10 minute service frequency between Wrexham, Johnstown and Ruabon. Apart from an occasional service (re-designated the 94) only the T3 service now operates from Llangollen to Corwen. The Corwen to Ruthin service is now designated the 55 and vehicles continue to Rhyl as the intermediate service between Ruthin and Rhyl. One service has been lost on re-tendering - 21 Buckley Town service which initially returned to Hutchinson but was soon given to P & O Lloyd on an emergency basis.

Demise of Vale Travel and Bryn Melyn. I did report the merging of the Vale Travel fleet but the cessation of Bryn Melyn on the Llangollen service has meant a number of the former Bryn Melyn vehicles operating on GHA Coaches routes. The management of the remainder of the Bryn Melyn services (mainly in Shropshire) is now undertaken by GHA and it appears that the workshop at the Bryn Melyn depot has closed.

The Macclesfield depot has transferred from Heapy Street and moved to Moss Lane next door to Henshaw's Waste Transfer depot. It is understood that all four of the Gold 88 E20D's are now operating from Macclesfield.

Demo E40D – YY64GWX left on 30th March and was only with GHA for a week.

Ex Goodsir Volvo B12M / Berkhof Axial FN03DXM is now in the GHA(silver) livery and has entered service.

The Solos previously operated by D & G and which were on loan from East Cheshire have been purchased by the company. YJ54 ZYA-F are being allocated to Macclesfield

Recently scrapped on site are Olympian A548HAC and the ex Vale Dart R817OYS.

Withdrawn is Spryte P454DCW and will shortly be scrapped. Also withdrawn is the Hanmer liveried Mercedes 811 TIL7583 and the ex Hanmer Javelin G410 YAY. It is understood a number of vehicles are earmarked for withdrawal soon. Included is the ex Hong Kong Dart P762FOD and the other two Sprytes R503/4 JFE. However the latter may be used for driver training.

For those interested and with most of the credit going to David Donati (editor of the Welsh-bus-news newsletter) there is appearing on my website at LINK what we hope is a full list of all the vehicles that have ever been operated by the GHA group. We would be happy to receive any suggested additions, corrections etc . Also included are links to known photographs (on FLICKR) of the vehicles listed. I would be delighted to receive details on any other links for any of those missing.

Ron