Route History

[Gillmoss 0324]

RE: Route History
Might be totally wrong here but I think and again not 100% the original A1 ran to Hunts Cross or Halewood from the city centre via Smithdown Lane, Penny Lane/Allerton Road, Menlove Avenue (don’t think it ran via either Mather Avenue or Woolton Road?) and Hillfoot Road. Again not sure but I think this one used full size rather than the Carlyle/Freight Rover mini’s Amberline got when they went more into bus operations after the Crosville Cymru/National Express takeover, fairly certain the ex-MPTE BKC-K Atlantean’s got used on this in the White and Green livery around that time.

The A1 was a bit of a survivor lasting until around 1996 and the British Bus/North Western takeover’s being extended to Warrington for a few years in the mid 90’s too. It’s route during North Western days was like the 35’s to Hunts Cross/Halewood then it ran on to Warrington via Fidlers Ferry and Penketh, maybe via Woodend Avenue and Speke Boulevard/Expressway again I might be wrong and it might have done Halewood instead. Also a few of the hired West Midlands Travel Metrobuses went on the A1’s too as I think North Western’s Warrington depot ran it before it got withdrawn.

Amberline’s bus operations were interesting if perhaps not the full on assaults that newcomers like CMT, Fareway, Liverbus and Liverline made around that time.