Timetable changes 27 January Arriva and Townlynx

Arriva

 Arriva are introducing a number of changes to their timetables with effect from Sunday 26th and Monday 27th January.

The 5 Service (now to be called the f5 will only run between Mold and Queensferry (Asda) and not to Ellesmere Port as has been the case for very many years as the SP1/2, the 111 and the F10/11 back to Crosville days.  The service will have an hourly frequency from 0500 till 2100.  The exception is around school time.  The last departure from Mold will go to the Deeside Industrial Estate

There will be an additional service 11A which will run hourly from Chester to Kelsterton Deeside College and will operate through Hawarden.  Whilst most of the buses running on the 11/11C/11F/11M corridor are operated by Rhyl depot the 11A will be operated by Chester Manor Lane depot.

There will some minor changes to the remaining Chester to Rhyl corridor but the most significant change is that the bus will no longer be calling into the Ffynnongroew village.

Whilst changes have been introduced to very many other services in north east Wales Arriva have indicated that they are minor changes. One exception is the 5 Wrexham to Llangollen where there are changes to the early evening timings.

Townlynx Service 6  Mold to Pantymwyn

It appears that from Monday 27th January this service will no longer run.

Go Goodwin, Bagillt, Holywell

 A number of vehicles are currently being re-registered following the move out of England.  All of the Mayne fleet were retained by Goodwin's although some have been subsequently sold.   

The firm use a fleet number system and a full fleet list appears within  the Goodwin page within the RonsBusesandCoaches website <<LINK>>

The firm have recently been awarded a new contract involving conveying pupils from and to Glan Clwyd School in St. Asaph form the various village around Holywell including Babell, Lloc, Whitford etc.

The main vehicle that will operated this contract is the former E Jones of Rhosllannerchrugog Vario now registered WE53BUS.

This run was until recently operated by Les Beacher who trades as Relays in Afonwen.  Unfortunately Les has recently suffered a heart attack and is currently unable to drive and has therefore had to cease the contract.  Hopefully his recovery will be speedy and he is offered best wishes.

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt

 P and O Lloyd have now received delivery of this year's new Coach.

Whilst it is displaying a '74' plate it has not actually been registered and will receive a new '25' plate in March 2025.  It is currently stored at the Greenfield premises.

The firm have found letterheads to indicate that the business was established in 1925 - earlier than first thought.

This means that 2025 is the firm's Centenary Year

S W Tranpsort - Brynford

 Two recent vehicles to join the S W Transport fleet are :-

KC14FDY     This is a quite rare Solovenian built TAM Vive 41 seat coach new in August 2015 to Comet Car Hire, West Drayton, London where it carried the number F7CCH  In March 2024 it was with THZ, Sutton, London

It is currently not in use but whilst ready it is not likely to made available for service till nearer Easter.

and EA18LDY    

A Ford Transit   (M16) new in March 2018 to Charlton athletic FC.

 

Go Goodwin / Mayne Warrington

 The Mayne business of the Go Goodwin group is about to be sold to Orion Travel Coaches Limited of Manchester.

Most of the Mayne fleet are currently being sold and all operations by Go Goodwin will now be from their new depot at Bagillt.

I have updated as best I can the current fleet for Goodwins  <<LINK>>  Some of this fleet is currently being offered for sale.

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holoywell

 P and O Lloyd will soon be getting a new Mercedes-Benz Tourismo - but the delivery has been delayed.

All three of the '20' plated Tourismos that were purchased just before Covid in early 2020 have now been sold.

BV20HPN and BV20HPO have/are going to South Wales Transport, Swansea 

(HPN Nov and HPO this week)   

and

BV20HPP has gone to Beewise Executive Transport, Sheffield (October) and now carries BR17ADL

Pats Coaches have a new Service Bus

Pats Coaches now have a brand new replacement service bus for on the 146 Whitchurch service.   

PC74PAT arrived on Wednesday 27th November and went out on service that day.  

Like the vehicle it replaces it is a Iveco Daily 70C21 / Ilesbus I-City MAX  (B31F)
 

It is yet to receive vinyls and have the destination display programmed.

The previous Iveco / Ilesbus service bus PD23PAT has returned to Ilesbus. It had spent a number of weeks off the road due to various issues. The demonstrator Ilesbus  RJ73 FXT which has replaced PD23PAT a number of times when it was being repaired has also returned to Ilesbus.

The cherished number PD23PAT has been retained by the firm and has been placed on a 2023 8 seater Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

 

 

 The latest arrival with Voel is YN06OPH    Irisbus 397E.12.31 Z  /   Plaxton Paragon    C70F   

  New in April 2006 to Johnson, Hodthorpe; in January 2022 it was with Austin, Earlston, Stockton-on-Tees.

It has been converted to 70 seats before arriving with Voel

 

Being withdrawn soon is X915ERA    Volvo B10M-62     Plaxton Premiere 350  which came to Voel from P and O Lloyd in December 2014.

Go Goodwins, Bagillt, Holywell

 The firm are now working from their new depot in Bagillt.

New to the fleet is FD54DHN  a  Volvo B12B /   Plaxton Panther    C70F   

New in Dec 2004 to Dunn-Line, Nottingham; been with Flights Hallmark London, Diamond; West Midlands, Green Triangle, West Midlands; Newbury & District, Berkshire and latterly with Peyton Travel, Bridgend.   It was converted to C70F in 2/2019

It is not clear yet where it will be based or what livery it will receive.

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham latest coach spends time in Wrexham

 As reported previously Pats Coaches have acquired N400BRA  a Scania K410EB6 / Irizar I6    (C53Ft) with part of the business of Bradshaws Quality Travel.  The coach normally operates tours for Ledger working from the Bradshaw premises which is near Blackpool but it is down in Wrexham for a week.   Today it has had to be utilised on a run to Deeside College and tomorrow it is likely to be conveying Wrexham football supporters.

 

Keanes Coaches (DPK Comercials), Eryrys

 Joining the fleet in the last few days is RV22DMO an Iveco Daily 70C21 /   Ilesbus I-City MAX    (C29FL).  It was new to ALM Travel, Hemel Hempstead in March 2023.

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham - vehicle on loan

 The service bus PD23PAT  (Iveco Daily 70C21 / Ilesbus I-City MAX) is again receiving attention under warranty and demonstrator RJ73FXT    Iveco Daily 70C21H /  Ilesbus I-City Max    (B33F) is back on loan working the 146 service.

 

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell - re-registration

 Volvo B12B  /  Transbus    (C70F) has received a re-paint and has been re-registered from KX04HTE to 6709PO.

 

                                                                    Photo courtesy of John Baker

 

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham have taken over part of the business of a firm in the North West

 Pats Coaches have taken over part of the business of the firm Bradshaws Quality Travel which have premises in Clay Gap Lane, Out Rawcliffe, Preston.  Despite its postal address the location is nearer Blackpool than Preston.

One vehicle is being taken over - N400BRA  a Scania K410EB6 / Irizar I6   (C53Ft)   It was new in May 2017 as YN17OMF to City Circle,Hayes [142] and has been with Bradshaws since April 2022.

 This vehicle and its existing crew is likely to remain working Shearing's contracts.  Currently this vehicle is in Spain on such a contract.

The Operators Licence in respect of the Wrexham premises has recently been increased and 26 vehicles are now authorised to be used at these premises.

SSV269 the Van Hool TX17A / Acron TX has just received the new Leger Silver livery. This work was undertaken by the two lads trading as KC Bodywork who's premises are within Pat's depot. Anotyher excellent piece of work.

                                                         (Photos courtesy Ben Lewis)

The loan / demonstrator from Ilesbus RJ73FXT    Iveco Daily 70C21H  /   Ilesbus I-City Max has now left Pats and PC71PAT is now back at work with the firm.

Go Goodwins - moving depot from Mostyn to Bagillt

 

 Go Goodwins are about to move their depot from Mostyn to the the Deebank Industrial Estate in Bagillt.  They have purchased property formerly used by GTR Aggregates.  It is a 2.5 acre site full of potential.

 

 A = area planned for offices and storage of heritage fleet

B = area planned for MoT testing station

C = Workshops 

D = Will be demolished

E = Main Parking area for local fleet

A   area planned for offices and storage of heritage fleet

B = area planned for MoT testing station

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C = Workshops 

D = Being demolished

 

Straffords MInera and Pats Coaches Wrexham

 Straffords' Coaches have sold 403BGO    Scania K114IB4 /  Irizar    (C55F)     to Pats Coaches.

 It was new in June 2003 as YN03DDK to Mayne, Warrington [30],  It was purchased by Pats Coaches in July 2019 but not used.  It was sold on shortly afterwards to Straffords Minera who gave it the name 'Frank'.

It has reverted to a white livery.

                                                                     (Photo courtesy of Ben Lewis)

Teithio Seren, Colwyn Bay

VX51RBY  the  Dennis Dart SLF  /  Alexander ALX200 has been sold to a currently unidentified operator in England.  It may be used for Rail Replacement in the future.

Keane's Coaches (DPK Commercials) Eryrys

 Most of the fleet is being given a very smart new livery.

At least seven of the fleet will receive this livery which makes a very nice change from the previous all white colour.

Davies Coaches, Leeswood

 Arrived today (29 August) is DD08OXF a  Volvo B12B  / Plaxton Panther   (C70FL)

It was new in March 2008 to City of Oxford [94] and from August 2015 it was with Shaw, (Travellers Choice), Carnforth.  It is a sibling of JJ08OXF which arrived with Davies in May of this year.

Left the fleet is YX03FCN  the Transbus (Dennis) Javelin / Profile which having donated its seats has gone to Davies Motors presumably for scrap.

Unicorn Travel, Llay, Wrexham

 Joining the fleet is HN66UDW a Ford Transit (M16).  New in December 2016 to Dawson Rentals, it has been with PP Travel, Knottingley; Need, Alnwick and more recently with British Aerospace in Broughton.

It has been given the firm's new very smart livery:-

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham

 On loan here from Ilesbus is RJ73FXT an Iveco Daily 70C21H  /  Illesbus I-City Max  (B33F).

It is from Ilesbus and is here while PC71PAT receives attention.

 

 

Van Hool TX17A Acron TX  SSV269 is currently being repainted into the new Leger Silver livery and should be completed soon.

GM Buses (Teithio Seren), Colwyn Bay addition to the fleet

 Added to the fleet is SV08DHU Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile  (C51FL).  It was New in May 2008 to Stagecoach (Bluebird Buses) Scotland and from March 2022 with Langcake (Big Coach Company) Garston, Liverpool from where it has come.

Voel Coaches, Dyserth, Rhyl

The Neoplan Tourliner which until recently carried the number OY67DXO and the livery to celebrate the 70th Anniversary has been re-registered to 6499VC and is now in orange.  It is shortly to receive the Voel new livery with an indication that the company is celebrating its 75th Anniversary.

 

 

 

Go Goowins - vehicles left the fleet

 Two vehicles have recently left the fleet:-

YJ24AYF    Temsa Safari HD12 which was new to the firm in March 2024 has been sold to Walls of Wigan Limited (Grayway Coaches)

RX58HVJ    AD Trident / Optare Olympus    (H51/31F) which was recently purchased from Chester Coaches, Walkden last month has been sold on to Yelloway Chadderton.

Fflecsi services in Flintshire

 The fflecsi bus service is a demand-responsive bus service administered by Transport for Wales (TfW) and local authorities, operated by local bus operators across Wales.

 Normally the fflecsi service has replaced former timetabled services in rural areas.  The idea being that passengers can have a more flexible means to make essential travel journeys at times more appropriate to their needs.

Passengers book and pay for journeys via an app (or telephone call), which then matches passengers travelling between similar points, calculating an ad hoc route to the destinations required within the route's service area. Payment is required and normally each area has a fixed fee although concessionary travel passes are accepted

Currently the service is provided in the following areas:-

In South Wales there a\re service based in Blaenau Gwent and Pembrokeshire

In Gwynedd - there is a service covering the Llŷn Peninsula and Lloyds Coaches have a fleet of four smartly fflecsi liveried Mercedes-Benz Sprinters that operate a service around Dolgellau and a separate service based at Machynlleth covering the Dyfi Valley

In the Conwy Valley - three smartly fflecsi liveried Sprinters operated by Alpine cover Llanrwst and the villages of Llangernyw, Dolwyddelan, Cwm Penmachno, Yspyty Ifan, Pentrefoelas and Cerrigydrudion. 

In Denbighshire Llew Jones operates a fflecsi liveried Sprinter covering the immediate housing around the town.  M and H Coaches operates a fflecsi liveried Sprinter which covers the area around Denbigh and Henllan.  The Council themselves operate an all electric fflecsi liveried Sprinter that covers Ruthin and some of the nearby villages.  They also operate a wheelchair-accessible Nissan Dynamo E-NV200 EV micro electric vehicle which operates around Denbigh and covers such villages as Tremeichion, Llanefydd, Prion, Nantglyn and Peniel.  This latter vehicle also supplements the Henllan area when required.

In Flintshire the first fflecsi service is based on Holywell and operates around a number of the outlying villages to the town. It replaced a number of timetables services running from Holywell .  Until recently it was operated by P and O Lloyd using one of the Flintshire Council liveried 16 seater buses.   The most recent fflecsi service in this county covers the Buckley, Penyffordd, Kinnerton and Broughton area and replaced various  timetabled services including the Buckley Town service and those passing through Kinnerton and Penyffordd.  This service was until recently was operated by Wrexham Taxis and used two Flintshire Council liveried 16 seater buses.

The four vehicles purchased by Flintshire Council which carried a recognisable Flintshire Council livery and were used on the fflecsi services have now been sold through the Queensferry Auction. They have not been replaced. These were  :-

FP18FEV  and FP18FFN    Mercedes Benz 516CDI
MX18AVR and MX18AWJ    Peugeot Boxer 440

From 1st July the Flintshire fflecsi area services have passed to R Williams Services Limited of Flint.  There is now only one vehicle working the Buckley service.  Both of the vehicles now working in Flintshire, one based in Holywell and the other Buckley,  are 8 seater minibuses and currently have no special livery or any indications on the exterior of the vehicles to indicate the nature of the service they are working.

                                      Buckley fflecsi - operated by R Williams - 5 August 2024

                                     Holywell fflecsi operated by R Williams - 1 August 2024 

The question has to be posed - will the lack of any livery / indication on the vehicles failing to show that they are part of the fflecsi lead to further reductions in the service.  This essential passenger facility for the rural areas is essential but for some reason there is very little effective marketing of the service undertaken.  Is this a deliberate policy to further reduce the demand for the service leading to its withdrawal.

Some of the examples of other vehicles used in other areas.

                                                               Conwy Valley (Alpine)

                                            Ruthin (Denbighshire County Council) - full electric

                                        Denbigh (Denbighshire County Council ) fully electric

                                              Denbigh and Henllan (M and H Coaches)