Go Goodwin, Bagillt, Holywell

 The Bova Futura reported as being acquired in May has now been given fleet livery and has been given the fleet registratio0n number of WEZ522.

 

 

GSV904 Volvo B10M-61 / Plaxton Viewmaster IV  C48FT (originally WFX75X)  has been sold to Travel master.

 

Pats Coaches, Southsea Wrexham

 The firm is just about to receive a brand new Tourismo that will carry the number PA75BWS

 

The service bus normally used on the 146 Whitchurch route Iveco Daily / Ilesbus I-City Max PC74PAT  has now been given the Pats fleet livery.  Since it was new in  November 2024 it has just been in dealer white.

 YG67FZK which served the company from July 2022 in Leger Silver livery and has recently been re-painted into grey has, as a result of a last minute plan,  left the fleet.  It was recently registered SSV269 and briefly V11PPC but has reverted to its original number.  It is now with Rothwells Super Travel, Heywood, Greater Manchester.

  Van Hool TX16A Acron which was JK10JNK has now received the cherished number V11PPC and is shortly to receive tables and will be used as an executive coach.

 

 Van Hool T916 Astorn GX11PKK has been re-registered to SSV269

 

Keanes Coaches (DPK Commercials), Eryrys, Mold

 Recently arrived is Mercedes Tourismo  C49FLt   L121MPR.  It was new in Aug 2015 to Kings Ferry [425  as BT15KNC, in December 2019 it went to Ireland and was with Kavanagh, Urlingford as 152-KK-1440; In April 2023 it was with  MPR Park Royal, London NW10 where it gained its cherished number.

Also joining the fleet is Ford Transit CV17LFS This 16 seater was new in April 2017 to Gwalia Hire, Ross-on-Wye; in March 2019 it was with Local and National Minibus, Stockton-on-Tees and in August 2019 it was with Local Minibus, Linthorpe, Cleveland. 

 Left the fleet is SV09EGC  Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile  which has been with firm since April 2022

Unicorn Travel, Llay

 Two vehicles have been re-registered

The former Strafford Scania / Irizar PB which arrived in April and was previously SC08GAS is now K30UTW.

                                                                    Photo courtesy Ifor Bufton

 

The Neoplan Tourliner that has been carrying the cherished number R1UTW has reverted back to its original number MF11LVR but it is understood that it will NOT be departing from the fleet at any time in the near future.

 

 

 

Arriva Cymru at the Wrexham Eisteddfod

Wales holds a National Eisteddfod each year and the location rotates between North and South Wales.  The festival lasts a week and is always in August.  This year the Eisteddfod is based on the City of Wrexham.

Arriva Cymru have been given the prestige work of operating a shuttle service from Wrexham to the Eisteddfod.  The field of the Eisteddfod is actually in Isycoed at the side of the Wrexham Industrial Estate some 5 miles east of the City Centre.

The buses run from the Wrexham General Railway Station - to the Bus Station (Stand 5) and then onwards to "Y Maes" (the field).  A journey time of 25 minutes.

 

The buses leave on a 20 minute frequency.  The service starts at 0740 and runs until the last bus from Y Maes at midnight.  It takes a PVR of 5 but six extra buses have been borrowed from Arriva Merseyside.

The buses, all E400s, on loan have included 4649,  4680,  4682, 4685,  4686 and 4687.  There have been some issues with reliability and 4682 was sent back to Speke and has been replaced by 4570.

 

However the loan vehicles have not been put on the Eisteddfod duties .  Some of the home depots E400 Citys have been used with the replacement buses used on the 1 Chester and the 5 Llangollen services. 

To accommodate the service running from the Wrexham General Railway Station a number of changes have been made - essentially closing the main car park and also utilising some waste ground for a lay over area.  The area around the Station has got many barriers stopping unauthorised vehicles entering the area and a large number of security personnel have been utilised to manage the arrangements.

In addition to the Arriva shuttle service the T3 service has been extended to operate from King Street to the Eisteddfod field.  To facilitate this an extra driver is employed to actually work the shuttle from Wrexham to enable the regular T3 drivers to have their statutory break at King Street.  Due to a shortage of available drivers an employee of Lakeside has been utilised and he parks his Solo at the Station lay over..

 

 

Simon Alexander and David McAulay trading as S and D, Lon Parcwr, Ruthin

 The latest to join the fleet is YN06FWB a Neoplan N316SHD Euroliner  (C49Ft)    It was new in May 2006 to Slack, Matlock and from April 2022 it was with with Hughes, Gaerwen.

                                        (Photo courtesy Richard Glaister) 

 

The recent fleet list for the partnership includes :-

YN06FWB  Neoplan N316SHD Euorliner (may receive a cherished plate soon)

BU54BWS (until recently BN58BKA) - Setra S415HD

YX06AWH    Mercedes-Benz 413CDI Sprinter    Ferqui

FN52GVE    Irisbuss Eurorider 391E.12.35    Beulas Stergo e

EU05AVP  Setra S315GT-HD    SORN 

NX56HBK Iveco 40C12 Daily    Advanced Vehicle Builders     SORN  - for sale 

(G M Buses)  SV08DHU  Volvo B7R    Plaxton Profile   for sale

LIW1335    Mercedes Benz Vario O814D  /  Plaxton Cheetah   for sale

In addition there are the following heritage vehicles (owned by Simon but kept at the parteners premises in Ruthin - except the Sentinel which is still at Colwyn Bay

PDL518    Bristol LD6G  /  ECW 

TUG20    AEC Regal  /  Roe 

MJA893G    Leyland Tiger PD3/14  /  East Lancs

ODE182    Sentinel STC6

Pats Coaches, Southsea Wrexham

 The former Leger Silver Service liveried Van Hool TX17A  Acron SSV269 (YG67FZK) has now been given the very smart Silver Grey livery similar to the Team Coach.  It will retain its Leger Silver Service seating and be used for Executive and Team work.

It has also bee re=registered to V11PPC

 

(Photo courtesy K C Bodywork)

 

The Iveco / Ilesbus I-City MAX  PC74PAT has finally received the Pats Coaches livery.

Christopher James Jackson - Licence Revoked - UK Commercial Transport Services Ltd

Christopher James Jackson has featured in this blog on previous occasions. 

He was the sole Director of Yellow Travel Wrexham Limited who traded as Time2 Travel and had an operating centre at Acton Park Garage, Box Lane, Wrexham.   In July 2023 having heard evidence from Officers of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (V.O.S.A.) the Traffic Commissioner for Wales revoked the licence held by the company and issued a disqualification from holding a licence in the future. 

Christopher James Jackson was also previously a Director of the company Links Tours and Travels Limited now a dissolved company that traded from Grosvenor Road in Wrexham and which generated some adverse publicity following a disastrous trip to Euro Disney in 2017.

Mr Jackson is currently the sole Director of the company UK Commercial Transport Services Ltd which has an address in Nantwich, Cheshire and at a Public Inquiry held in June the Traffic Commissioner for the North West revoked the Operating Licence for this company. He concluded that there was an attempt to hide his initial involvement with the company having been involved with the company Yellow Travel Wrexham Limited.  He stated that Mr Jackson’s links to Yellow Travel was such that the requirement to be of good repute was not guaranteed.

The full details of the written decision of the Traffic Commissioner for the North West  is available at

 <<LINK>> 

 

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham and Unicorn Travel, Llay Wrexham

 SK02OZJ   Scania K114EB4 / Irizar Century II (C49Ft)  which came to Pats Coaches in May 2024 is now with Unicorn.

Also V11PPC / YT11LPX  Scania K400EB6  /  Irizar I6    (C35Ft)  which at one time was the Wrexham Team Coach until last year has been sold to a firm in Scotland named Bennets of Kilwinning. It has lost its cherished number in favour of its original number.

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell

 The firm has purchased two Wright StreetLites   RX12DYV  and  PO62LKF 

They are both  Wright StreetLite WF and came from Travellers Choice, Carnforth

DYV is B34F and was new in March 2012 to Reading [155]

LKF is  B33F and was new to in Nov 2011 to Shaw of Carnforth   

 

They are currently being prepared for service - they are to receive cream livery and will be used on school and college contracts not on service.

 Left the fleet are the following:-

BX07OPS    BMC Falcon 1100FE,     

BX56XBJ    BMC Falcon 1100FE  and   

MX07NTO    Optare M710SE

They have been entered into Wilsons Auction House at Queensferry.
 

Ray Jones, Hawarden

 I am saddened to report the passing of my friend Ray Jones.  Ray was very much a Crosville bus enthusiast and he was the proud owner of a number of Crosville buses and coaches over a period of time.  He normally had about two at any time but over the last 30 years he has owned:-

KG146 ( LFM728), G341 (811DFM), CMG434 (815XFM), CMG561 (HFM561D), ELB172 (LFM753) and SLB175 (LFM756)

 He had not been well for a number of years but did attend the occasional bus event.

Ray's funeral will be at 11:30 on Wednesday 23rd July at Pentrebychan Crematorium, Wrexham. 

Ray with ELB172 (LFM753)

Voel Coaches, Dyserth, Rhyl

 The new Neoplan Tourliner OU25WKH recently obtained by Voel Coaches has now been give the firm's attractive livery.

 

Pats Coaches - new registrations

 Two coaches have been given new registrations;-

The former Bradshaw Scania K410EB6 /  Irizar I6 has changed from N400BRA and is now 403BGO

 

The Van Hool T916  Acron that was DU61MVN is now BXI33

 

The VDL Luxuria coach has now received the intended number of PD25PAT

 

 

 

New Arriva CC12 Cymru Coastliner service

 The new CC12 Cymru Coastliner service will start on Sunday 22 June.  Today (19 May) there was a photo shoot of the buses to be employed together with a beautiful preserved Leyland Olympian that once worked the Cymru Coastliner service from Chester to Caernarfon in the days of Crosville Wales.

 

To carry passengers in a wheelchair an lift is installed and a clever arrangement occurs inside to make room for the wheelchair.

 

Voel Coaches, Dyserth, Rhyl new coach

 Voel Coaches have taken delivery of a new Neoplan Tourliner coach  -  OU25WKH

The spec of this Neoplan Tourliner P10  -  13.1m includes MAN 440bhp, ZF Ecolife auto , 53 seats, Toilet, USBs, Blind spot detection, MAN Attention Guard, Collision Warning  

 

Photos courtesy MAN

 

M and H, Trefnant, Denbigh - vehicles left the fleet

 Three vehicles have been disposed of mainly following the receipt of the two new Optare (Switch) Solos in March.

BU53DJS  Optare Solo  M920 which came from D Jones and Sons in January 2018 has gone to Davies Motors, Ruthin. for scrap

CX07AVM Optare Solo M950 which was obtained new in June 2007 has also gone to Davies Motors, Ruthin. for scrap

 SN02SYK which carried the registration T121MNH when with M and H is a Setra S315GT-HD and came from City Circle, Edinburgh July 2008.  This has gone to Stafford Bus.

 

The Cymru Coastliner returns with limitations

 As reported previously Arriva intend to start a Limited Stop service from Rhyl to Llandudno on 23 June until 25 August which it is branding as the CC12 Cymru Coastliner.

The timetable has now been published on BusTimes and shows an hourly frequency from 0700 till 1800 leaving Rhyl and 0800 until 1900 leaving Llandudno.  The stopping places are much less than the original Coastliner and the only stop in Colwyn Bay is at the Railway Station.  It will not serve Abergele but use the A55 from Pensarn.

Tourismo coaches with a typical coach style external lift will be employed.  Three have been acquired from Green Line but the PVR is only 2 but it is likely that there will be delays and it is anticipated that the 3rd coach will also be employed daily.  They have been given a special livery :-

 

Trip with the Crosville Enthusiasts' Club

 Yet again a fantastic trip with the Crosville Enthusiasts' Club yesterday (Saturday 7th June). An iconic 61 year old Bristol RE in brilliant condition and so comfortable. CRG530 (AFM 105B) took us to Newtown, Machynlleth (Lloyds Felingerrig depot), Dolgellau (to see the 1300 interchange and also to visit the depot), Barmouth (for lunch) and finally the Corwen Interchange at 1600 (involving 5 TrawsCymru vehicles). Many thanks to Steve Graham for allowing us the privilege of riding in this wonderful machine.

 

 

Go Goodwin, Bagillt, Holywell

 Joining the fleet is HR02BUS  a  Bova Futura FHD127-365 (C53FLt) [SF07LYV] New in March 2007 to Tait, Irvine as SF07LYV; Oct 2008 Prestige Tours, Renfrew; April 2010 Leons, Stafford; August 2010 Poppleton, Pontefract; Sept 2023 Gladman, Askern

Also relatively new to the fleet is a camper coach which is a Van Hool Astron T9 and was new in May 2006 to Eavesway, Ashton-in-Makerfield as YJ06LDO.  It was with Hatts as Y4HAT before joining the Go Goodwin fleet September 2014.  During that period with the firm it became C1ECB and received this new TX front.  It was sold by Goodwins in March 2016 and it went to Cordery, Uckfield and became C1SSX.  IT is currently registered WES19Y

 

 The brand new Temsa reported as arriving with this company has been sold on. It has gone to Grayway Caoches of Wigan.  Despite it carrying the number YJ25CPN at the Blackpool Coach Rally it is now carrying the number YJ25CVX

Davies Coaches, Leeswood

 The latest to join the fleet of Davies Coaches Leeswood is FJ12FYL    Volvo B9R    Caetano Levante    C48FLt
 It was new in July 2012 to National Express; in Jan 2020 it was with JP Minicoaches, Forfar and in April 2021 with Kirkby Lonsdale, Morecambe.

The DAF SB4000    Van Hool Alizee II which until recently carried the number YJ03PPV has now been re-registered to WRZ6530   

Flintshire County Council - two Electric Buses now sold

 The two all electric Optare M9000SR Solos SR  (B30F) YJ72EVF and YJ72EVG have been acquired by Llew Jones of Llanrwst.

These two buses were obtained by Flintshire County Council in September 2022 and during the 2 years and 8 months they were owned by the Council they have stood idle at their depots - first at Alltami and later at Greenfield.  One of them was assessed to work the Buckley Town service but was soon confirmed to be too big for the streets involved and it could not even turn around at the Buckley Railway Station.  

It is believed that the purchase price for these two buses could have been in excess of £600,000.  It would be interesting to find out how much they were sold for.

It is not know at this stage the reason for acquisition by Llew Jones - they may be used in service or possibly sold on.

One of them was reported to be blocking a street in Llangollen on 10th May when it appeared to have broken down - or run out of charge.

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell

 Two vehicles that have left the fleet are :-

 MX09GZM    Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 - it had been with the firm since May 2015 having been new in March 2009 to West Sussex CC - operated by Heritage Travel, West Sussex.  It has gone to A C Williams Coaches, Ancaster, Grantham

 and

 YX60EOS    Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 which was new in October 2010 to Empark UK, Edinburgh Airport as B24D; before coming to P and O in Sept 2020 it was  converted to B36F

It has gone for scrap via Ripley, Barnsley.

 

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham

 Pats Coaches have acquired the Ford Transit SM17OAH from Wayne Oare.

It was new in June 2017 to North Lanarkshire Council; in Feb 2023 it was with Bott, South Normanton; and it went to S W Transport (Wayne Oare) in January 2024.

Pats Coaches have given it the fleet livery.

 

                                             Photo courtesy of Gordon Roberts its regular driver

The Leger Luxuria  VDL Futura that arrived here new last month was not able to given the special number PD25PAT as expected.  Instead it has been given YG25GWN but will shortly be given a cherished number.

Van Hool T916  Acron  DU61MVN  has been off the road for a while but it is now sorted and back into service.

 Scania K114IB4 /  Irizar YN03DDK which carried until recently 403BGO has left the fleet this month and has been purchased by Davies Motors, Ruthin probably for scrap.