Bloggers state of Health -

 

  Following my blog on 7 July about the coach crash in South Africa I am pleased to report that my wife and I are making good progress to a full recovery - but as I constantly keep being reminded - age is a factor and therefore it is taking time.

We are both able to do most of what we did before - but are still suffering from some backache and a slight loss in our previous mobility.

Thank you to all who have kindly offered best wishes.

The full story of the crash can be found by scrolling down my blog to July 7th

Teithio Seren / GM Buses Limited

 David McAulay trading as Teithio Seren first obtained an Operating licence in June 2023.  The operating centre was mainly at Bryn Rodyn, Colwyn Bay.  His fleet at one stage comprised of :-

VX51RBY   (fleet no. SDC51)  Dennis Dart SLF    Alexander ALX200    B38F
NX56HBK   (fleet no. MDF56) Iveco 40C12 Daily    Advanced Vehicle Builders    M16
FJ09KMX    (fleet no. MDF09) Iveco 45C15 Daily    Excel    M16
PN03OVM   (fleet no. CPC03)  Dennis R405    Plaxton Paragon    C53F

In addition to private hire a school contract from Brynhyfryd, Ruthin was operated for a period.

JF09KMX and PN03OVM have subsequently been sold.  The latter, Plaxton Paragon, is now with Big Wheelers Driver Training, Valley and is now BW51HGV.

The Traffic Commissioner for Wales called a Public Inquiry which was held at Caernarfon on 18th June and the Operating Licence was revoked with immediate effect.

However at the same hearing the Traffic Commissioner granted a new Operating Licence to the company GM Buses Limited.  This company is jointly owned by David McAulay and David Banks both of whom are Directors.    David Banks is also a Director of Llandudno Land Trains Limited that operates the Great Orme Express Tour from Llandudno Pier during the summer season.

The new company have newly acquired two vehicles as follows:-

SUI3825   [YN04AWH]  MAN 18.310 / Noge N-4873 (C49Ft)    

LIW1335  [YN54DDE]  Mercedes Benz Vario O814D  /  Plaxton Cheetah    (C33F)

They were both new to Hodson Coaches, Gisburn (SUI in 6/20024 and LIW in 9/2004)

 

                                                               (Photo courtesy David McAulay)

The new company will also trade as Teithio Seren

The main office for GM Buses is now Unit 1A, The Factory, Builder Street West, Conwy, LL30 1HH although the current registered Operating Centre is Bryn Rodyn, Dolwen Road, Old Colwyn.

Dart VX51RBY will transfer over to GM Buses from Teithio Seren and possibly also Iveco FJ09KMX which is currently out of use in Llay.

E Jones and Sons, Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham

 Arrived this week is YX68TZO a  Volvo B8R  /  Plaxton  C72FL.  It was new in September 2018    to Imperial Coaches, Slough and is now fully PSVR compliant with a lift.    

<<Temp photo Link>>

        

Price Coaches, New Broughton, Wrexham

 The Volvo B12M    Jonckheere JHV    C53Ft which arrived in May has now been re-registered from CT10OUK to SIG2959

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell

 It can be confirmed that the five Solos SR's Optare M8570SR-SL (B28F) YJ68FSA/C/D/E/F which have been on loan from Flintshire County Council since they were new in November 2011 have left the fleet and returned to Flintshire County Council.  They were soon entered into auction at Queensferry and it is understood that YJ68FSA and FSD are now with Nefyn Coaches and that YJ68FSC, FSE and FSF are currently being offered for sale by Stafford Bus Centre.

The firm now have two brand new Alexander Dennis A20D / Enviro 200 for work on the newly desiganted F1 and F2 Deeside Shuttle services.  YX24OZM was reported in an earlier Blog when it arrived on 10th June.  SK24CWJ arrived a little later.  They are both currently retaining their original white livery but have received vinyls with the firm's name

The other Optare Solos thta have joined the fleet recently are all now in service and carry the fleet's smart service vehicle liveries :-KX64AFA,, YJ62FMO,  YJ65EVK and YJ65EVL

The Solo MX07NTO which came from Go Goodwins in May 2023 and received initially a Flintshire council livery has now been the firm's standard service livery.

Townlynx, Greenfield, Holywell

 As reported earlier the firm's new Volvo B8RLE  /  MCV eVoRa    B38F    BL24FEG    Chassis no. YV3T7U521RA216054 has entered service.

Prior to the recent General Election it did carry some political messages and apparenlty it was driven around certain parts of the County purely to display these messages.  They have now been removed.

It is not used each day - mainly as there is only one main driver for this vehicle, (Dave).

 

 The Alexander Dennis E20D / E200 MMC    (B41F) YX17NZB    which was new with sibling NZA to Townlynx in March 2013 was involved in a serious RTC last August.Despite significant damage it has repaired by Alexander Dennis and was sold in June to Falcon Coaches, Surrey without returning back to North Wales.  It has joined its sibling NZA which went last year.

Dale Travel, Sandycroft

Dale McCarthy has been unsuccessful in obtaining another Operating Licence.

The full story of this firm can be found in the main RonsBusesandCoacheswebsite <<HERE>>

 

My adventures in South Africa - not quite as planned

 I was privileged to be able to have a holiday in South Africa at the end of June visiting such places as Cape Town,Durban, Krugger National Park, Johannesburg, Soweto, Swaziland and Lake Victoria

The below vehicle was one of those that we travelled on the grand tour. It is a Chinese Yutong ZK6938HQ and seated 35 passengers.  It is seen here with our Tour Director

Unfortunately on Monday 24th June on the 10th day of our holiday this coach was involved in a Crash.  Whilst we were overtaking two lorries one of them, a Fire Service Water Tanker, came in to our path and a collision occurred.  Probably due to the skills of the driver our coach never rolled and remained upright.  However most of the damage to the coach and the injuries to the passengers occurred post collision when the vehicle was forced off the road where it first jumped a fence, hedge and an area of rough surface including boulders before rejoining and crossing the highway and then jumping another fence and travelling many yards before eventually coming to a stop.  As can be seen most windows were smashed and there was considerable damage to the underneath of the coach which can be found on the trail left post collision.

Of the 20 persons on board 12, including my wife and myself were conveyed by ambulance to a local regional hospital.  Two people were detained with fairly serious injuries but the rest of us were discharged after a few hours having had x-rays, etc to ensure no significant injuries.  The hospital was brilliant and we have nothing but praise for the treatment that we received,

My wife was struck by the door frame and had to receive a number of stitches in her head,  I, like most of the passengers suffered mainly back injuries with various cuts and bruises - but these injuries have proved to be not too serious and are currently being dealt with by pain killers and should heal in time.

We were given the option by our tour company to arrange immediate passage home but we all chose to continue with the holiday - with certain changes made in view of our physical state.  We have now returned home and obtained medical advice and assistance and recovery is in progress.

One annoying outcome of the accident is that my camera that I have used for many years was damaged but fortunately after it was found in the coach I was able to recover the photographs taken from the SD Card.