M and H Coaches, Trefnant, Denbigh

 Following M and H coaches  being given the renewal of the contract to operate the T8 Corwen - Ruthin - Mold - Chester TrawsCymru service, after a delay, there are now larger capacity vehicles being used on the service.  Since M and H started on this route the number of passengers travelling has greatly increased. 

The latest buses are  Volvo B8RLE  / MCV eVoRa  and are  BV24LMK,  BV73MLN, BV73MLO and BU26WUL   

All are owned by Transport for Wales and LMK (new in June 2024) and MLN/O (new in Nov 2023)  were used initially by Lloyds of Machynlleth.  WUL (new in April 2026) was initially used by K&P of Llangefni.

WUL has cameras for rear views whilst the other 3 have conventional mirrors.  

Today was the first day that all four were in service on the T8

Arriva Rhyl

 Arriva Rhyl now have over 40 double deckers all new this year.  They are Wright StreetDeck Ultroliners

Eight are in TrawsCymru livery and used on the  T51 Rhyl - Denbigh - Ruthin - Wrexham corridor.

Some 16 have been given Cymru Coastliner livery to work on the 11 Rhyl to Chester and the 12 Rhyl to Llandudno service. 

On a slightly misty Saturday morning with the sun just rising on 7th November  4777 (BN76CSY) is seen in Connah's Quay with the Cymru Coastliner livery making its return journey to Rhyl.  It is displaying an appropriate message for the weekend of Remembrance. 

 

 

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham

 Arrived yesterday is a a brand new Mercedes-Benz M3 Tourismo    (C57FLT).  It has been given the registration number PC76GAV.  Currently it is in dealer white while a decision is made which may result in it being given Leger livery or Pats own livery possibly with vinyls to celebrate the 50th year of operation of the firm.

 

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham

 There has been a change of minibuses within the fleet.

Joining is YS61MBV  a Ford Transit M16  It was new in Janauray 2012 to AS Northern, Urmston, Greater Manchester.

Left the fleet is BW11KGE a Mercedes Sprinter 313cdi  / Elite Conversions which came from Lloyd of Machynlleth.

Price Coaches, New Broughton, Wrexham

 As indicated in a post from September the firm have now taken delivery of the Mercedes Benz 513CDI    Treka Mobility+    B24FL    It was new in June 2015 to London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

Its original number was KN15XSZ but it has been registered to PCZ5691.

Go Goodwins, Bagillt, Holywell

 The MoT facility at the premises in Bagillt is now operational for Cars and Vans.  It will be available for Buses and HGV in a short while.

The two vehicles recently acquired in orange livery have now had vinyls applied.

 

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell

 This firm has now six Caetano Levantes in the fleet.

FJ11GMF   -  Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante    (C70FL) arrived in September.  It was new to de Courcey, Coventry; (6/17) Blue Fox, Peterborough; (12/19) Compass Royston; (8/25) East Yorkshire; 

                                                                              (Photo courtesy Richard Hughes)

The sixth vehicle has only just arrived from Llew Jones and is still in white livery.  It is FJ60HXV    Volvo B9R /  Caetano Levante   (C70FL)

Left the fleet (in a part-exchange to Llew Jones for the Levante) is  FG54LSO a Volvo B12M /  Plaxton Paragon    (C53F) that was new in May 2004 and came to P and O in February 2023

                                                                             (Photo courtesy Richard Glaister)

Voel Coaches, Dyserth, Rhyl

 Joined the fleet is VN65DOA a Renault Master M16.  It was new in December 2015 to AV Travel Coventry.  (as A4NTV).  It was with Pickering, Edinburgh in October 2021 (as 16MSP) then with Brockie, Edinburgh (9/24)

Two vehicles are about to join the fleet and are currently being upseated to 70 seats.

They carried the registration numbers  GJ13FLM and YK13WTX and are Volvo B9R / Plaxton Panther 2.  They were new in 2013 and have been with the MoD and are coming from Mistral, Knustford.

They are likely to be re-registered before arriving and will eventually be painted into the operators orange livery.

 

M and H Coaches, Trefnant, Denbigh

 Arrived with the firm is BV24LMK a Volvo B8RLE / MCV eVoRa   (B38F).  It was new to Lloyds Coaches, Machynlleth in June 2024.

It will be joined soon by two further '24' plate similar examples and also with a '26' plate and these will then be utilised to operate the T8 TrawsCymru service Chester - Corwen.

Two vehicles are leaving the fleet.  

 Solo CN06BXA which has recently sustained RTC damage and Tourino BU56MCL (former M300MNH)seen here  awaiting collection by Davies Motors, Ruthin. 

Transport for Wales - Have your say!!! ?? !!

 Transport for Wales are having numerous public drop-in events in north Wales.  Linked to these sessions is an on-line survey.  The declared objective of the event is to help shape the future of bus services in North Wales.

I regret to say that I am very sceptical that the public will not actually have any say in the future planning of the bus network.

I attended two sessions so far and overheard a number of conversations where passengers were complaining that there were gaps in their needs for buses.  In all cases the standard response was that there is no resources to re-instate lost services or to improve on the existing services.

I and others were informed that the only way to make comment was to complete the survey.  I have now done so and found it most frustrating.  It was asking me to comment on the proposed changes - which for Flintshire is zero change.   For Denbighshire it is zero change and for Wrexham there are negative changes to the Wrexham To Chester via Holt and Farndon.

 

 What worries me the most is that the greatest users and benefactors of the bus service are the elderly.  Whilst some may be able to do so I am aware that most people will not be able to cope with the on-line survey - especially the registering process that is particularly onerous.

Lastly I am sure it was not intentional - but the Mold session was held at the library.  I visited the library and there was no immediate evidence of the event.  I had to queue to speak to a librarian and discovered that the event was being held upstairs.  No signs to it whatsoever.  To make matters worse the lift was not working and therefore a number of people would not have been able to visit the event - and this is public engagement!!

 

Arriva - new buses in Rhyl

 In addition to the new E200 single deck buses that are entering service in Wrexham mainly on the 1 Wrexham to Chester route a number of new buses are starting to enter service in Rhyl.

The new buses in Rhyl are Wright StreetDeck Ultroliners similar to the ones that came in April of this year and are being used on the T51 in TrawsCymru livery.

Some of these buses have been given a special Cymru Coastliner livery involving the 11 and 12 services from Rhyl to Chester and Rhyl to Llandudno.  So far these have been 4759 (BN76CPO)  and 4764 (BN76CPZ) captured together below.

The Cymru Coastliner logo was used by Crosville in 1965 and then the service was a limited stop L1 running from Chester to Caernarfon.  

 

 One of the batch 4760 (BN76CPU) has a livery "Come and talk to us about transport in your area".  This vehicle was given the livery as it was used in a special function at the NEC before entering service in Rhyl. 

 

 

 

Prestatyn flecsi

 Last July I reported that Denbighshire County Council had taken over operating the Prestatyn flecsi demand responsive service and were using a minibus not capable of carrying wheelchairs.

I am pleased to now report that a few days after the report they brought into service WF26 POA a Ford E-Transit 425 Trend   This all-electric vehicle has a suitable lift at the rear. 

 

Darren Beacher - Darrens's Excursions

Darrens Excursions at Go Goodwins Clwyd

Last week Darren made an announcement that due to a health problem he has had to pass his business to Go Goodwins.  Darren was concerned about very inaccurate rumours circulating so he wished to point out that he is hopeful that he can recover from the heart circulation issue he currently has but at this point of time he is unable to continue with his coach driving business.

His Van Hool Alicron coach BBZ232 has passed to Goodwins and he has ensured that all his customers have not been let down.

He and his partner Donna will still be involved with the transferred business and they will continue to take bookings and his programme of tours will continue.  He has been joining a number of the tours recently but not as a driver.

Darren started his own business in November 2012 and before that worked for a number years for Jones Motor Service in Flint.

He has created an excellent reputation and has a very loyal customer base and is well respected by fellow operators.  Whist he decided to limit his activities to one coach he worked extremely hard at building up the business and survived the very difficult period of Covid.

I would like to wish Darren a speedy recovery from his current health problems and I am sure that the dedication he has shown to the industry and his previous endeavours will result in his future success.  

 

Keanes Coaches (DPK Commercials)

 A few changes here

Acquired is YN14PNE a Scania K360EB6  /    Irizar I6    (C57FLt)  It was new in April 2014 to Craig, Campbeltown, Argyll,  by April 2024 it was with Greenslades Tours (Exeter), Exeter and by November 2024 it was with BAM Travel, Tredegar.

It is not clear at this stage whether the coach will join the operational fleet or be sold on.

 

Left the fleet are two Levantes

Y8KNE (FJ07DWO) came to Keanes in May 2024 from Davies Leeswood.  It has now gone to Bennett's Travel, Cranberry, Staffordshire 8/2026 

 

 K10BBT  (FJ56PAO)  Volvo B12B / Caetano Lavante came to the fleet in November 2022 

                                                             (Photo courtesy Ben Lewis)

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham

 As indicated in the Blog relating to Straffords the firm has taken delivery again of 

YN54NYA    Scania K114IB4  /  Irizar    C70F    

It was new in November 2004 to Corbel, Edgware.  It originally came to  (11/20) Pats Coaches in November 2020 when it had a pink livery and it was sold to Windy Coaches, Pencader, Camarthenshire in July 2021 but returned to Pats in October 2021.  It was sold to Straffords in January 2023 and it has now returned to Pats.

 

Straffords Coaches, Minera, Wrexham

 The firms have one in and one out.

In is YN71ZTD  a  Scania K320IB4 / MOBIPeople Explorer 330    C74FL.  It was new in September 2021 to Plan Ahead, Borehamwood and in Sept 2012 was with Nash DJ, Cuffley, Hertfordshire.
 

Left the fleet but only gone down the road is YN54NYA    Scania K114IB4    Irizar    C70F    

It came to Straffords in Jan 2023 and has now returned to Pats. 

Price Coaches, New Broughton, Wrexham

 A few changes involving this operator.  Two arriving and two departing.

Arrived is  BF63ZSD  a Volvo B9R  /  Caetano Levante    70 seater with a lift.  

It was new in Dec 2012 to Luckett, Fareham; Nov 2018 with Worthing Coaches, West Sussex; Dec 2022 with Llew Jones, Llanrwst.

As can be expected from this operator it has been given fleet livery and vinyls before entering service and is looking quite splendid.  It saw its first duties today

About to arrive is KN15XSZ  a   Mercedes Benz 513CDI / Treka Mobility+   ( B16FL)  It was new in June 2015 to London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.  This will also arrive in the firm's livery.

Left the fleet are :-

PCZ5691 reverted to KU13OKS before it left -    Mercedes Benz O816D  / Plaxton Cheetah 2 (C29F)    been with the firm since July 2023.  It has gone to Deveron Coaches, Kirkhill Farm, Boyndie, Banff

XIG7341 which reverted to YN12CZG before it left a Scania K320IB4  /  Irizar    (C68F).   It came to the firm from E Jones and Sons, Rhosllanerchrugog in April 2018.

It has gone to Daves Coach Hire, Mountmellick, Co Laois, Ireland

George Edwards, Bwlchgwyn, Wrexham

 A vehicle not previously reported but has been with the firm since May of this year is :-

BN11UGD    a Mercedes Benz Tourismo    C51FLt    

It was new in March 2011 to Clarke, Lower Sydenham; 

in December 2019 to Coach Travel, Farningham, Kent; 

in April 2022 to Elite Travel, Ipswich

By coincidence it is a sibling of BN11UGB which came to George Edwards in 2019 via P and O Lloyd
 

 

Wrexham Football Shuttle Service

 On match days when Wrexham are playing at home a shuttle service is now offered from Ruthin Road to the ground.

 

 

Arriva New Buses in Wrexham

 Arriva held an event in the Eagles Meadow, Wrexham today (22nd August) and was advertised as 

WREXHAM, IT’S TIME FOR SOME FREE FAMILY FUN!

We’re celebrating the launch of our brand-new bus fleet investment in Wrexham with a special family event at Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre Today from 10am to 4pm. 

 

Unfortunately whilst I am sure it was a special family event there were no new buses to be seen as it was decided the venue was not suitable for accommodating a bus.

 

However I was able to catch a glimpse of four of the new E200s at the Caego depot.

 

I understand that these should see service later next week.