Buses Test the Promenade

Delta 970 (ex 130) leads Volvo 532 on the newly complete Promenade Roadway

Today training Delta 970 and Volvo B7 532 tested the remodelled Promenade prior to the reintroduction of bus services on Monday. Buses will largely return to their former routes with the 10 and 11 along the Promenade to Manchester Square and the 5, 7, 14 and 17 running via New Bonny Street into town and back via Bank Hey Street and Albert Road. There appears to be doubt that New Bonny Street will reopen in time so the northbound 5, 7, 14 and 17 may stay on their diverted routes.


970 breaks the cordon as it is let through the site access gates on Church Street

New bus stop arrangements will see the 5, 7, 14 and 17 stop on New Bonny Street by the Coach Station instead of the stop opposite the Tower which will be restricted to the 1, 10, 11 and 68. A new stop opposite West Street for service 1 replaces the stop near to the Cenotaph. In the other direction the 1, 10, 11 and 68 will stop outside Sands night club, the 5, 7, 14 and 17 will use the stops on Bank Hey Street. Route 1 is presumably reinstated to its through route to New South Promenade, but this is not explicitly stated.

Adelaide Street/Bank Hey Street has been a temporary two way taxi rank since February and this caused the buses some difficulty in making their way through

Other changes from Monday include the re-routed 10 and revised evening timetable on the 9 as previously mentioned. To add to this route 20 is reduced to every 45 minutes as presumably the 3 bus half hourly service has not proven remunerative enough. The 2 and 20 also have revised stopping arrangements on Corporation Street.

Fleet news sees the second Olympian in the new livery, 368, outshopped with Trident 323 replacing it in the paint shop, leaving just 322 in the new livery. Delta 132 has been selected for canniablisation for spares.