Thursday 6 October 2011

Topping Street Terminus, Smart Olympians and Delta Farewells

From 1 October Saturday evening Illuminations Diversions were revised. Traffic congestion in the town centre has meant that buses suffer delays reaching Market Street and Clifton Street. As a result routes 2, 2C and the limited 17 journeys affected are now terminating at Topping Street near Church Street and then leaving town via Deansgate, Cookson St, Larkhill St, Grosvenor St and as before. The 9 is terminating outside Iceland on Topping Street. Northbound 5, 11, 14 (and the 17s to Topping St) now turn off Regent Road onto Church St, Topping St, Deansgate and Talbot Road and then normal route; Southbound buses on the 5 and 14 service Larkhill St, Grosvenor Street (joined by 11) then Church St, Topping St, Deansgate, Cookson St, Talbot Road Larkhill St, Grosvenor Street (again!) and as the normal diversion route.

Volvo Olympians 376 and 377 have returned to Bus and Coach World in Blackburn following repaint into the new livery (albeit without vinyls) presumably for further interior work. 375 and 379 have returned to Blackpool and 375 is now in the paint shop with 378. 374 has been noted in service unmodified - appearing on route 20 last Sunday. It retains Metro livery and rear advert for Real Radio

Delta disposals have accelerated with 102 departing on Monday. 119 and 122 are due to follow - completing the disposal of the Deltas save for active Trainers 969/70 (ex 129/30):
February 2003 - 120
Sept 2004 - 131
July 2007 - 117
February 2008 - 128 (S)
June 2009 110
May 2010 - 124
August 2010 - 103/5/14 plus 109 (S)
September 2010 - 104/6-8, 112/3, 115/6
October 2010 - 127 (S)
November 2010 - 118
Mar 2011 - 101(P), 133 (P)
June 2011 - 132
July 2011 - 126
September 2011 - 123, 125
October 2011 - 102 (119, 122)
P = Preserved, S=Further Use