Trivia: UK local bus routes that use motorways

[Statto]

Can you tell me which ones these are? Trying to find them but the National Express site doesn't seem to have route maps, apart from a Google Map listing only one route at a time...!

Network West Midlands have the maps,108-110-116-902-904-905-914-X73
http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/web/FILES/busmaps/Birmingham_bus.pdf

 

[185]

The 475 never used the Motorway, the M53 ends at Bidston Moss & becomes an A classified Road, now the A59.

Not what the Merseytravel timetable said :P it was still the M53 in 1992.

 

[BestWestern]

The various permutations of express Portsmouth - Southampton stage carriage services all used the M27 and M275 motorways. Route numbers have varied including 727/747, X27 and 'Solent Clipper', and the route has been tried by So'ton Citybus, Stagecoach Express (I seem to recall, briefly), Tellings Golden Miller, Solent Blue Line and First. Never seems to work for some reason. Also Stagecoach's service 700 (Portsmouth - Brighton 'Coastliner') uses the A27, which whilst not being a motorway does have four lanes of 70mph traffic for a short stretch heading into Portsmouth.

 

[alwaystouchout]

X5 Stockport - Sale service runs along the M60 between Stockport and Sharston, if I remember correctly..

 

[SS4]

Can you tell me which ones these are? Trying to find them but the National Express site doesn't seem to have route maps, apart from a Google Map listing only one route at a time...!

If memory serves

108, 110, 116, 902, 904, 905,914

What Statto said

 

[Blindtraveler]

do the 79/179/379 Stagecoach runs out of Carlisle towards Gretna, Annan and Dumfries still opperate via the M6 to Gretna?

 

[madannie77]

do the 79/179/379 Stagecoach runs out of Carlisle towards Gretna, Annan and Dumfries still opperate via the M6 to Gretna?

They all operate via the A7 and Longtown now.

I don't think the 79 ever operated on the M6 between Carlisle and Gretna. It operated via the A74 before that road was upgraded to close the Cumberland Gap and was diverted to run via Longtown when the motorway opened.

 

[Shrimper]

First (ex Finglands) school services 141 and 241 on the M56 between Princess Parkway and M56 Junction 6 (Hale). The former 142 also hopped on the M60 between junctions 1 and 27 (only one junction).

 

[Tetchytyke]

Until last year, Stagecoach Newcastle's X63 used the A167(M) on Saturdays only. But the service has now been re-routed and doesn't use the motorway anymore.

Most Go North East buses terminating at Pilgrim Street still go that way, though, so I'm counting them!

 

[transmanche]

Most Go North East buses terminating at Pilgrim Street still go that way, though, so I'm counting them!

As it happens I went on an X63 yesterday, and it went via Market St and the motorway to reach the Great North Rd - which was unexpected!

 

[GodAtum]

is it safe for buses to go along motorways and A roads without passengers wearing seat belts?

 

[transmanche]

is it safe for buses to go along motorways and A roads without passengers wearing seat belts?

Yes. There has been some debate here as to whether or not standing passengers are allowed on a motorway.

One of the best bus journeys in the country must be sitting on the top deck of Arriva's X18; which zips along the A1 from Newcastle to Morpeth, then ambles along the Northumberland coast, before returning to the A1 for the run in to Berwick.

 

[nicobobinus]

TfL's A10 service between Uxbridge and Heathrow is non-stop south of Stockley Park, running down the M4 spur into the Airport. I think the 724 and Carousel's services in from Bucks (A30/40?) run that way too.

 

[Clip]

Yes. There has been some debate here as to whether or not standing passengers are allowed on a motorway.

One of the best bus journeys in the country must be sitting on the top deck of Arriva's X18; which zips along the A1 from Newcastle to Morpeth, then ambles along the Northumberland coast, before returning to the A1 for the run in to Berwick.

Been a while since I done that, given my aversion to buses, but its a great route.

 

[Robertj21a]

is it safe for buses to go along motorways and A roads without passengers wearing seat belts?

Yes, we're enough of a 'Nanny state' already !

Even if it was made compulsory, how would you enforce it when they can't even enforce it on school buses ?

Robert

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Yes, we're enough of a 'Nanny state' already !

Even if it was made compulsory, how would you enforce it when they can't even enforce it on school buses ?

Robert

Well the last few times I've been on Citylink services, the drivers have enforced wearing the seatbelt due to traffic police pulling over coaches...

 

[Hadders]

Uno's 635 service uses the A1(M) between Stevenage and Hatfield. I overtook it yesterday

 

[tamesidedepot]

The X43 TransDev "Witch Way" service from Manchester to Burnley/Nelson uses both the M60 and the M66.

As also does the X41 from Manchester to Haslingden/Blackburn also operated by Transdev

 

[BestWestern]

Yes, we're enough of a 'Nanny state' already !

Even if it was made compulsory, how would you enforce it when they can't even enforce it on school buses ?

Robert

Well the last few times I've been on Citylink services, the drivers have enforced wearing the seatbelt due to traffic police pulling over coaches...

Oh for goodness sake, they seriously really do have better things to do. That's utterly stupid.

 

[richardio123]

Also the 199 High Peak Busses From Manchester Airport To Stockport Express via M56 & M60 then on to Buxton

 

[SouthEastBuses]

Various interesting things I noticed was that many bus routes in Bristol including the Metrobus M1 and South Glos Lynx T1 use the M32 motorway, and likewise I've also noticed the TrawsCymru T7 also uses almost the entirety of the M48 plus parts of the M4 and M5.

Are there any other local bus services in the UK that use motorways? I can think of the Red Rose Link 40 in Buckinghamshire which uses the M40 towards Thame (but strangely NOT towards High Wycombe).

 

[bussnapperwm]

Birmingham X3/X4/X5/X14 (National Express West Midlands) & 110 (Arriva) use the A38(M)

 

[Nammer]

X4 Solent Ranger uses the M275 in and out of Portsmouth

 

[Soundwave]

MK1 (formally 99) uses the M1 between Luton and Milton Keynes.

 

[Dai Corner]

Newport Transport's Newport -Cardiff X30 uses the M4, as does Stagecoach South Wales' Hereford-Cardiff X3

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Fairly sure the 199 bus from Buxton to Manchester Airport uses the M60/M56 motorway on the final section between Stockport and the Airport.

And, elsewhere, quite a few of the summer 555 bus services use the M6 between Lancaster and Helsington on their way up to Kendal/Windermere/Ambleside and Keswick, thus avoiding Carnforth and Milnthorpe.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Stretching it a bit and going back to my Youth in the 1990's..Stagecoach's X49/50/52 (Corby/Kettering/Wellingborough- London) used the M1 south of Milton Keynes
Also I recall the fairly short lived 757 Stagecoach Sevice Leicester - Nottingham - Mansfield - Worksop - Doncaster which used the A1(M) between the latter 2 places....

 

[barringtoncem]

Whippet X2 uses the M11 from Huntingdon to Cambridge Rail Station For Part Of Route & Also The Return

 

[Deerfold]

It's been a while, but all the ones I would have mentioned are here:

Buses On Motorways

I think regular bus services that include a stretch of motorway are quite rare in the UK I'm aware that several routes in the Cardiff/Newport area use the M4. First's X7 takes the M48 across the Severn. and I think Ensign Bus X81 between Bluewater (Kent) and Lakeside (Essex) Shopping...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[mb88]

First Glasgow X3, X11, X85 and X87 and Stuart’s Coaches 240X use the motorway.