Liverpool Airport Bus (LJL) timetables

[8A Rail]

I replied to that post because since your post there were three further posts along the lines of "There wasn't one there when I recently went through the airport".

Actually you never replied to my post but as I've said there is no machine there (as confirmed by my ex colleagues). Hope that helps again.

 

[northwichcat]

Actually you never replied to my post but as I've said there is no machine there (as confirmed by my ex colleagues). Hope that helps again.

As you'll notice from post 23 I quoted childwallblue's post which was number 21 and post 23 was the one you quoted. That was I referring to. Just because no one quoted your first post and three people obviously didn't read it before posting, doesn't mean I didn't read it and you need to keep drawing my attention to it.

Childwallblue also made the point about a ticket machine having issues for Northern staff, so part of the reason for my reply related to that specific point. If Northern are happy to install card only machines outside at unstaffed stations, why would installing one in an airport arrivals area with a security presence be an issue?

 

[paul1609]

As you'll notice from post 23 I quoted childwallblue's post which was number 21 and post 23 was the one you quoted. That was I referring to. Just because no one quoted your first post and three people obviously didn't read it before posting, doesn't mean I didn't read it and you need to keep drawing my attention to it.

Childwallblue also made the point about a ticket machine having issues for Northern staff, so part of the reason for my reply related to that specific point. If Northern are happy to install card only machines outside at unstaffed stations, why would installing one in an airport arrivals area with a security presence be an issue?

Presumably because the costs of having it there electricity, network connection and rent would outweigh the benifits?

 

[northwichcat]

Presumably because the costs of having it there electricity, network connection and rent would outweigh the benifits?

I'm not sure if it's resolved now but Northern installed a ticket machine on the Chester bound platform at Greenbank. It remained out-of-service for years, not months because a mains supply wasn't available on the platform (it couldn't be connected to the supply that was available for the lighting) and apparently to connect it the cable needed to run under the railway line. So I'm not really convinced a lot of thought went in to electricity when choosing locations.

 

[Matt_pool]

Upto end of last year, the answer is it was not there nor replaced. To add to that, since WH Smith Ltd took over the Spar store (in arrivals lounge), they no longer sell any Saveaway etc tickets either as the staff have got to advise the nearest outlet for those type of tickets is Liverpool South Parkway Station! Go figure!

I already said about the WHSmith replacing the Spar in my post #9.

And the nearest place to the airport to buy Saveaway etc tickets is actually a shop on Western Avenue in Speke!

 

[Tetchytyke]

The 500 no longer goes via Liverpool South Parkway Station, only the 80A and 86A do.

True enough, the 500 goes within spitting distance of South Parkway (LPY) but doesn't go in the bus station anymore. Though it's £2.30 on the 500 to the city or still £2.30 to LPY.

 

[Fokx]

There used to be a direct coach link to Manchester, it wasn't National Express or Megabus, and I can't find any mention of it on the airport's website. Does anyone recall, and did it cal at any rail stations (eg Warrington) on the way?

Originally there was the Arriva 700 airlink service which ran LJLA to Manchester Victoria (via Sackville St and Eccles Interchange) In later years this also stopped in Widnes

Following this there was then Excel branded X2 which ran from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester via Liverpool Airport, Widnes Warrington and Manchester Airport using Plaxton Panthers

Around this time there was the competing a40 Terravision service which was operated Airport to Shudehill via Sackville which was popular with Eastern European travellers living in Manchester. I believe they ran into a few issues with the traffic commissioner and another operator North West Coachlines took over the service using minibuses remembered to X40.

So the 700 stopped at Eccles and Victoria and the short lived X2 covered Warrington Central and Manchester Airport stations

 

[8A Rail]

I already said about the WHSmith replacing the Spar in my post #9.

And the nearest place to the airport to buy Saveaway etc tickets is actually a shop on Western Avenue in Speke!

I see not see your post #8. (sorry). May be nearest place for a Saveaway but not the most pracitable place for people arriving at the airport which I think you may agree. LSP is the better option but far from ideal though. Prior to retiring, WH Smith Ltd had no plans what so ever to reintroduce the facility to sell tickets unfortunately which personally I think they were missing a trick or two but hey they know best as they prefer to make more money on the M&S range of food and drinks!

 

[Statto]

Originally there was the Arriva 700 airlink service which ran LJLA to Manchester Victoria (via Sackville St and Eccles Interchange) In later years this also stopped in Widnes

Following this there was then Excel branded X2 which ran from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester via Liverpool Airport, Widnes Warrington and Manchester Airport using Plaxton Panthers

Around this time there was the competing a40 Terravision service which was operated Airport to Shudehill via Sackville which was popular with Eastern European travellers living in Manchester. I believe they ran into a few issues with the traffic commissioner and another operator North West Coachlines took over the service using minibuses remembered to X40.

So the 700 stopped at Eccles and Victoria and the short lived X2 covered Warrington Central and Manchester Airport stations

The 700 was withdrawn in 2009, & was replaced by the X2 which only lasted 9 months before that too was withdrawn.

A shame you can't buy Saveaways on the buses, you're just left to Arriva only bus tickets which themselves aren't too bad price wise.

 

[Fokx]

A shame you can't buy Saveaways on the buses, you're just left to Arriva only bus tickets which themselves aren't too bad price wise.

You can buy ‘Solo’ tickets on the bus which are basically an all-zone saveaway for buses only, but I do agree with you it’s very bizarre considering all merseytravel operators have new merseytravel specified ticket machines designed to upload and accept metrocard tickets, including ones that can be uploaded to said card such as the Saveaway

 

[dd1]

Thank you all for the detailed and informative responses.

I received two emails from Merseyrail's Customer Relations, on this past Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, in connection with my enquiry. The former was quite brief (but polite) and suggested that I raise my query with Merseytravel instead. The latter confirmed that Merseyrail are not responsible for inputting this information (as they only input details of their own services), but that apparently Network Rail inputs the information on behalf of the bus operator. This second response also said that they'd passed on my comments to the bus operator so that they are aware of the issue and can look further into it.

This seems to have helped: now when I look up LPY to LJL tickets on National Rail Enquiries, it shows tickets not only for weekdays but also for the weekends as well. The same if the origin station is elsewhere in the network. So the issue has been successfully resolved. (Even though it was too late to help on my own trip, I hope this will be of use to other passengers.)

 

[childwallblues]

True enough, the 500 goes within spitting distance of South Parkway (LPY) but doesn't go in the bus station anymore. Though it's £2.30 on the 500 to the city or still £2.30 to LPY.

Spitting distance? As far as I am aware the 500 uses the Garston by pass on which there are no bus stops.

 

[johncrossley]

The nearest station is Hunts Cross. I've walked from there to the airport in about half an hour. Could be an option if you are not in a rush and aren't carrying heavy luggage.

 

[Statto]

Spitting distance? As far as I am aware the 500 uses the Garston by pass on which there are no bus stops.

I was on the 500 couple of weeks ago, & the 500 now does go direct via Garston By Pass.

I always felt the Liverpool South Parkway loop on the 500 was pointless, with 80A & 86A being more frequent (& 86A using the same route as the 500), 500 was meant to be express route Liverpool Airport to Liverpool City Centre, 86A was originally meant to be the fast route from Liverpool South Parkway to Liverpool Airport

The nearest station is Hunts Cross. I've walked from there to the airport in about half an hour. Could be an option if you are not in a rush and aren't carrying heavy luggage.

Although the nearest station to Liverpool Airport is Hunts Cross (81A & 89 operate Hunts Cross to Liverpool Airport) but the hub is Liverpool South Parkway (LPY) is the hub to Liverpool Airport, most trains apart from Avanti West Coast stop at LPY, & LPY has a mini bus station too.

 

[frodshamfella]

There used to be a direct coach link to Manchester, it wasn't National Express or Megabus, and I can't find any mention of it on the airport's website. Does anyone recall, and did it cal at any rail stations (eg Warrington) on the way? If it's still running I would absolutely be interested, might be quicker than the queues at Manchester Airport for the rest of the year!

If it went from Chorlton St then it's a 5 min walk from Oxford Road, very handy.

I use Liverpool Airport most of the time to avoid Manchester Airport, which has always been pretty dire, but reached new ' lows ' this year. If i was due id book a rail ticket from where ever your local station is to Liverpool Airport ( bus included ) via Liverpool South Parkway. It works well, when ive done it myself in the past, i think its might be under Liverpool John Lennon Airport, so just check a bit.

 

[urbophile]

Spitting distance? As far as I am aware the 500 uses the Garston by pass on which there are no bus stops.

The 500 stops at Brunswick which is so near the city centre that anyone who wants that would stay on the bus. But it is a convenient interchange for points north towards Southport, Ormskirk or Kirkby, or changing for the Wirral.

 

[frodshamfella]

I was on the 500 couple of weeks ago, & the 500 now does go direct via Garston By Pass.

I always felt the Liverpool South Parkway loop on the 500 was pointless, with 80A & 86A being more frequent (& 86A using the same route as the 500), 500 was meant to be express route Liverpool Airport to Liverpool City Centre, 86A was originally meant to be the fast route from Liverpool South Parkway to Liverpool Airport



Although the nearest station to Liverpool Airport is Hunts Cross (81A & 89 operate Hunts Cross to Liverpool Airport) but the hub is Liverpool South Parkway (LPY) is the hub to Liverpool Airport, most trains apart from Avanti West Coast stop at LPY, & LPY has a mini bus station too.

Isn't the proposed extra Avanti London service due to stop at LPY ?

 

[childwallblues]

I was on the 500 couple of weeks ago, & the 500 now does go direct via Garston By Pass.

I always felt the Liverpool South Parkway loop on the 500 was pointless, with 80A & 86A being more frequent (& 86A using the same route as the 500), 500 was meant to be express route Liverpool Airport to Liverpool City Centre, 86A was originally meant to be the fast route from Liverpool South Parkway to Liverpool Airport



Although the nearest station to Liverpool Airport is Hunts Cross (81A & 89 operate Hunts Cross to Liverpool Airport) but the hub is Liverpool South Parkway (LPY) is the hub to Liverpool Airport, most trains apart from Avanti West Coast stop at LPY, & LPY has a mini bus station too.

It is incorrect to say that the 86A was originally meant to be the fast route as prior to that there was a 501 operated by Arriva with ex London Transport bendi buses.

 

[Fokx]

It is incorrect to say that the 86A was originally meant to be the fast route as prior to that there was a 501 operated by Arriva with ex London Transport bendi buses.

No the OP is accurate

When the 86A started in 2006, it was limited stop to the Airport from South Parkway

The 501 came much later when the 86A became a stopping service

 

[childwallblues]

No the OP is accurate

When the 86A started in 2006, it was limited stop to the Airport from South Parkway

The 501 came much later when the 86A became a stopping service

I got that wrong - apologies.

 

[Statto]

Isn't the proposed extra Avanti London service due to stop at LPY ?

Not sure, it'll need to be a 4 or 5 car unit as Avanti don't stop at LPY because of the short platforms [LNWR can just fit an 8 car unit on the platforms], as you have Allerton Junction immediately to the south, & a road bridge immediately to the north of the platforms, that when Lime Street blockade was on, & AWC was cut to LPY, P4 was the only platform at LPY that could to be extended to accommodate the Pendos

 

[Fokx]

Not sure, it'll need to be a 4 or 5 car unit as Avanti don't stop at LPY because of the short platforms

Yes Avanti are planning to call at South Parkway

No it won’t matter too much as the hitatchi units will have ASDO fitted.

 

[urbophile]

Not sure, it'll need to be a 4 or 5 car unit as Avanti don't stop at LPY because of the short platforms [LNWR can just fit an 8 car unit on the platforms], as you have Allerton Junction immediately to the south, & a road bridge immediately to the north of the platforms, that when Lime Street blockade was on, & AWC was cut to LPY, P4 was the only platform at LPY that could to be extended to accommodate the Pendos

What would be the problem with extending the platforms over the road bridge?

 

[childwallblues]

What would be the problem with extending the platforms over the road bridge?

The road bridge would need to be replaced. If P1/2 were closed it would mean there could no trains from the CLC.
The closure of the road for any length of time would create chaos as it is probably the most road in the area.
There is no room to build a bridge off site.

 

[frodshamfella]

Yes Avanti are planning to call at South Parkway

No it won’t matter too much as the hitatchi units will have ASDO fitted.

Do you know when this is planned ?