Trivia: UK local bus routes that use motorways

[GusB]

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

I've merged that thread and another similar one into this one.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There used to be a peak only Arriva service from Holmfirth to Leeds via Denby Dale and Wakefield which used the M621 on the approach to Leeds. This had an X number (which I can't recall) and was advertised as limited stop so may be disqualified... however in practice it stopped everywhere on a very mazy route through the Wakefield suburbs and took about seven years* to complete the journey!

*= This is obviously hyperbole, but the odd routing and failure to actually run as an express probably contributed to the decision to withdraw the route.

 

[318266]

McGill's has a fair few across all divisions, mostly routes that are local routes with a bit of express near the end -
Scotland West
757 - Paisley - Glasgow Airport - Clydebank goes on it for a bit near the Airport
901/906/906X - local Largs - Port Glasgow then express via M8 to Glasgow
X7 - local Greenock - Linwood then express via M8 to Glasgow
X21/XP21 - rush hour Glasgow - Paisley 'express' via M8 and the back of Hillington
X22 does not go on motorways but turns off just before two A roads become motorways - the A8 and A898
X23 - Erskine - Braehead then express via M8 to Glasgow

Scotland East
X36/X37 go express via M8/M80 to Denny on their way to Stirling/Falkirk, so a de facto express to those areas
H1/H2 go express via M876 from Larbert Hospital to Clackmannan, ran with B7RLEs or Streetlites (wonder how many have broken down on that!). Curiously council-supported...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

If you want something quite pathetic and impressive at the same time, I give you the 34 from Richmond to Darlington https://www.hodgsonsbuses.com/service34.html

It manages 2.5 miles on the A1(M) from Scotch Corner, before turning off onto the A66(M) for 2 miles (the entire length of the motorway) to the outskirts of Darlington

 

[CBlue]

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

Junction 13 (Madingley) to Junction 11 (Trumpington), about 4 miles or so.

 

[Stan Drews]

McGill's has a fair few across all divisions, mostly routes that are local routes with a bit of express near the end -
Scotland West
757 - Paisley - Glasgow Airport - Clydebank goes on it for a bit near the Airport
901/906/906X - local Largs - Port Glasgow then express via M8 to Glasgow
X7 - local Greenock - Linwood then express via M8 to Glasgow
X21/XP21 - rush hour Glasgow - Paisley 'express' via M8 and the back of Hillington
X22 does not go on motorways but turns off just before two A roads become motorways - the A8 and A898
X23 - Erskine - Braehead then express via M8 to Glasgow

Scotland East
X36/X37 go express via M8/M80 to Denny on their way to Stirling/Falkirk, so a de facto express to those areas
H1/H2 go express via M876 from Larbert Hospital to Clackmannan, ran with B7RLEs or Streetlites (wonder how many have broken down on that!). Curiously council-supported...

The 757 doesn’t use the M8, but as you say, there are many other services that do.

 

[bobslack1982]

The Pendle Wizz uses the M65 into Burnley I believe.

I also think the X21 by Go North East uses the A1(M) towards Chester le Street.

 

[JD2168]

Stagecoach Yorkshire X17 uses the M1 Motorway between Meadowhall & Birdwell on journeys between Sheffield & Barnsley.

 

[dodecahedron67]

First Leeds 51/52 use the M621 very briefly I believe

 

[SeanG]

There are lots of bus services that use the A167(M) in Newcastle.

 

[LiviCrazy]

I see quite a few First buses using the motorway in Glasgow. Don’t know what services as I’m usually driving at the time.

On a related note, are there any service buses that use a Motorway service station as a bus stop (on the Motorway side, ie they go in from and back onto motorway before and after the stop)?

 

[peterblue]

On a related note, are there any service buses that use a Motorway service station as a bus stop (on the Motorway side, ie they go in from and back onto motorway before and after the stop)?

A few.

In Scotland, the X74 between Dumfries and Glasgow stops at Abington services. Some 900s between Glasgow and Edinburgh stop at Harthill services.

 

[Ken H]

Transdev Coastliner buses and the 7 all use the A64 (M) Leeds inner ring road between Vicar Lane and Woodpecker Jct. 0.8 mile.
A64 (M) is considered to be joint shortest motorway in England. But the buses don't use all of it!

 

[Andyh82]

First Leeds 51/52 use the M621 very briefly I believe

In Leeds the PR1 uses the M621 incredibly briefly, just from junction 2A to junction 3 in one direction only

 

[LiviCrazy]

A few.

In Scotland, the X74 between Dumfries and Glasgow stops at Abington services. Some 900s between Glasgow and Edinburgh stop at Harthill services.

Did think of the 900 but wasn’t sure whether that is classed as a service bus or a coach service (I know there’s not much of a difference).

 

[PeterC]

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).

It was the same with the previous operator, I have always wondered why.

In the same area the Oxford Tube is registered as a local bus between Oxford and Lewknor Turn so, if we are veing pedantic, should be included. I don't know about Airline but I would suspect the same.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Stuart's of Carluke
240x and 241x Glasgow to Carluke

First Glasgow
X3 Glasgow to Cumbernauld
X4 Glasgow to Knightswood (if you could the Clydeside Expressway as a motorway)
X8 Glasgow to Silverburn
x11 Glasgow to Newmains
X85 Glasgow to Campsie Glen
X87 Glasgow to Waterside

McGill's
X7 Glasgow to Greenock
X21 / XP21 Glasgow to Paisley
X23 Glasgow to Erskine

Stagecoach West of Scotland
x19 easterhouse to Queen Elizabeth Hospital
X25/A Glasgow to Cumbernauld

 

[neilmc]

"Express or Limited Stop Services An “Express” service shall be so treated for the purpose of the Scheme if: a) It is registered as a Limited Stop service with the Traffic Commissioner(s): or b) It is not available for boarding and alighting at all bus stops along its route: or c) Its route includes any section of Motorway Operators of such services are required to provide Cumbria County Council, as administrators of the scheme, with full details including timetables and fare tables of the express service within seven days of the date of the agreement or of registration. The Council will give a decision within fourteen days as to whether, in its view, the service complies with the Regulations and is an eligible local service."

(Excerpt from the Cumbria Concessionary Pass guidelines)

So, of the services which use some section of motorway, have any been disqualified from the ENCTS scheme on that grounds, even if it's only a short section?

 

[Ken H]

"Express or Limited Stop Services An “Express” service shall be so treated for the purpose of the Scheme if: a) It is registered as a Limited Stop service with the Traffic Commissioner(s): or b) It is not available for boarding and alighting at all bus stops along its route: or c) Its route includes any section of Motorway Operators of such services are required to provide Cumbria County Council, as administrators of the scheme, with full details including timetables and fare tables of the express service within seven days of the date of the agreement or of registration. The Council will give a decision within fourteen days as to whether, in its view, the service complies with the Regulations and is an eligible local service."

(Excerpt from the Cumbria Concessionary Pass guidelines)

So, of the services which use some section of motorway, have any been disqualified from the ENCTS scheme on that grounds, even if it's only a short section?

One wonders about the summer only 555 Lancaster - Keswick services that nip up the M6 to Crooklands.

 

[Deerfold]

First Leeds 51/52 use the M621 very briefly I believe

As mentioned in post #1.

 

[RT4038]

"Express or Limited Stop Services An “Express” service shall be so treated for the purpose of the Scheme if: a) It is registered as a Limited Stop service with the Traffic Commissioner(s): or b) It is not available for boarding and alighting at all bus stops along its route: or c) Its route includes any section of Motorway Operators of such services are required to provide Cumbria County Council, as administrators of the scheme, with full details including timetables and fare tables of the express service within seven days of the date of the agreement or of registration. The Council will give a decision within fourteen days as to whether, in its view, the service complies with the Regulations and is an eligible local service."

(Excerpt from the Cumbria Concessionary Pass guidelines)

So, of the services which use some section of motorway, have any been disqualified from the ENCTS scheme on that grounds, even if it's only a short section?

In Cumbria, presumably (as it is the Cumbria scheme that is being quoted)?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

"Express or Limited Stop Services An “Express” service shall be so treated for the purpose of the Scheme if: a) It is registered as a Limited Stop service with the Traffic Commissioner(s): or b) It is not available for boarding and alighting at all bus stops along its route: or c) Its route includes any section of Motorway Operators of such services are required to provide Cumbria County Council, as administrators of the scheme, with full details including timetables and fare tables of the express service within seven days of the date of the agreement or of registration. The Council will give a decision within fourteen days as to whether, in its view, the service complies with the Regulations and is an eligible local service."

(Excerpt from the Cumbria Concessionary Pass guidelines)

So, of the services which use some section of motorway, have any been disqualified from the ENCTS scheme on that grounds, even if it's only a short section?

Bit confused by your post?

Are you saying that some services have been disqualified and are asking if that is the issue?

Or are you simply asking if any services have been disqualified by Cumbria County Council?

Either way, what it does is reflect the way the law on ENCTS is drafted and that they have the right to review the validity of services that use the motorway. The reason is clear enough - they don't want people trying to introduce shopper services to Christmas markets or the like, or for NX to introduce a stop, and that become a drain on ENCTS. If a route were to stray onto the M6 for a junction or two, say from Tebay to Kendal (I know the 571 goes via Grayrigg) then they might not be so bothered.

 

[randyrippley]

A few double deckers use the M6 north to J33 at Preston each day, presumably on college services.
One each from Warrington, Atlantic bus, Pendle. At a guess going to Myerscough college

Further south around J29 Holmeswood three-axle double deckers get seen on school runs, while Tyrers have single deckers on school runs around J26

 

[Simon75]

Can't remember the route, but sone years ago a bus from Glasgow to Edinburgh went via the M8

There are a few former motorways eg the M10 and A40 (m). Did any buses use them?

 

[Ken H]

Goung back a bit the Fastaway' services in Leeds (rush our buses that didnt stop between the city centre and a suburb, about 3 miles out) used the then new Inner Ring Road,;which was designated as a motorway (still is). Even though Leeds was mostly half cab back loaders then, the Fastaways used 2 door AEC swifts and single deck Fleetlines. Late 60's
Some of the early Swifts had slanting window pillars which i thought were quite modern at the time.