Bolton Buses 2

The second of a 2 parter covering Bolton such was the variety on display.

 

YJ60 KAA

An Optare Tempo working for ‘Transdev’ subsidiary ‘Lancashire United’. The first of a batch of eight which are all based at Intack depot in Blackburn.

 

The original company of ‘Lancashire United Transport’, dates back to 1905 and was at that time a tram operator. Eventually moving on to buses it disappeared into ‘Greater Manchester PTE’ in 1976 at which time it was the largest independent operator in the UK.

 

The modern ‘Lancashire United came out of a deal where ‘Stagecoach’ sold its East Lancashire services to ‘Blazefield’ who separated out the Blackburn, Bolton, Clitheroe and Hyndburn services into the new company with the ‘old’ name.

 

‘Blazefield was bought out by ‘Transdev’ in 2006.

 

X573 YUG

A Volvo B10BLE with Wright Renown bodywork in ‘Transdev’ subsidiary ‘Hyndburn’ livery.

 

Hyndburn Borough Council operated buses in Accrington and sold out to ‘Stagecoach’ in 1996.

 

YJ12 GXF

An Optare Solo M810 Hybrid operated by ‘COMFYBUS’ who operate widely across Lancashire. I have seen them in both Liverpool and Southport also.

 

The two buses immediately below are operated by ‘Tyrers’ of Adlington. The standard of finish on these two elderly, second hand buses has to be seen to be believed. They are superb.

 

Both were ferrying football fans to ‘Bolton Wanderers’ ground at the Reebok stadium.

 

X596 USC

A Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork.It was formerly in the ‘Lothian Buses’ fleet.

R477 RRA

A Volvo Olympian with East Lancs bodywork. New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’. It had a spell with ‘Go-Ahead’ group company ‘Go North East’.

 

X131 JCW

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Super Pointer bodywork. Operated by ‘Rossendale Transport (RT) in the new (2014) ‘Rosso’ livery.

 

An excellent article about ‘RT’ by David Barrow appeared in ‘Buses’ magazine for June 2014 on page 38.

 

YJ54 UXV

An Optare Slimline Solo again in ‘RT’s new livery,

 

‘South Lancs Transport’ (SLT) of Atherton, Greater Manchester has its origins in a company called ‘Green Triangle Transport’. Expansion and the takeover of rival ‘Bellairs & Dootson in 1999 led to the adoption of the current name.

 

Further expansion combining commercial work with contracted services for ‘Greater Manchester PTE’ has seen the fleet strength grow to over 50 buses.

 

T700 SLT

An Optare Tempo.

 

MX58 ACF

An Optare Solo. it previously worked for Sheffield Community Transport in ‘Travel South Yorkshire’ livery.

 

 

S600 SLT

A Scania CK230UB Omnilink. Of the current fleet. Approximately half carry registration with the ‘SLT’ suffix.

 

M88 SLT

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork.

 

I like this type of operator. Five buses in an hour, ALL different.

 

YJ11 ENU An Optare Diesel-Electric Hybrid Versa.

 

Owned by ‘Transport for Greater Manchester’ it was used with 3 others on a ‘Salford Quayslink’ service operated by ‘Maytree Travel’. That ceased in 2012.

 

Here seen operating for ‘SLT’ on the Bolton town centre ‘Metroshuttle 500’ service.The bus at one time carried ‘Metro Shuttle’ branding between the wheels.