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Free city centre buses

Started by Sandy Lane, October 22, 2019, 10:36:07 PM

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Sandy Lane

Is Manchester today the only city that has a free bus service around the centre?

I love Walsall buses

Wolverhampton have one if I'm not mistaken ran by the council (500 I think)

Trident 4609

Quote from: I love Walsall buses on October 22, 2019, 11:10:07 PM
Wolverhampton have one if I'm not mistaken ran by the council (500 I think)

Yes, previously ran by Travel West Midlands for many years.

PB2938

Good old 500 through the 90s using branded Leyland National mk2s these lasted until 1997.

Not sure what was used until 1999 then brand new optare solos. Think the route lasted until 2005 then was Withdrawn .
952A Rugeley
Via Great Barr,  Walsall, Cheslyn Hay, Cannock, Heath Hayes and Hednesford

PB2938

Theres been centrebus Birmingham routes in the past.

From the 80s soley Centrebus 101. In 1991 the 76/101 was combined the 101 was still known as centrebus branding occured 1996 onwards green stripe. By January 2000 this Service was alterted to Colmore Row due to City Roadworks.

A new Free Centrebus 10 minute service was operated by BC using Volvo B10Ls. This route Transferred to LH using mercs sometime summer 2000. It lasted until 2001 and was Withdrawn and replaced by Petes Travel offering a 20P flat fare. Think this lasted until 2003. Dont think there was anymore anyone know?
952A Rugeley
Via Great Barr,  Walsall, Cheslyn Hay, Cannock, Heath Hayes and Hednesford

Lukeee

Quote from: PB2938 on October 23, 2019, 04:41:16 PM
Theres been centrebus Birmingham routes in the past.

From the 80s soley Centrebus 101. In 1991 the 76/101 was combined the 101 was still known as centrebus branding occured 1996 onwards green stripe. By January 2000 this Service was alterted to Colmore Row due to City Roadworks.

A new Free Centrebus 10 minute service was operated by BC using Volvo B10Ls. This route Transferred to LH using mercs sometime summer 2000. It lasted until 2001 and was Withdrawn and replaced by Petes Travel offering a 20P flat fare. Think this lasted until 2003. Dont think there was anymore anyone know?

Zaks ran a stationlink service that ran between snow hill, new street, moor street and digbeth coach station with branded solos, didn't last long though

sonic84

Didn't the 103 (now 24) also have centre bus branding. I seem to remember this used to take a different route around the city centre compared with the 21, 22, 22 and 29 for quite some time.

Have NXWM also considered the 16 to be a sort of centre bus as this has always sort of looped the city centre. I'm sure there was a peak 16B variant that used to go to and from Upper Bull Street only during the 2000s

Tony

There was also a 100 centrebus which went the opposite way around to the 101 for a time

Ian Hardy

Wakefield has one:
https://www.wymetro.com/buses/free-town-and-city-buses/wakefield-freecitybus/

Leeds did have one until March 2011
Sheffield had one in 2008 but it got withdrawn soon afterwards.

Due to city centre road closures from January 2020 Liverpool will get one:
https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travel-updates/Pages/city-centre-bus.aspx

For some people:-
Any TfL route operated with Bendybuses or Borismasters :)


mikestone

At least one Borismaster route now only has front door boarding.

Solo1

Didn't walsall have some sort of city centre shuttle

Westy

Quote from: Solo1 on October 23, 2019, 11:54:22 PM
Didn't walsall have some sort of city centre shuttle

Yeah they did.

Using Metroriders.

Didn't last long.

PB2938

Quote from: sonic84 on October 23, 2019, 07:16:51 PM
Didn't the 103 (now 24) also have centre bus branding. I seem to remember this used to take a different route around the city centre compared with the 21, 22, 22 and 29 for quite some time.

Have NXWM also considered the 16 to be a sort of centre bus as this has always sort of looped the city centre. I'm sure there was a peak 16B variant that used to go to and from Upper Bull Street only during the 2000s

103 around 1997 was known as Brindleyplace shuttle using branded orange Stripe metrobuses at Quinton.
2526 2531 2599 2722 2723 2736 2745

Between 1992-1997 had the blind Centrelink on 103
952A Rugeley
Via Great Barr,  Walsall, Cheslyn Hay, Cannock, Heath Hayes and Hednesford

Roy


Wumpty

Autofare 3 - the ticket that laughs in the face of contactless!

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