Liverpool's Buses 2017 - the contemporary scene
The independent
transport videos cameras are no strangers to the streets of
Liverpool. Having filmed the excellent
Merseyside Transport Trust (MTT) annual running day events since 2007, we
thought it was time to visit Liverpool to record and capture the contemporary
bus scene. Two visits were made in March
and May 2017 to see what was operating and to bring you this DVD
programme. The two main bus operators in
Liverpool at the time of filming are Arriva
and Stagecoach. Arriva North West & Wales
incorporates five operating companies and covers an area almost similar to the
erstwhile Crosville Motor Services that of course operated in the
city up until the late 1980s. The Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancs company
also covers some of the former Crosville
and Merseyside PTE services as well
as Ribble Motor Services that also
ran in the city! Of course this era is
still remembered by the MTT running days – but now back to the present! Filming begins at the Pier Head on Strand
Street where the early morning action is captured on this very sunny spring
day. We move to James Street and see the
Yutong electric demonstrator
single-decker, YK66 CBC in service in Arriva
livery. Filming continues in Castle
Street, Lord Street, Sir Thomas Street and Whitechapel. We see brand new Arriva hybrid Volvo B5HL
double-deckers with Wrightbus bodies,
some so new that the branding has not yet been applied. We then spend some time recording the action
at the busy Queen Square Bus Station where buses from both companies run
through in both directions with plenty to see.
Filming then continues at St George’s Place, Lime Street and Old
Haymarket, the busy road by the mouth of the Queensway Mersey Tunnel. Here we see a number of independents taking
visitors to the Museum situated nearby.
Filming continues at Brownlow Hill, Renshaw Street, Hanover Street and
at Liverpool One Bus Station before completing our film on this visit at Mann
Island, Pier Head as the buses turn around in glorious sunshine in front of the
world famous Liver Buildings. Here we
see the latest additions to the Stagecoach
fleet in the shape of ADL Enviro400 MMC double-deckers and new Volvo B5HL hybrid Wrightbus bodied double-deckers in the Arriva fleet wearing the current hybrid livery featuring bright
green fronts and dark blue rears. Our
second visit of the year took place in May 2017. Again with similar locations visited, but
filmed from different angles due to the changed position of the sun. We also visited Crosshall Street, Victoria
Street, North John Street and Dale Street.
During 2017 Arriva had started
to introduce a new livery across their UK bus fleets. We film both single and double-deckers in the
new livery style during our May visit. The
evening rush is recorded adjacent to the Liverpool One Bus Station and we
conclude with some night-time scenes on Myrtle Street. There is always something new and different
with the buses in Liverpool, so come and enjoy “the contemporary scene” with us.