Chester Area Operators

Chester City Transport
First PMT (Crosville)
Arriva North West/Merseyside and Wales
Arriva Midlands North

1 (B201 EFM) is a Voith gearbox Olympian, seen in the bus exchange on 25/5/2002.

Number 2 (B202 EFM) is another of the coach-seated batch 1-4, and is seen opposite the Chester Visitors centre on the occasion of an Omnibus Society visit to CCT. MD Stuart Hyslop was at the wheel. 15/6/02.

Number 3 (B203 EFM), 25/5/02.

Number 4 completes the batch, and is seen on 17/7/2002.

This photo shows Number 9 (F209 JMB) at the depot of Halifax Joint Committee on 9/3/02. Number 9 was the vehicle for the annual joint Merseyside Bus Club/Crosville Enthusiasts Club tour, this year to Yorkshire. Along with sister vehicle 10 (F210 JMB), 9 was new to Chester City in 1989.

Number 9 again, this time on it's more usual Park and Ride work - 'deckers are often used at busy times. 25/5/2002.

Former Scottish 12 (A976 OST), 25/5/2002.

Another Scottish exile is 13 (C378 CAS), again on 25/5/02 in the bus exchange.

14 (C379 CAS) is ex-Scottish, but has had it's destination altered to the Chester CT standard layout.

57 (K57 LLG) is a 9-metre Dart new to the corporation, about to do a Helsby - Alvanley school contract for Cheshire CC, on 22/6/2001.
Another view of 57, this time at the corporation's depot on 15/6/02.

Another Dart from the same batch, 59 (K59 LLG) leaves the Bus Exchange for Saughall on 25/5/02.

Chester's only secondhand Dart to date is 67 (N459 EEY), and is a 9.8-metre model.

81 (R81 EMB) is a Scania L113/Wright Axcess Ultralow delivered new for Park & Ride duties. When the P & R contracts are re-let, these buses will be repainted into Blue Diamond livery and used on normal work, new buses being used for any contracts secured. It is seen in the bus exchange on 17/7/02.

Similar 82, again on 17/7/02.

84 (R84 EMB), 25/5/02.

Similar 85 (R85 EMB) outside the 1983-built engineering shops on 15/6/02.

90 (KFM 190T) is an open-top fleetline new to the corporation and used on the Guide Friday tour contract - Chester provide vehicles and drivers for Guide Friday in Chester, although with City Sighseeing having set up with Crosville and having bought Guide Friday, which company will win the contract next year is unclear. Opposite Chester General Station, 15/6/02.

Fleetline 96 (SDM 96V) heads up narrow Souters Lane on its way from The Groves, by the River. The date is Sunday 15/9/02.

97 (SDM 97V) heads through the city walls by the Old Dee Bridge on 15/9/02.

Another fleetline, this time 98 (SDM 98V) in the bus exchange on 25/5/02.

103 (YMA 103W) was new to the corporation, and is seen in Station Road opposite the depot on 15/6/2002.

Similar 104 (YMA 104W) in the bus exchange, 25/5/02.

106 represents the X-registered delivery of these buses, and is seen having recently emerged from the painshop on 17/7/02.

110 (A110 UCA) in the bus exchange on 25/5/02.

Ex-Hyndburn 131 (A105 KRN) at Chester's depot on 15/6/02. It is seen outside the 1983 engineering workshop.

133 (B107 UFV) is an East Lancs bodied Dominator new as Hyndburn 107, and was bought by Chester in 1990. It is heading to take up a school contract in Helsby on 22/6/2001.
134 (B108 UFV) in Station Rd depot, 15/6/02.

Marshall Minibus 250 (P150 LMA) was new to CCT for the Station link contract, now operated by First using Optare Solos. It is seen in the depot on 15/6/02.

Secondhand Metrorider 255 (F505 CBO) has been converted into a fitters van, believed to be unique. It is seen in the depot on 15/6 /2002.

Low Floor Dart 369 (V369 KLG) wears "Blue Diamond" branding, as do (and will) all low floor buses in the Chester fleet. Seen in the depot on 15/6/02.

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First PMT (Crosville)

Fleetnumbers: all fleetnumbers given are the ones that the vehicle was wearing at the time it was photographed, hence the mix of old and new style numbers.

First Manchester 6009 (P309 LND) has been on loan in exchange for some of the Chester depot Solos; it is seen in the bus exchange working local service 4. 25/5/2002.

Recently acquired ex-York is this DAF SB220/Ikarus 285 (K425 NCP), seen loaidng in the bus exchange on 17/7/2002.

359 (H359 GRE) has been something of a local celebrity, being the last PMT Ami bodied mini in the Crosville area fleet. It leaves the lower bus exchange on 17/7/2002.

399 (WYV 26T) is an ex-London Titan run in by Crosville on behalf of City Sightseeing, who set up in competition with Guide Friday in Chester this year. Ironically, City Sightseeing bought Guide Friday the day before their Chester operation started, but because contracts had been signed the two ran in competition this summer! It is numbered 326 in City Sightseeing's series, and is seen on 17/7/02.

Similar 400 (UJN 335V, City Sightseeing number 335) leaves the River side on 15/9/02, just behind Chester CT 96 (see above)!

First PMT 408 (N408 HVT) seen in Helsby on it's way to take up a school contract, 22/6/2001.

Ex-Crosville VR 608 (VCA 452W) is also heading for a contract on 22/6/01.

Still in ex-London condition is 616 (P701 HMT), an Optare Excel tranferred for the Flintshire Linxx routes, branding for which it now wears. The date uis 17/7/02.

Ex-London Optare Excel 40067 (P704 HMT) wears an all-over advert promoting the Flintshire version of the Chester area Smartcard scheme. It loads in a quiet bus exchange on 15/9/02.

Another ex-Crosville vehicle is 763 (GFM 104X), former DOG104. On service 21 (Chester - Runcorn), this bus was a very strong performer!

Slightly more lacklustre is 790 (A161 VDM), former DOG161. It is seen on a Chester local service on 25/5/02, wearing the new Firstgroup livery.

798 (A169 VFM) leaves the bus exchange on 25/5/02.

891 (A171 VFM), ex-DOG171, is another vehicle on it's way to a schools on 22/6/01. This bus has since been repainted into the new livery.

The bulk of PMT's NBC era Olympians were acquired with the remains of the Crosville business, and the former DOG 195, currently 895 (30075 under the new scheme) loads on 17/7/02.

897 is the former EOG 200, one of the three coach seated NBC Olympians PMT inherited (EOG200-2). It retains its coach seats but sees use on any service.

Coach-seated 898 (B201 DTU) was new as EOG201, but now covers any available work. It is in the bus exchange on 25/5/2002.

New as part of the quality partnership on the Saltney service, 994 (X994 FFA) is now dedicated to new route 1 (Chester - Liverpool), having been displaced by secondhand low floor Scanias on the Saltney route. It shows off its new branding on 17/7/2002.

Alexander Dart 995 (X995 FFA) was new for the quality partnership route 16 to Saltney, but has strayed onto North Wales work on 25/5/02.

Eleven of these American built BlueBird school buses are operated by First Crosville in a scheme in the Wrexham area (note the bilingual writing and Welsh registration). 60032 (CX 02 ECC) is seen at this year's Showbus rally on 22/9/02.

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Arriva North West/Merseyside and Wales

Arriva Cymru Lynx 1736 (G36 VME) waits to leave the lower bus exchange on 25/5/02

Arriva Cymru 2360 (V590 DJC) wears route branding for the Flintshire Linxx branded routes 10-12, and is seen on 25/5/02.

Merseyside East Lancs Myllennium bodied DAF 2460 (Y243 KBU) leaves the Bus Exchange on Sunday service 411, on 15/9/2002.

Arriva Cymru 3094 (B194 BLG), ex-Crosville DOG194, is still with the descendant of the Welsh side of Crosville, and is seen /leaving the bus exchange on 17/7/2002.

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Arriva Midlands North

Arriva Midlands North 1749 (E29 UNE), an Alexander-bodied Tiger, heads for Crewe on 15/6/02.

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	1 (B201 EFM) is a Voith gearbox Olympian, seen in the bus exchange on 25/5/2002.
	Number 2 (B202 EFM) is another of the coach-seated batch 1-4, and is seen opposite the Chester Visitors centre on the occasion of an Omnibus Society visit to CCT. MD Stuart Hyslop was at the wheel. 15/6/02.
	Number 3 (B203 EFM), 25/5/02.
	Number 4 completes the batch, and is seen on 17/7/2002.
	This photo shows Number 9 (F209 JMB) at the depot of Halifax Joint Committee on 9/3/02. Number 9 was the vehicle for the annual joint Merseyside Bus Club/Crosville Enthusiasts Club tour, this year to Yorkshire. Along with sister vehicle 10 (F210 JMB), 9 was new to Chester City in 1989.
	Number 9 again, this time on it's more usual Park and Ride work - 'deckers are often used at busy times. 25/5/2002.
	Former Scottish 12 (A976 OST), 25/5/2002.
	Another Scottish exile is 13 (C378 CAS), again on 25/5/02 in the bus exchange.
	14 (C379 CAS) is ex-Scottish, but has had it's destination altered to the Chester CT standard layout.
	57 (K57 LLG) is a 9-metre Dart new to the corporation, about to do a Helsby - Alvanley school contract for Cheshire CC, on 22/6/2001.
	Another view of 57, this time at the corporation's depot on 15/6/02.
	Another Dart from the same batch, 59 (K59 LLG) leaves the Bus Exchange for Saughall on 25/5/02.
	Chester's only secondhand Dart to date is 67 (N459 EEY), and is a 9.8-metre model.
	81 (R81 EMB) is a Scania L113/Wright Axcess Ultralow delivered new for Park & Ride duties. When the P & R contracts are re-let, these buses will be repainted into Blue Diamond livery and used on normal work, new buses being used for any contracts secured. It is seen in the bus exchange on 17/7/02.
	Similar 82, again on 17/7/02.
	84 (R84 EMB), 25/5/02.
	Similar 85 (R85 EMB) outside the 1983-built engineering shops on 15/6/02.
	90 (KFM 190T) is an open-top fleetline new to the corporation and used on the Guide Friday tour contract - Chester provide vehicles and drivers for Guide Friday in Chester, although with City Sighseeing having set up with Crosville and having bought Guide Friday, which company will win the contract next year is unclear. Opposite Chester General Station, 15/6/02.
	Fleetline 96 (SDM 96V) heads up narrow Souters Lane on its way from The Groves, by the River. The date is Sunday 15/9/02.
	97 (SDM 97V) heads through the city walls by the Old Dee Bridge on 15/9/02.
	Another fleetline, this time 98 (SDM 98V) in the bus exchange on 25/5/02.
	103 (YMA 103W) was new to the corporation, and is seen in Station Road opposite the depot on 15/6/2002.
	Similar 104 (YMA 104W) in the bus exchange, 25/5/02.
	106 represents the X-registered delivery of these buses, and is seen having recently emerged from the painshop on 17/7/02.
	110 (A110 UCA) in the bus exchange on 25/5/02.
	Ex-Hyndburn 131 (A105 KRN) at Chester's depot on 15/6/02. It is seen outside the 1983 engineering workshop.
	133 (B107 UFV) is an East Lancs bodied Dominator new as Hyndburn 107, and was bought by Chester in 1990. It is heading to take up a school contract in Helsby on 22/6/2001.
	134 (B108 UFV) in Station Rd depot, 15/6/02.
	Marshall Minibus 250 (P150 LMA) was new to CCT for the Station link contract, now operated by First using Optare Solos. It is seen in the depot on 15/6/02.
	Secondhand Metrorider 255 (F505 CBO) has been converted into a fitters van, believed to be unique. It is seen in the depot on 15/6 /2002.
	Low Floor Dart 369 (V369 KLG) wears "Blue Diamond" branding, as do (and will) all low floor buses in the Chester fleet. Seen in the depot on 15/6/02.

	First Manchester 6009 (P309 LND) has been on loan in exchange for some of the Chester depot Solos; it is seen in the bus exchange working local service 4. 25/5/2002.
	Recently acquired ex-York is this DAF SB220/Ikarus 285 (K425 NCP), seen loaidng in the bus exchange on 17/7/2002.
	359 (H359 GRE) has been something of a local celebrity, being the last PMT Ami bodied mini in the Crosville area fleet. It leaves the lower bus exchange on 17/7/2002.
	399 (WYV 26T) is an ex-London Titan run in by Crosville on behalf of City Sightseeing, who set up in competition with Guide Friday in Chester this year. Ironically, City Sightseeing bought Guide Friday the day before their Chester operation started, but because contracts had been signed the two ran in competition this summer! It is numbered 326 in City Sightseeing's series, and is seen on 17/7/02.
	Similar 400 (UJN 335V, City Sightseeing number 335) leaves the River side on 15/9/02, just behind Chester CT 96 (see above)!
	First PMT 408 (N408 HVT) seen in Helsby on it's way to take up a school contract, 22/6/2001.
	Ex-Crosville VR 608 (VCA 452W) is also heading for a contract on 22/6/01.
	Still in ex-London condition is 616 (P701 HMT), an Optare Excel tranferred for the Flintshire Linxx routes, branding for which it now wears. The date uis 17/7/02.
	Ex-London Optare Excel 40067 (P704 HMT) wears an all-over advert promoting the Flintshire version of the Chester area Smartcard scheme. It loads in a quiet bus exchange on 15/9/02.
	Another ex-Crosville vehicle is 763 (GFM 104X), former DOG104. On service 21 (Chester - Runcorn), this bus was a very strong performer!
	Slightly more lacklustre is 790 (A161 VDM), former DOG161. It is seen on a Chester local service on 25/5/02, wearing the new Firstgroup livery.
	798 (A169 VFM) leaves the bus exchange on 25/5/02.
	891 (A171 VFM), ex-DOG171, is another vehicle on it's way to a schools on 22/6/01. This bus has since been repainted into the new livery.
	The bulk of PMT's NBC era Olympians were acquired with the remains of the Crosville business, and the former DOG 195, currently 895 (30075 under the new scheme) loads on 17/7/02.
	897 is the former EOG 200, one of the three coach seated NBC Olympians PMT inherited (EOG200-2). It retains its coach seats but sees use on any service.
	Coach-seated 898 (B201 DTU) was new as EOG201, but now covers any available work. It is in the bus exchange on 25/5/2002.
	New as part of the quality partnership on the Saltney service, 994 (X994 FFA) is now dedicated to new route 1 (Chester - Liverpool), having been displaced by secondhand low floor Scanias on the Saltney route. It shows off its new branding on 17/7/2002.
	Alexander Dart 995 (X995 FFA) was new for the quality partnership route 16 to Saltney, but has strayed onto North Wales work on 25/5/02.
	Eleven of these American built BlueBird school buses are operated by First Crosville in a scheme in the Wrexham area (note the bilingual writing and Welsh registration). 60032 (CX 02 ECC) is seen at this year's Showbus rally on 22/9/02.

	Arriva Cymru Lynx 1736 (G36 VME) waits to leave the lower bus exchange on 25/5/02
	Arriva Cymru 2360 (V590 DJC) wears route branding for the Flintshire Linxx branded routes 10-12, and is seen on 25/5/02.
	Merseyside East Lancs Myllennium bodied DAF 2460 (Y243 KBU) leaves the Bus Exchange on Sunday service 411, on 15/9/2002.
	Arriva Cymru 3094 (B194 BLG), ex-Crosville DOG194, is still with the descendant of the Welsh side of Crosville, and is seen /leaving the bus exchange on 17/7/2002.