Chester Bus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chester Bus is the local public transport service for the City of Chester in England. It is owned 100% by Chester City Council and is one of the few remaining municipal bus companies in the UK. Formerly Chester City Transport, its new name is the result of rebranding and updating of its core network in April 2005.
The service has a universal fare, £1.30 for an adult single, or £2 for a return (formally £1.20 and £1.80 respectively, until fuel prices forced the fares up).
All bus stops, displaying a picture and the words "Chester City Council", display the timetable for this bus company. Buses, in general, visit destination further away from the central bus exchange every hour (e.g. Christleton), and destinations closer to the centre every 15 minutes (e.g. Vicars Cross).
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[edit] Bus depot
Unusually the current depot of Chester Bus dates back to 1878, it is located by the station in Chester, and was used in the horse and tram days, and there are still some cobbles and original, narrow gauge tram-lines left behind. But the company hopes to move to a new site by the end of this year (2006).
[edit] Liveries
The company's livery is cream with a 30 cm blue strip running from the base of the bus along the side and sweeps up towards the rear of the bus, there are also two horizontal yellow bands used, the colours used, were also seen in CCT days (during the mid-90's) when they got some early low floor buses, which were branded as Blue Diamond, but the blue didn't sweep up at the rear and had only one yellow band. However, since the company was formerly Chester City Transport, many still sport all or part of the livery which was maroon and cream (with a yellow band at the skirt of the bus) which was used from 1997, some had an even older livery which had more maroon than this one, and no yellow bands.
[edit] Fleet
Their fleet is made up of Dennis Darts with Plaxton Pointer bodrwork bought between 1991-5, and Dart SLF's with Marshall Capital bodywork (one batch bought new in 1999/2000, and some 1997 examples bought from Halton in 2004). They also operate the relatively rare Marshall Minibus. For Park & Ride work (in a special 'flake grey' livery) are 8 BMC Falcons bought new in 2003/4 and 4 Scania L113's with Wright bodywork, bought out of a batch of 6 new in 1997/8, the other two being on normal work. They also operate 4 Solo's bought in 2003. Double deckers are quite varied, they have Dennis Dominators with Northern Counties bought new between 1981-3 and East Lancs bought second hand during the mid/late-1980s (again dating from 1981-3), also operated are 4 Leyland Olympians with Northern Counties bodywork dating from 1985, and two similar ones from Derby dating from 1982 (purchased in 1987), these are full height. Three Leyland Olympians with Alexander RL bodywork came to the fleet in late 1991, and were ex-SBG examples, one dates from 1984, the rest, 1986. Two ex-WYPTE buses are also in the fleet with bus 8 (HTU785X, UWW1X) being significant as it was the first Olympians new to WYPTE in 1981, the other is UWW2X which is an open top bus. There is one Leyland Fleetline which is closed top and dates from 1980 and is an ex-GMPTE example. There newest deckers are one all-Leyland Olympian bought in 1991 (and dates from 1988) two Leyland Olympians from 1989, which are different from all other deckers in their fleet for having Cummins L10 engines as opposed to the trusty Gardner 6LXB. They also operate open top tours with one Leyland Olympian and 6 Leyland Fleetlines bought new between 1979-80 and operate in City Sightseeing livery.
[edit] Routes
| Service | Route | Daytime frequency (first bus) | Evening frequency (last bus) | Sunday frequency (service hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, 1A | Chester Exchange - Blacon - Chester Exchange (circular) | 15 mins (0540) | 30 mins (2325) | 30 mins (0720-2300) |
| 3, 3A | Chester Exchange - Countess of Chester Hospital - Blacon - Chester Exchange (circular) | 30 mins (0650) | No Service (1810) | No Service |
| 4 | Chester Exchange - Waverton | 60 mins (0745) | No Service (1830) | No Service |
| 5, 5A | Chester Exchange - Huntington | 30 mins (0635) | 1 service (2340) | 60 mins (0820-2258) |
| 8 | Chester Exchange - Cliveden | No Service (1900) | 60 mins (2328) | No Service |
| 9 | Chester Exchange - Pipers Ash | 15 mins (0630) | 60 mins (2335) | No Service |
| 10A, 10B | Chester Exchange - Whitchurch Road | No Service | No Service | 60 mins (0900-2335) |
| 14 | Chester Exchange - Eccleston | 3 services (0835) | No Service (1640) | No Service |
| 15/15A/15B | Chester Exchange - Saughall | 15 mins (0630) | 60 mins (2328) | No Service |
| 21 | Chester Exchange - Green Lane Shops | 15 mins (0645) | 60 mins (2308) | No Service |
| 25' | Chester Exchange - Westminster Park - Chester Exchange (circular) | 60 mins (0930) | No Service (1545) | No Service |
| 26 | Chester Exchange - Countess of Chester Hospital -Blacon - Chester Exchange (circular) | 30 mins (0650) | 30 mins (1810) | No Service |
| 28 | Chester Railway Station - Western Avenue - Chester Railway Station (circular) | 60 mins (0905) | No Service (1405) | No Service |
| 35 | Chester Exchange - Guilden Sutton | 60 mins (0905) | No Service (1745) | No Service |
| 41, 41A | Chester Exchange - Whitchurch | 60 mins (0650) | 60 mins (2259) | 120 mins (0915-2223) |
| 52 | Chester Exchange - Kingsway - Newton - Chester Exchange (circular) | No Service (2145) | 60 mins (2310) | No Service |
[edit] Under threat
Though the company remains in council onwership, like many British municipal bus opertors Chester Bus doesn't go without the threat of being sold off. During July 2006 speculation was going round of a possible sale, though in August it has been confirmed the company is up for sale. If a sale goes through then there will be only 14 municipal bus operators in Britain (Blackburn Transport being the latest confirmed to be sold to Transdev Blazefield, with everything being signed in October). Ever since the council has announced that it intends to sell the company, there are apparently 12 operators interested in buying the operator off the council.
Sadly, it will seem that the big boys are to take over Chester Buses services. According to an unofficial source, Arriva are planning to run buses on all Chester Bus routes from January 2007. Whilst this has not been confirmed, it is understood that Arriva have no interst in paying the asking price for Chester Bus, they are more than interested in running those routes. Though the local Council are taking legal action against Arriva since this has happened.
