tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post4753589857515837499..comments2024-03-25T22:17:35.616+00:00Comments on Public Transport Experience: Brian's Birkenhead, Blacon & Bromborough Bonanzafatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-14350937536351908552012-11-19T14:10:17.427+00:002012-11-19T14:10:17.427+00:00According to the Merseyside Transport Trust (http:...According to the Merseyside Transport Trust (http://mttrust.co.uk/#/crosville-dfb-43-256-sfm/4546661446)<br />"In the 1970s the MPTE inaugurated a direct Heswall to Liverpool service (Rapidride 418/419) using one person operated Bristol RE single deckers operated by Crosville."<br />These routes appear to be the precursors of 471/472. Presumably they were an initiative by MPTE to provide direct cross-river links for commuters from places where there was no direct train service. I believe that the other 4xx routes in Liverpool were express peak-hour only and also branded "Rapidride". <br /><br />I'm not sure when 418/9 began, but if it was after mid-1971, they will not have been the first cross-mersey daytime routes, as according to the Commercial Motor archive for 11 June 1971 (http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/11th-june-1971/30/express-bus-service-into-liverpool-via-new-tunnel)<br />"A new express bus service between New Brighton and Liverpool—via the second Mersey Tunnel which opens later this month—foreshadows the threatened closure of the Mersey ferry link between the two areas. The service starts on June 28.The "Cross Mersey Express" will operate like the Liverpool Rapidride routes, picking up in the areas of Wallasey furthest from the ferries and railways stations and running non-stop into the centre of Liverpool. The journey from New Brighton will take 45 minutes and from Liscard 30 minutes. "<br /><br />I have a feeling this would have been run by MPTE, rather than Crosville, as it would have been seen as in former Wallasey Corporation territory, rather than NBC-owned Crosville.<br />NMcBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05494964262745285249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-14453566432454809732012-11-19T09:31:02.240+00:002012-11-19T09:31:02.240+00:00At some stage a Wirral bus service "broke ran...At some stage a Wirral bus service "broke ranks", but I cannot remember which and when.fatbusblokehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-52696826921179457542012-11-19T09:13:46.523+00:002012-11-19T09:13:46.523+00:00I have some Liverpool Corporation and Crosville ti...I have some Liverpool Corporation and Crosville timetables from the late sixties which suggest that the only bus service through the tunnel was operated at night by LCT when, presumably, the ferries were not working. Otherwise Crosville buses would face each other across the Mersey but never meet.Daddysgadgetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12892897553855129226noreply@blogger.com