TANAT VALLEY'S OPTARE VERSA 282 LEAVING SHREWSBURY BUS STATION
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, England. The town centre has a bus station a short distance from the railway station and the Darwin Shopping Centre, which was opened in 1989 and now looks dated and run-down.
As part of Shropshire Council's 'Big Town Plan', they have proposed the bus station be demolished and rural bus services stop at the town's park and ride sites, with passengers having to change onto a park and ride bus into the town centre. Shrewsbury Bus Station is served by all bus services in Shrewsbury, except the park and ride buses, which stop at various stops around the town centre. The town has three park and ride car parks, with separate bus services running every 20 minutes to each site, operate specially-branded green Optare Versas.
Before the deregulation of buses in the United Kingdom, bus services in Shrewsbury were ran by Midland Red. In 1981 Midland Red was split into 5 different operating companies ready for privatisation, with Midland Red North operating Shrewsbury depot. Midland Red North was then sold to Drawlane Transport Group, then in 1992 again to British Bus, then again in 1996 to Cowie Group, which a year later became Arriva PLC. Arriva still operate the majority of bus services in Shrewsbury, however they have now moved depot to a new site in Harlescott, next to one of the town's park and ride sites. The original Midland Red Shrewsbury depot in Ditherington closed in 2012.
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Variety |  Most services buses found in Shrewsbury are usually Optares. Often an MCV Evolution can be found on the 501 service to Ellesmere, however even this route is sometimes operated by an Optare Solo SR. The X75 uses MCV-bodied Volvo B8s and the 19 anything from Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to a full-length Wright StreetLite DF, however both these routes only operate every couple of hours. Most other routes are usually allocated Optare Solos and Versas. |
| Operator Variety |  Some of the rural services operating into Shrewsbury are operated by smaller independent operators, such as Tanat Valley Coaches, Minsterley Motors and Lakeside Coaches, all of which are mainly coach operators. Arriva operate most of the routes in the town, including some rural and all town routes. |
| Quantity of Buses | Shrewsbury has suffered a lot in the last 10 years from bus service cuts. However, there are still a reasonable amount of buses in the town. Most of the town services run half-hourly. |
| Photograph Opportunities |  The town regularly experiences heavy traffic, which can make it very difficult to take photographs in the best spots of the town. High Street and St Marys Street are a one-way system, which means vehicle traffic isn't as much of a problem, however they can become busy with pedestrians. |
British Blue Tours' Caetano Levante K10 BBT parked in the Abbey Foregate Coach Park
A plain white Optare Solo on hire to Minsterley Motors, MX08 DHK, sits in one of the layover bays next to the bus station before working a 553 to Bishops Castle
Lakeside Coaches' YJ67 FZW, an Optare Solo SR, leaving Shrewsbury Bus Station to operate a short-working 501 service as far as Battlefield Way
A Tanat Valley Optare Versa, 271, enters Shrewsbury Bus Station, arriving in from Llanfyllin on a 74 service
Arriva Midlands' 2145, an ADL Enviro 200, arriving into Shrewsbury Bus Station, ready to operate its next service, a 19 to Telford
Arriva Midlands 2974, an Optare Versa, making its way out of the bus station, passing the layover area
Tanat Valley Coaches' 269, an Optare Versa, parked in the layover area next to Shrewsbury Bus Station in between services. Parked next to it is Minsterley Motors' YJ65 EVX, an Optare MetroCity after arriving in on a 435 service
National Express West Midlands' 90, a Caetano Levante-bodied Volvo B9R, loading passengers in the Stand S lay-by for the 409 service to London, having just arrived in from Aberystwyth
Another Optare Versa operated by Arriva Midlands, 2976, exits Raven Meadows after starting from the bus station on an 8 to Sutton Farm
Celtic Travel's BV18 YCC, an MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8RLE, parked up in one of the layover bays in between trips on the X75 service
Celtic Travel's BG61SXX, a Wright Eclipse 2 bodied Volvo, sits in the lay-by in the bus station, loading for an X75 to Llanidloes
YJ12 PLN, an Optare Versa operated by Arriva Midlands as their 3699, departs Shrewsbury Bus Station on an X4 service towards Telford. Another Arriva Optare Versa follows shortly behind
Minsterley Motors' YJ65 EVW, an Optare MetroCity, departs Shrewsbury Bus Station on a 552 service to Stiperstones
More info coming soon!
Owen's Travelmaster of Oswestry's FG10 WEN, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, parked in Shrewsbury Frankwell Coach Park in between trips on rail replacement for Arriva
Arriva Midlands Optare Solo 2405 arriving into Shrewsbury on a 544 service
Arriva Midlands Mini Pointer Dart 2267 on St Mary's Street near Shrewsbury Castle
More info coming soon!
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