HTL Buses

[Website Admin (Administrator)]

RE: HTL Buses
It is used primarily on Merseylink services yes but any of the minibuses are, the 3 Sprinters see use on those as required.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: HTL Buses
MX59 AVD had a crash on the 289 yesterday, While i have not seen any pictures but told the front end has "caved in". Considering we are talking about a 59 Plate and Franchising is only a few months away i would be surprised if it was repaired

elsewhere YJ60 GGF is VOR but is being repaired for a return to service

[Y458 KNF]

RE: HTL Buses

(11/01/2026 10:44)T42 PVM Wrote:  MX59 AVD had a crash on the 289 yesterday, While i have not seen any pictures but told the front end has "caved in". Considering we are talking about a 59 Plate and Franchising is only a few months away i would be surprised if it was repaired

elsewhere YJ60 GGF is VOR but is being repaired for a return to service

Seen a pic of it no chance of it being repaired chassis will be damaged.

[Y458 KNF]

RE: HTL Buses
With St Helens routes being awarded to Stagecoach it’s got me wondering what tranches the other routes HTL currently run will be part of.

[CX06 EBK (Administrator)]

RE: HTL Buses
The rest of the routes will go in the next tranche. While no one will know for certain just yet what depot each route will end up with logically you have to assume 135/159 to Bootle, 36/102/214/215/121 to Gillmoss, 248/258 & Huyton Circs to Green Lane, 174 to Speke and 206 to Southport would be the most likely destinations. The school work and Merseylink work will be done at the same time no doubt.

[Olympian2100]

RE: HTL Buses

(26/01/2026 14:27)CX06 EBK Wrote:  The rest of the routes will go in the next tranche. While no one will know for certain just yet what depot each route will end up with logically you have to assume 135/159 to Bootle, 36/102/214/215/121 to Gillmoss, 248/258 & Huyton Circs to Green Lane, 174 to Speke and 206 to Southport would be the most likely destinations. The school work and Merseylink work will be done at the same time no doubt.

Surely the 206 will go to Bootle, which is only a few miles from Crosby.
If it goes to Southport there are at least 10 miles or more of dead running which would be wasted mileage.

[CX06 EBK (Administrator)]

RE: HTL Buses
Maybe, but Bootle will be taking on extra 53s with very little space as it is and that may factor in. You could argue the 135/159 could also go to Bootle but with the space issue that surely has to factor in. The LCR can buy as much land up as they want - they will face the same vocal complaints that Arriva did when they tried to use the wasteland by Bootle to alleviate the capacity issue.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: HTL Buses
Is there any way the 53 could end up being moved to Gillmoss instead? It was hinted to me quite a while ago this could happen as part of a route shake up when Franchising starts

[SN55DVG]

RE: HTL Buses

(28/01/2026 10:21)T42 PVM Wrote:  Is there any way the 53 could end up being moved to Gillmoss instead? It was hinted to me quite a while ago this could happen as part of a route shake up when Franchising starts

Not likely, there's also a chance that the 31-33 in Maghull will go to Bootle as they're also a Sefton route.

But only to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, there's not much difference between Gillmoss to Skelmersdale / Ormskirk and Bootle to Skelmersdale / Ormskirk so the 310/345 could move to Gillmoss with their freed up capacity, which would free up space for the 31-33/53 in Bootle.

[Olympian2100]

RE: HTL Buses

(Yesterday 19:51)SN55DVG Wrote:  Not likely, there's also a chance that the 31-33 in Maghull will go to Bootle as they're also a Sefton route.

But only to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, there's not much difference between Gillmoss to Skelmersdale / Ormskirk and Bootle to Skelmersdale / Ormskirk so the 310/345 could move to Gillmoss with their freed up capacity, which would free up space for the 31-33/53 in Bootle.

As Gillmoss is part of the Knowsley Franchise, surely there isn't any likelihood of the 310 or 345 moving there as they are probably Sefton Franchise routes and would more than likely stay at Bootle.