Cheltenham Visit

The blog is on tour again and this time it finds itself down in the south west of England, once more, with a visit to Cheltenham earlier today

Normally I use the Racecourse Park and Ride but, with no trains running on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway, I decided to try the Arle Court Park and Ride instead. This 511 route is operated by Gloucester independent Bennetts Coaches using their Mercedes Benz Citaros and a pleasant ride it was too

The main operator in the town is Stagecoach West which also runs gold services between Cheltenham and Gloucester

However, the major difference since my last visit to Cheltenham is the significant increase in the number of services operated by Marchants Coaches which appear to have been gained at the expense of Stagecoach

Pulhams, from Bourton on the Water, also has a presence providing two regular Monday to Friday services plus further a Thursday only and Saturday only routes. They also seem to be in competition with Border Bus in getting as many buses as possible with BUS appearing on their registrations!

Independent Swanbook still has a small presence with Optare Solo FZ2356 seen active on the regular N route to Noverton View. Swanbrook's former Ulsterbus Volvo B10M BCZ1642 was noted laying over at Royal Well Bus Station for most of the day

National Express 444 services were being operated by Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B9R's with Bennetts Coaches BF63ZRL arriving from London for Gloucester with Yeomans of Hereford FJ60EFZ departing in the opposite direction

A notable working seen was the Gloucester County Council supported V service connecting Whaddon Sainsbury's and Cheltenham town centre. It is operated five times daily Monday to Friday by Community Connexions with Mellor Coachcraft bodied Mercedes DK13FEO doing the honours today

Roy