A day away from York.

Leaving York for the day.

As a visitor to York there can be very few reasons for wanting to leave this beautiful city with all of the history contained within the wall. There comes a time however to explore and this bus trip is one of the more unusual.

With three lengthy journeys today a hearty breakfast is called for, I recommend Baileys cafe and tea rooms for quick and cheap or Brew and Brownie for the pancakes, both on Museum Street. It is then a short walk to Piccadilly for the 10am departure of East Yorkshire service number X46 to Hull.

On this occasion we have a Volvo with MCV body offering a very comfortable ride. The X46 follows A1079 for much of the journey, leaving York via Walmgate it is several miles before the first turning off into the village of Pocklington. The main bus stop is located in the East Yorkshire bus depot, a mere shadow of its former glory, an edifice to the heyday of the bus.

Back on the main road the countryside is flat but from the top deck you get far reaching view toward the North Yorkshire Moors. Market Weighton a small unremarkable town provides the next diversion from the A1079 before continuing to beautiful market town of Beverley, dominated by the Minster, the Anglican church built around the tomb of John, Bishop of York. For bus enthusiast sadly the route into and out of the town no longer passes through the 'Bar' but navigates the small inner ring road into the bus station, where a short layover takes place.

Leaving Beverley through the new sprawling housing estates, Hull comes into view across the bleak flat fields that divide the two communities. The X46 takes a convoluted route through Hull city centre venturing down to the rejuvenated water front before heading into the modern bus station adjacent to the railway station. Arriving here gives the opportunity for bus photography in the layover area behind the departure bays and easy access into Hull city centre. 

3.15pm at Stand D in Hull bus station is the vital timing point on this journey, it is the final weekday departure of Stagecoach X62 (simpliExpress) to Leeds. Originally envisaged as a coach service the double-deckers now operating the route still use the coach bays in Hull and Leeds bus stations.

Leaving Hull on the A63 along the Humber shoreline the first of what will be many diversions away from the direct route happens at North Ferriby followed quickly by a trip through Brough before rejoining the A63 just prior to it becoming the M62. A long fast stretch along the M62 follows, motorway journeys seem more interesting from the top deck of a bus, eventually the service deviates away from the motorway again, heading into Howden on the northern side of the road. Crossing the River Ouse and over the motorway the next large residential district is Goole, before returning to the M62 for a sprint to junction 34 and a strange little loop around the village of Eggborough. 

Up until now no passengers have boarded or alighted since Hull, but this is about to change as we arrive at Glasshoughton and the Junction 32 Shopping Outlet centre. With a mass of shops and leisure facilities, Stagecoach market this as a major attraction on the route, the service also provides the fastest direct route into Leeds city centre. Returning to the M62 the service eventually joins the M1 north bound before reaching Leeds city centre via the M621 and a slow crawl through rush hour traffic, arriving 30 minutes late into the coach bays at the rear of the bus station.

Rush hour Leeds

After a long afternoon of inactivity the legs need some action so a walk around Leeds city centre to admire the buses during rush hour is called for, as is a cup-of-tea. By early evening there is little point to taking the scenic route back to York. Transdev offer the CityZap direct frequent service between Leeds bus station and York via the A19.

The refurbished Volvo with Wrightbus body provides a comfortable way to end the day, sitting on the top-deck in sumptuous leather seats whilst gloating at irate drivers suffering on their daily commute along the A19.

Ten hours after it started, the journey comes to an end back in the beautiful city of York.

Time for a pint!       

   

      

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Silk Road Odyssey Uzbekistan 2016

Uzbekistan is a young country in the early stages of democracy and in 2016 it celebrated twenty-five years of independence from the USSR. Just one week before our visit, the only Head of State to rule during those years died leaving no natural successor so elections are planned. Uzbekistan is the world's second largest cotton-producing country, is rich in underground mineral resources and has a population of 26,600,000. The country is embracing tourism and its people are friendly and welcoming with the younger generation willing to test their English, which since 2015 has become compulsory in schools. For the visitor it is a country steeped in history, with successive invaders from Genghis Khan to Timor the Great, but more importantly the relics of its pivotal role as the centre of the Silk Road trading route.



Most visitors start in Tashkent, the north west of the country and head south east. Travel by road/rail and air is relatively simple, if at times a little uncomfortable. All major cities have bus networks and there are plenty of intercity and tourist coaches. Until recently the majority of large buses and coaches were imports from Europe with evidence of much older vehicles originating from the USSR. Today the new coaches are mainly Chinese imports from the likes of Higer and Yutong, whilst the small urban buses tend to be a locally built derivative of the typical high floor Japanese truck/coach chassis. Samkochavto was set up as a joint Turkish/Uzbekistan venture in November 1996, producing vehicles in Samarkand, using engines provided by Isuzu. In 2006 Uzavtosanoat purchased the shares of its Turkish partner. Under the new ownership the trading name was changed to SamAuto LLC. To western eyes the vehicles may seem impractical for heavily utilised city services, but away from the major highways the local neighbourhood roads generally lack any form of hard surface. Much of the local transport runs on natural gas, with large gas tanks strapped precariously on the roofs of older vehicles.

954 GAA is a  Kässbohrer-Setra  S216HDS dating from the 1980s seen in the desert near Urgench. The reason given for using such old vehicles on incoming tourist service was the lack of robustness from the modern Chinese imports in coping with the rough desert roads. The Setra was very sound for it age but unfortunately the interior was in poor condition, with broken seat backs and vinyl covering the panels held on with staples.



The dual carriageway from the major city of Urgench (population 137,300) to the ancient walled town of Khiva is relatively straight and flat but distinguishable for its trolleybus route, the one and only in the country. The line is 31.3 km (19.4 mi) long and operated by Skoda 24Tr Irisbus vehicles bought in 2013. This is the only remaining section with the route having been cut back in 2008 from the airport. With a running time of around 1 hour 20 minutes, seven of the fleet of nine trolleybuses are required to maintain the advertised 25 minute frequency. The Khiva terminus was once a loop; the overheads are still in place but the road on what would be the exit is in such dire state that it is closed to all except pedestrians. As a consequence trolleys are required to reverse into the terminus.

Number 13 photographed in Khiva at sunset.  

Travelling south east you arrive at the ancient city and trading post of Bukhara (population 272,500).  Locally built Sam Auto (Samarkand Automobile Factory) minibuses with Isuzu engines are the backbone of city operations.

137 YAA an SAZ HC 40 B38D photographed at the Rue Mekhtar Ambar terminus in Bukhara, (note the gas tanks on the roof).   



Continuing 268km on to the architectural gem of Samarkand, (population 509,000), the highlight of any Uzbekistan visit. The city has its own bus operation Samarqandavtoyo' Lovchitrans. Services are frequent and always busy.

Also in Bukhara are three vehicles at either end of the age profile. Below is 327 JAA, I am assuming is an earlier version of the Sam Auto product.  



The final destination on route to the airport and flight home is the capital city of Tashkent with a population of 2,352,900. A city re-built in soviet style after a severe earthquake in 1966. The city has what would be regarded as a normal public transport system, including an effective metro, conventional bus network and extensive shared minibus service. Tashkent Public Transport System (Toshshakhartranskhizmat) is made up of 32 operators, employing 6192 staff of which 3560 are drivers and conductors. The fleet consist of 1350 buses; 27 Mercedes Benz 0345’s; 600 Mercedes Benz low floor Conecto’s; 684 Isuzu’s; 30 Mercedes Benz Uberland’s; 8 Hyundai’s and one MAN. In 2016 Toshshakhartranskhizmat carried 272m passengers. Recently GPS tracking has been fitted to most of the fleet.

Whilst 609 QAA and 824 AAA are current Chinese products from Higer Bus Co., Ltd. nd Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd.   



Finally, for those not brave enough to venture aboard a service bus, there is always a city tour.

582 LAA Sam Auto SAZ HC 40 B38D with Isuzu engine is typical of the fleet. Being the major tourist centre of the country, coaches prominently feature in the city. 



In recent years Uzbekistan has implemented a development programme for passenger transport. New convenient regular routes have been launched, bus terminals and stations have been built, whilst others have been revamped.  Nearly 3,000 buses and 12,000 other passenger vehicles have been purchased in the last three years. The plans for the next five years envisage opening nearly 300 new routes. By 2021 it is anticipated there will be 1,600 suburban and long distance routes, plus 400 other services. Between 2017 and 2021 it is proposed to purchase 2,900 vehicles, plus 5,700 minibuses, the majority of which will be leased.


So if you love an alternative take on history, wonderful architecture and wish to cogitate about their economic stability, Uzbekistan with its great PCV scene is the place for you.  

754 BAA a Mercedes Benz 0302 negotiates the major five way junction at Shohi Zinda Kochasi/Rudakiy Kochasi whilst the traffic lights are out of action on a Sunday morning.  

Looking smart for its age is H656 BA a Mercedes Benz 0303 in the Registan coach park.   

428 WAA, Mercedes Benz Conecto at the Navoiy Shoh Ko'chasi interchange, over 100 are operated, all delivered in the last few years.  

399 FCA, is a Samkochavto (Sam Auto) built bus approaching the interchange.  

 014 WDA a local 'shared' bus collecting passengers in the bus station section of the interchange.   

101 UCA is operated by Aznur Travel using a Higer KLQ6119GS. 

Marrakech 2019

Marrakech was founded in 1062 by Yusuf ibn Tashfin, leader of the Moroccan Almoravid empire, and became the capital of that empire. Later the capital was moved to Fez and subsequently in 1911 to Rabat. Today, Marrakech is the fourth largest city in Morocco, after Casablanca, Fez and Tangier, with an urban area of 88.80 sq miles and a population of 953,305 and is capital of the mid south-western region of the country. It is the region’s commercial centre and transportation hub for the minerals that are extracted from the Atlas mountains. The city’s main economy is based on tourism as well as agricultural products and is also the headquarters of bus operator ALSA Morocco.

The majority of buses are Scania which are built as knock-down kits at Scania's factory in Katrineholm, for assembly and bodybuilding in Morocco. In 1999 Scania received its first major order from the city for the supply of L94IB city and inter-city chassis. Scania Maroc has a major service facility in Agadir.

Since 1999 ALSA, a subsidiary of the British based National Express Group, has managed the transport network in the city, and is now operating 42 city routes, three suburban services and the one line BRT route utilizing 257 vehicles. The main focus for the city network is around Bab Doukala, a one-way system featuring a park situated in the middle of a roundabout just outside the old Medina wall. Twenty-five services terminate or pass through this area, and it includes the northern terminus for the BRT. The Gare Routiere coach interchange is also located here. Additionally, ALSA is responsible for the city sightseeing franchise which it won in 2006 and when the contract was subsequently renewed in 2017, fully electric double-deckers were introduced. 



The city has two departure points for long distance express services. Independents depart from Gare Routiere Voyageurs  on Rue Bab Doukkala, located in the northwest of the city. The coach station consist of two areas, one is a traditional line of herringbone bays open to the elements and the second is a number of unusual undercover bays of dubious architectural design. The departure point for CTM and ALSA express services is from Rue Abou Bakr Seddiq, just south of the central railway station. Both coach stations and the railway station are served by the BRT line.

The BRT line is the first in Africa and commenced on 28 September 2017. ALSA operates services between 06.00 and 23.00 every 6 minutes at peak times and every 12 minutes off-peak. To use the service Moroccans pay 100 dirham (£7.90) per day and 150 dirham for two days, while foreigners have to pay 150 dirham per day and 200 dirham for two days.  A fleet of fifteen Dongfeng Yangtse Veryon G92 trolleybuses were delivered of which twelve are required to maintain the service: these buses cost 4 million dirham each (£316,000.00) and were financed by the Ministry of the Interior. The 12m long, partly low-floor, vehicles are equipped with batteries for off-wire operation (although no wire infrastructure is visible between Gueliz and the central station). The fleet is due to expand by the end of 2019, when ridership is forecasted to be 45,000 passengers a day.  Dongfeng Yangtse is a bus manufacturing company based in the central China city of Wuhan in Hubei province. Formerly known as the Wuhan Public Bus Factory, the company traces its roots back to 1929. They will supply 20 18m long trolleybuses in the near future. 

ALSA 9217, a Solaris Urbino 18 Hybrid on Avenue Mohammed V operating route 16 from the central Djemaa El Fna terminus to  Azzouzia - a suburb in the north west of the city.

Dongfeng Yangtse Veyron G92 trolleybus number 08 on the segregated roadway is approaching the Grand Poste intersection on Avenue Hassan 2 heading towards the Gueliz (Bab Doukala) terminus.

Scania with Tata Hispano Habit body passing through the Bab Er Robb arch on route 35 (Sidi Mimoun - Tahnaout).

ALSA 9293 a Scania about to depart on service 38 from the Bab Doukkala terminus to Bengeurir located in the north of the city.

On Avenue Mohammed V  a locally built Irizar body on Scania chassis operating route 1 Bab Doukkala to Arset El Bilk.

 

ALSA 9245 travelling along Rur Oqba Ben Nafaa on route 24 Mimoun to Taheslouht.

Travelling along the public road section of Avenue Hassan 2 parallel to the BRT is  a high floor Scania on suburban service 251 from Sidi Mimoum to Ghmat.

Gare Routiere Voyageurs outside departure bays with a line of independent express operators touting for trade. All the coaches carry locally built Irizar bodies.

The architecturally suspect design for the undercover departure bays at Gare Routiere Voyageurs.