Preston Bus 20787 (PO56 RRY) in Preston bus station - 25 May 2019 (P1020202)

Saturday 25 May 2019 (0855) –Preston Bus 20787 (PO56 RRY), an Optare Solo new in October 2006, seen departing Preston bus station. In the background are other vehicles of Preston Bus and Stagecoach North West.

Preston’s iconic bus station opened in October 1969 and a leaflet published by Ribble Motor Services for the opening said it was the largest bus station in Britain. Originally it had 80 loading stands. Those on the eastern side (which this is) were used by Ribble, its joint operators and by other express service, tour and excursion operators. These stands were numbered 41 to 80 towards the camera but now the numbers run from 1 to 39 in the opposite direction.

The bays on the western side were numbered 1 to 40 and were primarily used by the buses of Preston Corporation Transport (plus Ribble on some joint services they worked with PCT). This part of the bus station is no longer used by buses and is being redeveloped.

The ground level passenger concourse is topped by a multi-storey car park with each deck featuring upturned fluted curves giving the building a most original look. In 2000 the City Council was planning its demolition to create a new city centre development but objections were raised to that plan and the campaigners successfully managed to obtain Grade II listing thus ensuring the building’s future.