Wales: Album 1

26 June 2015 (1245) - The sweeping bay at Llandudno with the Great Orme jutting out to the sea. The view was taken from the Little Orme. An Arriva Cymru Alexander Dennis Enviro400 can be seen below left heading to Rhyl on 'Sapphire' branded service 12 which starts from Llandudno's West Shore. West Shore faces the sea on the far side of the isthmus.

26 June 2015 (1245) - An Arriva Cymru Alexander Dennis Enviro400 leaves Llandudno heading to Rhyl on 'Sapphire' branded service 12. After making the effort to climb the Little Orme it seemed wrong not to take a bus photograph from this vantage point!

Saturday 27 June 2015 (1029) - Arriva Cymru 4554 (CX14 AZN), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400, seen at West Shore, Llandudno on a short break before returning to Rhyl on ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12. Most of the buses on the service also have dedicated lettering for service 12 but 4554 carries ‘Sapphire’ livery with no branding for any specific service.

Saturday 27 June 2015 (1029) – Two Arriva Cymru Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double deckers seen at West Shore, Llandudno working ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 to Rhyl via Colwyn Bay. 4550 (CX14 BXN) was on the loading stand and 4554 (CX14 AZN) was on a short break behind. 4550 carries ‘Sapphire’ livery and branding for service 12 but 4554 carries ‘Sapphire’ livery with no branding for any specific service.

Saturday 27 June 2015 (1029) - Arriva Cymru 4550 (CX14 BXN) seen at West Shore, Llandudno – the starting point of ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 to Rhyl via Colwyn Bay. Between 1907 and 1956 one of the main modes of transport between here and Colwyn Bay was by the Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway. The shelter in the background remains from tramway days.

Saturday 27 June 2015 (1028) – Two Arriva Cymru Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 double deckers seen at West Shore, Llandudno working ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 to Rhyl via Colwyn Bay. 4550 (CX14 BXN) was about to pull round the island to load as 4554 (CX14 AZN) arrived. 4550 carries ‘Sapphire’ livery and branding for service 12 but 4554 carries ‘Sapphire’ livery with no branding for any specific service. Between 1907 and 1956 one of the main modes of transport between here and Colwyn Bay was by the Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway. The shelter in the background remains from tramway days. Part of the Great Orme may be seen in the background.

Saturday 27 June 2015 (1023) – Around Llandudno there are various statues of the characters from Lewis Carroll’s story ‘Alice in Wonderland’. At West Shore the Cheshire Cat stands across the road from the starting point of Arriva’s ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 to Rhyl. Alexander Dennis Enviro400 4550 (CX14 BXN) was on a short break before pulling round the island to load’. Part of the Great Orme may be seen in the background.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (1810) – Arriva Cymru 4549 (CX14 BXM) seen in Mostyn Street, Llandudno working ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 from Rhyl via Colwyn Bay. One of a batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (1810) – Arriva Cymru 4549 (CX14 BXM) seen at West Shore, Llandudno – the starting point of ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 from Rhyl via Colwyn Bay. One of a batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014. At this time of day the every 10 minute frequency of service drops to every 15 minutes so this bus gained a little extra layover time and was parked away from the loading point. It would work the 1815 trip back to Rhyl.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (1809) – Arriva Cymru 4549 (CX14 BXM) seen at West Shore, Llandudno – the starting point of ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 from Rhyl via Colwyn Bay. One of a batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014. At this time of day the every 10 minute frequency of service drops to every 15 minutes so this bus gained a little extra layover time and was parked away from the loading point. Part of the Great Orme headland forms a backcloth.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (1740) – Arriva Cymru 4550 (CX14 BXN) seen at West Shore, Llandudno – the starting point of ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 from Rhyl via Colwyn Bay. One of a batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014. The long avenue ahead is Gloddaeth Avenue which leads straight to Llandudno Pier. The central verge was once the right of way for the Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway, the trams also started from here. The tram shelter still remains on the island at left.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (1732) – On board Arriva Cymru 4545 (CX14 BXH), one of the batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014 for the ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 between Llandudno and Rhyl on the North Wales coast. The bi-lingual message on the screen on the right tells us we are at ‘The Oval’ (which is ‘Y Oval’ in Welsh) almost at the terminus at West Shore, Llandudno.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (1732) – Route map displayed on Arriva Cymru 4545 (CX14 BXH), one of the batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014 dedicated to work the ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 between Llandudno and Rhyl on the North Wales coast.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (0751) - Arriva Cymru 4546 (CX14 BXJ) seen in Mostyn Street, Llandudno arriving from Rhyl on ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12. One of a batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (0751) - Arriva Cymru 4546 (CX14 BXJ) seen in Mostyn Street, Llandudno arriving from Rhyl on ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12. One of a batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014.

Thursday 25 June 2015 (0746) - Arriva Cymru 4552 (CX14 AZJ) seen in Mostyn Street, Llandudno working to Rhyl on ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12. An Alexander Dennis Enviro400 new in July 2014.

Wednesday 24 June 2015 (0732) – Arriva Cymru 4550 (CX14 BXN) seen in Mostyn Street, Llandudno working ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12 to Rhyl. One of a batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014.

Wednesday 24 June 2015 (1044) – Arriva Cymru 4544 (CX14 BXF) seen turning into Mostyn Street from Gloddaeth Street in Llandudno heading for Rhyl on ‘Sapphire’ branded service 12. One of a batch of 15 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses new in July 2014.