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| May 2006 |
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 Liver
Rival
Liverpool
has been a hotbed of competition since deregulation in 1986 with companies
such as Liverline and Liverbus having come and gone.
When Arriva bought Merseyside in 2001 they were forced to sell
Gilmoss depot to a group of former managers who called themselves Glenvale.
They in turn bought the largest remaining independent CMT in 2003.
When Stagecoach bought Glenvale in 2005 not only did they inherit
an ancient fleet, but also a whole host of services that go head-to-head
with Arriva.
Normally major bus companies don’t compete with each other, but
this hasn’t prevented Arriva and Stagecoach going at each other hammer
and tongs in Liverpool (right).
Both companies are investing heavily with Arriva buying new DAF
single deckers (above right) and Volvo double deckers (top left)
and Stagecoach purchasing a vast batch of Darts (above left).
Stagecoach has retained a few of the better former Glenvale (below
left) and CMT (below right) vehicles, supplementing them with
older stock from within the group (lower right).
For as long as this slog continues, Arriva and Stagecoach will be Liver
rivals. |
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| All photos taken in March
2006. Click to enlarge. |
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| Photo
Facts (top to bottom) |
 | Stagecoach Merseyside 34777 (PX55EFG),
an Alexander bodied Dennis Dart at the new Paradise St. bus station in
Liverpool |
| Arriva Merseyside 4105 (CX55EAO),
an Alexander bodied Volvo B7TL |
| Arriva North West 2524 (DK55FXJ),
a Wright bodied DAF SB120 at Pier Head |
| Stagecoach Merseyside 34785 (PX55EFP),
an Alexander bodied Dart in Liverpool |
| Stagecoach Mersyside 32182 (K587LGN),
a Plaxton bodied Dart formerly of Glenvale |
| Stagecoach Mersyside 20945 (R945XVM),
an Alexander bodied Volvo that started life in Manchester. |
| Stagecoach Merseyside 21071 (R871LHG),
a Wright bodied Volvo B10L, new to CMT who bought Glenvale. |
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