Simon Ackers – författare

Merseyside is an area with a colourful bus history. Even with the municipal colours long gone and the post-deregulation mix of operators replaced with the dominance of Arriva and Stagecoach, the ten years between 2010 and 2020 are not without their variety. The Merseyside bus network is made up of a mixture of commercial and part or fully tendered routes, which lends itself to an array of vehicle types and operators, some of which no longer trade.In this book Simon Ackers charts the changing vehicles, liveries and operators over that period, looking at how the bus operators have responded to the implementation of DDA requirements, emerging technologies and emissions standards, and improved quality to encourage passenger growth. The author worked in the local bus industry during this time and the photographs are each accompanied by an insightful and detailed caption.

Arriva Merseyside was created in 2000, when Arriva purchased MTL Trust Holdings, becoming and remaining the largest operator in the Liverpool City region and providing approximately 70 per cent of the bus services in the area. The acquisition moved Arriva North West from depots situated in just Bootle and Runcorn to include Birkenhead, Gillmoss, Green Lane, Huyton, Southport, Speke and St Helens.In this book Simon Ackers looks at the changing profile of the Arriva Merseyside fleet. From the ex-London Titans and ex-PTE Atlanteans to nearly all single-deck vehicles preceding a return to double-deck purchases and hybrid and zero-emission buses. With informative comments accompanying each image, the reader can reminisce and travel through over twenty years of operation.

Since deregulation Merseyside has seen its fair share of independent bus operators come and go. In recent years Arriva and Stagecoach have been the dominant operators with the greater market share but look closely and there are plenty of buses running round in different liveries, mainly on tendered work. These independent operators play their own important part within the Merseyside bus network. Simon Ackers presents a profile of the independent operators in recent operation, with a short and insightful introduction to each and a collection of photographs detailing their fleet and range of work. A colourful journey around Merseyside, this book illustrates the variety in an industry all too often dominated by the big groups.

Stagecoach came to Merseyside in 2005 when they purchased the independent operations of Glenvale Transport, acquiring Gillmoss depot and an aging second-hand fleet of buses. Very quickly the Stagecoach livery became an established sight, particularly in north Liverpool and Knowsley, and expansion came in 2012 with the acquisition of Rock Ferry depot on the Wirral and Chester depot. This, along with their Preston depot, cemented Stagecoach’s foothold in the region as they invested in and developed the network.In this book Simon Ackers looks at how the Stagecoach fleet on Merseyside has changed over nearly twenty years.

The scenery of North Wales is well known for its breathtaking views and historic landmarks, with towns and villages having their own unique history and modern-day function. One thing that links them all, quite literally in many instances, is the bus, the ever-vital lifeline for communities enabling people to travel to the shops or to medical appointments, to school or college, or to work. The bus can provide journeys that rail cannot and does so here with a stunning backdrop of castles, lakes, forests, market towns and the beautiful coastline.From east to west, Simon Ackers visits Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy and Gwynedd, with scenic sights framing the variety of bus types and operators as they go about their daily work, with each picture providing an insight into the location and the vehicle.