Ulsterbus AAZ 1670 leaving Digbeth, Birmingham - 11 Jun 1996

Tuesday 11 June 1996 (approx. 1100) - Ulsterbus 670 (AAZ 1670), a Plaxton Paramount bodied DAF MB230 new in March 1993, seen leaving the old Digbeth Coach Station in Birmingham bound for Stranraer on the joint Ulsterbus, P&O Ferries and National Express service 921 to Belfast. Ulsterbus outstations about six coaches at the Scottish port to work its own tours in addition to express services into England and Scotland in partnership with National Express, Eurolines and Scottish Citylink. I had a chat with the very ameniable driver, a Scot, who told me that a mechanic travels over from Belfast every so often to service the coaches and only in times of necessity do they (the vehicles) return to Belfast via the ferry. For the 1996 season there were three services worked in conjunction with National Express which were this Birmingham-Belfast day service (921), the London night service (920) plus a new one for 1996 to Nottingham via Preston, Manchester and Sheffield (924). The latter was short lived with Preston and Manchester subsequently transferred to the 921 which at the time of this photograph was non-stop (except for a refreshment break) from Birmingham to Carlisle (1530). Day service passengers from London travelled on the 0830 service 589 to Carlisle and changed there to/from the 921.