Ulsterbus BCZ 1654 in Belfast - 5 May 2004

Wednesday 5 May 2004 - Ulsterbus 1654 (BCZ 1654), a Plaxton Excalbur bodied Volvo B10M new in September 1999, seen under Boyne Bridge which spans the combined site of the Europa Buscentre and the Glengall Street bus garage. The southern side of the site is alongside the tracks of Northern Ireland Railway’s Great Victoria Street station. I think the bus station had been built on what were once railway tracks, the bridge built to carry road traffic over them. To the left of the coach a ‘Busway’ sign can be seen. The busway is a private roadway that enables vehicles to reach Westlink and the M1 Motorway and thus avoid some traffic delays. Access to the garage is under the bridge to the right out of shot. The road level is much lower to allow double deckers to pass under whereas only single deckers can get under the section shown in this photograph. 1654 shows ‘920 CROSS CHANNEL SERVICES’ on its destination blind. It had possibly worked the 1615 departure from here to the Stena Lines Ferry terminal as part of the overnight service to London.