HBM: Arriva buses crossing the River Severn at Bridgnorth - 20 Apr 2023 (P1150276)

Thursday 20 April 2023 (1157) – At Low Town, Bridgnorth the Bridgnorth Bridge spans the River Severn. The river scene is quite pleasant on this bright sunny day but from time to time during periods of heavy rainfall the river floods the adjacent land and streets.

The clock tower at the end of the bridge carries a plaque to mark the location of the foundry of John Hazeldine who, in the early 1800s, built some of the locomotives and engines to the design of and ordered by Richard Trevethick.

Two Arriva Midlands North buses that had both started out from the High Street in the High Town have descended to Low Town via West Castle Street and New Road and are seen crossing the bridge. After calling at Mill Street they would go their separate ways.

Leading is 3695 (FJ13 BJU), an Optare Versa V1170 new in March 2013 allocated to Shrewsbury garage, working the 1148 service 9 to Wolverhampton. The normal working pattern for the buses working this service is Shrewsbury-Bridgnorth service 436/Bridgnorth-Wolverhampton and return on service 9/Bridgnorth-Shrewsbury service 436. Each segment is around one hour therefore a four hour round trip.

On the centre of the bridge is 2143 (MX12 JXE), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in June 2012 allocated to Telford garage, working the 1150 service 113 to Telford. The one way journey time on this service is 40 minutes. Services 113-116 run between Bridgnorth and Telford via varying routes on varying days. Generally, there six trips Monday to Friday and 4 on Saturday.