Halton Memories: Double first for Halton Transport

By Runcorn And Widnes Weekly News on Jul 4, 09 01:58 PM in 1900-1999

BONESHAKERS they may have been, but we should not forget that the old Widnes buses hold a unique place in transport history.

In this, the year of Halton Transport's centenary, it is worth recalling that this was the borough which launched the world's first-ever covered top double decker buses.

It was 9am on Friday April 9, 1909 that the first double decker bus left the old Transporter Bridge at West Bank, setting the wheels in motion for 100 years of service by the town's transport undertaking

Widnes was one of the first towns in the country to launch a bus company. And today, Halton remains one of only 13 surviving local authority-owned bus companies that still provide a valued service to the local community in the twin towns of Runcorn and Widnes.

Borough council leader Tony McDermott marks the centenary with an introductory piece this month in the splendid Inside Halton magazine.

"The story of the company's development," he says, "follows the development of the borough. The double decker buses were packed during the heydays of the 1930s and forties and the importance was highlighted by the link to Rainhill Victoria where you could link up to Liverpool's tram system via St Helens.

"The coming of Halton in the local government reorganisation of 1974 led later to the company extending its services to all parts of Runcorn in the 1980s. Among other things, this saw the end of the double-deckers which could negotiate the Expressway bridges."

The council leader said: "Some of us can still remember the 'Hyper' buses and the specials from Ditton to the Shopping City (now Halton Lea) and who could forget the excitement of seeing the Tiger bus for the first time?"

As Cllr McDermott notes: "Hundreds of towns formed municipal bus companies after 1909 but now there are only 13 left, including ours.

"This is a credit to all who have served the company over a century. Names spring to mind like Frank Witter, David Cunningham and Frank Lomax."

But any list, he warns, runs the risk of missing someone out, so the council leader concludes by thanking the present managing director, Chris Adams, and his team and the chairman, Kevin Wainwright, and his board who have marked the centenary so well.
Chris Adams also makes a contribution to the Inside Halton magazine.

"It's a fantastic achievement to complete 100 years at the top", he says, "and I am proud to be involved in leading the way towards another 100 years."

In partnership with Arriva, Halton Transport now operates an enhanced Sunday service which also serves Warrington General Hospital.

The picture shows the first bus in Widnes with its passengers in 1909.