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Yesterday - 23rd August 2024 - was the last day of service 556's latest incarnation, which only started a year ago on 26th August 2023.
It ran Chertsey - Sunbury Cross the same as the 557 (except not via Old Shepperton), then onwards to Heathrow Terminal 4 along the 555 route.
Paid for by Heathrow Airport, it was an odd timetable with very early morning and evening journeys for airport shift times, by no service during off peak hours in the middle of the day. It didn't carry especially well and was criticised also for running very close to the 557 rather than on the opposite half hour, so didn't really do much to improve frequency between Chertsey, Shepperton, Upper Haliford and Sunbury Cross.
Nevertheless, people also criticise the 555 still being hourly rather than half hourly, and the 556 did slot in between the 555's times. It would've perhaps been more useful with hindsight had it run via Sunbury Village like the 555 rather than the Upper Haliford like the 557. It also provided early morning/late evening and Sunday buses over the 557 corridor, which are now gone - so the people who'd boarded it here on this Sunday 18th won't be doing that again!
Its demise has come about after new early morning Chertsey - Hatton Cross journeys were added to White Bus' 446, covering the Chertsey to Heathrow link, and new N555 journeys over the 555 route between Heathrow and Walton, both supported by Heathrow Airport. Overall, the new 446/555/N555 arrangements probably work better all round.
20182 (BX70 GHB) is seen here a week before the end at Chertsey Sainsbury's.
Heriot Road, Chertsey, Surrey.
Stagecoach Manchester 12190 (MX62 GHB) an Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 Hybrid, painted in the green version of corporate livery. This shot captures this Stockport based vehicle in Manchester Piccadilly waiting to commence a journey on Service 192 to Hazel Grove.
© Christopher Lowe.
Date: 31st March 2014.
Ref No. 0035403.
a very smart Alexander bodied Transbus Trident at Meadow Road Bus Stand Royal Tunbridge Wells on Monday 16/07/2018
Stagecoach South West
Scania N230UD/Alexander Dennis Enviro 400
WA10 GHB - 15662
Exeter, Barrack Road
Tuesday 3rd July 2012