(18/06/2012 22:57)MTL0201 Wrote:  So all the money that passengers are saving by getting the 139 instead of the 10/10A is the amazing amount of 10p then?

(18/06/2012 23:01)CX54 DKD Wrote:  Terry, the 139 is a very limited service time wise. Whilst the first 10.15 journey to Liverpool is okay, it doesn't get into Liverpool until 11.50. So that's already an hour and 35 minutes compared to just over an hour on the 10A from Thatto Heath. Then coming back, the last St Helens bound journey leaves Liverpool at 13.28 arriving back to St Helens at 15.00.

So, let's assume that somebody uses the 139 soley in order to get to Liverpool. They get the first bus in and the last bus back out. That means that they get just over 2 hours in Liverpool and that's including time to get to and from Queen Square/Sir Thomas Street from wherever they've been. A lot of people want to spend more than just 2 hours if they're going to make such a substantial trip. In this example, they'd spend more time on the bus than in Liverpool! That's where Arriva and Stagecoach come in with their day long services and that is something which, in its current form, the 139 cannot compete against. That's on the assumption that Cumfybus are even trying to compete against Arriva on that section which I firmly believe they are not - much more likely that they are simply replacing the 70 with no other intentions.

Of course it will be nice to have that extra link through to Liverpool but with those timings and time constraints, it's no competitor to Arriva and Stagecoach regardless of price.

(18/06/2012 23:07)MTL0201 Wrote:  Actully it's less than 2 hours in Liverpool as the first 139 from St Helens arrives in at 11:50am, the last one departs 1:28pm.

(18/06/2012 23:08)bolton bus basher Wrote:  i really do still think it will get custom from paying passengers that might use the 139 one way and the 10/10A the other way and if/when cumfybus seem fit to make the service run more late, more early or more regular it will get more custom, start of small and work it up is the bes way to go about it

(18/06/2012 23:05)CX54 DKD Wrote:  

(18/06/2012 22:57)MTL0201 Wrote:  So all the money that passengers are saving by getting the 139 instead of the 10/10A is the amazing amount of 10p then?

I'm pretty sure you'd be saving more than 10p as Arriva charge nearly £3 for a single to Liverpool now from St Helens (likely to be reduced from Thatto Heath but I couldn't give you an exact figure) whereas the 139 is £1.80 flat fare.

With a day saver compared to a 139 return, you'd save £1 overall by using the 139. Certainly not justifiable in my opinion given the above time constraints I mention. I'd just be spending the extra £1 for the increased convenience (full 6 minute service all day from early in the morning to late at night).

(18/06/2012 23:12)MTL0201 Wrote:  Cheers wasn't sure of the fare as i've a Merseytravel Pass, i think he was on about Thatto Heath to St Helens section rather than Liverpool.

(18/06/2012 21:34)bolton bus basher Wrote:  well i think it will take a few years but it will take some custom as i think the route will do better now it goes st helens-prescot-huyton-liverpool but lets wait and see, i will ride on the service on its first week or 2 of it starting