Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations

[johnluke]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations
Halton could take over lost routes as they work merely on service rather than big profits simple..if arriva runcorn closes then its extra work for halton transport

[Raawwwrrr!]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations
It would be a shame if it was withdrawn as there are several other options that could be considered including but not limited to:

Operating from Speke Depot with driver change over at Speke Boulevard , an hourly frequency off-peak, operating via Riverside Drive, not serving L1 Bus Station and serving a nearby location such as Duke Street or Great Charlotte St (to reduce bus station costs), not serving Runcorn High Street, additionally serving South Parkway, reducing the service to Halton Lea and Hospital to allow double deckers on the route, reducing network ticket acceptance and introducing X1 only day/weekly tickets or even primarily operating one way journeys (to Liverpool in the morning peak and from Liverpool to Runcorn in the evening) similar to Go North West X63.

Residents of Runcorn will not be happy at all.

[trixmax2000]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations

(14/11/2019 09:29)johnluke Wrote:  Halton could take over lost routes as they work merely on service rather than big profits simple..if arriva runcorn closes then its extra work for halton transport

Did not help when Halton retimed the 61A to Huyton and extended the 61 to Runcorn and put it 3 min in front of the X1 from Halton Hospital to the High St

[Atlanteanfan]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations
Can x1 passengers just use the 500? Is the route basically the same but the 500 slower?

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations

(14/11/2019 19:02)Atlanteanfan Wrote:  Can x1 passengers just use the 500? Is the route basically the same but the 500 slower?

You mean a route that takes double the time and is already busy at the best of times?

[Valandil]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations
No doubt they are seeing money and think that even if say 20% of the X1 passengers shift to using other Arriva routes, that will make those other routes more profitable.
It's not difficult to see the flaws with that way of thinking.
Similar arguments probably behind the withdrawal of other express / limited stop services such as the X8 Liverpool to Chester in recent times, regardless of their popularity.
They should have been able to save 1 vehicle just by running only Liverpool to Runcorn High Street, with onward connections being available to the various parts of Runcorn on Arriva's local services.
'Sapphire' indeed.

[iMarkeh]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations
Elsewhere in the country 'X' routes are increasing passenger usage and getting people around quicker, yet Stagecoach MCSL and Arriva just cut them back.
I fully agree with Valandil that the hope is for the passengers to move onto alternative routes. Let's be honest, Speke to Liverpool is covered as is around Runcorn so you are relying on end to end passengers.

In the past 3-4 years, Arriva NW&W has become a a joke. Cutting services left, right and centre. Constant cost cutting and an obsession with making passengers journeys longer for more operational convenience. A typical example of Arriva taking passengers for granted.

[MTL0201]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations

(14/11/2019 19:16)T42 PVM Wrote:  You mean a route that takes double the time and is already busy at the best of times?

Indeed, 500 takes around 2 hours end to end, X1, 55 minutes how is that going to entice passengers onto the 500, then having to do the magical tour of Runcorn then Widnes & Speke plus Liverpool Airport, can see those transfering to cars then train from Runcorn instead.

I often get the X1, sometimes it can be half full one way, but it's often full to standing when i see the X1 going past in the other direction.

[johnluke]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations
Its putting extra bullets into the liverpool franchise argument

[Metroline1511]

RE: Merseytravel: Bus service Consultations
A difference between routes 500 and X1 is that route 500 seves the centre of Widnes but route X1 by-passes Widnes.