Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[wirralbus]

RE: First Chester & Wirral
The problem with Wallasey is all routes lead to Liscard which is a good bus passenger market but all the routes are well taken care off in all directions , it may be a case of mix and match to provide new links either side of Liscard , what they dont want to do though is operate in parallel with another operator if it can be helped .

[First Class]

RE: First Chester & Wirral
They should do a few night buses from Liverpool-Chester on the 1/2 route and have the 150 withdrawn.

Don't know why they don't venture further into Liverpool either.

[wirralbus]

RE: First Chester & Wirral
The problem with night buses is there isnt the market for them to operate all week and they can be a costly operation to have as the drivers are then unable to work during the day , hence usually where night buses operate there is some sort of outside funding provided .

Im not sure about getting rid of the long established service 150 which has run in different guises for as long as know of , im led to believe the night tunnel bus was introduced as a result of the night ferries on the mersey disappearing with the advent of the Birkenhead Tunnel opening and has stayed in a way ever since.

[M113 YKC]

RE: First Chester & Wirral

(20/10/2012 15:16)wirralbus Wrote:  The problem with night buses is there isnt the market for them to operate all week and they can be a costly operation to have as the drivers are then unable to work during the day , hence usually where night buses operate there is some sort of outside funding provided .

Im not sure about getting rid of the long established service 150 which has run in different guises for as long as know of , im led to believe the night tunnel bus was introduced as a result of the night ferries on the mersey disappearing with the advent of the Birkenhead Tunnel opening and has stayed in a way ever since.

Since the laws regarding the closing hours of bars and pubs changed (they can now stay open for longer), people tend to leave at whatever time, whereas all bars and pubs used to close at about 02:00. So, instead of crowds of people wanting a bus home at about 02:00, people leave whenever they want, so buses don't pick-up many people at one time. The more journeys that operate, the more costly it can become - especially when only few people are on each bus (unless every journey between about 00:00 and 05:00 can be full). And then there's the many rules regarding drivers that can make it not worth it (and drivers want extra pay for working on night services)...

Hope this makes some sense!

[R879 HRF]

RE: First Chester & Wirral

(20/10/2012 15:26)3111 Wrote:  Since the laws regarding the closing hours of bars and pubs changed (they can now stay open for longer), people tend to leave at whatever time, whereas all bars and pubs used to close at about 02:00. So, instead of crowds of people wanting a bus home at about 02:00, people leave whenever they want, so buses don't pick-up many people at one time. The more journeys that operate, the more costly it can become - especially when only few people are on each bus (unless every journey between about 00:00 and 05:00 can be full). And then there's the many rules regarding drivers that can make it not worth it (and drivers want extra pay for working on night services)...

Thats why the night bus network has vanished, what was once a huge market and is now virtually nothing - also told the friday N450s are to be scrapped as of the new year- as you say customers spread out isnt good as theres no guaranteed crowd.

Eitherway there is rumour of expansion on firsts wirral network, only time will tell if they actually will and what it will be!

Luke

[P450 SWX]

RE: First Chester & Wirral
Any reg or fleet number of the 53 plate eclipse at Rock Ferry and where is from and which scania has gone?

[K853 MTJ]

RE: First Chester & Wirral
Surely if there was any info it would have been posted.

[Neoplan N4009]

RE: First Chester & Wirral

(20/10/2012 15:01)First Class Wrote:  They should do a few night buses from Liverpool-Chester on the 1/2 route and have the 150 withdrawn.

Don't know why they don't venture further into Liverpool either.

Didn't First ever have a Kirkby depot for schools ? I remember a few BMC school buses and B10B's used or was that part of a Manchester subsidy depot? Wouldn't be a bad idea First coming into Liverpool add a bit more routes and competition

[wirralbus]

RE: First Chester & Wirral

(21/10/2012 10:54)Neoplan N4009 Wrote:  

(20/10/2012 15:01)First Class Wrote:  They should do a few night buses from Liverpool-Chester on the 1/2 route and have the 150 withdrawn.

Don't know why they don't venture further into Liverpool either.

Didn't First ever have a Kirkby depot for schools ? I remember a few BMC school buses and B10B's used or was that part of a Manchester subsidy depot? Wouldn't be a bad idea First coming into Liverpool add a bit more routes and competition

First need to get there house in order before thinking of growing the business . In Liverpool were is there room for them without stepping on anybody elses toes .

[anw2015]

RE: First Chester & Wirral

(21/10/2012 10:54)Neoplan N4009 Wrote:  

(20/10/2012 15:01)First Class Wrote:  They should do a few night buses from Liverpool-Chester on the 1/2 route and have the 150 withdrawn.

Don't know why they don't venture further into Liverpool either.

Didn't First ever have a Kirkby depot for schools ? I remember a few BMC school buses and B10B's used or was that part of a Manchester subsidy depot? Wouldn't be a bad idea First coming into Liverpool add a bit more routes and competition

Yes they did. The allocation was mainly P reg olympians and a couple of B10Bs, BMC school buses. The depot was mainly for St Helens school services. The Kirkby depot has been closed for about five years now.