Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

[iMarkeh]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(25/07/2023 13:02)Barney Wrote:  However, I do still see an argument for limited stop services along major corridors calling at key stops which was what the 5** services did. I am sure that people living along Liverpool routes such as the 10, 14, 20, 79, 82, and 86 would value a reduced journey time into and out of the city centre but that can only come about if bus lanes and priority schemes were devised and previous LCC administrations have a very poor record in this regard.

With bus lanes and bus priority schemes as well, they would benefit the existing routes so how much time would actually end up being gained by not serving some stops? The main way to save time on the express routes is missing out a deviation to the straight route (such as the X1 not diverting off into Birkenhead). I can't think of any deviation that these routes make off the main road which an express route wouldn't also take (10 diverts into Prescot but an express bus would likely do that too. 86 diverting off up Catherine Street/Renshaw Street/Hanover Street but an express bus not diverting that way is likely to lose a lot of passengers as many people seem to board/alight in these areas).

For the specific routes that you mention, here are my thoughts.
10 yes, maybe but then which way do you send it as Edge Lane and Prescot Road are full of traffic lights and congestion.
20 basically follows the train line and if a certain hypocritical metro mayor would modernise the ticketing system to make it easier for people to get multi modal tickets, there would be hardly anyone on the 20 travelling the longer distances.
82 corridor has the 500 already which is limited stop along Aigburth Road. I always said though that the X1 should serve Speke Morrisons as I think that would have been a game changer.
86 corridor I am not sure how well an express bus would work as the speed of the buses fully depends on if both operators are running properly and with drivers who actually want to run on time and try to run a proper service or if someone is playing silly sods with drivers holding back to avoid picking up etc etc. If everyone ran properly, the 86 corridor wouldn't be half as bad as then buses would be stopping less. (disclaimer, I know that traffic affects punctuality too but it's well known on the 86 corridor that there are a good number of lazy drivers sit back and let everyone else pick up passengers)