GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

[telf23]

RE: GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

(25/02/2016 22:17)Raawwwrrr! Wrote:  Halton Transport used to run a 31 From Widnes To Chester Hourly (following most of the 21 route) but withdrew the service around 2008/2009? due to declining passenger numbers travelling from the Widnes section of the route. Halton wanted to concentrate more on the 'local' area, and focused more on schools/colleges which were more self-sustainable by cash fares, and since then the 'link' from Widnes has vanished.

The 31 service actually existed during the same time GHA took over the 36 commercially after it was withdrawn by First Chester, A possible reason why there was no extension. First Chester also used ECW Olympians which wouldn't be able to travel around the eastern side of the busway due to low bridges, you would essentially have to head back on yourself before travelling East to Widnes again.

If people do want to travel to Chester or Cheshire West by bus, many (myself actually included) will just interchange at Halton Lea anyway by taking the short (IICR 12 minute) trip on the 110.

The Halton 21 & 31 services were 2 hourly combined, running to Widnes and Warrington respectively. Barely anybody used these though. For Runcorn, Chester isn't a major place to go to in all honesty. More traffic goes toward Liverpool than anywhere else, hence why so many services travel to there.

Also, when First operated the 36, deckers wouldn't have been a problem to get to Widnes. When they operated the 21 with Arriva they used them. The section on busway they use only had one bridge and was higher than the rest of them. I think an extension to Widnes would serve GHA well for the 36, even if it was an hourly extension at first. It's a really good service for the area, as it's the only way to connect to Cheshire Oaks if you don't drive.

I must admit, GHA have made a more successful service out of the 36 than First Chester ever did!