St Helens Bus Network Review

[St Helens Rider]

RE: St Helens Bus Network Review

(29/06/2016 18:40)RedPanda Wrote:  Having had a proper look at the new routes and areas served, the 20 going to every half hour could be a headache for people in Earlestown. If Park Road/Blackbrook Road is busy at 0730-0930 and 1430 right the way through to 1900, it will severely effect loads in Earlestown. Buses can be quite full on the current 20 minute frequency if a 20 is 5-10 minutes late although nobody ever stands as seats are always availible.
Going to a 30 minute frequency I guess it will be a palaver if one was ever to be late at peak times. I don't want to come across as speculating but a double decker could easily reduce loads at the times above so I'd like to see one double decker on that route during those times. Perhaps passing Haydock High at about 0815 to St Helens and 1515 to Earlestown to help ease loads on a single decker like 320's and the next 20.

There are quite a few kids in Earlestown with Haydock blazers.
Either that or introduce a school bus from Earlestown to Haydock High (mornings) and vice versa (afternoons).

The 20 has been stripped back drastically over the years. It was at one point every 10 minutes (every 20 to Earlestown, every 20 turning short at Vista Road), now it's down to every 20 minutes, the present proposals put it down to every 30 minutes. I'm wondering if Arriva aren't happy with this after a few months, could it be the end and Vista Road joins Liverpool Road (Pewfall) and Burrows Lane (Eccleston) in being unserved. It does seem to be the usual way of death by a thousand cuts. Course I hope this doesn't happen but unfortunately I've seen this happen so many times elsewhere.