St Helens Bus Network Review

[St Helens Rider]

RE: St Helens Bus Network Review
I do have to laugh at Arriva's claim that the Network is better connected. From the Prescot Road/Knowsley Road area, we have now lost a lot of our through services. From Prescot Road, you at present go through to Sutton Manor during daytimes and from Merseytravel, Bold Heath evenings/Sundays, from Sunday, it's down to the Town Centre only. Knowsley Road sees it's link to St Helens Junction reduced from 15 to 20 minutes and a withdrawal on the through 122 evenings/Sundays. Although before Arriva's changes back in 2006, on Knowsley Road, you had direct routes to Parr and St Helens Junction and on Prescot Road, you could go direct to Clinkham Wood, St Helens Junction, Clock Face, Sutton Manor and Marshalls Cross. I don't feel that these changes are for the benefit of passengers, just an exercise in cutting costs and reducing services.

Having said all that there are some very minor positives. the 35E runs later than most services with the last journey from St Helens being at 2343, well later than the final departures towards Prescot Road (2320 being the final departure on the 89).