Upcoming service changes in Merseyside

[St Helens Rider]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside
interesting changes in this week's Notices & Proceedings - we already knew Arriva are reducing the 17 (Chain Lane/St Helens - Widnes) down to every 60 minutes on Saturdays from 21st January (which is confirmed) but there are also changes to the HTL 17 as well. Have Merseytravel coughed up for a replacement Saturday daytime journey per hour or is it just timing changes to the current Evening & Sunday service? I do feel that the Saturday reduction is one cut too far as it will mean most of Sutton Manor and Clock Face will only have 1 bus per hour (aside from the also hourly 32) in the daytimes. I'm sure all will be revealed in the fullness of time.

[Y458 KNF]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside

(20/12/2023 16:01)St Helens Rider Wrote:  interesting changes in this week's Notices & Proceedings - we already knew Arriva are reducing the 17 (Chain Lane/St Helens - Widnes) down to every 60 minutes on Saturdays from 21st January (which is confirmed) but there are also changes to the HTL 17 as well. Have Merseytravel coughed up for a replacement Saturday daytime journey per hour or is it just timing changes to the current Evening & Sunday service? I do feel that the Saturday reduction is one cut too far as it will mean most of Sutton Manor and Clock Face will only have 1 bus per hour (aside from the also hourly 32) in the daytimes. I'm sure all will be revealed in the fullness of time.

Does seem to be the case that Arriva are cutting Saturday services in St Helens.

[CX06 EBK (Administrator)]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside
All the notes mention for the HTL 17 change is a timetable variation with amended timing points.

[L401CJF]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside
I did question Merseytravel a few years back as to why the 118 was deemed important enough to run on Christmas day for free when not the other 364 days per year, and the reply was that its an essential link to hospitals. I asked if it was so essential why it was withdrawn in 2017 and never received a response.

I drove the 118/119 regularly in its final few years and it was often busy.

I also asked why the Moreton Circulars needed such a high frequency at night 7 days a week when the majority of the routes are within walking distance of the 423 (when the likes of Beechwood which isn't in walking distance of a route gets nothing) to be fobbed off with a "we try to have everywhere within x meters walking distance of a bus route" whilst ignoring the original point I was making.

All ran by an ego obsessed "metro mayor" - just look at Merseyrails 777 rollout - constant issues since day 1 none of which have been resolved but being unreliably rolled out anyway so Rotheram can pose for his photos.

[iMarkeh]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside

(21/12/2023 04:59)L401CJF Wrote:  I did question Merseytravel a few years back as to why the 118 was deemed important enough to run on Christmas day for free when not the other 364 days per year, and the reply was that its an essential link to hospitals. I asked if it was so essential why it was withdrawn in 2017 and never received a response.

I drove the 118/119 regularly in its final few years and it was often busy.

I also asked why the Moreton Circulars needed such a high frequency at night 7 days a week when the majority of the routes are within walking distance of the 423 (when the likes of Beechwood which isn't in walking distance of a route gets nothing) to be fobbed off with a "we try to have everywhere within x meters walking distance of a bus route" whilst ignoring the original point I was making.

All ran by an ego obsessed "metro mayor" - just look at Merseyrails 777 rollout - constant issues since day 1 none of which have been resolved but being unreliably rolled out anyway so Rotheram can pose for his photos.

You won't get proper responses from Merseytravel as their staff haven't the braincells to think for themselves or act upon anything. There's so much that I could say about Merseytravel but I shall refrain as it would likely be moderated. It's funny though that when you criticise their staff, they reply back crying that you are calling them out for their incompetence. This is what you get though when you have so many people in an authority who either want to make a name for themselves, want to do no work and cream off silly wages from taxpayers, or just braindead people who are in a job solely because of who they know, not what they know.

Merseysides public transport will NEVER reach a half decent level while the current bunch of twits are managing it. They all know they are unsackable and politicians/councillors refuse to say a bad word about Merseytravel because it's all Labour propping up Labour, propping up other socialists and sadly many in Merseyside refuse to acknowledge it. Look at all of the corruption with Joe Anderson and yet people still think he was a good man and Labour can be trusted. People without braincells shouldn't be able to vote, then and only then will politics and public authorities in Merseyside be better ran as right now politicians are relying on peoples sheep like abilities and ignorance, in a bid to get back into power. 'Look at what we are promising, not at our past record'

[CUL 73V]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside
I'll never vote Labour and I can't stand Rotheram, but insulting the intelligence of voters who vote for a party you don't like, or suggesting they should have their voting rights removed, isn't helpful or mature. You'll never hear me disagreeing Merseytravel is a badly run organisation which couldn't find its backside with both hands, but let's be honest, it isn't going to be any better if the Tories had control of the local councils and/or the Metro Mayor's office. The only way Merseytravel and the bus provision in the LCR would improve is if people who have worked in the industry, and actually know how it works, end up in positions within Merseytravel which can make a difference. I don't see that happening any time soon, because there's zero incentive for experienced people to move up a level into roles within an LTA. Simply put, I'm afraid we're stuck with mediocrity regardless of our elected officials' political persuasions until someone is put in charge of Merseytravel who has the ability and competence to give it the top-down reorganisation it desperately needs.

[wirralbus]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside

(21/12/2023 04:59)L401CJF Wrote:  I did question Merseytravel a few years back as to why the 118 was deemed important enough to run on Christmas day for free when not the other 364 days per year, and the reply was that its an essential link to hospitals. I asked if it was so essential why it was withdrawn in 2017 and never received a response.

I drove the 118/119 regularly in its final few years and it was often busy.

I also asked why the Moreton Circulars needed such a high frequency at night 7 days a week when the majority of the routes are within walking distance of the 423 (when the likes of Beechwood which isn't in walking distance of a route gets nothing) to be fobbed off with a "we try to have everywhere within x meters walking distance of a bus route" whilst ignoring the original point I was making.

All ran by an ego obsessed "metro mayor" - just look at Merseyrails 777 rollout - constant issues since day 1 none of which have been resolved but being unreliably rolled out anyway so Rotheram can pose for his photos.

You will find that decisions are made politically , maybe Moreton has influential councillors on the city region board.

[iMarkeh]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside

(22/12/2023 00:36)CUL 73V Wrote:  but let's be honest, it isn't going to be any better if the Tories had control of the local councils and/or the Metro Mayor's office.

I agree. Neither party is going to do great things for Merseyside unless you get rid of all of the egotistical twits and corrupt people. Doesn't matter which party they are a member of, it's the personal characteristics which let Merseyside down.

(22/12/2023 00:36)CUL 73V Wrote:  The only way Merseytravel and the bus provision in the LCR would improve is if people who have worked in the industry, and actually know how it works, end up in positions within Merseytravel which can make a difference. I don't see that happening any time soon, because there's zero incentive for experienced people to move up a level into roles within an LTA.

Anyone who has half a clue what they are doing is likely to push back against the nonsense that is thrown at them by Rotherham and councillors. That is why there will never be anyone who knows what they are doing in the roles at Merseytravel. Councillors and Rotherham want cheerleaders and yes people, not someone who is going to be realistic and push back on requests and call out BS such as their 'Launch of the Hydrogen Buses' or the 'First Peek' which was actually an electric bus from London , not hydrogen by for Merseyside etc.

[mr t]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside
All the changes from 21st January are now listed on Merseytravel site

[St Helens Rider]

RE: Upcoming service changes in Merseyside

(23/12/2023 15:03)mr t Wrote:  All the changes from 21st January are now listed on Merseytravel site

Thanks for the heads up mr t. Looks like Arriva have rowed back from reducing the 17 on a Saturday, it escapes wtih just timing point changes. Common sense have prevailed at least for now.