Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

[gka472l]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Just noticed another snippet....37/37A between St Helens and Ormskirk/Southport, each every 2 hours which you would assume hourly as far as Ormskirk, plus a single X37 a day.....also an hourly St Helens/Kirkby 297, which is currently a mix of every 1 or 2 hours (Merseyside PTE ran a 90 between the towns back in the day....). Certainly some better connections than current if these proposals happen. Personally I would like to possibly see better connections between the south bits of the Wirral, say Heswall to Bromborough/Croft, but that's just me....

HTH

[Jack]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/03/2025 06:35)St Helens Rider Wrote:  It was the 602 in it's former life. The 620 was St Helens - Ashton - Bolton.

Before being numbered 22 it was the 420. Maybe that's what was being referred to. The full 602 was a bit further back

[Jack]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Definitely some welcome standardised frequencies and extra evening/Sunday links for St Helens. The 25 looks like a new service unless the 37/38 are moving away from Eccleston and it's a replacement for those. Interesting that the 360 route is TBC, hopefully won't be a situation like the X5/288 in Altrincham and it gets split. Depending what happens with that, wonder if the 22A will be renumbered back to 360 with the 22 being renumbered too. Still think some missed opportunities though.

I'd have the 17 just St Helens to Widnes via the current evening route missing out Sutton Manor so its more direct. The Chain Lane section could've become a circular service with the 28 operating in each direction. The Sutton Manor section could be replaced by the 32 doing the evening route all day.

Separately i don't know why they don't extend the 33 to loop past Waterside. It has a lot of layover in the town centre anyway so would eat in to that a little. It could even further be extended via the 156 route back to St Helens as a circular too. Would then leave the 156 back as a St Helens to Garswood only service.

I assume the X37 will be a positioning journey maybe for the 37A (152) that starts/ends in Southport. Otherwise it would make sense to have an X37 on Sundays/BHs too especially in the summer at least.

[lcm453]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/03/2025 10:10)Jack Wrote:  Definitely some welcome standardised frequencies and extra evening/Sunday links for St Helens. The 25 looks like a new service unless the 37/38 are moving away from Eccleston and it's a replacement for those. Interesting that the 360 route is TBC, hopefully won't be a situation like the X5/288 in Altrincham and it gets split. Depending what happens with that, wonder if the 22A will be renumbered back to 360 with the 22 being renumbered too. Still think some missed opportunities though.

I'd have the 17 just St Helens to Widnes via the current evening route missing out Sutton Manor so its more direct. The Chain Lane section could've become a circular service with the 28 operating in each direction. The Sutton Manor section could be replaced by the 32 doing the evening route all day.

Separately i don't know why they don't extend the 33 to loop past Waterside. It has a lot of layover in the town centre anyway so would eat in to that a little. It could even further be extended via the 156 route back to St Helens as a circular too. Would then leave the 156 back as a St Helens to Garswood only service.

I assume the X37 will be a positioning journey maybe for the 37A (152) that starts/ends in Southport. Otherwise it would make sense to have an X37 on Sundays/BHs too especially in the summer at least.

Where would I find info on routes and frequencies after franchising begins, please.

[Raawwwrrr!]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/03/2025 10:10)Jack Wrote:  Separately i don't know why they don't extend the 33 to loop past Waterside. It has a lot of layover in the town centre anyway so would eat in to that a little. It could even further be extended via the 156 route back to St Helens as a circular too. Would then leave the 156 back as a St Helens to Garswood only service.

Completely agree with the above.

There are various options the 33 could take with its near 25 minute layover, and I never understood why it was never extended to service Lea Green station when the bus stop turnaround was in place.

Now this is gone other options could include extending to Sutton Manor (replacing the Forrest Road section for a more direct 17) or extensions the other side of the route such as to serve Ravenshead retail park at greater frequency than the current 12 for example

In an ideal world I’d combine the 31/33 into a circular services operating via Watery Lane, St Helens Junction station, Robins Lane, (New Street , Mill Lane or Marshall’s Cross)and Lea Green stations reducing the current “Hub and spoke” model of bus services where nearly all journeys from one side of the town to the other have to take place via St Helens bus station

[Y458 KNF]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
I am a little confused about the 329 & 360 I thought the 329 would be included in franchising.

[Valandil]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/03/2025 11:35)Y458 KNF Wrote:  I am a little confused about the 329 & 360 I thought the 329 would be included in franchising.

Yeah, it's a bit confusing, but I guess the problem is that they currently interwork.
Under franchising, that could have to change, unless neither service is included in franchising.
Personally, I think the best outcome is if the 329 could be included in franchising and possibly renumbered, then if Warrington or possibly the Bee Network (Wigan) could take on the 360 and any evening/Sunday variant.

[KX03 KYY]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/03/2025 08:40)gka472l Wrote:  Wirral franchise just the one as far as I know......so all LS run. I believe Stagecoach is keeping Rock Ferry for the 1/X1, contracts and schools, and the paintshop.....

I heard more 1/X1 would go Chester when franchising starts

Also notice 129, 216/217 is missing from the list

[Y458 KNF]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/03/2025 11:54)Valandil Wrote:  Yeah, it's a bit confusing, but I guess the problem is that they currently interwork.
Under franchising, that could have to change, unless neither service is included in franchising.
Personally, I think the best outcome is if the 329 could be included in franchising and possibly renumbered, then if Warrington or possibly the Bee Network (Wigan) could take on the 360 and any evening/Sunday variant.

I can see the 329 being included but not the 360 as I originally assumed would happen, but what’s interesting is the current 22 is included rather than being split as only the Earlestown-Ashton section is tendered I think.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
That 10A Frequency would not work out if it's just St Helens Depot running them from September 2026 which is apparently the case, The Combined 10A now is much more frequent and I often see Deckers leaving Queen Square with a full standing load, The Hydrogen Buses have a reduced Capacity as well..