Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[wirralbus]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral
Its probably something that Stagecoach have looked at as they have a big say in Liverpool -Chester bus travel .

Arriva only having a minority of services between Liverpool and Chester.

[R557 ABA]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral
My personal view is that I would have expected them to extend the X2 service hourly to Liverpool, continuing on from Ellesmere Port Bus Station to Cheshire Oaks, then onto the Motorway and on towards Liverpool via a similar route - to me that sounds much more logical than the X8.

That said, I also agree that there is a slight missed opportunity with the X8 not stopping at Birkenhead, looking back to the days of the X11, that used to leave Birkenhead with a standing load bound for Chester in the early days when it was half-hourly.

I do however agree that the service is hardly an express and I for one will continue to use the 1 and 2 services, and perhaps the X8 will shift some of the tourists that visit Cheshire Oaks onto that route rather than clogging up seats with their shopping.

[Garsty]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral
CX02 EGK (29880) appears to have the honor of being the final Bluebird to be at Wrexham as that was the only one there when I did a quick drive past this afternoon.

[wirralbus]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(24/07/2014 14:34)R557 ABA Wrote:  My personal view is that I would have expected them to extend the X2 service hourly to Liverpool, continuing on from Ellesmere Port Bus Station to Cheshire Oaks, then onto the Motorway and on towards Liverpool via a similar route - to me that sounds much more logical than the X8.

That said, I also agree that there is a slight missed opportunity with the X8 not stopping at Birkenhead, looking back to the days of the X11, that used to leave Birkenhead with a standing load bound for Chester in the early days when it was half-hourly.

I do however agree that the service is hardly an express and I for one will continue to use the 1 and 2 services, and perhaps the X8 will shift some of the tourists that visit Cheshire Oaks onto that route rather than clogging up seats with their shopping.

That would have had the X2 backtracking near enough on itself to get out to Cheshire Oaks to then access the M53 after calling at Ellesmere Port Bus Station .

I think as a lot of people on here have said the 15 minute train service seems to soak up the end to end traffic Liverpool / Birkenhead to Chester.

The X8 does not observe all stops

[126th street]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(24/07/2014 14:34)R557 ABA Wrote:  My personal view is that I would have expected them to extend the X2 service hourly to Liverpool, continuing on from Ellesmere Port Bus Station to Cheshire Oaks, then onto the Motorway and on towards Liverpool via a similar route - to me that sounds much more logical than the X8.

It would be way too complicated to do that as the route would be half QP, half not yet still serving the Chester/Ellesmere Port to Liverpool corridor, as the 1 and 2 do.

Apportioning revenue from passengers wanting to travel across Ellesmere Port (of which there would be a number, given that it would become the fastest Chester to Liverpool bus) would not be an easy thing to do - in fact, it would probably be impossible and would lead to no end of disputes between drivers and passengers.

On that note, it will be interesting to see what Arriva's response to all this will be. I can't imagine that they're overly impressed with it given that Stagecoach is once again a legitimate competitor on what was allegedly a quality partnership corridor. Let's all keep an eye on what goes on along the Liverpool to Heswall axis in the future!!

[wirralbus]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(24/07/2014 16:07)Dentonian Wrote:  Coming to this late as I have no knowledge of the bus market over there, but if it leads to an unravelling of the QBP, the repercussions could extend way beyond Merseyside eg. Tyne & Wear.

I know that Tyne and Wear ITA have been trying to implement something a bit different to QBP which Stagecoach doesn't like , could Merseytravel and Cheshire West and Chester try the same if Stagecoach don't play ball.

[SNL 824]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(24/07/2014 14:47)Garsty Wrote:  CX02 EGK (29880) appears to have the honor of being the final Bluebird to be at Wrexham as that was the only one there when I did a quick drive past this afternoon.

Three of them passed Chester Services Eastbound on the M56 just after 10am this morning.

[126th street]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(24/07/2014 16:07)Dentonian Wrote:  Coming to this late as I have no knowledge of the bus market over there, but if it leads to an unravelling of the QBP, the repercussions could extend way beyond Merseyside eg. Tyne & Wear.

It's a big 'if'.

The Tyne and Wear proposed 'partnership' (proposed by Nexus that is, not the operators) is something different entirely. If that comes to pass, and I doubt it will, then operators will have no latitude to register what they want.

They will run routes and charge fares set by Nexus and that will be the end of it, which is why Souter has threatened to pull out entirely and Nigel Feetham (Arriva head in the NE) is similarly irate about it. Go-Ahead have remained more on the fence, but David Brown (CEO) was very scathing at the depot opening they had up there a few months ago.

That said, Nexus seemed to change their tone rather substantially not too long ago from one which was very dictatorial to one which suddenly suggested that they were more open to working with operators, rather than against them. If it does happen it will set a worrying precedent for the rest of the country.

[PO59 MXJ]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral
28546 was in Chesters depot this afternoon.
Also yesterday 21258 broke down in the bus exchange. A RNW recovery wagon come out to it and it reversed up to 21258 a bit too far and put the windscreen through. Not much luck there.

[PO59 MXJ]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral
29880 and 29882 are both parked in Chester depot. Could these be the 2 that Stagecoach are keeping hold of...