Network Warrington to put prices up AGAIN!!!

[robertclark125]

Cheers for clearing that up Deerfold!

Getting back on topic, wonder what the local newspaper makes of this?

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Maybe neighboruing Halton would be interested. Could one municipal bus company buy out another one ?

 

[Deerfold]

Maybe neighboruing Halton would be interested. Could one municipal bus company buy out another one ?

There's no reason why not - though if it was put up for sale and it emerged they hadn't made the best offer for it there would be questions asked if it was sold to them.
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Also, it's worth noting that Network Warrington does not have shareholders to satisfy, or have to meet margins of double figures that stock markets like. This is acouncil owned firm, operated at arms length. It therefore could be worrying developments, as Mbonwick has indicated.

Presumably the council is the sole/main shareholder. Political developments at councils can cause questions to be asked about whether an arm's length company is contributing enough to the finances or should be sold off.

 

[robertclark125]

Not quite one council firm buying another, but in 1994, Blackpool bought Fylde, though Fylde was sold by the council in 1993.

 

[northwichcat]

Getting back on topic, wonder what the local newspaper makes of this?

http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk...twork_Warrington_price_hike___full_breakdown/

BUS passengers in Warrington will be forced to dig deep after Network Warrington announced a massive fare hike from Sunday.

The news has been met with outrage by many commuters after it was revealed that bus tickets will jump in price - with a monthly town pass for students seeing the highest increase of almost 65 per cent.

Under the new price shake-up, there will no longer be a separate town and network ticket but instead there will be one Touch and Go! ticket which will allow travel across all bus services.

Service users, who previously bought an adult monthly town pass, will see the price rise from £56 to £84 - a 50 per cent increase.

A monthly adult network pass will increase from £72 to £84 - an growth of almost 17 per cent.

While an annual network pass will remain the same for adults and students, those who previously bought a town annual pass will see prices increase by up to 40 per cent.

Lindsay Frangleton, of Manchester Road, said she was shocked to discover the prices had increased and argued the company is ‘motivated by greed’.

The 54-year-old said: “Why should I pay for something I will never use?

“I don’t need a network pass but now I will have to pay for one.

“It is a way of the bus company making a quick buck.”

A spokesman for Network Warrington said the price increase was ‘necessary’ for the future of the company.

"Over the past 12 months our costs have risen, due to a combination of factors including Government funding cuts and significant cost increases in fuel and maintenance.

“The decision to increase fares has not been taken lightly, but is necessary to keep the company sustainable.

“The board also made the decision to combine the town and network fare zones to simplify the range of tickets offered.”

Other changes included a price increase to day rover fares, special tickets including Breezer and Westy Way and on-bus fares.

Many residents have reacted angrily to the changes to the fares with some unsure how they will be able to fund the increase as they struggle to cope with their already tight budgets.

Mark Howard, from Chapelford, described the changes as ‘disappointing’ The 32-year-old said: “I have tried to stay positive and have worked around all the recent service changes, but I feel this is too much now.”

Company secretary of Travel Watch North West John Moorhouse added: “It does seem really excessive when you compare it with the general rate of inflation at a time when we should be encouraging more people travel by bus.”

David Sidebottom, Passenger Focus director, said: “Warrington’s hard-pressed passengers, especially those who rely on the bus for work or education, will be bitterly disappointed by these inflation-busting fare rises.

“When we last surveyed bus passengers in Warrington fewer than two thirds of fare payers were satisfied with the value for money of services. These fares rises, many of them double digit, will not help to improve this.”

 

[Y961 XBU]

Passengers are really upset about this Fare rise, just found a petition online with close to 600 Supporters as it stands!

https://www.change.org/petitions/ne...ium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_mobile

 

[cactustwirly]

Passengers are really upset about this Fare rise, just found a petition online with close to 600 Supporters as it stands!

https://www.change.org/petitions/ne...ium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_mobile

Now 978, Network Warrington mus be really bad!

 

[Rail Ranger]

I'm being pedantic but "Network Warrington" is merely a trading name of Warrington Borough Transport Limited.

 

[Y961 XBU]

That petition now has over 1000 names behind it! shows how angry people are

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Meanwhile neighbouring municipal Halton boast about not having increased fares for three years and are launching a recruitment drive for more drivers next month.
Halton also seem to have much more competition from other operators (mainly Arriva) within their borough whereas Warrington don't.
Though they do operate two routes in to Liverpool.

 

[Amberley54]

Not quite one council firm buying another, but in 1994, Blackpool bought Fylde, though Fylde was sold by the council in 1993.

Meanwhile neighbouring municipal Halton boast about not having increased fares for three years and are launching a recruitment drive for more drivers next month.
Halton also seem to have much more competition from other operators (mainly Arriva) within their borough whereas Warrington don't.
Though they do operate two routes in to Liverpool.

Actually little direct competition as Halton Transport's main focus is in Widnes and Arriva is Runcorn. However, some of the longer inter-urban routes do overlap and don't forget Runcorn and Widnes are divided, sorry linked, by a single bridge at the moment that determines network patterns.

By the way, Halton have just taken delivery of a batch of former Metrobus Scania Ominicitys as part of their fleet renewal/expansion process.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

It always suprises me how poor the services are from Warrington to Liverpool and Manchester. Just one route to each operating at hourly intervals and taking well over an hour. Maybe a possible market for WBT to exploit.

 

[Sandy Drew]

It always suprises me how poor the services are from Warrington to Liverpool and Manchester. Just one route to each operating at hourly intervals and taking well over an hour. Maybe a possible market for WBT to exploit.

A positive suggestion - but you would use the train. It's fast, frequent and relatively cheap!

 

[Y961 XBU]

It always suprises me how poor the services are from Warrington to Liverpool and Manchester. Just one route to each operating at hourly intervals and taking well over an hour. Maybe a possible market for WBT to exploit.

not sure if you have heard but theres now an half hourly Bus service from Warrington to liverpool operating as the 7

 

[Mutant Lemming]

not sure if you have heard but theres now an half hourly Bus service from Warrington to liverpool operating as the 7

This is effectivley the old MPTE route 40 extended to cover the Huyton-Warrington section of the old Crosville H5. The 7 was hourly till recently.
At least when it was the 6 it was a bit more direct. It takes 1 hour and 24 minutes to make the journey though it is well patronised during the day by National free pass holders.
An 'X' service serving local stops in Warrington then heading directly along the M62 may attract more custom - surely worth a punt by WBT (or another operator).