Liverpool City Region-Bus Franchising

[Harryn9000]

Yeah the lack of layover spaces is why the Cross River routes 407, 432, 433, 464, 471 & 472 continue through to Cook Street, but the Cross River routes go straight back out when they are late on arrival & often missing Cook Street altogether going straight from Whitechapel to Sir Thomas Street instead, & it was a nightmare the other day when because of a fatal crash the Birkenhead tunnel was shut until early evening, some were Cross River buses were only going to/from Birkenhead as they were that late.

It was also bad Birkenhead side for buses to even just get to the tunnel, the main issue for cross rivers when Queensway is shut for whatever reason every singles bus is late as no buffer in the diagrams to get back on track

 

[gka472l]

In regards to school services, what buses are Huyton Travel due to use when their contracts start, and also are Aintree Coachlines operating any franchised schools in the Wirral?

HTL have got a load of ex Stagecoach London E400H's, ranging from 61 to 64 plate, most being 14 plate ex Plumstead examples.....22 known of so far which are listed below (Stagecoach numbers shown)

12132	LX61DFJ
12135	LX61DFN
12281	SN14TWZ
12282	SN14TXA
12284	SN14TXC
12285	SN14TXD
12286	SN14TXE
12288	SN14TXG
12289	SN14TXH
12291	SN14TXK
12292	SN14TXL
12293	SN14TXM
12294	SN14TXO
12297	SN14TXS
12298	SN14TXT
12299	SN14TXU
12302	SN14TXX
12304	SN14TXZ
12306	SN14TYB
12323	SK14CTU
12337	SN64OGK
12358	SN64OHH

HTH

 

[Fokx]

In regards to school services, what buses are Huyton Travel due to use when their contracts start, and also are Aintree Coachlines operating any franchised schools in the Wirral?

Private contracts usually with Aintree

 

[gka472l]

Private contracts usually with Aintree

Aintree has a few school runs with Merchant Taylors in Crosby, not sure on any on the Wirral though....

 

[Harryn9000]

Aintree has a few school runs with Merchant Taylors in Crosby, not sure on any on the Wirral though....

Private school here use carvers in Chester as far as I’ve seen

 

[Djgr]

Private school here use carvers in Chester as far as I’ve seen

Doesn't Happy Al's do some?

 

[Harryn9000]

Doesn't Happy Al's do some?

Yes but not sure if it is the private or just state school they run

 

[Gareth1990]

Is there a reason the joint bus routes can’t continue under franchising? Would it not ensure resilience for example in the event of strike action?

 

[Harryn9000]

Is there a reason the joint bus routes can’t continue under franchising? Would it not ensure resilience for example in the event of strike action?

Most of the routes was set for competition which now under 1 depot makes no sense

 

[Northerngirl]

Yes but not sure if it is the private or just state school they run

They do a mix from my experience

 

[PaulWC]

I have just glanced momentarily at the timetable of the 612 and it literally follows the path of the 22A between Newton and Wigan in the evenings minutes apart. I hope this doesn't result in the withdrawal of the 22a due to duplication in the common section forcing you to change onto the 322 but if they are keeping it, i sure had misplaced hopes that with franchising the planners would have a wholistic look at all the buses that serve an area and try their best to space out services. The Bee Network has failed to some respect on this regard again. Let's hope Merseytravel don't do the same.

The 22A is directly replaced by the 322 and 612

According to the Warringtons Own Buses website, the 22A continues to the end of October:-

Service Change Notice – Route 22 Becomes Route 322

From 6 September, the current Service 22 will become Service 322 as part of the new Liverpool City Region bus network.

www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk

What’s Changing?

• Service 22 will be renumbered to 322 and will now operate during evenings and on Sundays
• Timetables will change
• The route will operate as part of the Liverpool City Region bus network
• The service will be managed under Liverpool City Region ticketing arrangements
• Ticketing Changes
• Service 22a is withdrawn at the end of October

 

[JasonL]

According to the Warringtons Own Buses website, the 22A continues to the end of October:-

Service Change Notice – Route 22 Becomes Route 322

From 6 September, the current Service 22 will become Service 322 as part of the new Liverpool City Region bus network.

www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk

It's going to feel strange having the 322 and 22A in service at the same time in the evenings and on Sundays until end of October

 

[PaulWC]

Apologies if it's been covered before, but why are Warrington running the 322 if it's part of the new Metro network? The fact that Warrington tickets won't be acceptable on the 322 could cause some confusion, assuming that they won't be running any buses in the Metro livery.

 

[jamieintercity]

I was down in Southport last and saw one of the arriva E200MMCs in metro livery. Just curious is southport and the surrounding areas part of the franchise, if so when does it take place.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I was down in Southport last and saw one of the arriva E200MMCs in metro livery. Just curious is southport and the surrounding areas part of the franchise, if so when does it take place.

They had a batch delivered for Southport and Wirral in Metro livery. Despite what some think, such gestures don't really influence the procurement process so the Wirral ones will be moving on elsewhere once Go Ahead take over.

 

[JasonL]

Apologies if it's been covered before, but why are Warrington running the 322 if it's part of the new Metro network? The fact that Warrington tickets won't be acceptable on the 322 could cause some confusion, assuming that they won't be running any buses in the Metro livery.

It remains to be seen if any of Warrington's buses could be repainted into the Metro livery.

 

[Statto]

It remains to be seen if any of Warrington's buses could be repainted into the Metro livery.

I doubt it considering Warrington will want buses on the 322 to be able to work with other Warrington routes.

 

[darylyates17]

I doubt it considering Warrington will want buses on the 322 to be able to work with other Warrington routes.

They’ll have different ticket machines so won’t be able to interwork any other routes unless Warrington get more franchised routes which I doubt.

 

[Fokx]

It remains to be seen if any of Warrington's buses could be repainted into the Metro livery.

There are no plans to do so

 

[Pinus contorta]

They are already yellow so the metro livery won't look that much different from the front will it? They are already electric, which ticks some boxes. Maybe the thought of removing electric buses and replacing them with diesel/ hybrids doesn't appeal politically?

 

[adam rogan]

They’ll have different ticket machines so won’t be able to interwork any other routes unless Warrington get more franchised routes which I doubt.

They'll use ticketer so I assume it will accept solo passes just as they currently do now. Get the 22 now at Ashton and they accept Bee cards, Metro cards between Haydock and Newton and whatever Warrington passes from Winwick onwards.

The only awkward thing will be ticketing for Merseytravel residents using the 322 at its two start points. The question is whether their current Merseytravel passes will be allowed on this service outside the franchising zone or will Metro devise a two tier system like Greater Manchester, a ticket for journeys within the boundary and a ticket for services franchised outside the boundary as well as permit routes by non franchised operators.

I still have reason to believe that Arriva holding onto the 329 and the 360 is the reason for this haphazard decision to make the 322 part of category 2, as these routes would have come under St Helens' remit and the two routes could have interworked seamlessly with the 322 at Warrington with Merseytravel passes working on them end to end.

What will be funny to see is the 22A running in tandem with the new 612 before it gets shelved and the transport authorities realizing that the Newton to Wigan corridor is not profitable which is why the 22a had to be tendered and Arriva reduce its 360 to an hourly baseline. I think the only redeeming feature of the 612 is that it replaces the 20 between St Helens and Earlestown and replaces a few Wigan local services on that side.

 

[Mollman]

Apologies if it's been covered before, but why are Warrington running the 322 if it's part of the new Metro network? The fact that Warrington tickets won't be acceptable on the 322 could cause some confusion, assuming that they won't be running any buses in the Metro livery.

The 322 was a stand alone contract rather than part of the St Helens franchise

 

[Statto]

When Liverpool goes to franchising next year, the Stagecoach 82, & 86 will go to Speke, Stagecoach 53 will go to Bootle, & the Arriva 14 will go to Gillmoss won't it?

 

[gka472l]

When Liverpool goes to franchising next year, the Stagecoach 82, & 86 will go to Speke, Stagecoach 53 will go to Bootle, & the Arriva 14 will go to Gillmoss won't it?

I'd expect so.....

 

[darylyates17]

I'd expect so.....

I wonder a batch of single deck EVs have been ordered for Gillmoss for the routes moving over that cant have deckers?

 

[MCRTransitYT]

I wonder a batch of single deck EVs have been ordered for Gillmoss for the routes moving over that cant have deckers?

GB Kites were ordered for Tranche 2 I believe

 

[gka472l]

I wonder a batch of single deck EVs have been ordered for Gillmoss for the routes moving over that cant have deckers?

Only Gillmoss routes that currently use single decks are the Maghull circular (i believe will be in the Sefton franchise), the 4 and the Kirkby circular.....

 

[darylyates17]

Only Gillmoss routes that currently use single decks are the Maghull circular (i believe will be in the Sefton franchise), the 4 and the Kirkby circular.....

136 & 235 as well which will obviously be Bootle run under the Sefton franchise.

 

[Northerngirl]

Is there a list of ordered and delivered buses for each depot?

 

[317 forever]

When Liverpool goes to franchising next year, the Stagecoach 82, & 86 will go to Speke, Stagecoach 53 will go to Bootle, & the Arriva 14 will go to Gillmoss won't it?

Ironically, franchising will therefore see routes 53, 82 & 86 follow route 10a in losing their electric buses, at least for the time being.

I expect something else to move into Gillmoss, maybe route 15 or 62 for example.