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The other way to address the X2 problem is for the LCR section of route to be operated by Stagecoach on behalf of Merseytravel. It would then give the PTE enough control to attach a certain amount of integration with their franchised network, but also allowing Stagecoach to keep hold of what is...

Simple solution to the 47 / X2 issue - franchise both services between Crossens, Southport and Liverpool. It seems utterly daft why a permit service will be allowed to travel over 20 miles within the franchised area along common tracts of franchised bus routes. There's already separate services...

Merseytravel have been in ongoing discussions with Halton Borough Council to compensate them for taking over responsibility for the borough's transport needs for a few years now - a major issue is the travel pass that the rest of the LCR get at 60 - this currently doesn't apply to Halton, and...

The Runcorn - Liverpool 61, from 6th September, is operated by Arriva on behalf of Merseytravel. Therefore, Merseytravel could change the service and will be calling the shots on whatever it number it gets when franchising hits Liverpool.

The X2 isn't part of LCR's franchising proposals, but the 47 is. Currently their timetabling is decided by the operators on a commercial basis.

Glenvale couldn't afford the repayments on the then new-ish fleet at Gillmoss depot, so Arriva hived them off with 20+ year old Metrobuses. Glenvale subsequently bought in more clapped-out ex-London Titans, and unwanted B6s and Darts from Stagecoach. It was heartbreaking to be honest.

Arriva (and Stagecoach) have welcomed it. Two things occur to me 1) Arriva must be very confident of securing franchised services, or 2) Arriva's Merseyside operations will be someone else's problem by the due-date in 2026, so current management don't really care.....

In the locality? Very little, there's a new-ish village adjacent to the station, a caravan site around the corner but the main town of Rainford is well over a mile away. There's parking for about half-a-dozen cars. I've never seen many people actually use the station, and I do feel potential...

If Skem had been included in the original Merseyside county, as originally envisioned (Southport was included instead), it's quite likely the station at Headbolt Lane and the proposed branch to Skem would've been well built by now.

It would be a fantastically sensible idea. At the moment, a Liverpool-area Saveaway ticket is £4.60, plus the £4 return bus fare from Skem to Kirkby on the 319 - even that is fairly good value for money. As an extra incentive to attract passengers to Headbolt Lane, a through-ticket between Skem...

Yep, it only operated directly between Kirkby Station and Rainford Junction Station. 1684254267 No, service 50 wasn't in the rail timetables - it wasn't even included in the Merseyrail timetable of that era. The PTE published a regular bus timetable for it, apparently they were reluctant to...

Minimal. The service ran for about 9 months before the PTE withdrew it due to low patronage.

The withdrawal of the evening service between Wigan and Kirkby was because Lancashire County Council refused to fund it their share of it. A replacement bus service, operated and funded by Merseyside PTE numbered 50, ran between Kirkby and Rainford during 1983/84.

Entirely agree with the sentiments regarding Lancashire County Council. I engage with a fairly-large organisation in the West Lancashire area with very strong Scouse connections, and the relationship with the council isn't great. I put it down purely to a general disenchancement from the council...

The 319 Skem - Kirkby is, currently, a complete waste of time and resources. Any passengers the service does carry are the mildly curious or lost. Things may change when Headbolt Lane opens, who knows??? This particular type of service between Skem and Kirkby has been tried before. In October...

The 319 bus service from Skem to Kirkby. The thing is, this has already been tried before. In 1980. Ribble services 395/396 were introduced to run from Skem (via Tanhouse, Digmoor, etc) to connect with trains at Kirkby, giving them a journey time of exactly one hour between Skem and Liverpool...

Bus deregulation has run its course - some people made out of it, others didn't - and it seems obvious to me that the "wonderful" Tory model of a bus service justifying itself through its profitability rather than its' social need has come to an abrupt end - COVID has put the final nail in the...

I think Serco-Abellio Merseyrail (and their shareholders) would quite happily close down all the ticket offices and take guards off the trains on the network, but Merseyside PTE (being influenced by certain political persuasions) ultimately call the shots until July 2028. Close, but no cigar.

There's some serious nonsense going on the Northern and Wirral lines at the moment. 40-year old time-expired trains are not going to last much longer. They look so tired to be honest, and those utterly embarrassing vinyls on the sides of the fleet - like everyone "strolls" to the office, and...

Saw this on the Merseyrail facebook page tonight. I am not very technically-minded, but the company claim there are issues with the wheel bearings on units. From 6th June, the service between Central and Kirkby is off all day until 1935 when trains will run until finish. There has been no date...