The previous arrangement was a competitive tendering system for individual services, working closely with service providers and neighbouring local authorities, whereas under the new bus franchising system, TfGM wields all the power.
I don't know if you've actually looked at this change in detail before mentioning it. But I have. The detour is so minor that most of the users of this bus simply won't notice the difference. One small road with one bus stop is no longer served. Don't believe me? Well here's the current TfGM 282 timetable and here's one from 2022. Compare the maps, play spot the changes. The frequency is identical (hourly) - the final bus of the day is now even slightly later. This is NOT a cut. This is a minor route change.
Exactly the same as above. A minor, almost trivial route change. In actual fact the 283 hasn't changed its route. There's one small change on the 284. They're both circular routes - one clockwise, one anti-clockwise. Arguably the change made last week makes more sense as the routes followed by both services are now identical - previously the 284 used Stamford Park Road, the 283 Moss Lane. Now they both use Moss Lane. Again, here's the timetables - the current 283/284 timetable, and here's one from 2023. Again the frequency is unchanged, and the first and last buses are very similar to before.
Are we now at a state where the moving of one bus stop on the 282 from one road to another warrants a huge consultation exercise?
Have we any proof that TfGM refused to do sth with Warrington Borough over the X5? Can we please have links to proof rather than sentences that, to me, just looks like your opinion of what's happened... TIA
Warrington Council saying they have supposedly worked closely with TFGM (as any council would say). TFGM suddenly claiming it was a 'temporary measure' which is funny considering there wasn't mentioned at the time that this was a temporary measure.
Thanks for that, it gives much more context to what you were writing.
Warrington Council saying they have supposedly worked closely with TFGM (as any council would say). TFGM suddenly claiming it was a 'temporary measure' which is funny considering there wasn't mentioned at the time that this was a temporary measure.
Cheshire East have said on their website that the short journeys on the 199 have gone as TfGM no longer support them. That would tie in with TfGM not being allowed to support them anymore with the completion of franchising.
The only other case I can think of is the 22/22A Warrington's Own Buses service. Is the 22 still part tendered? It used to be between Newton and Ashton Heath as it replaced the old tendered 603. The 22A is in effect the evening 360, although I think it might only be tendered north of Newton. It might have all changed in recent years though!
There’s going to be a few routes in that area around Skem/Ashton/Newton which are going to be interesting if/when the Liverpool Metro franchising starts. Not in the Liverpool or Manchester areas, crossing into both Cheshire and Lancashire, operated by Arriva from a depot that’s likely to be franchised. Should be fun. Maybe Warrington’s Own Buses might be bounced into taking on a few more routes.
In Greater Manchester there was a situation when Stagecoach threatened to withdraw several services going into Derbyshire because they would have been outside franchising. Now they did claim they weren't financially viable, but realistically the situation would have needed to have been sorted at some point anyway. Problem was solved with CASH and the affected routes being taken into the Bee Network.
The large network of services that were operated historically by the North West Road Car Company straddling the former Derbyshire/Cheshire border in the Greater Manchester area are much diminished in recent years. Essentially only 5 routes now cross this boundary (199, 237, 341, 358/360, 394), of which only 2 (237 and 358/360) were operated by Stagecoach prior to franchising. Route 237 has been transferred to Metroline (ComfortDelGro), who now operate the large Tameside franchise. Routes 199 and 394 are outwith the Bee Network.
Well someone needs to operate the 360 when the franchise in St. Helens starts, probably most likely to be Warrington's Own Buses that will operate the 360 but it would surprise me if Bee Network did take on the route.
I think Skelmersdale will still get served by Liverpool City Region transport since 310 goes there from Liverpool
I think Stagecoach threatened all sorts of things at the time franchising was proposed. The 237 to Glossop and the 358 to Hayfield were always going to be included in franchising IIRC. Same happened with the 184 to Huddersfield and the 634 to Chorley.
There would be fewer "dead" journeys at the start and finish of the service on both routes 237 and 358 if the service operator was based in Derbyshire, as for route 199.
The 34 is often very busy arriving AND departing Leigh, dont know where you got that from but it always has a healthy load, would be even better if the timetable was consistant and decent.
9am is always a quieter time, it is after the commuters and school kids have travelled and before the concessions venture out.