Cheshire West bus services

[northwichcat]

There seems to be generally less news for Cheshire West services and the thread we had previously has been closed due to how long it's been inactive.

Cheshire West council have decided not to renew the 48 contract between Northwich and Frodsham. The current operator Howards Travel have cancelled their registration.

 

[Polarbear]

It's unfortunate that the 48 is being withdrawn, but it doesn't come as a big surprise. The Saturday service disappeared some while back & whilst I've not been on it for a while, it's fair to say that most trips aren't that busy.

It will leave a bit of a gap though, as getting from Northwich to anywhere to the north west of Cheshire will be impossible.

 

[northwichcat]

When the owner of Howards posted on another forum about the new buses they were acquiring I asked if the 48 would get a smaller bus but he said no as a lot of scholars use it despite the middle of the day services being almost empty.

 

[Statto]

It's unfortunate that the 48 is being withdrawn, but it doesn't come as a big surprise. The Saturday service disappeared some while back & whilst I've not been on it for a while, it's fair to say that most trips aren't that busy.

It will leave a bit of a gap though, as getting from Northwich to anywhere to the north west of Cheshire will be impossible.

Not impossible but involves a long detour changing either Chester or Warrington.

 

[northwichcat]

Rumour is a rolling contract is now going to be awarded for Northwich-Frodsham, so one either party can pull out of at short notice.

 

[northwichcat]

Services T1 Chester - Greenfield (Townlynx) and 21 Helsby - Frodsham - Runcorn Halton Lea (Arriva) both to be cancelled next month.

The X29 'Nightlife Express' is to be revised in August to include Davenham and Moulton.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

It's unfortunate that the 48 is being withdrawn, but it doesn't come as a big surprise. The Saturday service disappeared some while back & whilst I've not been on it for a while, it's fair to say that most trips aren't that busy.

It will leave a bit of a gap though, as getting from Northwich to anywhere to the north west of Cheshire will be impossible.

Such a difference from when there were two routes between Northwich and Frodsham with an hourly service on the 137 and a roughly two hourly service on the 138 during the week with both operating at two hourly intervals to give an hourly service at weekends.

 

[Polarbear]

Such a difference from when there were two routes between Northwich and Frodsham with an hourly service on the 137 and a roughly two hourly service on the 138 during the week with both operating at two hourly intervals to give an hourly service at weekends.

In later Crosville days, the erstwhile E47 & E48 also ran through to Runcorn on some journeys.

 

[northwichcat]

Arriva Buses Wales have cancelled the registration for the Chester to Northwich service, so it's unclear what will happen to that route.

 

[Redmike]

I'm sure I read somewhere that it's moving to Winsford depot so transferring to Arriva North West.

 

[goldisgood]

I'm sure I read somewhere that it's moving to Winsford depot so transferring to Arriva North West.

Some sources suggest this, others suggest it is being cancelled altogether.

 

[Statto]

According to another forum, D&G have registered an 82 service from 29th October, but no details as of yet as to were the start & terminus is.

 

[James101]

If it’s the 82 we expect I wonder what D&G will operate it with. They’ve got longer E200s put they’ve already been banished from demanding work (Alton Towers) so would likely struggle on the 82. I think the Metrocities were bought in partnership with Staffs County Council so they’re tied up on the 16s. I don’t think anything else they have would be big enough?

 

[northwichcat]

If it’s the 82 we expect I wonder what D&G will operate it with. They’ve got longer E200s put they’ve already been banished from demanding work (Alton Towers) so would likely struggle on the 82. I think the Metrocities were bought in partnership with Staffs County Council so they’re tied up on the 16s. I don’t think anything else they have would be big enough?

According to D&G's fleet list they have 5 x 10.8m Enviro 200s at Crewe. Which routes are they currently used on? It should also be noted they only have around 4 more seats than 10 of the Crewe based Solos. Apparently they still have some the larger ex-Routemaster Buses Wrightbus vehicles in storage but they aren't currently being used.

Although, based on D&G's other Wincham routes if everyone fits on a Streetlite they'll use one of those even if it means 10 standing.

 

[James101]

I’ve found the SL64xxx E200s to be particularly poor examples of the type, clattering and banging about. They generally form Crewe’s allocation to the 85/85A/43 cycle. I’d suggest they would struggle with the speeds and hills on the 82, this batch have recently been swapped with the more powerful Evolutions and Centro between Crewe and Adderley Green as the E200s were struggling with the hills on Alton Towers work.

 

[northwichcat]

I’ve found the SL64xxx E200s to be particularly poor examples of the type, clattering and banging about. They generally form Crewe’s allocation to the 85/85A/43 cycle. I’d suggest they would struggle with the speeds and hills on the 82, this batch have recently been swapped with the more powerful Evolutions and Centro between Crewe and Adderley Green as the E200s were struggling with the hills on Alton Towers work.

The Centro was taking out-of-service but reinstated when D&G needed an extra vehicle for a Biddulph contract they won.

 

[James101]

The Centro was taking out-of-service but reinstated when D&G needed an extra vehicle for a Biddulph contract they won.

Is that the 93? I guess the Centro doesn’t operate it directly but is needed through increased PVR?

 

[northwichcat]

Is that the 93? I guess the Centro doesn’t operate it directly but is needed through increased PVR?

It was the one that they started operating after their commercial services were cut back at the end of July. I guess the Centro probably ended up on one of the larger Solo/Evolution routes to release a smaller bus for the Biddulph service.

 

[northwichcat]

82 D&G registration confirmed, although interestingly the start point is Northwich Venables Road or Watling Street or Kingsmead.

 

[Statto]

82 D&G registration confirmed, although interestingly the start point is Northwich Venables Road or Watling Street or Kingsmead.

New timetable. http://dgbus.co.uk/assets/82_2018-10-29.pdf

 

[Danfilm007]

New timetable. http://dgbus.co.uk/assets/82_2018-10-29.pdf

Interesting stuff. Funny how it all pans out, eh...

 

[northwichcat]

Interesting stuff. Funny how it all pans out, eh...

What would be interesting if the ex-Routemaster buses return to service and end up on the 82 with it being an ex-GHA route. Remember Routemaster proposed taking on GHA on the 82 after GHA registered duplicate 84 services but Routemaster ended up going out of business.

 

[Danfilm007]

What would be interesting if the ex-Routemaster buses return to service and end up on the 82 with it being an ex-GHA route. Remember Routemaster proposed taking on GHA on the 82 after GHA registered duplicate 84 services but Routemaster ended up going out of business.

Goodness, yes! I had forgotten all about this - now there would be some irony!

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Frodsham and Helsby are very hilly places and carless people living in the upper parts thereof have no means of getting down the shops on the main road - and more pertinently getting back up the hill afterwards. The 48 helped in Frodsham, but only a little.

Out of interest - why are there a dozen or more pubs in Frodsham but only two in Helsby?

 

[northwichcat]

Out of interest - why are there a dozen or more pubs in Frodsham but only two in Helsby?

Frodsham has almost double the population of Helsby. Could it also relate to Frodsham getting more walkers than Helsby?

 

[northwichcat]

Have D&G started running driver training on the 82 route? The week before they started the 88 they had a Solo 970SR running along the 88 route while they were training drivers, which was the regular type of bus on the route for the first year they operated it, so if anyone sees out-of-service D&G buses running between Northwich and Chester maybe that'll give a clue of what they intend to use on the service.

 

[northwichcat]

I’ve found the SL64xxx E200s to be particularly poor examples of the type, clattering and banging about. They generally form Crewe’s allocation to the 85/85A/43 cycle. I’d suggest they would struggle with the speeds and hills on the 82, this batch have recently been swapped with the more powerful Evolutions and Centro between Crewe and Adderley Green as the E200s were struggling with the hills on Alton Towers work.

Have D&G started running driver training on the 82 route? The week before they started the 88 they had a Solo 970SR running along the 88 route while they were training drivers, which was the regular type of bus on the route for the first year they operated it, so if anyone sees out-of-service D&G buses running between Northwich and Chester maybe that'll give a clue of what they intend to use on the service.

According to a post on another forum 3 x Enviro 200s are being transferred to Wincham this weekend for the 82. Although, no indication of which 3 buses or what Wincham will do if there's an issue with one of them one morning given the route has a PVR of 3 - maybe send out a ex-Go Goodwins Solo in lieu and phone up Crewe and ask them to send a replacement up?

 

[northwichcat]

I’ve found the SL64xxx E200s to be particularly poor examples of the type, clattering and banging about. They generally form Crewe’s allocation to the 85/85A/43 cycle. I’d suggest they would struggle with the speeds and hills on the 82, this batch have recently been swapped with the more powerful Evolutions and Centro between Crewe and Adderley Green as the E200s were struggling with the hills on Alton Towers work.

Well D&G have not only allocated 3 of the ex-SLT Enviro 200s to Wincham for the 82, they've also been given 82 branding!

 

[northwichcat]

Reported on another forum the Enviro 200 running the 82 John Deanes service this morning was full to maximum capacity by Kelsall and it seems D&G sent out a Streetlite to run a duplicate service.

 

[northwichcat]

Reported on another forum the Enviro 200 running the 82 John Deanes service this morning was full to maximum capacity by Kelsall and it seems D&G sent out a Streetlite to run a duplicate service.

Also from the same forum D&G Bus were unaware their Enviro 200s, which they have branded for the 82, would be too small until last Friday an Arriva driver told a D&G one how many passengers they can expect on the 82s which carry the John Deanes pupils once half-term ended, hence the duplicates. Apparently they are now looking at options for acquiring a decker.