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Are D&G overstretching with this addition? I know its just 1 bus required but thats a long way from a depot and not overly easy to see how a driver change/crew breaks will happen
Just looked at the new timetable. It is now 1 bus (it was more under Little Gem) and there's a 65 minute break included between 12:17 and 13:22. So looks like it'll be a 1 bus + 1 driver operation. Might take them a long time to get a replacement vehicle or driver up there if needed though! It looks like there's also a school duty on that working with the SH afternoon services.
Just looked at the new timetable. It is now 1 bus (it was more under Little Gem) and there's a 65 minute break included between 12:17 and 13:22. So looks like it'll be a 1 bus + 1 driver operation. Might take them a long time to get a replacement vehicle or driver up there if needed though! It looks like there's also a school duty on that working with the SH afternoon services.
D&G's tracking seems to indicate they're using large Enviros for the 84X today and smaller vehicles on some of the 31/37 runs.
Although, some of their vehicles aren't tracking correctly. If the tracking is to be believed vehicle 37 was on the 88, 82 and 38 at the same time. I think it was on the 88 as there was a small Enviro being used and all the other small Enviros appear to be tracking.
I was very surprised to see that D&G are providing 1 x vehicle to run a limited 375 Stepping Hill - Mellor service but no one actually bid to run the full service according to TfGM.
I was very surprised to see that D&G are providing 1 x vehicle to run a limited 375 Stepping Hill - Mellor service but no one actually bid to run the full service according to TfGM.
So this is going to end up with a daytime Mellor to Stepping Hill service operated by D&G and an evening and Sunday Hawk Green to Stockport service operated by Stagecoach!
Although if D&G are taking on the Arriva Macclesfield outstation, it's not that far from it.
Winsford Depot is a weird one for future operators
D&G have Crewe, Wincham and soon Macclesfield. Winsford is in the middle of these which makes it unnecessary. Also, no D&G services start/end at Winsford (except mornings and evenings), making it an unnecessary place for crew change or breaks
Stagecoach may look at it if they want to expand their presence in Cheshire - but this will depend on the success of the 84 route, as well as the subsidised 7W and 48/48A routes. If D&G expand further into Stagecoach territory (further than just the 84X service), then Stagecoach may retaliate. But this is unlikely given the low population density of Mid Cheshire and the likely unprofitability for an additional outstation in the network
First Potteries are the only other operator which potential. Now with 2 routes in Crewe, if they considered adding more (maybe a Crewe-Keele-Newcastle to rival D&G) then they may look for an outstation near to Crewe to reduce dead miles. But Winsford is quite a distance from Crewe and other sites in the Crewe area would probably be preferable if they wanted an outstation.
So unless D&G wanted to close Wincham and relocate to Winsford (which is unlikely given the expanding presence in Greater Manchester), I don't see anyone taking the depot for bus use.
It appears to me that there are simply too few profitable routes across that area. Stagecoach won't expand if there's nothing worthwhile for them and the fact that only D&G are prepared to attempt to keep some services going must be very telling.
It appears to me that there are simply too few profitable routes across that area. Stagecoach won't expand if there's nothing worthwhile for them and the fact that only D&G are prepared to attempt to keep some services going must be very telling.
There aren't many routes which didn't get picked up - only the Crewe 6 to Brookhouse (half hourly) and Macclesfield 5/6 (early/late hours only) didn't get up. Cheshire West & Chester Council subsidised the Winsford 7 (Stagecoach) and Northwich 4 (Warrington's Own Buses) but Cheshire East Council only subsidised evening/Sunday services with existing subsidised routes having a reduced subsidy as commercial aspects added
Additionally, 5 operators came to pick up services. D&G did pick up the most but are also the ones with depots in Crewe & Wincham (near Northwich) so was logical for them to add, and they've obtained the Macclesfield depot from Arriva too.
First Potteries and Stagecoach have entered commercially too, High Peak have a reduced subsidy as they take on the Moss Rose route whilst Warrington picks up a solely subsidised route. I dont think that shows only D&G were willing to pick up routes nor does it show there are too few profitable routes
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
------------- D&G are to change the X84 timetable from 14th May. X84 will be retimed between Crewe and Nantwich to depart Colleys Lane four minutes earlier.
The mytrip app is working ok too; it just needs to be regularly updated as near me on the #10 Bollington route most of the stops don't show on the app.
Bus stops are going to be a while before they get updated. I bumped into Andrew Barnett who works for Ansa Transport (formerly TSS) & ex bus station supervisor at Macclesfield. He told me there were 2 geezers doing the bus stop new timetables but unfortunately 1 left so at present it's just 1 poor bloke on his own doing it. So please have patience folks & bear with them.
There aren't many routes which didn't get picked up - only the Crewe 6 to Brookhouse (half hourly) and Macclesfield 5/6 (early/late hours only) didn't get up. Cheshire West & Chester Council subsidised the Winsford 7 (Stagecoach) and Northwich 4 (Warrington's Own Buses) but Cheshire East Council only subsidised evening/Sunday services with existing subsidised routes having a reduced subsidy as commercial aspects added
Additionally, 5 operators came to pick up services. D&G did pick up the most but are also the ones with depots in Crewe & Wincham (near Northwich) so was logical for them to add, and they've obtained the Macclesfield depot from Arriva too.
First Potteries and Stagecoach have entered commercially too, High Peak have a reduced subsidy as they take on the Moss Rose route whilst Warrington picks up a solely subsidised route. I dont think that shows only D&G were willing to pick up routes nor does it show there are too few profitable routes
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
------------- D&G are to change the X84 timetable from 14th May. X84 will be retimed between Crewe and Nantwich to depart Colleys Lane four minutes earlier.
The mytrip app is working ok too; it just needs to be regularly updated as near me on the #10 Bollington route most of the stops don't show on the app.
I was very surprised to see that D&G are providing 1 x vehicle to run a limited 375 Stepping Hill - Mellor service but no one actually bid to run the full service according to TfGM.
Reading TfGM's website it states:
"TfGM is continuing to explore options relating to the 375 service after no operator bid for it and is working to limit the impact on residents in Upper Hazel Grove, Hawk Green and Mellor in particular, as they are most affected due to a lack of alternative bus or other public transport services."
That seems to suggest there will be some funding for the new D&G route
"375 - From Monday 8 May 2023 D&G will operate a bus to cover the unserved area on the 375 route from Mellor to Stepping Hill. However, this is a single vehicle and will therefore operate on a limited timetable."
D&G have acquired short Enviro SN65 OHB and are using it on the newly contracted 375. It's the same specification as SN65 OHJ that Howards used to have, with seatbelts fitted.
D&G have acquired short Enviro SN65 OHB and are using it on the newly contracted 375. It's the same specification as SN65 OHJ that Howards used to have, with seatbelts fitted.
That may just be when the emergency tenders run out. After that, proper tendered issues. I'm sure D&G do that to save time and money as they'd have to register the service and then deregister is straight away.
Transport for Greater Manchester announced at the time that these were emergency contracts, which will run for 13 weeks while a more permanent solution is explored.
It’s not uncommon for operators to do this on emergency tenders, if they get rewarded the service on the full service they would just register the route. The fee to amend a service is the same as it is to register a new one from scratch. So saves money to put the contract expiry on the registration
That may just be when the emergency tenders run out. After that, proper tendered issues. I'm sure D&G do that to save time and money as they'd have to register the service and then deregister is straight away.
D&G have repainted bus reg. YX16 0HW (4) into an X84 branded bus (red front, red/yellow side). The X84 brand now has the frequency on the side of the bus so is now a sort of billboard for the route
They're obviously not giving up this route to Stagecoach easily
Interesting also they have two plain white large Enviro 200s running around Cheshire and they chose to prioritise route branding one that was already red, over giving one of the white ones a coat of red paint.
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dgbus.co.uk
tfgm.com
