Also, I expect much will depend on what work Rock Ferry can gain. I can't see that it would be viable to retain a depot of it's size just for 3 buses an hour on two routes.
I've previously called for that link to be reinstated, but it should go to West Kirby complementing the 22/22A rather than Thingwall.
I too thought this would be the case - disappointing to see that it isn't happening.
The trouble is that the more time spent in Liverpool City Centre the more the possibility of delay.
The 407 doesn't need to extend to West Kirby. West Kirby / Hoylake / Meols to Birkenhead passengers have got the 438, as well as an excellent rail service through Birkenhead and continuing on to Liverpool. And connectivity has been added to the network through the 483, which links West Kirby / Hoylake / Meols passengers to Arrowe Park Hospital (the major hospital on the Wirral) - and in the case of Hoylake / Meols passengers, to Greasby - for the first time in many years. There is an argument that the WK - Moreton leg has been reduced from its current 5 buses an hour (3x407 and 2x38) to 3 (2x438 and 1x483/4), which may or may not prove to be sufficient for the demand, but that's relatively easily tweaked should the situation arise after a bedding in period.
The 407 doesn't need to extend to West Kirby. West Kirby / Hoylake / Meols to Birkenhead passengers have got the 438, as well as an excellent rail service through Birkenhead and continuing on to Liverpool. And connectivity has been added to the network through the 483, which links West Kirby / Hoylake / Meols passengers to Arrowe Park Hospital (the major hospital on the Wirral) - and in the case of Hoylake / Meols passengers, to Greasby - for the first time in many years. There is an argument that the WK - Moreton leg has been reduced from its current 5 buses an hour (3x407 and 2x38) to 3 (2x438 and 1x483/4), which may or may not prove to be sufficient for the demand, but that's relatively easily tweaked should the situation arise after a bedding in period.
As for extending the Birkenhead circulars into Liverpool - why?!? The Birkenhead-Liverpool tunnel already has ample buses, with a simple connection at Birkenhead Bus Station. Extending the likes of the 491/2/5 through the tunnel would benefit very few people, and add to the already chaotic situation regarding Wirral bound buses in Liverpool City Centre - not to mention introducing the liklihood (some would say near-certainty) of importing traffic delays to these services. Oh sorry, I said NOT to mention the liklihood of importing traffic delays to these services!
Perhaps they should rename the station?! I'm always pleased to see that one of the nearby shops still calls itself Heswall Hills.The 407 doesn't need to extend to West Kirby. West Kirby / Hoylake / Meols to Birkenhead passengers have got the 438, as well as an excellent rail service through Birkenhead and continuing on to Liverpool. And connectivity has been added to the network through the 483, which links West Kirby / Hoylake / Meols passengers to Arrowe Park Hospital (the major hospital on the Wirral) - and in the case of Hoylake / Meols passengers, to Greasby - for the first time in many years. There is an argument that the WK - Moreton leg has been reduced from its current 5 buses an hour (3x407 and 2x38) to 3 (2x438 and 1x483/4), which may or may not prove to be sufficient for the demand, but that's relatively easily tweaked should the situation arise after a bedding in period.
As for extending the Birkenhead circulars into Liverpool - why?!? The Birkenhead-Liverpool tunnel already has ample buses, with a simple connection at Birkenhead Bus Station. Extending the likes of the 491/2/5 through the tunnel would benefit very few people, and add to the already chaotic situation regarding Wirral bound buses in Liverpool City Centre - not to mention introducing the liklihood (some would say near-certainty) of importing traffic delays to these services. Oh sorry, I said NOT to mention the liklihood of importing traffic delays to these services!
One thing that does need amending though is the timetable for the 482, which many would read as suggesting the service goes to Heswall [rail] Station. It needs to say Heswall Bus Station (my emboldening), as with other services that call at this facility (For those unafmiliar with the area, Heswall [rail] Station is a good mile from the Bus Station - it's what used to be called Heswall Hills.) The journey takes six minutes on the bus (the new 453).
Image below shows the present version of the 482 timetable:
View attachment 211634
The extension of the 407 to WK was only relatively recently introduced and was done largely as an old-school revenue-grab with Arriva competing with Stagecoach. The move to franchising (and removal of direct competition) means unnecessary duplication can be removed and the resource used elsewhere, which is exactly what has happened here. That’s one of the biggest benefits.
Either an extremely sloppy scheduler has been employed who can't timetable for toffee, or AI has been let loose on the timetables.
Yes
Yes, think it’s £3.60 each way.
Looks like £4 unless there is a special arrangement. Perhaps this might change with franchising as there is a degree of circular wooden dollars?
Or it was done in a hurry to meet a political objective/timescale without adequate resource being provided to achieve a high level of quality.
The full rate for a bus is £4.00, but when I’ve passed through, the tollgate displays a lower value (I think £3.60).
Must cost the bus companies a lot of money
Probably a typo, unless the 407 back to Liverpool can leave eight minutes before it arrives at Birkenhead.
Still very sloppy whoever is at fault. Schedulers or Merseytravels publicity team. At the same time that these deluded organisations believe they are the fix all the the regions transport issues, this is the sort of work being produced for the publicly ran bus network.
As far as I know, Arriva still have the contract as I can't find any tender issued to replace them. They still have another year or so with some of the depots in Merseyside, and Chester isn't too far away either to take on stuff so I think they may see the contract out, even if they struggle a bit towards the end.
