Just really sad to see another longstanding independent go under..particularly as very local to me...hope it all works out for the staff
I think that they did a bit of a GHA and expanded too far too quickly.
(06/10/2018 06:07)childwallblues Wrote: [ -> ]I think that they did a bit of a GHA and expanded too far too quickly.
I read in the Echo that there were several reasons for the demise but the primary one was the introduction of the Mersytravel MyTicket which allows under 19's unlimited travel for just £2. Since its introduction the number of adult cash fares plummeted.
(06/10/2018 06:07)childwallblues Wrote: [ -> ]I think that they did a bit of a GHA and expanded too far too quickly.
With GHA I think the main problems were:
1. Starting bus wars on routes where there was already a reasonable level of service in comparison to the number of operators.
2. Trying to be the lowest bidder for council contracts even when there was already other operators in the area submitting low cost bids for contracts e.g. D&G in South Cheshire.
3. Opting to run routes commercially which probably weren't profitable when they lost the contract e.g. 130 Sunday and Bank Holiday service and in some cases registering a route commercially to prevent it going out to tender.
(05/10/2018 08:41)T42 PVM Wrote: [ -> ]The fact they have no money to replace the 139 is one of the first things that came to mind as most Avon Services get some sort of payment from Merseytravel to operate, If Arriva or Stagecoach where to take on any of these services they would expect a higher payment as their overheads are higher and since Merseytravel had no money for the 139 getting money for these services could end up being a problem
In this report
here George Lewis is forthright on the damage the My Ticket has done to the business. The scheme has been trumpeted by Merseytravel as a big benefit to young people but they are not funding it and, as Lewis says, it falls to the operators to absorb the loss in revenue that the scheme causes. Evidently Merseytravel can't afford it, the operators can't afford it. Without an injection of real cash support from central government all these aspirations for public transport outside London, in spite of the creation of "Transport for the North", are just pipe dreams. Initiatives are all well and good but if this is the best they can do we can see the result: they end up costing far more than anyone imagined.
The my ticket I'll agree is a huge issue at the moment, it is abused left right and centre with staff being told you can not challenge the customer about there age unless they are very obvious over age and it's hard to tell at times
Could be tricky to cover some of those minimal routes 77/80/84/88 etc which don’t carry much.
Sandbrook/TML can be covered by the 38/407 which duplicate the 18.
Arriva/SC could possibly step in on hourly/2 hourly 17/124/164/495?
Possibly extend 175 to cover Greasby/Newton/Thurstaston/Caldy?
Possibly reintroduce 419 to cover Spital Rd?
Divert one of the many 52/55 to cover Hatton Hill/Pendle Drive using a Cadet?
(06/10/2018 11:24)DVG526 Wrote: [ -> ]Divert one of the many 52/55 to cover Hatton Hill/Pendle Drive using a Cadet?
That's an idea but unlikely to happen for several reasons. Firstly, these routes are nominally double-deck routes for a reason though full-sized Pulsars and Commanders are often to be found on them. Secondly, the 144 takes a totally different route through Seaforth and thirdly, there are no Cadets in Bootle.
I suspect that HTL will end up doing the 144 as a daytime tendered service, assuming Merseytravel can find the money.
(05/10/2018 11:57)Barney Wrote: [ -> ]That's very interesting. The 63 and 122 run within five minutes of each other most of the day so Arriva will be competing with itself!
I suspect that as Arriva doesn't have suitable vehicles (short Darts) for the 144 that is why they aren't operating that route too. Perhaps an unloved long Solo might be transferred in.
Arriva London loaned a few Solos to Metroline for the take-up of routes 631/H2/H3 but Metroline are now introducing their own new Solo SRs there. So these Solos could come to Merseyside for route 144 or another ex-Avon route.