(21/08/2015 11:34)djb Wrote: [ -> ]I suspect it's because the primary goal of the registrations is to get fuel rebate. The Secondary goal of perhaps picking up a passenger or 2 is far more likely on the 38 as it already has journeys in the early morning.
GHA run a 07:30 Macclesfield-Congleton service on the 39 route, with the next one at 08:30. The new GHA 38 services will be at 07:30 and 07:40 between the Arriva departures of 07:05 and 08:10. With most people using pre-9am being commuters who would buy a weekly ticket for a specific operator I'm not really sure the GHA 38 services will fulfill demand which hasn't already been fulfilled.
(21/08/2015 12:08)knutstransport Wrote: [ -> ]GHA run a 07:30 Macclesfield-Congleton service on the 39 route, with the next one at 08:30. The new GHA 38 services will be at 07:30 and 07:40 between the Arriva departures of 07:05 and 08:10. With most people using pre-9am being commuters who would buy a weekly ticket for a specific operator I'm not really sure the GHA 38 services will fulfill demand which hasn't already been fulfilled.
But if they are running 2 positioning journies regardless, better on the route that is more popular, and they are positioned halfway between the existing journies to maximise any potential (and any revenue gained is a bonus), rather than 3 buses within 10 mins on the 39 where all passengers are gha anyway?
(21/08/2015 13:11)djb Wrote: [ -> ]rather than 3 buses within 10 mins on the 39 where all passengers are gha anyway?
Not necessarily, the 39 route partly duplicates High Peak's 14 route and Aimee's Travel's 109 route.
GHA could also re-time existing 39 services to increase the gap if they wished but they can't re-time Arriva's services.
(21/08/2015 08:40)knutstransport Wrote: [ -> ]And as I posted a while back they'll also be 27X services which will also be positional moves for the 88 services.
The 88 changes from 1st September are available on Traveline. It seems they've actually reduced the running time of some services opposed to increased them. For instance, the 07:10 from Altrincham arrives in Knutsford 5 minutes earlier.
Something I find a bit strange is GHA will be running some morning route 38 services as positional moves between Macclesfield and Congleton only, given Arriva run the daytime services on the 38 route and GHA run a 39 service between Macclesfield and Congleton via Lyme Green.
Don't forget the 42 service that links Congleton-Holmes Chapel- Middlewich-Crewe. May be positioning moves for this service too.
(21/08/2015 14:29)DVL418 Wrote: [ -> ]Don't forget the 42 service that links Congleton-Holmes Chapel- Middlewich-Crewe. May be positioning moves for this service too.
I thought the 42 route was operated from the Winsford depot?
The Beartown buses need to be in Congleton for 07:53 and 08:05 starts. Arrivals at 07:50 and 08:00 on the 38 route seem to fit in what that.
On the 42 route the first service from from Congleton is at 07:20, the second service is the return working of the 06:50 from Crewe.
(21/08/2015 15:22)knutstransport Wrote: [ -> ]I thought the 42 route was operated from the Winsford depot?
The Beartown buses need to be in Congleton for 07:53 and 08:05 starts. Arrivals at 07:50 and 08:00 on the 38 route seem to fit in what that.
On the 42 route the first service from from Congleton is at 07:20, the second service is the return working of the 06:50 from Crewe.
You may be right about the 42.
I noticed one of the R reg Wright Renowns parked up near Chester station on Saturday had a full destination display on the rear (not scrolling) opposed to just the service number or scrolling the service number and destination over a small screen.
One of the R- PRG's think 848 (whichever has flip dots) had full rear flip dot blinds as did R219HCD had flip dot rear blinds which where full ength
.
The latest arrival is ex Fairbrother Warrington Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer X511UAT which has been purchased for spares only and will probably be scrapped once it has donated parts.
Left the fleet is K758SBB - DAF SB220 / Optare Delta (ex Bryn Melyn) - it has been scrapped on site
Also as expected the ex West Riding Volvo B10B / Wright Endurance L408NUA has been scrapped on site - it was withdrawn last year after an engine fire.
Getting the new Service Bus livery are
Solo M710SE YJ09EZK. It has recently been silver but not long ago had the 101 Hoppa Shoppa livery and
Enviro 300 SN04EFS This is the last of the ex Warwickshire green and yellow batch to be painted
Getting the GHA (silver) livery is yet another of the ex Shropshire Bus and Coach fleet - GN53OPM -
PHOTO LINK
Former Line 9 Dennis Dart SK52UTT is currently in the bodyshop receiving a makeover and it is expected to get the new livery when complete.
CNZ3819 DAF / Plaxton Premier - having returned from a specialist repairer in Blackpool and now with GHA (Silver) livery is expected to enter service once final preparations have been completed. Similar DAF vehicle with Van Hool bodywork 264CHX has now gone to Blackpool for similar treatment.
Unfortunately one of the new Beartown liveried ADL E20Ds 1471 - YY15CMX has been involved in a RTC and has sustained considerable front end damage - it is believed that the bus was stationery at the time of the incident.
Having won further contracts involving Reaseheath College a number of vehicles are to be given a special Reaseheath college livery. Included are expected to be N8 GHA, N9 GHA, P5 VLT and VT59 VLT.
After the mass involvement of double deckers at the Betley Court Farm - Total Access Concert on 15th August there is to be a further event where a number of GHA deckers will be involved. This is at the British Aerospace Airshow on September 5th. Unfortunately it is not a public event and entry is normally restricted to staff and their families.
GHA have re put up their timetable page on their website. The problem is that it's the same page as previously with no changes
Old timetables for services 5 (Llangollen)
No timetables for services 16/16A (Warrington), 436 (Shrewsbury)
Also the timetable for service 48 Northwich - Frodsham is still up on the website