Still at the bodyshop, it was there when both YJ16DYP and AY60BVD went to the same one for repairs.
Enviro 200 DK08AYV is now back in use and it is likely VDL SB180 YJ60GGF will be back in use from next week.
I See on Merseytravel's website that HTL have lost the 12/33/156 contract to Cumfybus but retained the 602 which is increased to Hourly presumably due to only requiring 1 vehicle from this Sunday (16th January).
From next week after the 38A goes to two hourly and the 17/30 goes to every 90 minutes from what I can tell.
(13/01/2022 17:09)CX06 EBK Wrote: [ -> ]From next week after the 38A goes to two hourly and the 17/30 goes to every 90 minutes from what I can tell.
Thanks for the heads up regarding the 17 as I live on that route. I always felt this route could very easily have worked with 1 vehicle without interworking (as per what seems to be happening with the 602). I appreciate it's the way Merseytravel have done the contract but surely a 602 type solution could have been found for what is a service linking two major towns in the area.
(13/01/2022 17:55)St Helens Rider Wrote: [ -> ]Thanks for the heads up regarding the 17 as I live on that route. I always felt this route could very easily have worked with 1 vehicle without interworking (as per what seems to be happening with the 602). I appreciate it's the way Merseytravel have done the contract but surely a 602 type solution could have been found for what is a service linking two major towns in the area.
The 17 is slightly longer than the 602 though. To have the 17 end to end hourly with 1 bus, you would have to have a 27/28 minute end to end journey time which is a little bit tight. Alternatively run a bus every 70 minutes which would upset some people.
I think it would be much better to work with Halton Council and try to work it somehow with the 27. There is for sure some dead areas on the 27 at night and so combining them would work out.
I don't get this whole obsession from MTravel and TFGM though for 2 hourly services. Just run a new, evening only service, hourly or something rather than having random 2 hourly buses to every corner of the borough.
Well Merseytravel used to run a lot of services that only ran of an evening and Sunday, their St Helens review brought a lot of daytime routes to the evening roster. The reason for them being 2 hourly now is just down to staffing issues. The 17 could easily be ran with one bus, it was before when the route was longer in Widnes - the current timetable is just badly planned out. I think the next set of tenders from what I was told later in the year should see a bit of normality return to these routes.
As far as I know, HTL will takeover operation of the Monday-Saturday daytime 39 from the same day next week.
A new arrival to note is Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MX10DXO, another one is due this week too - I suspect these will spell the end for the last MPDs SN06BMV/Y.
The second Enviro 200 to arrive is SN10CAU, both ex Summercourt Travel Cornwall.
If I am correct when both these vehicles are ready for service is when SN06 BMV/Y will be withdrawn?