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I had a look at the X4 workings today. I set out below my observations:-
1. The X4 continues to interwork with the 4. Buses arriving at Mold on the 4 leave working an X4 to Ellesmere Port. It works X4 returning to Mold and then leaves Mold on the 4 to Chester. Returning again to Mold as a 4. The whole circuit takes six hours. My calculation indicates a total PVR of 12 vehicles.
2. The 4 / X4 is mainly worked by Sapphire Double deckers previously branded and working the 10 / 10a. These vehicles have been cleverly de-branded by the application of an advert on each side of the buses stating 'Ho-Ho-Hop on the X4 to get to Cheshire Oaks – Service X4 is now extended to get you to Cheshire Oaks and Ellesmere Port'.
3. My journey to Ellesmere Port resulted in very few passengers travelling after Chester Railway Station and similarly on the return journey to Chester.
4. The vehicles destinations have been re-programmed but I would suggest that there are some issues. One vehicle left Mold displaying Chester Railway Station via Cheshire Oaks. <Photo 3141 leaving Mold> Other vehicles showed the correct intended destination. From Mold this stated Ellesmere Port via Cheshire Oaks <PHOTO> and from Ellesmere Port this was Mold via Cheshire Oaks <PHOTO> which alternated with Yr Wyddgrug via Cheshire Oaks. At no time did the buses indicate Chester. This must be an issue for intending passengers both on the run into Chester from Mold but mainly on the journey from Ellesmere Port. Intending passengers not aware of the new service are bound to confuse the service with the former SP1/2 now 5 which operated direct from Ellesmere Port to Mold. I observed that at many bus stops on the run back to Chester from the Port were possible passengers who did not indicate for the bus to stop. They either were intent on travelling by Stagecoach or they were not aware that the bus was en route to Chester.
5. Available on the buses were new leaflets detailing the 4 and X4 service.

(29/10/2018 22:18)DLG817 Wrote: [ -> ]I had a look at the X4 workings today. I set out below my observations:-
2. The 4 / X4 is mainly worked by Sapphire Double deckers previously branded and working the 10 / 10a. These vehicles have been cleverly de-branded by the application of an advert on each side of the buses stating 'Ho-Ho-Hop on the X4 to get to Cheshire Oaks – Service X4 is now extended to get you to Cheshire Oaks and Ellesmere Port'.

4. The vehicles destinations have been re-programmed but I would suggest that there are some issues. One vehicle left Mold displaying Chester Railway Station via Cheshire Oaks. <Photo 3141 leaving Mold> Other vehicles showed the correct intended destination. From Mold this stated Ellesmere Port via Cheshire Oaks <PHOTO> and from Ellesmere Port this was Mold via Cheshire Oaks <PHOTO> which alternated with Yr Wyddgrug via Cheshire Oaks. At no time did the buses indicate Chester. This must be an issue for intending passengers both on the run into Chester from Mold but mainly on the journey from Ellesmere Port. Intending passengers not aware of the new service are bound to confuse the service with the former SP1/2 now 5 which operated direct from Ellesmere Port to Mold. I observed that at many bus stops on the run back to Chester from the Port were possible passengers who did not indicate for the bus to stop. They either were intent on travelling by Stagecoach or they were not aware that the bus was en route to Chester.

5. Available on the buses were new leaflets detailing the 4 and X4 service.

2. The X4 has been a right mix of buses today. I have seen pictures of Enviro 400s, pulsars, cadets. It's funny that they have made the 4/X4 sapphire but they don't have enough Sapphire buses to cover the route. They should really try and split the 4 and X4 then the X4 can be Sapphire but the 4 can remain pulsars as it was.

4.Those destinations are very confusing. I think they need to change the dests to Chester, connect for Mold as the way they are now suggests it is a quick bus to Mold when infact it takes 30 minutes longer.

5. Very good of them to do leaflets. Arriva seem to be getting better with branding now. Good that they are done for individual services as well. Saves carrying round a big book with lots of useless timetables in it.

(30/10/2018 03:16)iMarkeh Wrote: [ -> ]4.Those destinations are very confusing. I think they need to change the dests to Chester, connect for Mold as the way they are now suggests it is a quick bus to Mold when infact it takes 30 minutes longer.

Mentioning Chester certainly seems like common sense, but "Chester, connect for Mold" would not be good, because it implies a need to change buses. I once nearly got caught out by similar phrasing when I alighted from an 11 in Holywell, and only just realised in time that the same bus was operating the onward "connection" to Rhyl.

(30/10/2018 18:36)Quackdave Wrote: [ -> ]Mentioning Chester certainly seems like common sense, but "Chester, connect for Mold" would not be good, because it implies a need to change buses. I once nearly got caught out by similar phrasing when I alighted from an 11 in Holywell, and only just realised in time that the same bus was operating the onward "connection" to Rhyl.

It can be somewhat confusing sometimes but the 11 changes numbers. The X4 wouldn't. It would show as one straight through journey on the timetable. I don't think many people find it confusing though. Maybe I am wrong but I haven't seen or heard of many people getting confused by it.

Another option would be to have a system like Runcorn has on the Ecocities. Change your dest as soon as you pass one of the via points.

Arriva are making changes to the 13, 15 & X4 from the 20th of January 2019

Quote:PG0007245/154 Registered
ARRIVA CYMRU LTD
Route: Mold Bus Station to Ellesmere Port Bus Station
Service number: X4 (X4)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 20 Jan 2019

PG0007245/338 Registered
ARRIVA CYMRU LTD
Route: Chester Bus Station to Saughall
Service number: 15 (15B, 15, 15A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 20 Jan 2019

PG0007245/260 Registered
ARRIVA CYMRU LTD
Route: Mold Bus Station to Chester
Service number: 13 (13)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 20 Jan 2019

Lots of interesting changes ahead. I bought the registrations for the blacons and saughalls and needless to say, there are some big changes on there so the other routes won't be little things. Sunday daytime (between the times when Stagecoach throw their extra bus out) Blacons are down to every 24 minutes each way (12 mins combined). Monday-Saturday pre 9am and post 3pm looks to be a reduction in frequency with trips now taking 31 mins instead of 28.

Saughalls is a simple change of buses after 3pm will depart 4 minutes later. Nothing major.

All routes bar the 10/10A have changes in January. I am interested to see what is going on with the other routes.

Solo on X4 1725 ex E Port.

4640 is now in the new Sapphire livery with new Sapphire logo
2521 is also now here

(30/11/2018 18:43)Y727 KNF Wrote: [ -> ]4640 is now in the new Sapphire livery with new Sapphire logo
2521 is also now here

Is 2521 on loan or a permanent transfer since Rhyl are still using the Darts

(30/11/2018 21:24)darylyates17 Wrote: [ -> ]Is 2521 on loan or a permanent transfer since Rhyl are still using the Darts

Loan