(18/12/2014 09:04)wirralbus Wrote: [ -> ]Cant see how Ace Travel can honestly make any money on the Monday - Friday morning service , probably a good reason why it was a merseytravel contract , if ace was to pull it , it would have to go back to a Merseytravel contract , to be honest only the Saturday and sunday service is commercially viable work.
I wonder how many passengers realise they can or have used their concessionary or Merseytravel passes on Ace's 500/501? I am sure that there are many clubbers who are in possession of Trio or Solo tickets living on the Wirral who will benefit from this situation. If Ace cannot make a profit from these commercial services, I am sure Merseytravel would have to reintroduce the 150 service. Time will tell.
New 63:
http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travellin...015%29.pdf
The flyer that Arriva has produced to promote its revamped North Liverpool services depicts a man yelling something. The caption above the image reads: "We've got something to shout about!" Having just seen the new 63 timetable I suggest that the man is uttering a cry of despair.
As expected the 63 will operate a 30-minute frequency but what really concerns me is its hours of operation and lack of coordination with the Merseyrail service especially in the evening.
At the present time the 53A between Aintree and Crosby provides the following service: first bus
5.13; number of buses between 07.00 and 08.30:
14. From the 25th January when Stagecoach withdraw its 53A the 63 service between Aintree and Crosby will be: first bus
7.48; number of buses between 07.00 and 08.30:
2.
I accept that all services need to be monitored and refined periodically but this drastic reduction of service in the morning peak will have a severe impact on both commuters and the many school children who currently rely on buses to get them to work and school on time and it certainly won't encourage people to leave the car at home and try this service. Yes, I know that Arriva is in the business to make money, but whoever thought up this schedule clearly has no idea as to what he/she is doing.
(17/12/2014 20:16)F255ytj Wrote: [ -> ]Because they are a private company whose sole aim is to make money.
Why run a bus when you know it is only going to carry fresh air.
Still don't believe after all these years, you guys don't get the whole environment bus companies operate in.
They are not a charity. They're like a shop. If no one buys a product it gets discontinued.
A bus service, or individual journey simply gets withdrawn.
And this explains why de-regulation has been a disaster.
Instead of chasing regular passengers, bus companies only want the cash (Dayrider and Weekly ticket sales), so that a bus basically becomes a huge taxi.
This results in cash-peak travel, meaning timetables get staggered as companies chase the money. The problem with this is that it confuses the potential passenger who abandons the bus for his/her private car.
And this means bus companies put up fares to maintain profit margins (ie, rip people off)
Ridley and Thatcher had a lot to answer for when they gave away public services.
I'm lovin merseytravel's travel news update emails over Christmas.
I had one xmas eve, one xmas day morning and one this morning all specific to the days travel times.
Makes things really simple and easy to understand. Good job.
There will still be people waiting at stops tonight though. They can't say they weren't told with all the posters and everything up in bus stations and on the stops around town.