(04/08/2020 08:44)33109 Wrote: [ -> ]D&G could possibly take over macc aye if they're interested enough & arriva struggle like they are currently.
Would anyone want to make purchases though at this time? Macc bus usage is questionable at the best of times so you would be putting money in and unless the price is quite cheap, you will struggle to make much of a return on the investment. The buses are also a big factor since no buses are officially at Macclesfield. That would then be a further cost to Centrebus to purchase enough buses to cover everything.
At the moment Arriva are interworking the 38 and 10 which so far seems to be working fine. If Arriva were to dispose of Gaw end and deregister the rest of the Macc locals then the only real cost is for around 4 vehicles to work the services. D&G have space in Wincham for that amount and they already run empty buses to and from Macc to start/finish 88s and 130s. As has been said though, who is going to make any purchases or take risks on new (to them) commercial services at this time.
The 10/38 interworking has resulted in a 50% frequency cut for the 10, which I can't see coming back. More managed decline from Arriva.
The rest of the Macc routes are on reduced frequency. Very few people are travelling at the moment. D&Gs 288 is also on 50% frequency with no late or Sunday working. The 88 is back to normal but that is a strange timetable in the weekday afternoons anyway.
(05/08/2020 07:30)KXW212 Wrote: [ -> ]The 10/38 interworking has resulted in a 50% frequency cut for the 10, which I can't see coming back. More managed decline from Arriva.
(05/08/2020 08:16)Rick Hunter Wrote: [ -> ]The 88 is back to normal but that is a strange timetable in the weekday afternoons anyway.
With the exception of the Saturday evening and Sunday Wilmslow-Altrincham services, that are interworked with 288 services.
I've noticed an increase in usage on 88 services leaving Knutsford town centre towards Longridge over the past few days and mainly people of working age, opposed to the missing bus pass holders returning.
D&G were running a Saturday service with some journeys part or fully withdrawn on the 88 route every day when they launched their survey about which journeys people need to make. I understand quite a few people told them the bus they'll need to catch when their workplace reopens was not included in their reduced timetable, which is probably understandable with the 88 service as even the full weekday service isn't that convenient for many with gaps of over an hour.
(04/08/2020 12:56)iMarkeh Wrote: [ -> ]The buses are also a big factor since no buses are officially at Macclesfield.
Allocations are quite often swapped around when there's a sale e.g. the South Lancs Travel 64 reg Enviros being moved to D&G when SLT was sold to Rotala.
IF D&G did acquire Macc from Arriva
and they decided to exchange vehicles I wouldn't be surprised if Solos transferred for fleet consistency both at D&G and Arriva.
Rare working today is that Optare Versa 26 is out on one of the workings on 288 today meaning that there's probably an Enviro200 out on 82s instead.
(06/08/2020 05:56)M60lad Wrote: [ -> ]Rare working today is that Optare Versa 26 is out on one of the workings on 288 today meaning that there's probably an Enviro200 out on 82s instead.
One of the 64 reg long Enviros was on the Handforth Dean Free Bus this morning and another (which was looking a bit tatty externally) was on an 88 service to Macclesfield.
The 82 is still running to a reduced timetable so it only needs 2 Versas rather than 3 but I'm not sure how many they currently have at Wincham.
The Handforth Dean free bus is normally a long Enviro200. 33 would be the scruffy looking long Enviro200 ON 88. There has been a long Enviro200 on 88s every day this week so far. All 3 Versas are currently at Wincham
(06/08/2020 14:15)knutstransport Wrote: [ -> ]One of the 64 reg long Enviros was on the Handforth Dean Free Bus this morning and another (which was looking a bit tatty externally) was on an 88 service to Macclesfield.
The 82 is still running to a reduced timetable so it only needs 2 Versas rather than 3 but I'm not sure how many they currently have at Wincham.
There is currently only 1 bus on the 288 at present. By coincidence both Winchams enthusiast drivers were also on 288 today.
(06/08/2020 05:56)M60lad Wrote: [ -> ]Rare working today is that Optare Versa 26 is out on one of the workings on 288 today meaning that there's probably an Enviro200 out on 82s instead.