Diamond Bus North West

[South Lancs Travel]

RE: South Lancs Travel

(24/06/2012 16:28)Nicholas Wrote:  Bear in mind D&G has a tendency to buy fairly young second hand buses instead of brand new vehicles so there may be no new buses planned for SLT in the near future. However, the Leigh to Bolton QBP may mean some new buses do come into the fleet as I believe the Tempos were originally the first for use on the service, but there were not enough to cover the whole service.

The 132 is a difficult service because of the two congestion hotspots at either end of the route (Ince/Hindley and the M60). It doesn't matter what day it is or what time it is, you'll always find an issue with traffic along the A577. The timings aren't so much an issue (although extending the running time to 55 minutes will help a little), it is the unpredictable nature of the traffic that is the problem.

As Chris has said, roadworks don't help especially at the moment because there is a massive gas main renewal project going on that will take five years to complete. It doesn't help that you'll have works in one place for a few weeks then they'll go away and do the next bit a couple of months later rather than just getting the whole lot done as a job lot in one big go. This is definitely the case with Atherton Road as there are still pockets of work planned, well over 12 months after the first set began!

There's no plans for any new buses as far as I know. The Leigh-Bolton QBP is aimed more at First service 582. The Tempo's are tied up on services 514, 574 and EL1 and are staying there for the forseeable future.

Newer second-hand buses are usually the order of the day - these usually tend to appear as and when available.

As for the 132, I think I'll have a day out on it in the next couple of weeks, but it does seem to be the case that the roadworks are a bit of an unpredictable difficulty.

Chris.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: South Lancs Travel

(24/06/2012 18:39)South Lancs Travel Wrote:  As for the 132, I think I'll have a day out on it in the next couple of weeks, but it does seem to be the case that the roadworks are a bit of an unpredictable difficulty.

Chris.

now this is a perfect example of good managing and a perfect reason when i am stood in leigh and waiting for a bus to bolton i always let first go and get SLT!

[SLTRegular]

RE: South Lancs Travel
Just a Suggestion but what it they routed the 132 Wigan-Pemberton-Orrell-M6-M62--M60-Trafford Centre could potentially solve issues and would be similar to the old X81 was it?

[Nicholas]

RE: South Lancs Travel
It wouldn't be commercially viable, especially as a most of the passenger traffic is from Hindley, Atherton and Tyldesley. Plus the M6 is notoriously prone to congestion along the Orrell - M62 section, and also the M62 between the M6 and M60.

[M60lad]

RE: South Lancs Travel
I agree with Nicholas I've seen and heard what M6 can be like sometimes and I know that both M6/M62 and M62/M60 are notorious for queues at peak times and all you'll need is an accident or something to happen and you've got delays to the route.

Another problem would actually be leaving Wigan in evening peak due to Saddle Junction which can queue sometimes all the way back upto Wigan Northwestern Station

[CX54 DKD (Moderator)]

RE: South Lancs Travel
Noted on the SLT website that the morning 196 which goes onto a school is changing operators from the 13th August. Can anyone (Chris?) can confirm whether the St Helens schools will be going to another operator alongside the 196 or are they to be retained?

[South Lancs Travel]

RE: South Lancs Travel

(27/06/2012 10:01)CX54 DKD Wrote:  Noted on the SLT website that the morning 196 which goes onto a school is changing operators from the 13th August. Can anyone (Chris?) can confirm whether the St Helens schools will be going to another operator alongside the 196 or are they to be retained?

Most of the schools are to be retained. The ones that are going were cancelled ages ago.

Chris.

[CX54 DKD (Moderator)]

RE: South Lancs Travel
Cheers for that Chris, musn't have noted those! After a quick skim over VOSA however, I'm guessing that it's just the 719 (Sutton - St Peters) that's going? Any ideas also as to who will take up that morning 196?

[South Lancs Travel]

RE: South Lancs Travel

(27/06/2012 11:44)CX54 DKD Wrote:  Cheers for that Chris, musn't have noted those! After a quick skim over VOSA however, I'm guessing that it's just the 719 (Sutton - St Peters) that's going? Any ideas also as to who will take up that morning 196?

Not got a clue who is taking on the 196.

It is the 719 going, but also the 662 and 783.

[CX54 DKD (Moderator)]

RE: South Lancs Travel
Thanks again Chris