Warrington's Own Buses

[iMarkeh]

RE: WBT Network Warrington

(02/12/2017 18:38)Mayneway Wrote:  Your last comment is questionable. Certainly where Network Warrington is concerned anyway. Some of the changes that have implemented have certainly been interesting. Eye watering fare increases that left a lot of passengers extremely angry, network changes that again met with not the best reaction and of course a bail out by the council to keep them afloat. Yet now their in a position to offer discounted fares on the very services they see so much as a bit of minor competition.

I don't think Fairbrothers are in a position to be part of a 'war'. Arriva is as you say most likely but Carnt see it and even Stagecoach look quite contempt with what they have. But who knows...

I think it is very much a war of Link/Fairbrothers vs Network Warrington. Unsure what you guys see but at Warrington bus station, especially in the morning and evening, there are 6 NW buses all parked at the back blocking Fairbrothers and Link from heading there for layover and are even starting to park the staff minibus there on occasions despite Stand 1, 13 and 19 being completely empty for almost all day, everyday. NW are consistently departing late on 16/21 to get those few passengers from Fairbrothers. The reason I mention Link is because the manager at NW knows Link is associated with Mr Fairbrother (MD bus & coach) so throws both eggs in one basket despite Link not being any competition apart from Winwick Road and Sankey Bridges. I would definitely say it is a war. Fairbrothers and Link both can compete with lower prices as premises is cheaper as are driver costs. Though Fairbrothers don't have loads of buses to flood routes and stuff, people will start to wait for the price difference.

Fairbrothers do run on Saturdays though unsure of proper times as the Fairbrothers website says one thing, traveline says something completely different. Again, morning and evenings are slightly different on all the different websites. According to Fairbrothers timetables, the 16 runs early.

Network Warrington are being daft. 2 fares of £2 are much better than 1 fare of £3. Charge high, less people will use the service. 3 has First along it's entirety. Sankey and Penketh already have 8 buses per hour with Arriva, Link on 110 and Arriva 7. 21, 1/2, 16/16A all have competition with Fairbrothers. Also Halton on the way to Stockton Heath. All this competition and yet they are still charging rocket high prices.

I genuinely think it will come to a point where Warrington won't have it's own bus company and it will have to be taken over by Rolta or someone like that because the routes just simply won't be viable if Halton, Arriva, Link or Fairbrothers expand locally. There are quite a few routes which make money and could be jumped on. All the companies need is vehicles, licences and drivers. Sounds like a lot but I think companies can get hold of things a lot quicker these days.