D&G Bus

[iMarkeh]

RE: D&G Bus

(05/06/2018 08:32)knutstransport Wrote:  The Barclays staff shuttles include lunchtime runs for those working half the day. They also have some contracts with Knutsford area schools to take school pupils to the local leisure centre for swimming. I think they've also got 3 x high school/college contracts taking pupils back to Knutsford in the afternoon, so possibly the afternoon/evening Barclays shuttles are worked by the same coaches as the high school/college contracts? The shuttles used to be operated by Selwyns who I don't think had any other regular contracted work in the Knutsford area, so maybe Holmeswood were able to undercut them when it went up for renewal?

However, the problem with Barclays sponsoring the D&G service instead is the number of people who need to be moved in a short time frame - Holmeswood can have a second 50 seater coach filling up quickly when another 50 seater coach has just left a few minutes earlier. There's a lot of Barclays workers arriving in Knutsford by train, who then need onward transport to Radbrooke Hall as anyone squashed on the peak time Northern services to/from Knutsford will verify. Unless D&G were to get bigger buses (probably double deckers) there would probably need to be up to 6 buses on a Knutsford-Radbrooke Hall service at peak times if some services were to continue to Macclesfield.

I never noticed that on the timetables at Knutsford and I couldn't find a specific timetable online to work out how it could possibly work. Interesting how far Holmeswood are coming just for school and contract work? It will be likely they all work together if they have contracts in the area.
I'm sure the services were every 20 minutes not every few minutes. It wouldn't hurt D&G to have a decker though. They could use it on the 188, Barclays and as a shuttle or lunch bus at Knutsford inbetween.
If there were more buses to more destinations, would that possibly help the fact of everyone arriving into Knutsford train station? For example use an 89 to extend there. Save everyone arriving in one place therefore reducing the crowding. I suppose you also have to look at the fact D&G can have standing passengers whereas Holmeswood can't on their coaches.
D&G Could have 1 decker running every 20 minutes and have 2 normal buses. If they run hourly on the 27, then they will cater for Macclesfield and Chelford. I think the whole Barclays network needs to look at more destinations rather than more trips to Knutsford. If you find out where the workers are coming from, a few trips from further destination will probably be more beneficial.
Wilmslow could just be one extended 88, Northwich could be an 89A (Northwich, Lostock Gralam, Plumley, Radbroke Hall, Knutsford), Macc and Chelford on the 27. Crewe already has it's own coach already. All of this could reduce how many trips are needed. The 88, 89A and 27 could all work with D&Gs existing buses but it reduces the amount they would have to pay out for special coaches as only Crewe journeys would be needed.

(05/06/2018 08:32)knutstransport Wrote:  Inconsistently. They ran an half-hourly 88 with a PVR of 4 (D&G used a PVR of 5 from when they took over the service in October 2016.) In school holidays when there were no problems on the M6* everything could run on time to the second. In school term time and if there were problems on the M6 it wasn't uncommon for certain vehicles to get delayed, if the M6 problem coincided with rush hour or school finishing time it was possible for a bus to get 30 minutes behind schedule and sometimes when that happened under GHA it meant they cancelled one service and sent the bus directly between Knutsford and Altrincham out-of-service so that it started its' return working on time.

* Problems on the M6 can mean many vehicles use the A50 as an alternative.

I was thinking with regards to the school and leaving gaps in the service but if they didn't do the 188, there was no need for gap. The main issues were reliability related.

(05/06/2018 08:32)knutstransport Wrote:  The 188 was a designated school service operated by Howards - remember the long gaps in the Howards 289 timetable? Cheshire East decided to reinstate a pavement alongside the B5085 and decided that meant there was now a safe walking route for some pupils but still included a requirement for a 188 service in the tender for the replacement 27/88/289 service, which D&G have registered as a public bus service.

Ahh. It was never a service which had a timetable out there then. That is why I have never heard of it. Howards hide quite a few of their timetables for some reason. I think maybe an alternative company or an alternative tender should be out for the 188 to avoid the gaps in service to accommodate it in the existing PVR. I suppose the base of the 188 should be just a larger bus on the 88. The slight extension upto Four Lane Ends could just be a minibus or linked to another school bus if there are any routes in that area (I can't find Knutsford school bus routes)

(05/06/2018 08:32)knutstransport Wrote:  That came up with the Altrincham section of the 289 going. Despite villages which lost the 289 getting a limited 47 to Warrington in lieu there were complaints about no longer being able to get to Tescos in Altrincham and Knutsford not having a 'normal' supermarket, despite the fact they are now able to get to Asda in Warrington instead.

Exactly, people are very brand loyal. As I say, maybe that is why previous attempts failed. Woodford housing development would be the best call for them. Woodford - Handforth Dean - Colshaw Farm - Lacey Green - Wilmslow. Woodfords closest supermarkets are Handforth Dean or Poynton Morrisons. Neither of which are accessible via public transport. Their closest proper supermarket via public transport is Cheadle Hulme. The above route also enables posh people to shop at Waitrose as well. I think D&G are missing some very important things. This is what I mean about they don't look for alternatives and properly evaluate their options.