Belle Vue Coaches

[knutstransport]

RE: Belle Vue Coaches
What's the typical loading for the 891 currently? Scholar usage on a given route can go up and down between academic years. I think we're getting to the time of year when year 11s and 13s will only go in for exams, so the numbers will be lower. I think Cheshire East contract on seated capacity, so a 27 seater is a 27 seater, but the total capacity (including standees) could be 30, 40 or 50.

I think the travelling public are yet to be sold on the Mellors. The Northwich-Barnton 4 route (now the N4 under Warrington's Own Buses) was one Arriva trialled changing from a Solo SR to a Mellor, before they pulled out of Northwich. Their Mellors were quite high spec and the roads around Barnton aren't easy to manoeuvre a full size bus around, but still they weren't popular with passengers, especially those travelling with children in pushchairs.

It's interesting one person (from Belle Vue) saying about putting the longer backup vehicle on the shorts, while another person commented when GHA terminated services there in the past it was difficult for them to turn buses around due to parked cars. I think GHA likely used a Solo or short Dart on that service. Things may have changed in the last 9 years though!