Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

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RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(15/01/2014 00:09)jtd508110 Wrote:  Im glad that it is ousting some of Avon's market share to be honest. I am all for competition and maybe this will make both companies push to make their product better. Avon need better customer service both in a small proportion of their drivers and their head office (which in my opinion leaves a lot to be desired for!)

The stagecoach fleet is more modern and pleasant to travel on from joe bloggs' point of view, but some people from that part of the universe stick to what they know so it won't entirely knock the 22 out. Maybe some usp's that Avon could implement are free wifi, decent priced flexible tickets (a good example is following Stagecoach's idea with child weekly tickets on 38 including weekend travel) and friendly drivers. These all make the journey better for the passenger and may sway them to stick to Avon services.


On a separate note, I wonder what extra vehicles will be needed to account for these changes? My guess is darts from Gilmoss or some B10Ble's if they aren't too old. Hope the Enviro200's find a new home away from Rock Ferry soon.

The 22/25 have a limited target audience at the moment, generally school children in the morning as well as commuters, they offer a £5 return from West Kirby to Chester, which if you think about it is only £2.50 each way or a £6 all zone day ticket. The rest of the passengers as I and others have previously said are concessionary passengers. I do know that Avon aren't just going to sit back and watch, as there have already been a meeting or two regarding upcoming changes with staff.

The Avon fleet isn't all that old, especially when they are currently using buses from 2006-2008 on it which are only eight years old at the most, and in all fairness I'd prefer an Avon Buses ADL Dart with a 4 or 5 speed Allison gearbox over a Stagecoach Enviro 200 with 3 speed Voith on the 22 route but that's down to my own personal taste and opinion.