GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

[knutstransport]

RE: GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

(13/10/2016 13:11)djb Wrote:  Regards the 27, as we've discussed previously a return to an hourly service in the short term is unlikely.

What's your take on curtailing the interpeak service at monks Heath? Would enable an hourly service between there and knutsford at the hours that gha offered it, and could be timed to get a connection with the short 130 that starts soon. The peak time service could stay as it is now, as it's been like that for a while, and the 130 isn't clockfaced in the peaks.

Upside - an hourly bus based connection.
Downside - changing buses, lack of interoperator ticketing.

I'm not sure I understand what you're suggesting. Are you saying an hourly Knutsford-Over Peover-Monks Heath service? If so why not Knutsford-Macclesfield Hospital (direct) which would have an approx 25 minute journey time? Either way if a 5 year contract has just been awarded for a Knutsford to Macclesfield service your suggested curtailing isn't going to happen any time soon. Even if an operator registered it as a commercial service (very unlikely) I don't think it could cause the contracted service to be cancelled as there would be journeys the commercial service wouldn't cover.

The current 27 service suggests Cheshire East don't appreciate how many people commute to Knutsford for jobs or appreciate the types of business that exist and the hours they work. There are many businesses in the digital industry in Macclesfield (it's one of the main industries in Macclesfield.) These types of business see a Mon-Fri 9-5 working day is seen as outdated in a world where consumers use the internet 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

As for changing in general Northwich, Knutsford and Hale have an hourly service to Manchester even at peak times with the peak time extras only going as far as Stockport. If you look at passenger loadings most people wanting Manchester go for the direct services especially southbound where a missed connection could leave you with a long wait for the next service.