GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

[djb]

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

(13/10/2016 14:13)knutstransport Wrote:  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 These types of business see a Mon-Fri 9-5 working day is seen as outdated in a world where consumers use the internet 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.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.

What i was trying to do was start a discussion about ways of improving a route that you clearly care about, when there is no money in the pot to provide an extra bus. Its not just enthusiasts that read forums, and you never know quite where an idea starts. You seem to know a lot about the route, hence my enquiry about whether a higher frequency but with a connecting service would be preferable.

To clarify, what i meant was to curtail the service off peak only, to run between Knutsford and Monks heath only. At the timetable frequency gha provided. This could be operated by the existing 27 bus.

Anyone wishing to travel beyond monks heath would have to change onto the 130 off peak, but the timetable would be written to allow connections.

Although there is running time for a macc hospital to knutsford service, it would not allow time for peover diversions, or would create a non clockface timetable.

The peak service would run at existing times.

A contracted service can be altered as long as it doesnt adversely affect the operator, and the provider deems it to offer better provision (or value).