Stagecoach MCSL - Gillmoss Depot

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Stagecoach Merseyside - Gillmoss Depot

(24/10/2012 15:16)First Class Wrote:  Crime in Kirkby is the ONLY reason the Wigan line doesn't get an evening service. Firstly because the line was constantly being vandalised, secondly because the traincrew were being abused. Everytime it is looked into, the BCR is badly affected because of the reputation of Kirkby. The unions kicked off about 2 years ago because of staff abuse/drug problems/obstructions on track. BTP are well aware that this is a key line for major drug dealing, (Merseyside into Lancashire/Greater Manchester).

There are other bad areas, but as it is a transport forum, it is fair to say that, if Kirkby had a better reputation, that it occasionally lives up to, transport as a whole would probably be better. Kirkby gave Stagecoach the ammunition to claim vandalism as a key reason for single deck operation.

Tower Hill/Northwood is a very deprived area, recognised by the EU as such, and it is natural that crime rates are often fairly high there as a result.

Crime is the ONLY reason? I don't believe that for a second. If your claim is true and it is not in fact due to lack of demand, can you please explain why the line doesn't get a Sunday service as well? Do the local pond life choose Sundays as a national day of vandalism as well? I find your claims extremely questionable. Kirkby has improved a lot as a town over recent years, and certainly the behaviour on Merseyrail trains is fine from considerably regular use myself.

If I'm not mistaken, Stagecoach do in fact still operate into Tower Hill of a night, so hardly suggests it is the "no-go" zone you infer that it is. Just from reading local news, I don't regularly hear of serious crimes from Kirkby being reported, or (without wanting to sound too malevolent) not to the extent of the likes of Norris Green, Croxteth and Stockbridge Village anyway. A further interesting comparison would be by seeing what the vandalism levels are on the 20/21 branded Enviro300s and compare them with other branded buses, i.e. the 10 and 14 examples. I might even do it myself, just to gauge if Tower Hill really is still that bad.

By the way, the other area on Merseyside recognised by the EU as being "very deprived" was Birkenhead. And does that get an evening service? Yes, it certainly does.