Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

[childwallblues]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

(22/03/2017 00:29)Olympian Wrote:  Drivers are saying that about 12 Minis are coming, they are for Northwich town & Macclesfield town routes.

Replacing the Centros?

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

(22/03/2017 06:50)childwallblues Wrote:  Replacing the Centros?

That seems like a logical assumption to me - I'd imagine the two MPDs still here (I think?) would be withdrawn as well If these are replacing the Centros as childwallblues has suggested then what routes would the current allocation of Optare Solos be used on? I don't know much about Winsford so I don't know which routes the Solos are used on

I have to admit this is a surprise order but it does make a lot of sense. I'd imagine like the previous Mercedes-Benz minibuses operated by Arriva North West and Arriva Buses Wales these minibuses should have three digit fleet numbers (100-111?). I do think minibuses would be more than ideal for the town routes around Winsford and Macclesfield whilst using the larger vehicles for Winsford depot's busier long distance routes

[knutstransport]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

(22/03/2017 13:43)Y474 KNF Wrote:  That seems like a logical assumption to me - I'd imagine the two MPDs still here (I think?) would be withdrawn as well If these are replacing the Centros as childwallblues has suggested then what routes would the current allocation of Optare Solos be used on? I don't know much about Winsford so I don't know which routes the Solos are used on

I have to admit this is a surprise order but it does make a lot of sense. I'd imagine like the previous Mercedes-Benz minibuses operated by Arriva North West and Arriva Buses Wales these minibuses should have three digit fleet numbers (100-111?). I do think minibuses would be more than ideal for the town routes around Winsford and Macclesfield whilst using the larger vehicles for Winsford depot's busier long distance routes

I remember those a number of those Midibuses were in a 'Valeline' livery - just like the livery of Starline who they had just taken over.

Valeline: https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2849/11291...e6e8_b.jpg

Starline: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2899/1419...83aa_m.jpg

What I didn't realise until I just started searching for images then is while North Western kept a 'Starline Premier' brand they painted the relatively new Darts in to a 'North Western Premier' brand: https://photos.smugmug.com/Buses/S/Star-...496g-M.jpg

[iMarkeh]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot
When I was on the Northwich 2 the other day, that was very busy. The passengers were very against the minibuses and much prefer the normal buses.

[mikestone]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

(22/03/2017 14:35)iMarkeh Wrote:  When I was on the Northwich 2 the other day, that was very busy. The passengers were very against the minibuses and much prefer the normal buses.

I would have thought it might be worth trying separate town services so that Crewe-Nothwich buses don't have to wander round the estates.

[knutstransport]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

(22/03/2017 16:59)mikestone Wrote:  I would have thought it might be worth trying separate town services so that Crewe-Nothwich buses don't have to wander round the estates.

Isn't the Crewe to Northwich service contracted?

[Bevan Price]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

(22/03/2017 17:28)knutstransport Wrote:  Isn't the Crewe to Northwich service contracted?

All are Arriva commercial services as far as I know - no mention of county sponsorship in Arriva timetable leaflet.

[YN05 WKE]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

knutstransport Wrote:  What I didn't realise until I just started searching for images then is while North Western kept a 'Starline Premier' brand they painted the relatively new Darts in to a 'North Western Premier' brand: https://photos.smugmug.com/Buses/S/Star-...496g-M.jpg

Notice 1171 stayed as 1171 through its Arriva life as well

[knutstransport]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot

(22/03/2017 23:04)Bevan Price Wrote:  All are Arriva commercial services as far as I know - no mention of county sponsorship in Arriva timetable leaflet.

It was the 37 I was thinking of, which Arriva have a contract with Cheshire East for, not the 31.

[Metroline1511]

RE: Arriva North West - Winsford Depot
I have seen mention elsewhere of Wimsford lsoing its Plaxton Centros, with mentions of St Helens and even Wythenshaw. The latter may just be an intermediate location without any due for service there.