Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/11/2024 06:20)KX03 KYY Wrote:  I did hear that there was plans to move the 1/X1 to Chester Depot so it wouldn't be part of the bus franchising, not sure if this is the case still or if Chester have the facilities for the extra buses

Was something along the lines of keeping Rock Ferry on Stagecoach books to act as a P&R Centre and to operate the 1/X1 on some sort of open access agreement

[gka472l]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/11/2024 09:03)T42 PVM Wrote:  Was something along the lines of keeping Rock Ferry on Stagecoach books to act as a P&R Centre and to operate the 1/X1 on some sort of open access agreement

Also for school routes too from what I've heard. Speaking of the bus franchising.....there's not much in the way of news at the moment, do we know when the first 'round' (St Helens) bidder will be announced (or indeed have any bids been invited so far??). I believe that the aim is to have all areas franchised by sometime in 2027 (a year earlier than originally planned).

Cheers

[KX03 KYY]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/11/2024 09:03)T42 PVM Wrote:  Was something along the lines of keeping Rock Ferry on Stagecoach books to act as a P&R Centre and to operate the 1/X1 on some sort of open access agreement

P&R centre? How would that work as there no P&R on the Wirral also open cases doesn't make sence how it would work

Tbh if goes like Manchester franchising there is nowt saying Rock Ferry or Laird Street for that matter will stay with current firms

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
All Wirral services bar possibly the 1 & 2 are apparently moving over to Laird Street

Rock Ferry already do Paint jobs for other Depots so would see this expanded

[CX06 EBK (Administrator)]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Well there is because Stagecoach have confirmed internally that Rock Ferry is remaining with Stagecoach as has been stated for other work such as the 1s which will operate commercially and I think by "P&R" it was meant that the paint and repair aspect of Rock Ferry will be expanded upon.

[moreton407]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Is Laird Street big enough to hold all buses for all services in the Wirral?

Would this also be the end for Al's coaches and A2B Travel?

[MTL0201]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/11/2024 23:30)moreton407 Wrote:  Is Laird Street big enough to hold all buses for all services in the Wirral?

Would this also be the end for Al's coaches and A2B Travel?

Laird Street might just be big enough, Laird Street used to have a lot more services than they currently operate when MTL ran Laird Street.

[Raawwwrrr!]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(05/11/2024 23:30)moreton407 Wrote:  Would this also be the end for Al's coaches and A2B Travel?

Not necessarily.

Al’s coaches could survive working private hire and private school contracts, they could theoretically bid for just school contracts, external contracts like Cheshire and Cheshire West, an entire/partial LCR network or submit no bids at all.

A2B could also do similar if they wanted to.

[Y458 KNF]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(06/11/2024 17:12)Raawwwrrr! Wrote:  Not necessarily.

Al’s coaches could survive working private hire and private school contracts, they could theoretically bid for just school contracts, external contracts like Cheshire and Cheshire West, an entire/partial LCR network or submit no bids at all.

A2B could also do similar if they wanted to.

Pretty sure the 22 is a Cheshire tender not a Merseytravel one so may stay with them if it’s the case

[moreton407]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Would private hire work and private schools contacts be enough to keep Als and A2B going as most their services are under contract to Merseytravel.

I can see job losses as I would think most of Al's drivers like the few hours they do during the week, don't work weekends and have a long six week holiday in the summer. They wouldn't get if they were employed by whoever take over Laird Street!

And would it be the same for other small Merseyside operators like Maghull, Peoplebus, HTL, Hattons and Cumfybus to name a few?