Warrington's Own Buses

[RSTurbo50]

RE: WBT Network Warrington
^^^^^

Pretty unattractive fleet, really? I'd say that was debatable.

[RSTurbo50]

RE: WBT Network Warrington
The Tridents and the DAFs drive really well and the public are always positive about them. Yeah the darts are tired and need to go. Two have been sold with just two remaining. But if people want to pay higher fares for newer buses, the solution is quite simple. Don't use Fairbrothers.

[Mayneway]

RE: WBT Network Warrington

(12/08/2014 19:47)RSTurbo50 Wrote:  ^^^^^

Pretty unattractive fleet, really? I'd say that was debatable.

While I admire Fairbrothers and there gutts for taking on the big boys in town (so to speak), FC Pictures does have a point. Do they really have the strength or coffers for that matter to run a network of services around Warrington to give passengers a cheaper alternative? I don't think they have.
The £1 to town idea worked well and I liked it but it seems to me it was a ploy to get enough fare paying passengers to switch and use them and then the fares were quickly hiked up. It's not rocket science to work out that charging passengers a £1 flat fare isn't sustainable long term when you consider the price of diesel, insurance and drivers wages etc.
The fleet is itty bitty. With vehicles in various liveries with different styles of branding etc. The £1 part of the '£1 to town' ripped off the front of he buses, and them god arwfull destination boards in the windscreen. It just strikes me as someone who's out to make a quick buck and dosen't want to spend any propper money on a decent image.
As I've said above I'm not knocking them, you carnt fault them for giving it a go but it needs one of the bigger companies to move in and shake things up. I'm not Stagecoach's biggest fan but it would be great to see them move in.

[Raawwwrrr!]

RE: WBT Network Warrington

(12/08/2014 19:47)RSTurbo50 Wrote:  ^^^^^

Pretty unattractive fleet, really? I'd say that was debatable.

The fleet is pretty unattractive, There isn't one consistent livery of branded buses and very few have actual functioning destinations instead of bits of cardboard with stickers on in the window, it's not very DDA complaint at all. The 'new' Plaxton President however looks very impressive with it's clean all over white livery and bonded glazing I will admit however

[RSTurbo50]

RE: WBT Network Warrington
As said regarding Fairbrothers, they are slowly developing within the town and are a real alternative to WBT. If the business continues to build in the same way it has done over the past 9-12 months then newer vehicles will be purchased and more routes will be put in place. I know the boss very well and he is keen on seeing this through and is certainly not in it for the short haul. As said if people want to get from A-B cheaply then use Fairbrothers if not use an alternative..

[RSTurbo50]

RE: WBT Network Warrington
Agree on the cardboard and this is something being addressed. All the fleet is going to be white shortly and as said the darts will be soon gone.

[M113 YKC]

RE: WBT Network Warrington
Connect17-branded Versa 95 has been on 13s/16s/18s/20s/21s today whilst a Cadet has been on 17s. Also, a Cadet was on the Centrelink. Not sure if these are unusual or not these days after recent changes.

[Valandil]

RE: WBT Network Warrington

(12/08/2014 21:13)KU02 YUH Wrote:  Connect17-branded Versa 95 has been on 13s/16s/18s/20s/21s today whilst a Cadet has been on 17s. Also, a Cadet was on the Centrelink. Not sure if these are unusual or not these days after recent changes.

No doubt 95 also got out on 14/15/16A as well, since they interwork with 13/16/18 in the inter-peak period.
Unless it was the 20/21 it was on during the day, and the others in the peaks maybe?

Surprisingly, one of the photos in NW's online 'gallery' is of a Connect 17 versa on the now-withdrawn 29 to Gemini.

[M113 YKC]

RE: WBT Network Warrington

(12/08/2014 21:41)Valandil Wrote:  No doubt 95 also got out on 14/15/16A as well, since they interwork with 13/16/18 in the inter-peak period.
Unless it was the 20/21 it was on during the day, and the others in the peaks maybe?

I first seen it on the 16 at about 15:15, then on the 18/20/21 afterwards at some point. It was then on the 13 at about 18:00-ish. Hope this helps somehow!

[Valandil]

RE: WBT Network Warrington

(12/08/2014 21:49)KU02 YUH Wrote:  I first seen it on the 16 at about 15:15, then on the 18/20/21 afterwards at some point. It was then on the 13 at about 18:00-ish. Hope this helps somehow!

Ah right, from what I have been able to work out, the 16A at 15:10 carries on the same pattern as would be expected before 3pm, that is it comes off the 15, with the overall pattern being 13out -> 18in -> 14 -> 16 -> 18out -> 13in -> 15 -> 16A on loop.
I can't be completely certain because I haven't been able to dedicate a huge amount of time to working these things out, but I think the vehicle which does these workings also does a 12 followed by a 25 in the morning before settling down for the day.

Everything goes up in the air at about 3pm though, and there is all kinds of crazy interworking.
Even where you would expect to know what will happen, it might not, e.g. the 29A goes on to a 29C then a 2 (the one leaving on the hour) and back around during the day -- but when it gets to 3pm that 29C goes onto the 21 leaving on the hour instead.
Then you can get Eclipses and deckers on the 29's!