Aintree Coachline / Helms of Eastham

[iMarkeh]

RE: Aintree Coachline / Helms of Eastham
It will be to do with concessionary fares but in that case. The 272 is a pass holder route. I wonder when Redrow are going to start funding that brand new Hooton -> Ledsham -> Eport service that was mentioned in their planning application? That could easily extend to Neston depending on which way around Ellesmere Port it went (if it goes a long way round Eport, it may not have time to extend).

Ellesmere Port can be busy but you have to run your services right. Residents were saying a few times buses are going the wrong way or not turning up on route 7 so I guess people lost faith. Then to add on, it is missing out the whole of Jackswood Ave where loads of houses are built/being build (they are new build and not designated over 55 homes so any passengers would almost certainly be paying so more money in the kitty). You look how GHA ran the 7, it was really busy and since Helms took over, it has gradually dropped off. According to Google, it no longer serves Percivial Road either. Another busy spot. Saturday service has been dropped so that is another drop of passengers. Routes won't work when it is unreliable, doesn't serve busy areas (or what could be a busy area) and it doesn't run on Saturdays. Hopefully someone takes it on as profitable as GHA proved (and they were using more drivers than needed as drivers did 1 round trip then had an hour break). It will be put back on though whether commercial or tendered as it will leave too many residents without a service. I can't see Stagecoach taking it though unless it is tendered. Too many passes.

The 272 is low frequency, doesn't run Saturdays. It is bound to fail when it is like that. Many residents use Hooton station due to the high frequency of trains (and the large car park). If the frequency was a bit higher and ran from Eport to Hooton at peak time, it could do a lot better (I know this would need another bus but link it with another route or extend the 272). Maybe if it served Princess Road it could help (I know it isn't the best for buses but it is an area not served rather than following route 2 all the way into Ellesmere Port. I know it is tendered so the overpaid office workers get to decide which way it goes and the timetable etc.

I wish the CWaCC workers actually went out and listened to people's views on their local bus services. Maybe money would be spent more wisely and bus services improved. Look at Lancashire council, throwing all that money out on bus services. That is what Cheshire needs (given it is similar to Lancashire with it being lots of rural areas with a few large towns and city).
It will certainly be interesting to see who wins the tenders though. They will have to sort it soon though or they will have to go under short notice registrations. I hope Stagecoach for the fares and ticketing arrangement but it would be good to see the independants get a route as well. Helms and Arrowebrook being the only independants in Cheshire West (to my knowledge)