Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[E400]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(08/01/2017 11:08)wirralbus Wrote:  I think the 1 2 38 41 and 42 are all ideal routes because they come close enough to there depot at Rock Ferry to be viable.

The 38 extending to Bromborough's Croft Retail Park was an excellent move on the part of stagecoach , they did something that First never could see an objective at the end of the road.

I think the investment in the 1 has paid off with those Gold vehicles , they feel like quality inside , the question comes at what age do the buses get moved on and new gold buses arrive .

The 2 since its rerouting is more of a local service cobbled together now with Liverpool - Birkenhead , Birkenhead -Port Sunlight , Port Sunlight - Ellesmere Port and Ellesmere Port - Chester all having the distinct feeling of being there own markets .

41/42 could be the perfect place for the Gold vehicles if and when the 1/2 vehicles do get replaced and would show the public that Stagecoach is prepared to invest where they see an opportunity .

Given how busy the 1 gets, and now that there is a PVR increase on the 2, Stagecoach should look at rerouting the 1 in Upton and upgrading at least part of the Gold fleet to double deck to spread between the 1 and 2. The left-over single deck Gold buses would then be free'd up for the 41/42 - which always tends to have a Gold or two on them anyway.

I get that Gold is supposed to be Stagecoach's premium offering, but they so often end up on the other Wirral routes that they are just accepted as being part of the standard offering. I don't think passengers care what livery their 38, 471 or 42 turns up in - so long as it's nice inside. Stagecoach's Wirral operation is so limited in terms of number of routes that the whole depot could feasibly go Gold and each route would likely warrant that upgrade - particularly the 2 and 471/2. Passengers wouldn't complain because prices are competitive and the facilities on the buses would far exceed the current offering of Arriva.