Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[Penny Return]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(12/11/2014 15:20)Barney Wrote:  I, along with a few mates, took advantage of Stagecoach's Dayrider Plus ticket yesterday to sample operations in this area. We hoped to get the 11.00 X8 departure from Sir Thomas Street to Chester. The bus arrived at the stop at 11.12 but, in defence of the driver, this was because it had been delayed by the brief closure of the Birkenhead tunnel to commemorate Armistice Day. In total, 27 passengers boarded the X8. Eleven boarded in Liverpool and 13 at Ellesmere Port, most of whom were in possession of concessionary passes. Despite the road works in Ellesmere Port the bus arrived at Chester at 12.18 where about 15 people were waiting to board for the return journey.

We decided to get the 15.20 X22 from Chester to Neston for the next stage of our journey. The Dart allocated was full when it left Chester and it did not pick up or set down until it neared Little Neston. We stopped for a pint in Neston and caught the next X22 to Heswall. Surprisingly, this one only had a handful of passengers on it when we boarded and unlike most Stagecoach buses lacked any saloon or cab heating. When we arrived at Heswall, as advertised in the timetable, the 38 was waiting to convey any would-be passengers on to West Kirby and beyond. However, we agreed that a pint in the pub next to the bus station and a 471/2 back to Liverpool was the better option.

Overall, a £4 ticket was excellent value for money and generally the buses kept to time which is probably only to be expected for a wet Tuesday in November. The two observations I would make is that a stop outside Rock Ferry depot would add very little to the running time of the X8 and question whether the circuitous X22 route around Little Neston and Parkgate is really worth the time and expense.

x8 does not warrent a stop outside Rock Ferry depot will only slow it down by coming off the
bypass,leave well alone