Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[chester285]

RE: Stagecoach Chester & Wirral

(12/08/2016 03:12)iMarkeh Wrote:  X1/1/2 timetable looks like you cant merge with anything. Buses are off one of the routes and then straight onto another. I wonder what SC are putting on that route as GHA used solos and SC solos are on 6. I am gutted 6 is moving to Birkenhead as I dont know their drivers and when I see on Twitter any updates, no depot will say about another route from another depot being affected. Like 1/2/x2 had a one way diversion due to works on Liverpool Road and the Twitter only said 1/2 and was hashtagged Birkenhead from what I remember. Why cant SC use the proper # for the area and give info on all route diversions.

From my personal experience, Birkenhead drivers arent half as chatty as Chester. GHA in Eport had their customers and kept they loyal by having the same driver on every day so everyone knew eachother and the drivers were better able to give a personal service and I know quite a few drivers in Chester who are like that. Birkenhead seem more, get the job done and get it done quick so I get a break. Sorry if this isnt the case but this is what I have experienced. Chester has some drivers like that but I like chatty drivers who are kinder and at least thank you for travelling with them.

I so hope Chester gives the MMCs to the 51/53 as the oldies will appreciate it so much more. Plus as an allocator told me from Chester, Saltney and LAche are bad areas especially for bus damage so the 51/53 are nicer for the buses. Give Saltney the darts. I personally would make them gold, put them on 5,7,8,9 then put the solos on 51/53 then keep Saltney with the Enviro200s.

X2 and 36 interworking sounds well silly but good. They just need to up both buses to half hourly now! Just like they were. haha. X2 did so well on half hourly. Why not just up it again? X8 and 1 always get stuck so it just seems useless having a fast bus which loads of college/schoolars get on a hourly frequency. Unless the X2 goes Hope Farm and is renumbered. 2 is stopped at Eport and then connects (passengers stay on bus) for the X2 and run fast. That will make up time with the Port Sunlight diversion.

stagecoach have been using either 54/05 plate Solos on the 1, X1 and the 2 so will probably continue to do so although bare in mind these are still only temporary contracts and may not be kept on at all, although it does give Stagecoach an entry Into north wales as it has done with the 36 in Halton, at the time when arriva pulled off the X2 Stagecoach were unable to take Arrivas share of the x2 whether that was down to lack f vehicles st the time or simply a contractual issue, maybe by interconnecting the two routes allows them to increase the service to as it was back then remains to be seen personally I think moving the 6 to Rockferry is a mistake as I don't see the route makes that much of a profit, and will incure dead mileage where's as with Chester it could interlink with the X2 like it previously did when Stagecoach went head to head with GHA, if the descision was down to the fact Chester didn't have the room then if rumours are true of an outstation there surely wouldn't be the need now