Warrington's Own Buses

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Warrington's Own Buses

(08/04/2019 19:11)iMarkeh Wrote:  I can understand future proofing but that is a lot of extra buses. Given WOB aren't really expanding their network and haven't done for a while. As WOB interworks everything, I can't say for certain but the upgraded 32 won't put many buses onto the PVR (given it's only a 4 bus route and with the 13/14/15 changes, a bus or so should be freed up there and the existing 32 being withdrawn).

Given that they only have 92 buses right now, the 120 capacity is future proof really. 140 is just overly ambitious in my opinion. Given WOBs network hasn't really expanded much in previous years, I can't see them expanding much. It will just be the odd bus here and there (like the 22 and the 32 blue line).

Most of the routes/changes which have have made are done to work with school buses to reduce the PVR (like the 62).

Unless they have a big plan which would drastically increase the PVR (Ie Halton Transport takeover) then 140 buses will be far too high I think for Warrington. There are only so many schools they can win and I think they have all the services they will get locally without takeovers.

What do you mean "WOB aren't really expanding their network"? They're about to start operating two extended services to Ashton and Widnes respectively and a new (to WOB) service to Halton Lea

The new depot is a show of ambition in itself - what's the point in a bus operator building a new depot which has the same capacity as their existing one when they're looking to gradually expand their network in the future? Having capacity for an extra twenty vehicles would give WOB plenty of breathing space if there are any opportunities for expansion in the future. Just because there's no obvious opportunities at this moment in time doesn't mean there won't be any opportunities in the future