Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

[Barney]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(11/11/2014 14:11)YJ59 AZA Wrote:  2227 was on the 53A yesterday whilst 2922 was on the 58. 2517 was on the 62.

*New Service 63 from January - Bootle > Fazakerley*

New service 63 will run between Bootle and Crosby via the current 62 route, then (as far as I know) via Avon's 122 route between Crosby and Fazakerley. Not sure about its timetable yet, however I suspect that it'll run at least every 30 minutes on Monday to Sunday daytimes with some sort of evening service.

The 62 will be shortened to run between Bootle and Penny Lane only (not sure about what its new timetable will be). Not sure about what'll happen to the tendered 162, however it may be shortened to run between Bootle and Penny Lane only like the 62 if the 63 will run of a night (it was mentioned that Merseytravel will be paying Arriva to run via Brownmoor Lane of a night as they'll have no service...).

Arriva's 53A will finish (not sure if Stagecoach's will continue or not). Arriva and Stagecoach will continue to run the 53 between Crosby and Bootle as a QBP as the 53A route between Crosby and Aintree isn't part of the partnership. Avon will continue to run their 122 (for now!).

This is quite an interesting move. I was on a 53A from Aintree Station recently when a woman, who was not familiar with the route, asked me how long it would take to get to Queen Square as there had been a breakdown on the Ormskirk line. When I told her that it would take in excess of an hour she was shocked. I think she eventually she got off at Waterloo and got on a train there.

My point is that the 53A is a very circuitous route and is prone to late running because of this. I can understand Arriva extending its new 63 service from Aintree to Fazakerley (Aintree Hospital) to compete with Avon's 122 but there are some aspects of this change that concern me.

Will the service be a 20 or 30 minute frequency? What will its hours of operation be? If there is to be an evening service, what will its frequency be? However my main concern is that, as I suspect, the 63 will not call in at Aintree Station and therefore, any potential passengers using the Ormskirk line will now have to wait at the bus stop on the top of the road bridge which is exposed to the elements and does not have a bus shelter. If there is to be a variation through the Brownmoor area of Crosby will that service be numbered 63B? All will be revealed in the fullness of time, no doubt.