Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

[Gazroberts80]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(09/09/2026 06:24)MTL0201 Wrote:  It's going to be fun when the Ultroliners start from Birkenhead in a few weeks, & could the fact that the Ultroliners being stored in a compound in Widnes for months caused some of the issues they're having, as don't think the Ultroliners have had issues with other operators that the Metro ones are having.

It really is, fair play to Stagecoach for being well prepared for the initial unreliability of the Ultroliners with the 10 Enviro 400 MMC's painted up in Metro livery. 10 of the Ultroliners have yet to see service today, with a further 2 being withdrawn from service earlier than planned. I wonder what Go-Ahead's plan will be?

The Enviro200 MMC's have faired much better with only 2 yet to see service today out of the 46 that have seen service at St Helens. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Treka CitySprint has also proved to be very reliable with both of the 2 vehicles currently at St Helens being in service every day this week.

https://bustimes.org/operators/m-network-2/vehicles

[MTL0201]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising

(09/09/2026 11:45)CX06 EBK Wrote:  The 108s are still owned by Stagecoach so if they're to be used anywhere else in franchising it'll only be at any additional depots they win.

Although Arriva allocated the odd Enviro400 to the 320/352, it's weird seeing a Stagecoach E400MMC allocated to the 320/352, with Stagecoach interior, i caught one on the 320 the other day which was a replacement for an Ultroliner.

[St Helens Rider]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Wirral details now out:

https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travel-u...ges/?_gl=1

[MTL0201]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
The 407 gets an hourly evening & Sunday service, but rather stupidly the Sunday 407 is timed a couple of minutes behind the 438A rather than trying to complement it.

The 414/414A gets a new route in Birkenhead

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Find it kinda amusing the first but through the tunnel from Liverpool is a Stagecoach 1 and not a Metro route

[moreton407]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
I don't get the sunday short 407 journeys between Liverpool and birkenhead when there are already so many buses between the two points without adding extra ones.

Also good luck to the 483 trying to make a right turn from Borrowdale road onto Hoylake road, especially at peak time!

[Jw88]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Looking at the Wirral changes, there are a mixture of changes.

I see Merseytravel are keeping the Moreton Circulars which are a waste of a route, especially after 17:00 even more so it is served by routes 438/438A, 413/414 and now 417 after hours.

I also see the 407 has now gained an evening service over the proposed 464.

The new 453 route from Thingwall to Clatterbridge, while it is nice and needed to link Heswall with Clatterbridge seems an odd route, it is a shame they did not merge it with the 482 and terminate at West Kirby rather than Thingwall.

The 482 seems to take the Thurstaston route from Caldy to Heswall, i am shocked it does not go via Irby and Pensby like all previous routes on this section 77/82 etc.

I can see many being annoyed the 423 is now replaced by the 414, the Liverpool loadings often were high despite being evening and sunday only.

I like the new 483/484 route, (which is the northern section of Avons old 83/83A) but odd choice to go via Saughall Massie rather than Overchurch into Moreton.

The 441/442 timetable confuses me, apparently the 441 serves a different part of Woodchurch and New Ferry according to the timetable, yet the map would suggest otherwise.

It seems Heswall Circulars 474 and 475 now receive a Sunday service, i am very unsure of how these will pick up, they don't carry much in the week, similar with the 480 West Kirby to Newton increased hourly, it does not seem to pick up more than 4 passengers at current, it used to pick up more on its previous route 138 when it went via Newton Post Office and Frankby Road, rather than the full Ennisdale Drive.

In addition it also seems the 73 (473) also receives a sunday service, this route is odd regardless, it does not need a Sunday service in my opinion.

It is nice to see Prenton Dell and Beechwood Noctorum have been finally addressed with an hourly evening/Sunday frequency (492/495) and a direct route into Birkenhead for the 414 through Prenton Dell rather than the long detour of the current mess of a 418 route. While Prenton Dell gains the 414, they lose the 491 (91).

Also odd to see not only does the 811 continue, but evening journeys have been curtailed to Woodside rather than Moreton, meaning if using it from Moreton in the morning there is no return journey in the afternoon. They may as well start the whole route from Woodside if they are doing this.

[MTL0201]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
Only just noticed the 483/484 it's similar route to the old Avon 83/83A, but via Borrowdale Road & Overchurch Road rather than Upton Road & Moreton Road, & will have an evening & Sunday service, however first 483 including Sunday is 05.20 West Kirby-Arrowe Park via Moreton which is bonkers as that'll be carrying fresh air


Daft thing is, whilst the first 483 is 05.20 from West Kirby & 06.00 from Arrowe Park, the first 484 is 06.36 work that one out.

Little disappointed the 407 will no longer go to Cook Street, i've always got on it there as it avoids the crowds at Sir Thomas Street.

[busdude]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
I’m shocked that the 414 is rerouted to serve St Caths / Derby Road instead of Borough Road

[MTL0201]

RE: Liverpool City Region Bus Franchising
I'm shocked by the new 414 route too, plus a new 414A that will go down Mount Road & Victoria Road similar to the old 8, then 7A/8A/8E.