Cheshire Bus News (was East Cheshire Bus News)

[pemma]

What is the official position on the Cheshire Connect liveried services of silver, green and yellow, as in Wilmslow yesterday, I saw an 88 running in this livery.

If you look closely at the Connect 88 branded buses (two Versas and one DART) they are slightly different to some of the other Cheshire Connect branded buses.

On the back of the bus instead of having the Cheshire East council logo, they have the Traveline logo and phone number.

If you look at the wording on the side of the buses it says "Cheshire Connect Owned and Operated by Vale Travel." On other buses that were given Cheshire Connect livery like the Wright Cadets that High Peak used to use on the 27 service the 'Owned and' bit isn't included so it said "Cheshire Connect Operated by Centerbus" in that instance.

The 88 route is still a Cheshire East council subsided service, as are the 130 Sunday and Bank Holiday service and RR3 that the Connect 88 buses also appear on. Although, the 27 route which the Connect 88 DART sometimes appears on is a commercial service but that normally gets a GHA branded DART or Solo despite being a Vale Travel route.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It appears that Taxico (of Leek) have now taken over the operation of the service 108 (Macclesfield to Ashbourne/Ashbourne to Macclesfield) from Clowes Coaches with effect from 3rd September.

I wonder if we will now see buses other than elderly second-hand Arriva buses now on the service and a more modern fares recording system than the ruled pad and a ball-point pen.

 

[martinsh]

It appears that Taxico (of Leek) have now taken over the operation of the service 108 (Macclesfield to Ashbourne/Ashbourne to Macclesfield) from Clowes Coaches with effect from 3rd September.

I wonder if we will now see buses other than elderly second-hand Arriva buses now on the service and a more modern fares recording system than the ruled pad and a ball-point pen.

The report I have is of an 07 reg Enviro 200 - ticketing not mentioned

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

How long have Taxico been running service buses and how large is their fleet ?

 

[martinsh]

Taxico / Aimees have been running bus services for at least 15 years. They used to have tendered and commercial services in the Leek and Chadle area (one ran into Stoke twice a week from what I recall), but recently they have only had schools services.

Fleet size is around 10.

 

[johnnychips]

I wonder if we will now see buses other than elderly second-hand Arriva buses now on the service and a more modern fares recording system than the ruled pad and a ball-point pen.

Explain: I am intrigued!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Explain: I am intrigued!

This has been what you have found at stance number 9 at Macclesfield Bus Station when the Clowes Coaches vehicle and driver were ready to allow passengers to embark upon the service 108...Macclesfield-Leek-Ashbourne.

 

[Shrimper]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guy_arab_uf/9638215114/

I'm always surprised step-entrance buses are permitted on tendered services. Having seen various fleet members in Macclesfield a few times they don't inspire confidence (though I'm not doubting they are mechanically sound!)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guy_arab_uf/9638215114/

I'm always surprised step-entrance buses are permitted on tendered services. Having seen various fleet members in Macclesfield a few times they don't inspire confidence (though I'm not doubting they are mechanically sound!)

Thanks for that print that shows the "second-hand Arriva" Clowes Coaches 108 bus when it was at Waterhouses. A pity that the "ruled pad and ball-point pen" method of fares recording cannot be seen to their best effect..

 

[34D]

Thanks for that print that shows the "second-hand Arriva" Clowes Coaches 108 bus when it was at Waterhouses. A pity that the "ruled pad and ball-point pen" method of fares recording cannot be seen to their best effect..

For the small operators with just these tendered biddy services, a count of ENCTS passes is all you need. No point in spending on an ETM if not needed.

 

[pemma]

Tomlinson Travel to cancel 49 Holmes Chapel to Northwich service from 4th November. I wonder if it's the same circumstances as the 47 Holmes Chapel to Warrington service which they were under contract from Cheshire East council to run but asked to terminate it before the end of the contract, which Cheshire East agreed to.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The report I have is of an 07 reg Enviro 200 - ticketing not mentioned

Indeed, this was the vehicle in all-white livery that I boarded at stance 9 on Saturday morning at Macclesfield bus station on the 0910 service 108 to Ashbourne to see what the new operator was like. The length of this newer vehicle is considerably longer than the one previously put on by Clowes Coaches. It arrived at the correct time of 1010 at King Edward Street bus station at Ashbourne. It had a modern ticket machine affixed with which the driver issued tickets.
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For the small operators with just these tendered biddy services, a count of ENCTS passes is all you need. No point in spending on an ETM if not needed.

On the 108 service to Ashbourne on Saturday (see posting above), the new operator used the affixed ticket machine to issue tickets.

 

[pemma]

Cheshire East have issued an invitation to tender for bus services starting in January 2014. I think the 88 route will be included in that (Vale Travel were given a 5 year contract starting January 2009.) I'm not sure what other routes will be included and whether any of them may feature a service reduction.
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I see Routemaster Buses have registered a Nantwich to Crewe service and a Nantwich to Leighton Hospital service. I know they have more than just their vintage Routemaster and Leyland National buses but do they ever stray on to the scheduled bus services?

 

[martinsh]

I see Routemaster Buses have registered a Nantwich to Crewe service and a Nantwich to Leighton Hospital service. I know they have more than just their vintage Routemaster and Leyland National buses but do they ever stray on to the scheduled bus services?

These services are positioning runs for private contracts to/from Reaseheath College (Nantwich). As such the normal vehicles used are Volvo Olympians

 

[pemma]

These services are positioning runs for private contracts to/from Reaseheath College (Nantwich). As such the normal vehicles used are Volvo Olympians

That explains why they are shutting down the services over the Christmas period opposed to not running them on the Bank Holidays and Sundays and shutting down early on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

 

[martinsh]

These services are positioning runs for private contracts to/from Reaseheath College (Nantwich). As such the normal vehicles used are Volvo Olympians

I spoke too soon ! Today one service was being run by an ex AERA, Harwell Leyland National !

 

[pemma]

D&G Bus will operate a revised timetable on the 300 Knutsford Circular route from December. The number of buses serving Lilac Avenue will be reduced - they didn't all used to serve Lilac Avenue but previous operator High Peak decided to have all services running exactly the same route. There will also be longer gaps between services in the middle of the day. The weekday 07:50 service and Saturday 08:15 and 17:15 services which High Peak withdrew have remained absent from the new timetable.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

D&G Bus will operate a revised timetable on the 300 Knutsford Circular route from December. The number of buses serving Lilac Avenue will be reduced - they didn't all used to serve Lilac Avenue but previous operator High Peak decided to have all services running exactly the same route. There will also be longer gaps between services in the middle of the day. The weekday 07:50 service and Saturday 08:15 and 17:15 services which High Peak withdrew have remained absent from the new timetable.

The 300 service is most certainly not what could be described as a model of stability over recent times. Why is a town centre service affected so ?

 

[pemma]

The 300 service is most certainly not what could be described as a model of stability over recent times. Why is a town centre service affected so ?

The 300 service was a commercial service up until 17:45 until Arriva decided it wasn't making them money. No-one seemed to want to run the service at the time so Cheshire County Council put it out to tender and Bowers were awarded the service.

When Cheshire East asked High Peak to consider if they could run the 27 and 300 daytime services commercially when the contracts came to an end, which High Peak did but with some services withdrawn from both routes. D&G Bus took over the 300 route from High Peak commercially and have until now run the exact same service that High Peak operated (expect for the fact that the first service quite often went missing under High Peak.)

In the early 1990s the 300 service was every 15 minutes during the daytime usually using almost brand new Mercedes midibuses operated by Starline Travel. Cowie t/a North Western Road Car Co purchased Starline Travel and the service went to half-hourly and some elderly Leyland Nationals started replacing the modern Mercedes midibuses.

 

[pemma]

Changes afoot in Congleton

PC1090231/60 - ROLLING SOLUTIONS LTD T/A D & G BUS, 78 HIGH STREET, UTTOXETER, ST14 7JD
Variation Accepted: Operating between Congleton, Fairground Bus Station and Congleton, Fairground Bus Station given service number 90 effective from 23-Dec-2013. To amend Timetable.

PC1090231/61 - ROLLING SOLUTIONS LTD T/A D & G BUS, 78 HIGH STREET, UTTOXETER, ST14 7JD
Variation Accepted: Operating between Congleton, Fairground Bus Station and Congleton, Fairground Bus Station given service number 91 effective from 23-Dec-2013. To amend Timetable.

PC1090231/63 - ROLLING SOLUTIONS LTD T/A D & G BUS, 78 HIGH STREET, UTTOXETER, ST14 7JD
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Congleton, Fairground Bus Station and Congleton, Fairground Bus Station given service number 76 effective from 23-Dec-2013.

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New timetables for the Congleton services are now online: http://www.dgbus.co.uk/cheshire.html

D&G Bus have put on their website that the SB routes will be operated by another operator from January. No further information on either their website or the Cheshire East council website.

Ladyline Coaches have re-registered all their services under SHAUN LOMAS T/A LADYLINE COACHES instead of HARRY LOMAS & SHAUN LOMAS T/A LADYLINE COACHES.

 

[pemma]

D&G Bus routes 6A and 6E are to be withdrawn. A 7 day a week D&G operated service from Leighton Hospital to Leighton Hospital via Crewe and Shavington has been registered as route number 6.

 

[pemma]

GHA Coaches are withdrawing the 130 Sunday and Bank Holiday service from 19th January. D&G Bus will be taking it over, so they will be going very close to their sister company's, South Lancs Travel, operating area.

The SB routes, I mentioned previously that D&G Bus are giving up, are to be operated by Bakerbus.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

GHA Coaches are withdrawing the 130 Sunday and Bank Holiday service from 19th January. D&G Bus will be taking it over, so they will be going very close to their sister company's, South Lancs Travel, operating area.

The Sunday and Bank Holiday service on the 130 route is quite a good service provision. Do you envisage an improvement to the standard of vehicles used on those days when D & G take over those service days...or not ?

 

[pemma]

The Sunday and Bank Holiday service on the 130 route is quite a good service provision. Do you envisage an improvement to the standard of vehicles used on those days when D & G take over those service days...or not ?

Apparently GHA Coaches normally use one of the Connect 88 branded Optare Versa's and a Solo for the Sunday and Bank Holiday service. D&G Bus mainly have a fleet of modern Solos with a few different types of larger vehicle available: http://www.dgbus.co.uk/fleet-list.html

The Knutsford Circular usually gets one of D&G Bus' Optare Solo M950SL.
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The new Sunday and Bank Holiday 130 timetable is here: http://www.dgbus.co.uk/assets/130_2014-01-19.pdf It does include a later start and earlier finish but the hourly frequency during operational hours is maintained.

 

[323235]

so they have used it as an opportunity to cut the service back slightly as I suspected.

What I find strange is that the 0911 doesn't start at Parrs Wood and 1800 doesn't terminate at Parrs Wood, surely that would have been a better idea, then it connects with all other services within Greater Manchester e.g. 50,42,142,23,23A etc....

I have tweeted this to CEC Transport having @officialTfGM included.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

so they have used it as an opportunity to cut the service back slightly as I suspected. What I find strange is that the 0911 doesn't start at Parrs Wood and 1800 doesn't terminate at Parrs Wood, surely that would have been a better idea, then it connects with all other services within Greater Manchester e.g. 50,42,142,23,23A etc....I have tweeted this to CEC Transport having @officia TfGM included.

In the D & G timetable dated 18th January 2014 for the Sunday and Bank Holiday services, the first service to Macclesfield starting at 0911 starts at Handforth, The Paddock and the last service from Macclesfield terminates at Handforth, The Paddock at 1843, which is inside the Cheshire East border area. That stop is outside the jurisdiction of TfGM.

 

[alwaystouchout]

I'm sure Bakerbus used to operate a few Stockport-Macclesfield services or have they drifted into obsolescence?

I think they used to do the 372 North Park Road service too but that appears to have returned to Stagecoach hands.

 

[pemma]

I'm sure Bakerbus used to operate a few Stockport-Macclesfield services or have they drifted into obsolescence?

It was this service they used to operate: https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/tra...rvice_timetables/392_and_393_bus_service.aspx The operator has changed to High Peak. Bakerbus withdrew all their commercial bus services in Cheshire not that long ago as the company's cash flow was poor.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Bakerbus withdrew all their commercial bus services in Cheshire not that long ago as the company's cash flow was poor.

Is the Bakerbus involvement commercial or tendered service on the following routes ?....:-
11...Macclesfield to Kerridge
32...Crewe to Sandbach

They still operate services in their Staffordshire heartland at the present time.

 

[pemma]

Is the Bakerbus involvement commercial or tendered service on the following routes ?....:-
11...Macclesfield to Kerridge
32...Crewe to Sandbach

Both are subsided. Route 11 gets £38,590 of annual support, while 32 gets £66,245 of annual support.
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so they have used it as an opportunity to cut the service back slightly as I suspected.

GHA Coaches haven't actually applied to cancel the 130 but to amend the timetable. Maybe some early/late services will be still be provided by GHA (as subsided services) and D&G Bus have taken over the daytime services (as commercial services)?
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It's not as I thought re:130 service:

GHA Coaches have registered a revised commercial 130 Sunday & Bank Holiday service from 26th January 2014. As a result Cheshire East Council has withdrawn the supported contract that D&G were due to start from 19th January. Please call GHA on 01978 820 820 or email [email protected] for details of their new commercial sunday service.

GHA Coaches haven't updated their website since September.