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Cheshire Bus News (was East Cheshire Bus News)

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pemma

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According to a bus driver Vale Travel are to revise the 27 timetable with the Queensway extensions being withdrawn to improve reliability.
 
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Amberley54

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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.

Bakers also operate the supported Macclesfield town service 5/6 on Sundays and Public Holidays
 

pemma

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Routemaster Buses are withdrawing their registered bus services with effect from 17th Feb 2014.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Route 11 Macclesfield to Kerridge is to be operated by High Peak instead of Bakerbus from the 2 March.
 

pemma

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Having recently changed numerous timetables, put up all their fares and cut the discount offered to Cheshire Travelcard holders D&G Bus have apparently told Cheshire East council that they no longer want to run the 300 service commercially on Saturdays.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Noticed regarding the new 130 Sunday service: http://ontrainsandbuses.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Sunday130_2014-01-26.pdf the 13:47 arrival at Macclesfield Hospital (from Manchester) has gone. Given hospital visiting hours are 14:00-16:00 I can see that being an unpopular move.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Noticed regarding the new 130 Sunday service: http://ontrainsandbuses.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Sunday130_2014-01-26.pdf the 13:47 arrival at Macclesfield Hospital (from Manchester) has gone. Given hospital visiting hours are 14:00-16:00 I can see that being an unpopular move.

When Victoria Road, the road outside Macclesfield Hospital, was closed for resurfacing for nearly a week last year, both the 27 and the 130 services that normally stop there were diverted and a long walk was needed to make hospital visits either for treatment or to visit in-patients, so I can most certainly vouch for the annoyance that was both felt and verbally expressed at that time.
 

pemma

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I'm not sure if this story may be misleading:

Knutsford Guardian said:
CHESHIRE East Council is in negotiations with a bus operator to try and save a struggling Knutsford service.

Earlier this week it emerged that D&G Bus, who operate the Knutsford Circular’s daytime services, would be withdrawing their Saturday services as of next month.

The number 300 circular bus serves the whole town, operates from Monday to Saturday and runs every 30 minutes.

A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “The council is aware that the current commercial operation of the Saturday service has struggled to be viable for many years, given the relatively-low number of passengers using it.

“However, recognising that the loss of this service would have a detrimental impact on the town, the council has decided to negotiate with the current provider to see if there is a cost-effective way that the service can be retained.”

Knutsford Town Councillor Andrew Malloy welcomed the news that the two companies were working together to find an appropriate solution.

“Many older people would be affected by the withdrawal of this service and in turn, businesses would suffer,” he said.

“I am pleased that the council and the bus company are in discussions and hope that we get the correct outcome from it.”

The 300 circular service has seen many changes over the years including the frequent switching of providers.

In less than four years the contract for the service has changed hands four times and previous operators include Birtles, Town and District Travel and High Peak.

Crewe-based D&G Bus took over the running of the service from High Peak in June 2013.

The route has also seen some changes in recent years which have caused problems for passengers.

Early last year, High Peak, the operators at the time, came under fire for pulling the service from Tabley Road and Queensway.

The company decided instead to run every service via Lilac Avenue, expanding the outreach of the service.

However in December, nine months after the decision was taken, D&G Bus cut the number of journeys serving Lilac Avenue in line with passenger demand.

For more information on Knutsford Circular’s amended route (December 2013) visit dgbus.co.uk

http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/...to_save_Knutsford_Circular_service/?ref=var_0

If the commercial Saturday service is withdrawn wouldn't it have to go out to tender for a subsided service? If they are negotiating wouldn't that imply a reduced commercial service with a contract on offer to fill in gaps like the earlier and later services?

Also Town & District Travel is the former operating name of Tomlinson Travel who still run the evening service.
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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Would you agree that the statement made concerning low ridership on Saturdays tends to bear out what is said about the number of operators the service has had over recent years with regard to the provision of the said Saturday service ?
 

pemma

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Would you agree that the statement made concerning low ridership on Saturdays tends to bear out what is said about the number of operators the service has had over recent years with regard to the provision of the said Saturday service ?

I can't remember the exact dates but something like 10 years ago Arriva ran all the services on the 300 route - the daytime commercially and the evening services as a contracted service. When the contract came up for renewal they either didn't bid or lost it to Birtles, who have since stopped all bus operations. The contracted evening service then went to Town & District Travel who are now known as Tomlinson Travel.

Arriva lost interest in the daytime services around 7 years ago, which was around the same time the contract on the 27 service was up for renewal and Bakerbus had lost out to Bowers. Cheshire County Council put the 300 daytime service out to tender and invited Bowers to bid on the 300 route given that they had just been awarded another Knutsford route and Bowers won a 5 year contract. The 5 year contract came to an end at a time when Cheshire East were trying to cut bus subsides and High Peak registered a commercial service which saw quite a few services withdrawn:

07:50 weekday departure from Knutsford town centre
08:15 Saturday departure from Knutsford town centre
13:45 weekday departure from Knutsford town centre
14:45 departure from Knutsford town centre
17:15 Saturday departure from Knutsford town centre

In winter the first two services (above) were often cancelled due to difficulties in High Peak getting services to and from Knutsford. Reliability wasn't helped by major roadworks in Knutsford throughout 2012 due to utility company works and then in early 2013 roadworks due to the building of a new Aldi store.

As soon as High Peak stopped running the 27 route they applied to cancel the 300 service (which was less than a week after they started running the 300 service commercially.)

D&G Bus then commercially registered the same timetable as High Peak but made some changes on 2nd December 2013.

I also made some comments on the 300 service in the Crewe Plus Bus thread when it was discovered the reason for the 20% increase to Crewe Plus Bus is down to D&G Bus: http://railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=94670&page=2
 

pemma

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According to a local councillor the 300 Saturday daytime service is to continue running. No idea if it will remain with the same operator or to the same timetable.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A 300 service revision by D&G Bus has been approved. Presumably that's to reinstate a Saturday service as a contracted service from 8th Feb given the previous revision was to remove Saturday services from 8th Feb.
 

pemma

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GHA Coaches have signed a contract to run the 88 Knutsford to Altrincham via Wilmslow service until March 2019. The subsidy is 60% of what it is for the existing contract but the number of services will remain the same due to rising passenger numbers meaning the same level of service can be operated with a smaller subsidy.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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GHA Coaches have signed a contract to run the 88 Knutsford to Altrincham via Wilmslow service until March 2019. The subsidy is 60% of what it is for the existing contract but the number of services will remain the same due to rising passenger numbers meaning the same level of service can be operated with a smaller subsidy.

The one that I saw earlier today in Wilmslow at lunchtime was very well loaded.
 

pemma

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Apparently TfGM are withdrawing support for the 130 service from April meaning the Arriva services are subject to cutbacks.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Apparently TfGM are withdrawing support for the 130 service from April meaning the Arriva services are subject to cutbacks.

Looking at the other type long-distance of service that passes through the TfGM area boundary, has there been any similar statements made by TfGM on the 199 service that appears to run 20 hours daily from Manchester Airport interchange to Buxton, via Stockport, Hazel Grove and Whaley Bridge, or will there be any supplementary funding from other sources, this being a link to Manchester Airport ?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Apparently TfGM are withdrawing support for the 130 service from April meaning the Arriva services are subject to cutbacks.

I put this point in an e-mail to Arriva, whose response states...

"There are no changes envisaged to the timetable of the 130 service in the foreseeable future"
 

pemma

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I put this point in an e-mail to Arriva, whose response states...

"There are no changes envisaged to the timetable of the 130 service in the foreseeable future"

They'll probably put the fares up then if it's keeping the same number of services but losing a subsidy.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
GHA Coaches have signed a contract to run the 88 Knutsford to Altrincham via Wilmslow service until March 2019. The subsidy is 60% of what it is for the existing contract but the number of services will remain the same due to rising passenger numbers meaning the same level of service can be operated with a smaller subsidy.

They are transferring the registration from Vale of Llangollen Travel to GHA Coaches Ltd so maybe they're phasing out the Vale Travel brand from East Cheshire? There's only the Connect 88 branded buses and one Vale Travel branded Solo that normally appear in East Cheshire with the rest being GHA Coaches branded vehicles (with a little piece of paper in the window showing the Vale of Llangollen Travel registered details if they're running the 19, 27, 88 or 200 routes.)
 
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pemma

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Will the same happen to Bryn Melin and will the Ruabon address still be the group registered address ?

Short answer to the first bit is no as they've registered two Shropshire services starting on 1st April 2014 to Bryn Melyn Ltd.

If you look on the GHA Coaches website they give a Wrexham address and phone number for their North Wales division and a Winsford address and phone number for their Cheshire division, so they may be gradually moving their Cheshire routes to be under the same operating licence for simplicity.

It doesn't really matter what address either the business or operating licence is registered to as long as it's premises owned by the operator. High Peak use the Leicester Centrebus address despite not operating anywhere near there.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I put this point in an e-mail to Arriva, whose response states...

"There are no changes envisaged to the timetable of the 130 service in the foreseeable future"

The Cheshire East website says otherwise

Arriva service changing 27th April 2014: Arriva Monday to Saturday timetable revised. Some Manchester Saturday journeys withdrawn or shortened to start / end at Parrs Wood.

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/public_transport/bus/bus_service_timetables/130_bus_service.aspx
 

Deerfold

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Looking at the other type long-distance of service that passes through the TfGM area boundary, has there been any similar statements made by TfGM on the 199 service that appears to run 20 hours daily from Manchester Airport interchange to Buxton, via Stockport, Hazel Grove and Whaley Bridge, or will there be any supplementary funding from other sources, this being a link to Manchester Airport ?

Does the 199 recieve any subdisy?

My understanding was this was an entirely commercial service.

Do correct me if I'm wrong.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Can you confirm any news about the Monday to Friday services as only Saturday seems to be made mention of regarding Parrs Wood..
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have sent a follow-up e-mail to Arriva with this information and asked why their earlier e-mail to me seems not to tally with this.

Incidentally, the new-style Cheshire East folded mini-timetable dated 20th January 2014 showed GHA Coaches running all the Sunday services.
 
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pemma

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Incidentally, the new-style Cheshire East folded mini-timetable dated 20th January 2014 showed GHA Coaches running all the Sunday services.

This was discussed earlier in this thread. GHA Coaches have run those services for a while now. A new ITT was issued for Sunday and Bank Holidays services from mid-Jan 2014 and was awarded to D&G Bus. However, after missing out GHA Coaches then registered a reduced service commercially so Cheshire East were legally obliged to cancel the contract with D&G Bus before they operated any 130 buses.
 

pemma

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According to publictenders.net in 2008 68 offers were received for contract number 50288, the winning bid being from Vale of Llangollen. Contract number 50288 relates to the 88 route between Knutsford and Altrincham via Wilmslow. How is 68 offers for one bus route possible? Could operators like GHA Coaches have submitted a number of different offers for the same contract? In contrast the contract for the 200 service between Wilmslow and Manchester Airport shows 5 offers.

http://www.publictenders.net/tender/1416105
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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According to publictenders.net in 2008 68 offers were received for contract number 50288, the winning bid being from Vale of Llangollen. Contract number 50288 relates to the 88 route between Knutsford and Altrincham via Wilmslow. How is 68 offers for one bus route possible? Could operators like GHA Coaches have submitted a number of different offers for the same contract? In contrast the contract for the 200 service between Wilmslow and Manchester Airport shows 5 offers.

http://www.publictenders.net/tender/1416105

Indeed this seems rather amazing in the number of offers, as one could believe a figure of 6 or of 8, but not of 68. Would it be advisable to contact those responsible for this statement to question the veracity of the published statement and if wrong, ask that an urgent amendment be made to the said text.
 

Deerfold

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Indeed this seems rather amazing in the number of offers, as one could believe a figure of 6 or of 8, but not of 68. Would it be advisable to contact those responsible for this statement to question the veracity of the published statement and if wrong, ask that an urgent amendment be made to the said text.

The tender appears to be for a number of different routes - the number of bidders for each is quoted as 68 so I assume they've added the number for each route (and any combination bids made).
 
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pemma

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Changes afoot on the 77 service

VOSA said:
PC1090231/55 - ROLLING SOLUTIONS LTD T/A D & G BUS, THE WELLINGTON, 78 HIGH STREET, UTTOXETER, ST14 7JD
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Congleton, Fairground Bus Station and Stoke On Trent, Kidsgrove Railway Station given service number 77 effective from 05-Jul-2014.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Indeed this seems rather amazing in the number of offers, as one could believe a figure of 6 or of 8, but not of 68. Would it be advisable to contact those responsible for this statement to question the veracity of the published statement and if wrong, ask that an urgent amendment be made to the said text.

I think at the time that tender was awarded the interested parties in the old 288 route would have included Arriva (the then current operator), GHA/Vale Travel (the eventual winner) and likely would have included Swans Travel (who at the time operated the 200 and 289 routes so already served Knutsford, Wilmslow and Altrincham.) Bakerbus may have put a bid in and maybe Stagecoach Manchester might have (given Arriva are their main rival in the Altrincham area) and possibly Bowers might have (given they had the 27 and 300 routes serving Knutsford.) Possibly a surprise operator could have bidded as well.

That would make 6-8 operators bidding for the route a viable option. However, as Deerfold pointed out it seems for a round of different tenders a total of 68 bids were received and the number of bids weren't broken down across the different tenders. Given the ITT indicated a minimum of 35 seats were required minibus operators couldn't have placed bids so getting 68 bids would have needed each bidder to put in 8-10 different offers.
 

pemma

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The 38 service is a bit of a mess. Bakerbus will be running services that Arriva have withdrawn from 7th June but then GHA Coaches have been awarded a tender to run the service from 7th July.
 

pemma

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Changes afoot for Connect 19

PC1038734/3 - THE VALE OF LLANGOLLEN TRAVEL LTD T/A VALE OF LLANGOLLEN TRAVEL LTD, UNIT 11, VAUXHALL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, RUABON, WREXHAM, LL14 6HD
Variation Accepted: Operating between Macclesfield Bus Station and Prestbury given service number 19 effective from 04-Aug-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Changes afoot for Connect 19

Our local area route..:D

Indeed, my wife informs me that there have been certain submissions from a village society for an amendment to three different parts of the route in the Prestbury area. The route of the number 19 service, from Macclesfield bus station, currently passes through both Broken Cross and Whirleybarn, then passes the site of Fallibroome High School and Whirley Grove, before proceeding along Macclesfield Road into the environs of Prestbury and its railway station, up to the Butley Lanes turning circle.

Howsoever, we live in the very rural Prestbury border area hard by the "lanes " leading to Mottram St Andrew, so this bus service is unfortunately not one that my wife and I would consider using at the ages of 72 and 69 with a very long walk from its nearest point to us.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Monday to Friday additions to the 19 timetable dated 4th August 2014:-

0807 ex Lees Lane to Macclesfield Bus Station
1530 ex Macclesfield Bus Station to Lees Lane

0725/0850/1700 ex Macclesfield Bus Station to Bonis Hall Lane, McCanns
0925/1625/1740 ex Bonis Hall Lane, McCanns to Macclesfield Bus Station
 
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