D&G Buses

[Man of Kent]

Interesting also they have two plain white large Enviro 200s running around Cheshire and they chose to prioritise route branding one that was already red, over giving one of the white ones a coat of red paint.

There's a chance that they are short term loans from the Mistral Group.

 

[northwichcat]

There's a chance that they are short term loans from the Mistral Group.

The Bus Shop website indicates they're ex-rental and have now been sold https://the-bus-shop.co.uk/buses/adl-e200-10-8m-yx16-odj/

 

[capitalpotter]

Surely the black and yellow is a decal though and not paint.

 

[mjc]

YX16 OHW seen just now in Crewe Bus Station.

Interesting paint scheme, at first gave me the impression of being in the style of 90s PMT with the red and yellow and I’m sure there was some of that slant to the livery…

 

[Man of Kent]

The Bus Shop website indicates they're ex-rental and have now been sold https://the-bus-shop.co.uk/buses/adl-e200-10-8m-yx16-odj/

Fair enough. And thank you for alerting me to the existence of that website.

 

[SeanM1997]

D&G have cancelled their 23 routes (Hanley - Stoke - Blurton) from 2 July 2023. This service was operating on Sundays only:

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/610407/

 

[northwichcat]

D&G are using one of their 'Orange 1' branded Solos on the Northwich 1 route today. Right route number, wrong route branding!

 

[SeanM1997]

Today marks 1 month since D&G took over several routes from Arriva across Cheshire - does anyone know how they're doing?

I imagine the 38 Crewe-Macclesfield is doing well - and should be a route that needs increasing given Arriva offered this service alongside D&G and offered a double decker. Could D&G look to increase the frequency on this?

I also assume the 12 Leighton Hospital - Crewe - Shavington is doing better than before given the Arriva Brookhouse Circular was cut and never replaced

X84 is now a liveried bus so they must be committed to keeping that route - the cut in the Arriva Brookhouse Circular may have helped this route too given the northern end of the circular may find it easier to reach the 84 than the 12

Has there been any unintended consequences such as the 8 Sydney - Crewe being more popular due to less frequency along Broad Street in Crewe (just an hourly 31)

 

[northwichcat]

I imagine the 38 Crewe-Macclesfield is doing well - and should be a route that needs increasing given Arriva offered this service alongside D&G and offered a double decker. Could D&G look to increase the frequency on this?

Whenever I saw an Arriva 38 post-COVID it was a Pulsar, not a decker. Towards the end they struggled to find enough deckers to use on the 31 and 37 journeys that needed them.

 

[SeanM1997]

Whenever I saw an Arriva 38 post-COVID it was a Pulsar, not a decker. Towards the end they struggled to find enough deckers to use on the 31 and 37 journeys that needed them.

D&G are only on single deckers on the 31 and 37 too - so hopefully they are doing well. The 37 looked very popular between Crewe-Winsford when I used it but the 31 was less so (was a middle of the day trip)

 

[northwichcat]

D&G are only on single deckers on the 31 and 37 too - so hopefully they are doing well. The 37 looked very popular between Crewe-Winsford when I used it but the 31 was less so (was a middle of the day trip)

Arriva used deckers because of school loadings being too high for Pulsars and the next service being 60 minutes away. I don't know if a revised timetable has helped or if the parent's have found an alternative solution. The 31 and 37 are interworked, so the viability relates to the combined revenue for both routes.

 

[Simon75]

D&G are only on single deckers on the 31 and 37 too - so hopefully they are doing well. The 37 looked very popular between Crewe-Winsford when I used it but the 31 was less so (was a middle of the day trip)

I saw a Solo on the 31 , 21/5/23

 

[northwichcat]

I saw a Solo on the 31 , 21/5/23

I don't think you mean the 21st, as the 31 doesn't run on Sundays. It looks like the last journey (that terminates at Winsford) is operated by a vehicle that comes off the 8 route meaning it's usually a short Enviro but according to the tracking on Saturday it was a Solo.

 

[sonic2009]

I don't think you mean the 21st, as the 31 doesn't run on Sundays. It looks like the last journey (that terminates at Winsford) is operated by a vehicle that comes off the 8 route meaning it's usually a short Enviro but according to the tracking on Saturday it was a Solo.

I'm not sure what happens at weekends, but in the week the driver on the number 8 goes out to Wistaston Green at 1750 and then comes back out of service to the bus station, has a break and then as you have mentioned runs up to Winsford on service 31 - then goes out of service to Leighton Hospital and does the employee service up to the University campus on Crewe Green Road.

 

[Simon75]

I don't think you mean the 21st, as the 31 doesn't run on Sundays. It looks like the last journey (that terminates at Winsford) is operated by a vehicle that comes off the 8 route meaning it's usually a short Enviro but according to the tracking on Saturday it was a Solo.

Sorry meant 23/5/23, this was in the afternoon

 

[northwichcat]

Sorry meant 23/5/23, this was in the afternoon

Nothing tracked as a Solo on 23rd but it could be a vehicle was tracking as the wrong vehicle.

Vehicles – 31 – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

There was an Optare Versa tracking on the 31 on the 22nd, that looks similar to a Solo SR.

 

[Danfilm007]

Nothing tracked as a Solo on 23rd but it could be a vehicle was tracking as the wrong vehicle.

Vehicles – 31 – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

There was an Optare Versa tracking on the 31 on the 22nd, that looks similar to a Solo SR.

One of their Versas has been a regular on the 31/37!

 

[SeanM1997]

D&G Changes on 2, 23 and 43:
2 - from 2 July Mon-Fri First 4 buses cancelled, Last 3 buses cancelled; Sat First 2 buses cancelled, Last 3 buses cancelled. All timings 5 minutes later

http://dgbus.co.uk/assets/2_2023-07-02.pdf

23 - service cut from 25 June (was a Sunday only route)

43 - service reduced from half hourly to hourly Mon-Fri from 2 July

http://dgbus.co.uk/assets/43_2023-07-02.pdf

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jun 2023 ==

 

[northwichcat]

I imagine the 38 Crewe-Macclesfield is doing well - and should be a route that needs increasing given Arriva offered this service alongside D&G and offered a double decker. Could D&G look to increase the frequency on this?

I travelled on the 38 yesterday for the first time this year. On the outbound journey it was one of the ex-South Lancs big Enviro 200s. There was never less than around 30 people on the bus at any time. At some points there were more passengers than seats. On the return journey it was one of the ex-Abellio London small Enviros. It was around 2/3rds full for the entire time but I did make that journey while the FA Cup final was being played.

Having also been on one of their ex-Preston Bus Streetlite WFs recently I stand by my claim that those are the worst vehicles in the fleet to use on long journeys. Anything longer than the Northwich 1 route is probably too long for them to be used, if passengers are supposed to be able to enjoy a relatively comfortable ride. The Streetlite DFs are a different matter and a decent bus for longer journeys.

 

[SeanM1997]

D&G have published changes to 2 of their Northwich routes (quotes taken from https://dgbus.co.uk/)

1 - "From 19th June service 1 will be renumbered to 49, and some morning buses will run up to ten minutes earlier. Additional journeys between Northwich and Rudheath are included which were previously part of service 82."

Updated timetable: https://dgbus.co.uk/assets/49_2023-06-19.pdf

82 - "From 19th June the section of service 82 between Northwich and Rudheath will become part of service 49 (currently numbered as service '1'). Times between Northwich and Chester remain unchanged."

Updated timetable: https://dgbus.co.uk/assets/82_2023-06-19.pdf

 

[northwichcat]

Wasn't the (now withdrawn) Lach Dennis service the 49 in the past?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jun 2023 ==

One of their 60 reg Solos has been working 88/89 services today (13/6), as well as the afternoon 188 but it's incorrectly tracking as vehicle 57.

 

[SeanM1997]

Cheshire West and Chester Council are out to tender on 3 routes for period 3 September 2023 - 2 September 2025:
22 - Chester-West Kirby (currently Al's Coaches)
48 - Northwich-Frodsham (currently Stagecoach)
61/62 - Chester-Kinnerton (currently Stagecoach)

Not authorised

procontract.due-north.com

Given D&G's expanded network in Northwich - could they bid for the 48 route and operate it from their Wincham depot (maybe it can be incorporated into an existing route too)?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jun 2023 ==

D&G Route News:

From 2nd July service 1A will be changed to provide additional journeys to and from Wood Lane.

https://dgbus.co.uk/assets/1%2c1a_2023-07-02.pdf

.
.
D&G to launch a new 7/7A Hanley - Chell - Kidsgrove/Biddulph (predominately between Hanley - Oxford, Bowman Grove half hourly with evening & Sunday services to Kidsgrove & Biddulph)

https://dgbus.co.uk/assets/7%2c7a_2023-07-02.pdf

.
.
D&G to launch a new 18 Hanley - Endon - Leek - Buxton service. Sunday only service

https://dgbus.co.uk/assets/18_2023-07-02.pdf

.
.
D&G to launch a new 101 Hanley - Newcastle - Trentham Gardens - Stone - Stafford service. Sunday only service

https://dgbus.co.uk/assets/101_2023-07-02.pdf

 

[Martin1988]

In terms of Service 3 can anyone enlighten me on why the decision might have been made for the 1930 departure off Hanley to terminate in Crewe and then run back to Hanley empty?

 

[Lewisham2221]

D&G are taking over certain routes dropped by First Potteries from 2nd July 2023. More information on D&G thread

I can't see the D&G thread for some reason. As it's kind of on topic, being replacement buses for First services, a basic summary for anyone else who can't see it is:

Service 1/1A - extra AM and PM journeys to provide an hourly Wood Lane/Bignall End/Audley to Newcastle service roughly 0700 - 1800

Service 7/7A - every 30 minutes additional "short" journeys Hanley to Fegg Hayes, presumably spaced to provide a 15 minute frequency Hanley to Chell combined with First. An hourly Sunday service Hanley to Chell, alternating to provide a 2 hourly service to Kidsgrove or Biddulph. 2 buses Mon-Sat, 1 bus Sunday.

Service 18 - A handful of awkwardly timed services operating Hanley - Leek - Buxton, using one bus.

Service 101 - A tightly timed Sunday service, every 2 hours, one bus

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jun 2023 ==

edit - found the D&G thread, was further down than I expected

 

[RELL6L]

I can't see the D&G thread for some reason. As it's kind of on topic, being replacement buses for First services, a basic summary for anyone else who can't see it is:

Service 1/1A - extra AM and PM journeys to provide an hourly Wood Lane/Bignall End/Audley to Newcastle service roughly 0700 - 1800

Service 7/7A - every 30 minutes additional "short" journeys Hanley to Fegg Hayes, presumably spaced to provide a 15 minute frequency Hanley to Chell combined with First. An hourly Sunday service Hanley to Chell, alternating to provide a 2 hourly service to Kidsgrove or Biddulph. 2 buses Mon-Sat, 1 bus Sunday.

Service 18 - A handful of awkwardly timed services operating Hanley - Leek - Buxton, using one bus.

Service 101 - A tightly timed Sunday service, every 2 hours, one bus

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jun 2023 ==

edit - found the D&G thread, was further down than I expected

At least this provides a slightly better service to Audley and some form of Sunday service to Leek, Stafford and Biddulph.

The 101 isn’t one bus, it would have minus 8 minutes at Hanley, I suspect it interworks with the 7/7A. The 7/7A plus 101 looks like 3 buses on Sunday, oddly spending half an hour at Kidsgrove/ Biddulph.

 

[Lewisham2221]

At least this provides a slightly better service to Audley and some form of Sunday service to Leek, Stafford and Biddulph.

The 101 isn’t one bus, it would have minus 8 minutes at Hanley, I suspect it interworks with the 7/7A. The 7/7A plus 101 looks like 3 buses on Sunday, oddly spending half an hour at Kidsgrove/ Biddulph.

That would make more sense, I'd only looked at the timetables quickly and just noted that the 101 seemed quite tight. Presumably the long wait at Biddulph/Kidsgrove will allow for a meal break, although surely Hanley would be more convenient? That said, D&G do like to get maximum efficiency out of some of their duties, they have some odd driver changeover points during the week, utilising pool cars to transport drivers.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

In terms of Service 3 can anyone enlighten me on why the decision might have been made for the 1930 departure off Hanley to terminate in Crewe and then run back to Hanley empty?

Because that's what First Potteries do. There doesn't have to be a reason, it doesn't have to make sense. They have their reasons. When Blurton / Newstead had a decent service (route 23) there were buses which ran in service to Hanley, 'whizzed' back private, then ran back in service to Hanley. Allover the city buses provide a service to that mystery location 'sorry not in'. Wish I lived there.

 

[James101]

With the 9 and new 7A running within a few minutes of each other on shared sections of the route in both directions I can’t see the 7A a long term prospect.

There’s a good 8 mins or so dead time in the new 7A which could have brought something new or creative to maybe Wedgewood Farm, Little Chell, Mill Hill or Zodiac Drive but no, duplication is the name of the game.

 

[northwichcat]

Because that's what First Potteries do.

Not just First, D&G do it too. They send a bus off the 82 back empty from Sandiway to Wincham, instead of running it in service to Northwich. They also send a bus of the 88 back empty from Macclesfield to Wincham, instead of running it in service to Knutsford.

Now they've got more Northwich routes, they could even run some additional 89 journeys between Northwich and Wincham instead of running empty. As the first bus from Wincham doesn't get to Northwich until 09:13 (a Warrington's Own Buses service) and their first positional move is before the first Lostock Gralam to Northwich train of the day, it could give D&G an advantage.

 

[James101]

It has been raised before but now is certainly time for D&G to revise their website and organise services by area. The current design relies upon the user already knowing the number of the bus they want to use, which considering the scarcity of roadside information these days may not be the case.

Another flaw is how service change information is buried within the stub for the service. Unless a user regular checks their service no overall header to warn of upcoming changes.